Customer Reviews

Jeepers Creepers [VHS]

5 star:		(161)
4 star:		(135)
3 star:		(91)
2 star:		(63)
1 star:		(147)

 

 

Boy, do I feel slow on the uptake...I've seen this film twice now, and I just got the 'other' meaning of the license plate on the Creeper's truck. I guess if it were a snake, it would have bit me...oh well...I may not get there the quickest, but I will get there...eventually. Jeepers Creepers (2001) is a fun, interesting, stylistic film that runs out of gas about halfway through, but still had enough going for it to earn critical and commercial success, spawning a sequel, Jeepers Creepers II (2003) which broke Labor Day box office records for that year. Written and directed by the controversial Victor Salva, who also did the chilling horror film Clownhouse (1988) and Powder (1995), Jeepers Creepers brings to life (or death) a new figure in the Hollywood creature pantheon with the Creeper, a demonic looking figure that awakens every 23 years and feeds for 23 days, according to legend.

The film stars Gina Phillips as Trish and Justin Long as her brother Derry, traveling together by car a lonely and desolate country highway on their way home from college. After a scary incident with an old truck, the two witness a sinister, cloaked figure unceremoniously dumping what appears to body sized parcels wrapped in cloth and rope down a large, corrugated metal pipe next to a boarded up church. Also parked nearby is the same truck that nearly ran them off the road earlier. Once past the old church, the two begin to question what exactly they saw, but are soon joined again by the mysterious truck, more intent than ever now to ram their car, and drive them off the road. After losing the truck, the two go back to the church, despite Trish's protests, to investigate. Derry proceeds to do something stupid, and see something no human was mean to see...oh, he did confirm what they originally thought, that the figure was indeed dumping bodies down this large drain, but that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. What other secrets are uncovered? What is the nature of the creature? Do Trish and Derry survive long enough to get help?

I thought the makeup and such on the Creeper looked quite good and suitably malevolent. And the revelations revealed about this character came at a nice, even clip as the plot unfolded. There were a number of minor points where one could argue that the plot is weak or very thin, and I would have a hard time disagreeing, especially during the last half hour of the film. I really enjoyed the scenes that focused on something in the foreground, but provided enough leeway on the screen to see something in the background, even if it was fuzzy and out of focus, before the characters on the screen understood what was happening. Cheap scares are had here, as things pop out `and go boo!' but there is also a nice build up of real tension throughout the film, along with a smattering of comedy, usually of the sarcastic kind, to temper the horror. The weakness of the film comes from the predictability of the second half of the film. The original beginning had brought forth high hopes, but these hopes diminished slightly as the film eventually tread the path repetition as most end up doing, but at least this one did so with style and professionalism most uncommon with those in the same genre. You may recognize Justin Long from TV's Ed were he plays Warren Parker Cheswick. It's pretty much the same affable character played in this film, but a little bit older and a little more cynical. Gina Philips is quite lovely, with her flowing, brownish hair and doe eyed appearance that conflicts with her more cynical than her brother attitude. Both actors did a wonderful job, showing a mixture of inherent and hard earned talent, the kind gained through lots of work and dedication.

The picture here, available in both wide screen and full screen, looks wonderful and crisp. Special features include theatrical trailers, a photo gallery, deleted, extended, and alternate scenes, behind the scenes featurettes (six), and a commentary track with director Victor Salva. Many of these features are located on the flip side of the disc, with the film being on the other side. I guess the one thing I took away from this film more than anything else is if you see a darkened figure dumping what appears to be bodies down a sewer pipe next to an abandoned church, just keep on moving. You can make a report at the next town, for sure, but avoid actually crawling into the pipe to confirm what you already know.

Cookieman108

Finally a horror movie that does what it's supposed to do--scare the hell out of you!! A brother and sister named Darry and Trish are returning home from college, on a deserted road, when they are almost driven off the road by an unseen driver in an ancient truck. The truck vanishes, and they continue on toward home. But soon they pass an old church, and they spot the driver of the truck--shrouded in a black cloak--apparently dumping bodies down a pipe. After the figure disappears, the two check out the pipe and discover hundreds of skeletal remains. With the help of a psychic woman they discover that an evil, inhuman creature called the Creeper comes back every 23 years for 23 days, and now it wants Darry. Together the brother and sister must flee as they are pursued by the unstoppable, black-shrouded, axe-wielding demon.

