Jeepers Creepers

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Horrorphile - February 2008

Jeepers Creepers

February 1st 2008 04:22

“Jeepers, creepers, where’d you get them peepers … Jeepers, creepers, where’d you get them eyes.”

Darry (Justin Long) and Trish (Gina Philips), bickering brother and sister returning home on a college spring break road trip are terrorized by someone driving a beaten up, souped-up truck. Later they witness the tall dark silhouette figure casually throwing bodies wrapped in sheets down a metal chute just off the road beside a derelict church. Very creepy.

Warning! Demon in truck approaching!

Of course, you and I would put peddle to the metal and get the hell away from there, but after the truck pursues them and runs them off the road, Darry has an overwhelming moral urge to return to the church site to see if the victims are still alive. His staunch sister knows it’s a bad idea. But hey, when do brothers ever listen to their sisters?

Gina Philips as Trish

Darry ends up falling down the chute and discovers something very wrong in the underground basement, something deeply disturbing, something truly unholy and mortifying. He manages to find a way back to the surface, but is too shocked to properly communicate with his sister.

Hey sis, I reckon going down this chute would be a really good idea

Later at a diner a psychic Jezelle (Patricia Belcher) telephones them and spouts what sounds like a load of nonsense, but enough to spook the siblings even further. After an encounter with a crazy cat lady (the always good Eileen Brennan), a deadly incident involving a local patrol car, and a wild stand-off with the seemingly invincible dark trench-coated figure, Darry and Trish end up at the police station where a dire situation unfolds.

Justin Long as Darry

Written and directed by Victor Salva (he made the Disney drama Powder), Jeepers Creepers (2001) is a surprisingly effective and swiftly-paced creature feature. Sure, it’s very far-fetched with the main characters frequently doing irrational things and never saying quite what they oughta, you know what I mean, but hey it still works. And it lurches a damn flapping treat in the pale moonlight.

Jeepers Creepers Gina Philips, Justin Long and Jon Beshara

So a big, dark, winged nasty muthafucker attacked you, yeah sure I believe you

In fact there are some neat lines of dialogue, mostly delivered by Trish; “You know the part in horror movies when somebody does something really stupid, and everybody hates him for it. This is it!” or after they’ve run over The Creeper a few times Darry asks “Is he dead?” at which Trish replies, “They never are.” They’re a little self-conscious, but they add a streak of wry humour that’s needed.

The Creeper in the moonlight

The Creeper (played with great menacing relish by Jonathon Breck) is a wonderfully enigmatic demonic villain. Something to rival Freddy Krueger even, except The Creeper’s dangerous mystery was spoiled by a mediocre sequel which upped the obnoxious body count and tried to reason too much. Part of Jeepers Creepers' dark charm and frightening atmosphere is having the audience at the same level as Darry and Trish; who are wondering what on earth is going on?!

Jeepers Creepers Justin Long, Eileen Brennan and Gina Philips

That don't look like my damn scarecrow out there yonder!

It’s a dark movie, subject matter obviously, but it’s also a film of dark cinematography, which certainly adds palpable fear. Director Salva doesn’t fall prey to trying to out gore other creature features, instead relying more on sustained jeopardy and suggested graphic horror, like when The Creeper is chowing down on some jailbait, with only glimpses of flesh and bone and the sound of hungry gobbling and munching.

Jeepers Creepers Justin Long and Jonathon Breck

The Creeper doesn't part with its food so easily

The Creeper is an archaic demon who once a year embarks on an extended feast of devouring humans consumed by fear. On the web some viewers have remarked that The Creeper is homosexual because a) he likes sniffing Darry’s underwear b) he passionately kisses then tears the tongue of a decapitated male cop out with his teeth and c) director Salva is gay. It’s extraordinary what some people will read into a movie and its filmmakers. It’s also damn stupid as well. However, Salva does have a rather unsavoury past which continues to haunt him.

Jeepers Creepers won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, the macabre tone and sheer outlandishness of it all, as well as some of the characters’ implausible actions, especially the police. Trish does something as well where you have to suspend belief, but hey, it enabled a rather nifty horror ending.

Jonathon Breck as The Creeper

Jeepers Creepers is one of those reluctant cult movies. I reckon it’ll age well with solid results. Oh, and stay for the end credits, there’s a neat old time tune Here Comes the Bogeyman …

Here's the theatrical trailer:

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

4 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by KylieW

February 1st 2008 04:53

Celebrity Obsession

Great review Bryn! I really enjoyed this flick - though I did find myself almost yelling at the screen "don't turn back you idiots!" or words to those effects when Darry just has to go back see about the bodies! but I suppose it woudln't have been much of a horror movie if they didn't!

Comment by Damo

February 1st 2008 05:31

For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics

Actual I have this and the sequel on DVD.

I saw the sequel first which meant that the plot was not so revealing when I saw number one. I like them both.

I like the silliness and the suspense. However I really did not suffer from terror at any stage. Just a sort of uneasy tension. The dialogue was sharp, the characters likable(even the Creeper) and pace fast enough never to bore me. A rainy Saturday stuck at home favorite.

Good review.

Comment by Wayne F

February 1st 2008 10:50

Bucket Movies

I enjoyed this movie when I watched it. I thought it started off pretty well but then got a bit weird when the creature was revealed. Watching it a second time though I enjoyed it a lot more. I watched the 2nd movie and thought that was pretty cool as well though I enjoyed the first a lot more.

Comment by Lourensh

February 14th 2008 06:29

Watched it too. Its pretty creepy. And the ending is not what I expected, so that makes it ok.

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