Anthology horror movies are perfect for the Halloween season. We’ve already watched one anthology film for Creeptober this year with V/H/S/Halloween, but I didn’t want to let the month pass without picking a classic of the genre. So, tonight we watch Creepshow!
Reacting to Creepshow
Creepshow is my go-to anthology horror film. I’ve watched it many times ever since I was a kid, and I never get tired of it. It’s easy to see why it’s so good. A trio of horror icons were in control of this one. Creepshow was written by Stephen King, directed by George A. Romero, and has special effects by Tom Savini. It would be more surprising if the movie wasn’t good with those three involved.
I do need to be upfront about one thing though. I didn’t watch the final segment in the movie, “They’re Creeping Up On You.” I watched it once when I was a kid, and I haven’t watched it since. I’ve seen the other four story segments enough times to know most of the dialogue by heart, but I probably won’t ever watch the last segment again. I have my reasons, and I’ll leave it at that. But, the good thing about never watching the fifth story is that the movie ends up being about an hour and a half long, which is the perfect length for an anthology film. So, let’s get into the stories in Creepshow I did watch.
First up is “Father’s Day.” This is my favorite story in the movie. I think this story takes the best advantage of the idea that this is a movie inspired by EC horror comics. For one thing, it has the greatest number of shots that include comic-book panels and artwork to frame the action (mostly the flashbacks). Also, the whole story builds up to a funny and grotesque punch line that is better than any other ending in Creepshow. The rest of the stories are very good, but this one feels most like it was written to give the final panel/shot the most impact.
What also strikes me about “Father’s Day” is its use of sound. The grinding of stone on stone as the tombstone slowly moves forward before toppling over. The gurgling of zombie-Nathan’s voice that sounds like his throat is full of dirt and rocks. Nathan’s incessant yelling about his cake accompanied by the slamming of his cane. Bedelia is almost incoherent as she yells at her father’s grave. Even the sound that accompanies the arm as it pops up from the ground. Every sound in this segment worked its way into my brain years ago and never left. It’s fantastic.
Plus, I’m partial to zombies, and “Father’s Day” has a great zombie.
The next segment, “The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill,” is probably the funniest story, but it’s also the most sad. Stephen King stars as Jordy, and he’s never been better on film. He’s incredibly goofy, and that goofiness makes the ending extra sad. I mean, we knew he was going to die because of the title, but still. It’s brutal.
I also find the green growth to be extremely unnerving. There’s just something about it that unnerves me. It’s like moss, but it’s also like grass. Sometimes it looks like it’s dripping, and the thin tendrils that stick out in places give me the creeps. Seeing it grow all over Jordy makes me itch.
Segment number three, “Something To Tide You Over,” I like because of the relation to water. Seeing Ted Danson’s character, Harry, get hit in the face with progressively bigger waves is nerve-racking. I also find water-based zombies to be a lot of fun to watch, and I love the designs of these. I especially like it when Richard shoots them and all that comes out is greenish water. Very gross, and very cool. This feels like the most simple segment with regards to its plot and story, but it’s still effective.
And then there’s “The Crate.” The monster in this is awesome, and I like the amount of blood spilled throughout the story. The janitor getting pulled into the crate as blood pours over him and onto the floor grossed me out when I was younger. Also, Adrienne Barbeau is so good in “The Crate.” She’s instantly unlikable. And even when her husband Henry becomes unlikable because of his actions later on, Adrienne Barbeau’s Billie is still in the running for most despicable character.
That’s where my story with Creepshow ends. I didn’t watch the final story, and I won’t be talking about it. If you watched it, I hope you enjoyed it. It’s just not for me. But even without watching segment number five, I still think Creepshow is one of, if not the, best horror anthology film ever.