First of all the acting is terrific, and the basically unknown actors provide good characters. The make-up effects for the Creeper are also very creepy. The film has a simple plot, that doesn't bother too much with explanations on the creature's origins. It just focuses on the plight of Trish and Darry as they try to escape the wrath of the Creeper. This movie blows every recent horror film out of the water. It is suspenseful, intelligently written, and intensely frightening. All I can say is It's About Time for a No-Holes-Barred FrightFest!!! A truly terrifying movie!

Jeepers Creepers (Victor Salva, 2001)

I think that, with the arguable exception of Battlefield Earth, I haven't heard so much negative press about a movie in the past decade as I did about this one. No idea why. This is one of the better horror movies to come out of Hollywood in quite a while, and Victor Salva has finally lived up to the promise that's kept Hollywood allowing him to make bad movies on a fairly regular basis for the past decade and a half.

The story opens with a brother and sister team, Derry (Justin Long, from the TV series Ed) and Trish (Gina Phillips, who recently had a turn on Boston Public and shows up next year in The Anarchist's Cookbook), driving across the state on their way home from college for spring break. On a secluded stretch of highway, a strange truck menaces them before roaring past. A few miles down the road, they see the truck's driver dumping something that looks suspiciously like a body wrapped in a sheet down a large pipe, and after he drives away they stop to investigate. Complications ensue.

The movie's probably not going to win any awards for its acting, writing, or cinematography, all of which fall into the slightly-above-average category. But then, this isn't a movie with Oscar aspirations anyway. It's supposed to be a fast-paced slick little horror film, and that's what it is. Salva achieves the right balance between showing the nastiness and cutting away to let suggestion do the work, and also uses the suggestion technique with his bad guy most of the time (something that hasn't been seen too much in films for a while). Add in a Miss Cleo-esque psychic (Patricia Belcher), a few hick cops who actually break stereotype a few times, and a fun bad guy (Jonathan Breck, from the painfully bad film Spiders), and you've got a fine little flick. *** ½

Basic Plot: When a brother and sister driving along a desolate desert road witness what appears to be a man dumping corpses down a chute in the ground, they attempt to investigate. What they find is a horrific surprise. But even after they flee in terror from the hellish scene, the mysterious man catches up with them. They soon find themselves out in the middle of nowhere with their only company as a few locals and the baffled small-town police. There is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Before long, they discover the vicious predator isn't even human. And, to put the icing on the dreadful cake, the answers of why it is here and what it wants are revealed!

Few modern-day horror films include original, interesting, and iconic monsters. Well, Jeepers Creepers does! Although a superb cast and talented crew contribute to the greatness, the best part about it is the creature itself. Despite a few scenes (that are actually so realistic you can't tell CGI is used), the monster is the product of a very believeable full-body-suit, not cheap computer tricks. Before the inhuman identity is revealed of The Creeper, it's wardrobe is eye-poppingly awesome. Like the darkest of the darkest superheros, his long trench-coat flaps in the wind and his rugged hat shades his evil face. Like some kind of demon-cowboy, he's intimidating to the characters, yet mesmerizing to the audience. Eventually, of course, the clothing comes off and one hell of a creature is presented. I won't give a description of that -- you've got to see it for yourself. All I can say is that monster fans will not be disappointed!

In short conclusion, this is a great comeback for the old-fashioned creature flicks. It's not very scary, but it's a whole lot of fun! Jeepers Creepers excludes over-the-top gore and sexuality, trading in another cliche storyline for an unforgettable experience of pure monster mayhem.

