Mark Duplass’ ‘The Creep Tapes’ Doesn’t Live Up to the Movies: TV Review

As a die-hard fan of the original “Creep” films, I must admit that my anticipation for “The Creep Tapes” was through the roof! Having grown up with these quirky, unsettling tales of Peachfuzz, I was eager to see how this new format would expand on the narrative. Alas, while the found-footage style remains as gritty and authentic as ever, the series seems to have lost some of the predatory charm that made the movies so unnerving.

In the wake of the acclaimed films “Creep” and “Creep 2”, creators Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice have come back to the series, now in a six-episode television format titled “The Creep Tapes”. Starring Duplass, this show is directed by Brice and delves into six tapes chronicling the past murders of a serial killer named Peachfuzz (Duplass). Unlike the movies, the series uses the raw approach of found footage, but the quick-moving episodes lack the predatory vibe that makes the films so unsettling. Instead, the show feels fragmented and disjointed, appearing more like a self-indulgent project than a horror story focusing on a serial killer’s violent compulsions.

In my film-loving perspective, this series shares a similar pattern with the “Creep” films. In the pilot episode titled “Mike,” I find myself drawn into a chilling tale where Peachfuzz entices a movie maker named Mike Luciano (Mike in short) to a cabin deep within woods, offering him a thousand dollars for filming his acting school audition. As Mike steps out of his vehicle and approaches the dimly lit cabin, I can sense an unsettling vibe creeping into the air. Yet, he brushes off this intuitive warning, focusing instead on capturing the scene as instructed. When our protagonist encounters Peachfuzz, dressed in a tacky vampire costume and muttering incoherent words, things take a swift turn for the worse. As seen in subsequent movies, Peachfuzz employs sudden outbursts, loud noises, and bizarre behavior to disorient his victims and keep them on edge. Sadly, by the time these men heed their gut feelings, they find themselves pinned down by the deranged killer.

In this series, each episode lasts less than 30 minutes, resulting in minimal character development. The main characters often seem interchangeable, ranging from an unassuming birdwatcher to a tenacious documentary maker intent on exposing the Catholic Church, yet both are typically middle-aged white men facing financial hardships. Not much else is disclosed about these individuals. Additionally, the storylines tend to be monotonous as most episodes follow a predictable pattern. Exceptions include Episode 2, “Elliot,” and the season finale. The plot usually involves Peachfuzz enticing his victims with money, which they initially overlook his unsettling actions until it’s too late. As the audience is aware of how each situation unfolds before the episode starts, climactic moments intended to shock lose their impact. Instead, it becomes a tedious wait for the victims and viewers, as Peachfuzz’s axe leaves no room for escape.

As a devoted cinephile, I must say that it wasn’t until Episode 6, “Mom (and Albert),” that Peachfuzz started to show some depth. The final episode brings a deeply unsettling resolution, but it sheds light on aspects of Peachfuzz’s childhood and his complex relationship with his mother, Krisha Fairchild, which were previously hidden. However, these revelations don’t make his actions any more justifiable. He is, after all, a murderer. Yet, the audience might find it challenging to take him seriously due to these exposures. At his core, Duplass’ Peachfuzz is a self-centered, violent mother’s boy who seems to be a rather common trope in today’s television and cinema industry.

Despite deviating from its earlier versions, the last episode fails to save “The Creep Tapes” from the edge of disorganized confusion. The series doesn’t innovate or intrigue with its found footage style. Scary scenes are sparse and infrequent. Instead of creating a sense of authenticity, the dialogue in the show sounds stiff. Moreover, the episodes don’t link Peachfuzz’s discoveries about his victims to the main storyline of each episode, leaving viewers with little to identify with.

The “Creep” series is effective due to its unsettling and captivating nature. In the initial film, viewers were left guessing about Peachfuzz, enhancing the overall eerie atmosphere. Subsequently, humor and unexpected plot developments maintained the story’s momentum in the sequel. Unfortunately, “The Creep Tapes” lack those components. Instead, these abridged versions of familiar tales fail to deliver either a psychologically intense or frightening experience.

Beginning November 15th, the initial installments of “The Creep Tapes” will debut on both Shudder and AMC+. Fresh episodes will be released every Friday thereafter.

2024-11-15 17:47

Mark Duplass’ ‘The Creep Tapes’ Doesn’t Live Up to the Movies: TV Review

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