Film Critic to the Culver City Observer and over 132 Publications Worldwide including: The Observer, Inc., John Schimmenti, Inc., CCN, Inc.,
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Jeepers Creepers 2
by
debbie lynn elias
Set a few days after the original, it’s now the 22nd day and The Creeper is still a tad hungry. Eyeing a potentially fruitful cornfield, The Creeper "pretends" to be a scarecrow, luring in an innocent child, whom he snatches, grabs and snacks on. (Known for having a taste for teens, it’s a bit out of character for The Creeper to go after a child; an action never explained by director/writer Salva.) Too bad for the Creeper, his appetizer was the son of local farmer Jack Taggart who is determined to seek vengeance on his son’s abductor.
Gruesome, bloody, brutal, pee-in-your-pants terror emanates from the screen as this go round, director Salva gives us more than shadowy views, glimpses and backlit outlines of The Creeper. Providing us with full-on, close-up detailed shots, Salva adds new elements to the already known package as some of the "unknown" is eliminated and attention is now paid with excruciating detail to The Creeper, the physical detail of which, thanks to cinematographer Don E. FauntLeRoy, is even more frightening than unknown shadows.
Richard Redlefsen returns to handle the Creeper make-up and costuming and does another incredible job. Thanks to a budget double that of the first installment, Creeper 2 has a superior level of make-up and effects, all of which only add to the story and never moreso than with the Creeper itself. Previously a rather lumbering, albeit winged creature, The Creeper now takes more to the sky with far greater speed and stealth, giving him wider meal selection and the ability to swoop own and effortlessly pluck his dinner as if an apple from a tree. Oooh yeah, there’s nothing like having The Creeper winking and smiling at you as he licks his lips in anticipation of what’s to come! Creepy and a little tongue-in-cheek at the same time. Perfect. The special effects are grandly and gloriously gruesome creating a fear factor that will make you wish you brought Band-Aids with you to the theater to tape your bloodied fingers (either from gripping your seat or digging your nails into your date)
As with the original, character development is minor with just enough involvement and interaction from the humans as is necessary. As opposed to our prior brother-sister pairing, here the main focus is on Jack Taggart played by 50 year tv and film veteran Ray Wise (who you can also see this week in Project Greenlight’s "The Battle of Shaker Heights). He makes Taggart interesting by adding some depth and believable emotion as a father who has lost his child, evoking an air of sympathy, and at times even a cheer, from the audience as he takes on The Creeper. And thankfully, Jonathan Breck returns as The Creeper.
Salva has given "Jeepers Creepers 2" legs sturdy enough to stand on its own without relying on the original. A brief set-up early on, some skillful manipulation of classic horror effects, increased action and kill-time, the added dimension of some outstanding special effects and increased detail and attention to The Creeper itself gives "Jeepers Creepers 2" all that is needed to be one ruthless, gruesome, terrifying delight.
Now, if we can only get Freddy and The Creeper to go head to head........
Jonathan Breck: The Creeper
Ray Wise: Jack Taggart
Nicki Avcox: Minxie Hayes
Written and Directed by Victor Salva. MGM Pictures. Rated R (104 minutes)