JEEPERS CREEPERS

(USA/Germany - 2001)

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Theatrical soundtracks: Dolby Digital / DTS / SDDS

Adding its own particular twist to the currently popular teen-horror cycle, JEEPERS CREEPERS - the sleeper hit of 2001, co-produced by Francis Ford Coppola's Zoetrope Studios - demonstrates how a fairly conventional narrative can be enhanced by the kind of loving care and attention to detail exhibited here by writer-director Victor Salva. His clever, attentive script describes the terrifying experiences of teenage siblings Trish and Darry (played with exceptional warmth and sincerity by attractive newcomers Gina Philips and Justin Long) who are driving home from college when they're terrorized by a demonic creature which initially runs them off a lonely country road. After stumbling into the monster's lair and uncovering it's ghastly secrets (a genuinely heart-stopping set-piece), the kids flee from the monster's wrath, only to be warned by a terrified psychic (an ultra-creepy performance by Patricia Belcher) that the creature has targeted them for a particular reason and won't let them go... ever.

From the dark-hearted drama of NATURE OF THE BEAST (1994) and RITES OF PASSAGE (1998) to the spiritual uplift of POWDER (1995), Salva has always demonstrated a willingness to challenge the conventions of mainstream cinema by thwarting audience expectations at every turn, and JEEPERS CREEPERS is no exception. An avowed fan of old-time monster movies, the director has marshalled his considerable creative resources to produce an equally old-fashioned creature feature, updated for modern sensibilities and characterized by jump-out-of-your-seat thrills, a well-developed sense of irony, and plenty of heart and soul. To top it all off, there's also a pretty impressive monster - a combination of clever makeup, CGI effects, and a truly menacing performance by Jonathan Breck, buried beneath masses of latex and foam rubber.

With nods to an assortment of genre outings, especially DUEL (1971) - which the director happily acknowledges - the film maintains a breathless pace before culminating in a final showdown which capitalizes on the strong emotional undertow established during the opening sequences. In a commentary recorded for the film's original US DVD release, Salva mentioned that he was forced to cut twenty pages from this section of the script for budgetary reasons but, crucially, he doesn't mention what those missing pages contained. Perhaps he's saving them for the forthcoming sequel?

With fabulous, evocative production design by Steven Legler, and equally moody cinematography by frequent Salva collaborator Don E. FauntLeRoy, which transforms the central Florida locations into a Gothic, brooding 21st century dreamscape, the movie's relentless forward momentum allows just enough humor to offset the ultra-convincing trauma suffered by the principal characters as they pit their wits against a merciless force of supernatural horror. However, Salva's normally impeccable judgment is slightly compromised by an unwarranted, needlessly cruel postscript: Having staged a predictably lavish, crowd-pleasing finale that scales the heights of operatic tragedy, Salva chooses to close proceedings with a downbeat coda that's actually more depressing than horrific, and seems completely out of tune with the Big Fun Monster Movie that precedes it. It's the only significant flaw in an otherwise perfectly realized miniature.

Followed by JEEPERS CREEPERS II (2002).

I really enjoyed this movie. The story flowed well and the actors seemed to fit their parts.
"Creepers" played by Jonathan Breck was totally fantastic! He's an impressive actor with the ability to invoke both fear and humor from the audience. Creepers' house of pain was really creepy to say the least...this movie is great especially if you love movies about gargoyles or other unusual supernatural creatures. I give this movie 5 stars - it's awesome!

The idea of traveling on the open road is both inviting and horrifying. On one hand, the road is paved with values that can shape and change your life. On the other more mysterious and deadly hand, the road is filled with the worst thing of all, the unknown. "Jeepers Creepers" seems to capture that perfectly. Instead of coming to the unknown a la "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", the unknown comes to them. That's a scary thought...

Justin Long and Gina Phillips as the two protagonists, Darry and Trish, are driving home to see the old family. Along the way, across barren terrain, they are daunted by an unusual, hollowed out truck that almost throws them from the road. It's only later down the road when they see it again, but by then, they're already a part of something much bigger.

"Jeepers Creepers" is by far one of the better horror films to have come out in the past ten years. There's something original and real in the whole mess. Victor Salva, the director, never tries to be overly stylistic and keeps the film simple. There are dark edges, but never too dark (i.e. Alex Proyas, David Fincher) and the film never sets a certain date, leaving the audience to feel very general about the whole thing. In a way, the film is a bit timeless.

