By George & Josh Bate
The following is a non-spoiler review of episodes 1-3 of The Creep Tapes Season 2
Creep and Creep 2 are some of the most innovative, unsettling, and darkly comedic horror movies of the century. The slow-burn films from director and co-writer Patrick Brice and star and co-writer Mark Duplass introduced audiences to a new flavor of psychopathic killer, one who relishes in taking on fictional roles and playfully toying with his victims before eventually killing them and adding recordings of their ‘adventures’ together to his vast collection. The premise of the films perfectly set the stage for a television series, with each episode chronicling a given encounter between Duplass’ PeachFuzz character and an unsuspecting victim. The series, titled The Creep Tapes, effortlessly evoked the horror and humor of its preceding films and affirmed, if it wasn’t clear already, PeachFuzz’s status as an all-time great horror character. At this year’s Fantastic Fest, the first three episodes of The Creep Tapes Season 2 premiere and, due to various clever spins on the core Creep concept, more delightful weirdness, uncomfortable laughs, and a bizarrely likable serial killer are in store.
Although Duplass’ titular creep takes on a different role for each installment of the franchise (whether it be movie or television episode), there is a risk of repetition and weariness that creeps in (pun definitely intended) upon every subsequent iteration. That is to say, on paper at least, only so many times can an audience watch a found footage story about a creepy guy who plays a fictional character for an unsuspecting victim before killing them. Duplass and Brice, however, strike a perfect balance in ensuring that The Creep Tapes remains subversive and fresh, while never losing the spirit of what makes this character and concept work so well.
Across the first three episodes of its sophomore season, The Creep Tapes takes PeachFuzz in all kinds of unexpected directions. Without delving into spoilers, these episodes see a truly creative spin on the 2014 original film, a pseudo-parody of a horror classic, and finally address how the serial killer navigates law enforcement. Each episode not only entertains but serves as visual and auditory evidence for Duplass and Brice’s ingenuity. Just when you think this concept has been taken in every possible direction, the duo come up with another twist or subversion of expectations.
Evidenced by these initial episodes, The Creep Tapes Season 2 leans more heavily into comedy than horror. The franchise has always towed a delicate line between the two, although generally the trend over the years has been for less horror and more humor. This trend continues to be evidenced in Season 2 as none of the initial three episodes are particularly frightening in any way. In the first movie, it was unclear exactly what was up with Duplass’ character, what his intentions were, and if the other character was in danger. But, at this point, the audience knows Duplass’ serial killer intimately and is in on the joke. In this sense, evoking true fear becomes a little more difficult and, as such, Brice and Duplass seem to be less interested in doing so.
Putting more eggs in the comedy basket works out splendidly though as The Creep Tapes Season 2 delivers so many great comedic moments. There is something so enduringly and morbidly funny about watching Duplass lure people in with his friendliness, charm, and quirkiness. We know what his character intends to do, but the audience doesn’t, creating this uncomfortable yet humorous inevitably in each episode. The juxtaposition of PeachFuzz’s overly, even off-puttingly welcoming behavior and his undisclosed murderous tendencies continues to make for such fascinating viewing. Serial killers in film and television are often portrayed with a certain charisma or charm and yet the Creep series takes this concept a step further. Duplass imbues his character with a simultaneously showy and seemingly pretty genuine admiration for other people that we haven’t quite seen with other characters.
If it wasn’t abundantly clear already, Mark Duplass was born to play this character. Every unique role that PeachFuzz occupies shares a commonality in Duplass’ disconcerting likability. Despite the audience knowing of his homicidal bloodlust, Duplass lures viewers in with a magnetic performance that never ceases to mesmerize. His personality shifts, failure to take things seriously, and overt expressions of kindness make him a character you can’t take your eyes off and, strangely due to just how uncomfortable the show can be at times, make him an oddly comforting character. It’s difficult to describe, and perhaps a contradiction, but PeachFuzz has become for many (including us) quite the comfort character, someone we look forward to welcoming back time and time again.
Aiding in how effective PeachFuzz continues to be is the minimalist filmmaking employed by Duplass and Brice. There isn’t a crew, large cast, musical score, or much of anything other than Duplass’ performance, Brice’s directing, and the duo’s writing. It’s commendable just how enthralling each episode is, despite being the product of so few individuals. In many ways, that’s what makes The Creep Tapes creepy. With a bigger budget and flashy guest stars, the series could lose its unsettling realism – it could lose the feeling that creeps in just every once in a while that has you question if you are actually watching footage of real people doing real things.
If there’s anything to detract from The Creep Tapes Season 2, it’s that it is unlikely to convert those who are not already fans of the franchise. Those who disliked the two movies or the first season of this show will not be converted by Season 2. Duplass and Brice clearly make this series with the established audience in mind and are cognizant that too much deviation from the formula could deprive viewers of what they come to see. The Creep Tapes isn’t the kind of show that is going to move you to tears or have you on the edge of your seat in terror, but it is one that provokes a response – whether that be discomfort, laughs, or, very simply, falling into the depths of Duplass’ spellbinding performance.
VERDICT: 8/10
The Creep Tapes Season 2 delivers the brand of weirdness, uncomfortable laughs, and kills we’ve come to expect from this franchise, while delightfully subverting its core concept. The first three episodes of the sophomore season avoid the concept from going stale with various clever spins that change up the formula just enough, while ensuring that they never lose sight of what makes this concept work as well as it does. Evidenced by these initial episodes, The Creep Tapes appears to increasingly lean into comedy over horror as it isn’t particularly frightening in any way. In place of scares, however, is a unique flavor of humor fostered by the audience being privy to star Mark Duplass’ murderous inclinations while his unsuspecting victim is not. Duplass once again shows that he was born to play this character, who, in our opinion, has soared to be among the great horror characters of all time. Retaining the minimalist filmmaking that makes this franchise so raw and unnerving, The Creep Tapes won’t convert detractors of the previous films and episodes, but the intended audience are given plenty to feast on. Duplass’ charming, likable, and decidedly weird serial killer certainly evokes discomfort (both in his eventual victims and the audience at times), and yet he strangely has become a comfort character for many, including ourselves. Creator Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice show mastery over a concept they have nailed down and, as long as they keep things fresh, have created a character that theoretically could be present on our television screens for years and years to come.
The Creep Tapes Season 2 premieres November 14 on Shudder
