In 1982, horror icons George A. Romero, Stephen King, and Tom Savini collaborated to create one of the greatest horror anthologies ever made. Creepshow set itself apart from other anthologies through its unique direction, creative stories, and masterful special effects. Now, almost 40 years later, the torch has been passed on to an understudy of Romero and Savini in Greg Nicotero. Best known for his SFX work on The Walking Dead, Nicotero revived the Creepshow franchise by turning it into a TV series. After the success of season one, Creepshow was quickly renewed for a second season. Set to release this coming April 1st, this review will cover the first two episodes of the brand new season.
Episode 1 –
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Model Kid: 7/10
Revenge has been a staple of Creepshow lore ever since the original film’s release. Considering this, it’s no wonder season two’s first tale is centered around vengeance. ‘”Model Kid” follows the turbulent life of monster-obsessed Joe Aurora (Brock Duncan). When Joe’s abusive uncle (Kevin Dillon) moves in, he attempts to put an end to Joe’s obsession. As tensions rise between the two, Joe takes matters into his own hands.
Overall, “Model Kid” is a great opener for the new season, balancing drama and horror effectively. The relationship between Joe and his mother (Tyner Rushing) gives the story a strong emotional aspect which kept me engaged. In addition, there’s a powerful part in the episode where Joe’s mother talks about the eternal nature of movies that really struck me. “Model Kid” has a surprising amount of depth that’s usually not seen in Creepshow stories. Also noteworthy, the story is seemingly a nod to the original film’s intro and outro segments in which a young boy gets revenge on his father for throwing his comic books away. Although similar storylines have been played out before, “Model Kid” has a gory and satisfying conclusion.
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Public Television of the Dead: 7.5/10
“Public Television of the Dead” shows what it would be like if Bob Ross were in a horror movie. This entry follows Claudia Aberlan (Marissa Hampton), a struggling television station manager, as she’s forced to cancel Norm Roberts’ (Mark Ashworth) painting show. As they film Norm’s last episode, something is unleashed in the studio and a clash between good and evil ensues.
It’s impossible to have a bad time while watching this. “Public Television of the Dead” acts as a nice contrast to ‘Model Kid’, leaning more heavily on laughs and gore. Ashworth’s performance as psuedo-Bob Ross is thoroughly entertaining, providing a boost to the entire story. Fans of the Evil Dead franchise will especially like this entry. ‘Public Television of the Dead’ is filled with references to the original Evil Dead films. Everything from the tone, camera work, and even the dialogue echo Sam Raimi’s work. There’s even a cameo from an original Evil Dead cast member. All in all, ‘Public Television of the Dead’ is a creative and enjoyable entry in the Creepshow series.
Episode 2 –
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Dead & Breakfast: 8/10
A twist ending is extremely difficult to execute. Do it well, and the entire story is elevated. Do it poorly, and the audience will be left confused and disappointed. Luckily, “Dead & Breakfast” nails its twist. This entry tells the story of Pam (Ali Larter) and Sam (C. Thomas Howell) Spinster as they struggle to run a bed & breakfast at their grandmother’s supposed murder house. When they invite a popular true crime vlogger (Iman Benson) for a free visit, the truth of the Spinster house is finally uncovered.
“Dead & Breakfast” was by far my favorite of the four stories. It feels like a modern version of a classic Creepshow tale. This entry also has the best pacing, heightening the suspense and build-up of the story. The misdirection used in the story was another effective element. Often times, misdirection can be overused to the point of annoyance, but this was not the case in “Dead & Breakfast.” Larter was perfectly cast as the crazed Pam Spinster and the dynamic between her and Howell provided some nice comic relief. Altogether, “Dead & Breakfast” has everything you could want in a Creepshow story: suspense, misdirection, and a surprise twist.
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Pesticide: 7/10
“Pesticide” poses a question to viewers: How much are you willing to do for money? Josh McDermitt stars in this entry as Harlan King, a deceitful exterminator tasked with ridding Murdoc (Keith David) of an unusual infestation. After he helps Murdoc, King questions if he made the right choice as his grip on reality begins to slip.
The ending of “Pesticide” frustrated me. When you stop and think about it, it makes no sense. However, this entry gets a lot of things right. Nicotero and the special effects team deserve some kudos for what they were able to accomplish. The props in “Pesticide” are incredibly realistic. Also, the dilemma that Harlan King goes through is very intriguing as it explores the extent of a man’s desperation. Keith David (The Thing) and Ashley Laurence’s (Hellraiser) appearances were another welcome surprise. If you look closely, there’s also an Easter Egg from Creepshow 2’s “The Hitchhiker” in the background of one scene. While “Pesticide” isn’t as strong as some of the other stories, it’s still a competent entry nonetheless.
Based on these two episodes, the second season of Creepshow has its share of highs and lows. However, that’s to be expected from an anthology series. “Dead & Breakfast” and “Public Television of the Dead” were the strongest and most entertaining entries for me. While I enjoyed “Model Kid” and “Pesticide,” I felt they were both lacking something. Despite this, I’m looking forward to watching the rest of the season. Season two has maintained the cheesy, lighthearted charm of the original movies while also providing audiences with plenty of fresh, creative concepts. As always, the special effects are superb in large part due to Greg Nicotero. It’s also nice to see cameos from past horror icons as it provides some star power for each episode. With Creepshow already being renewed for a third season, the terror is just beginning.
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Episode One
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Episode Two