Story wise, Salva creates two great characters. Darry and Trish are perfect examples of young adults in any generation. Not to mention both Philips and Long play them very well with such chemistry too. I like how it's a brother and sister ordeal and not the usual boyfriend and girlfriend motif that's been outdone in horror films, especially for the past twenty years. There's a lot going for it. While I must admit the film's first half is stronger over the latter, it's the ending that makes this film most memorable and actually horrific. Ballsy might be a good word for it.

Between the fluid storyline, the dark visuals, chilling soundtrack (of course, the title track too), "Jeepers Creepers" is one of the better modern horror films to have come out in awhile. Just stay far, far away from the sequel...

That's a scary thought in itself.

The movie Jeepers Creepers is a slick and scary horror movie. From the duel inspired begining to it's horrifing end, this movie delivers. The thing most people might not now is that the director was convicted of child rape. That does not stop this film from being great. Good performences and great use of music makes this a bonna fide good time!

Trish and Darry Jenner are brother and sister coming back home via the back roads for the holiday break. Their journey is uneventful until they are terrorised by 'some jerk' in a beat up old truck - an event they get over until they later see the driver unloading what looks like bodies into a hole as they drive past. Escaping the ensuing chase, Darry insists they go back to see what he was doing - something he deeply regrets doing when he finds mutilated and preserved bodies all over the inside of the pit. They escape the truck again but their attempts to get help lead to nothing and they find themselves battling much more than the psycho driver that they first feared.

This film was overly praised on its release because it was refreshingly free of the self-awareness and irony that many modern horrors had been full of since Scream. For my money though, the lack of irony didn't mean it would be a good horror movie and, not being good with the scary stuff at the best of times I decided to give it a miss. When it came on TV, I decided to give it a go even though I'm not really a fan of the teen horror genre. However this film is actually a lot better than the normal teen horrors because, like the critics said, it isn't full of the usual clichés and so on. Instead the plot is a pretty tense and simple affair where we are only given two teens rather than a group that will slowly be picked off. The film is not terrifying but it is pretty creepy and has a good, consistent tone to it that is quite unnerving.

The strength of the film is that it doesn't lose momentum when the creature is revealed; usually modern creature features lose a lot of their tension when the (usually CGI) beast is fully seen. Here we have several stages (truck/shadow/man/creepy man/beast) and they all are effective. Salva directs well and injects a good sense of tension into the film but he also knows how to frame a shot - his use of darkness and the tunnel spotlight effect both being pretty effective. Of course it is still just a horror movie and is not perfect but I must admit that I was drawn into it easily early on, even if it did tend to flag a bit as it progresses.

Even though it is not strictly a teen horror, we still have to put up with two rather annoying teenagers in the lead role but I suppose that is to be expected from Salva - according to the courts he has worked with minors before! In fairness to both the actors in the lead roles, they do pretty well, managing to come across real when required (as opposed to fodder filler) but also seeming genuinely afraid. Both Phillips and Long were better than I expected and did well acting as the core of the film. The creature itself is also a good presence even if it does lose a little bit of its creepiness when the wings come out.

Overall this was a surprisingly enjoyable horror movie but of course it is still a teen horror of sorts so don't assume that it will be perfect - it still does pretty much what you expect it to. Like the critics though, I enjoyed its lack of knowing cynicism and it did have a good sense of pace and tension even if it wasn't really 'horrifying'. Still a teen horror then, but one that is better than the norm and worth seeing if you like the genre.

I hear an amazing amount of chatter nowadays about the generally poor quality of recent horror film releases. Fans of the genre point to films plagued with cliches, the endless stream of remakes, and just about anything else they find objectionable as evidence that the era of horror is over. I'm not absolving myself here; I do a fair amount of complaining myself from time to time. It's easy to do when you watch something like "Shatter Dead" or "Slash." If I truly thought these two films represented the future of horror, I would volunteer to shovel the first bit of dirt on the grave myself. Then again, there are people who genuinely like these two movies and wish to see more films like them. Personally, I am getting to the point where I welcome the good with the bad. For one thing, I secretly enjoy watching terrible films. There is something enormously entertaining about trashing a real piece of schlock. Too, I would rather see ANY horror film arriving on the scene than none at all. Think about it: if people quit renting horror, the next wave of fans turned talented directors and producers might never fulfill their destinies. All of this is a rather convoluted way to say the following: "Jeepers Creepers" is a pretty good modern horror movie. It's definitely not another "Shatter Dead" or "Slash."

"Jeepers Creepers" tells the horrific tale of Trish Jenner (Gina Philips) and her brother Darry (Justin Long). The problems begin when Darry drives his sister home from college. This isn't your normal jaunt across town or through a couple of neighborhoods, but a cross-country excursion that takes several days. Worse, the two have to navigate their way through the flat plains of the Midwest, which, as I can assure you from personal experience, is a daunting expedition. In the true tradition of Hollywood, they can't pick anything up on their radio except some loudmouth preacher bible thumping about the apocalypse. Since the trip takes place during the summer, the heat makes them antsy. The opening sequences of the movie show the two quibbling with each other about personal problems and their parents. Trish also takes Darry to task for straying far from the security of the interstate system in order to take the "scenic" route. Needless to say, she's more right than she knows. Things take an ominous turn when a souped up black truck/van hybrid roars up behind them. With horn blazing away, this vehicle repeatedly swerves, bumps into Darry's car, and generally acts like most drivers in my hometown. He runs the two kids off the road but doesn't bother stopping.

Later, when the two happen to cruise by an abandoned church just in time to see the driver of the aforementioned black vehicle dumping what looks like a body wrapped in a bloody sheet down a drainpipe, the trip takes on ominous dimensions. He--at least we think it's a he although it's hard to tell with all those black clothes and a coat on--jumps into his car and comes after them again. Trish and Darry manage to avoid another confrontation but foolishly decide to head over to the church to see what went into the pipe. Down into the ground goes Darry, only to discover an enormous cavern decorated with human wallpaper. It appears that the guy dumping corpses into this pipe has been doing it for eons considering the number of bodies hanging all over the place. Darry manages to get out, reunite with Trish, and hightail it down the road to the nearest diner to make the obligatory call to the cops. But yet another weird incident occurs, this time an out of the blue phone call to the kids on the payphone from a woman claiming to be a psychic. She knows all about what they saw and warns them of extreme danger. What we eventually learn about this guy is that he's no guy at all, but some flying demon awakened from his years long sleep. He's out collecting humans and now he has his sights set on Trish and Darry. Throw in the Cat Lady (Eileen Brennan), a couple of cannon fodder cops, good gore, and you have all the makings for a fun filled horror romp.

The first part of "Jeepers Creepers" works better than the second half. The rather calm world of the Jenner kids suddenly shattered by a weirdo in a spooky vehicle out in the middle of nowhere is a terrifying proposition that the film pulls off well. Just as eerie is the glimpse of this black clad figure dumping the corpse in the drainpipe. Although I can't find it anywhere on the web, I swear that the writer got the idea for this scene from an episode of "Unsolved Mysteries" where the same situation happened to several travelers somewhere in the United States (minus the flying demon, of course). Once the psychic Jezelle (Patricia Belchar) physically enters the picture, the movie loses some of its steam. By this time Trish and Darry are in a police station facing the prospect of the Creeper running rampant in the building. The resulting scenes of carnage reminded me too much of a similar scene in "Darkness Falls" even though "Jeepers Creepers" did it first. In short, I think the movie is scarier when we don't know what Trish and Darry are up against.

Still, "Jeepers Creepers" is definitely worth watching. For once MGM actually loaded up for bear with the extras. We get a commentary track with director Victor Salva, plenty of deleted scenes, stills, cast and crew filmographies, and a making of featurette. Followed by an intriguing sequel that is in and of itself entertaining although it doesn't quite capture the magic of the first installment, "Jeepers Creepers" is a prime example of how horror movies can still attain a measure of originality and scares.