This cheesy comedy horror sequel is worth a laugh or two if you're in the right silly mood...but it's far from being a good movie. Where the first CREEPSHOW had five or so stories and a snappy, blink-and-you'll-miss-it pacing, CREEPSHOW 2 is more laborious and slow-moving. This time around, there are only three tales, surrounded by an ultra-cheesy CARTOON wraparound that has really bad animation - and seems to be aimed at 4 year-olds rather than a mature horror fanatic looking for some blood. In fact, the only thing interesting about the wraparound is the appearance of Tom Savini, unrecognisable as the Creep, who chucks things from the back of a van a couple of times.
The first story in CREEPSHOW 2 has the best cast and most old-fashioned and detailed of plotting. It takes the form of a simplistic revenge story in which a giant wooden Indian statue takes revenge after its owners are murdered. George Kennedy and Dorothy Lamour, two old-timers from the heyday of cinema, put in good work here, and the villains are suitably villainous to be effective. There's a nice element of Native American mysticism added to the mix, and a fun climax.
The second story is based on a Stephen King story, and is definitely the most exciting of the bunch. Four teenage tearaways are trapped on a raft in a lake in the middle of nowhere by a gloopy blob that is pretty similar to the one in THE BLOB (surprise). There's a memorable scene in which the hero forgets about his peril and sneaks a peek up his (female) companion's shirt only to get a nasty surprise, and lots of slimy, sticky and quite disgusting special effects to stay in the mind. The segment's final image proves to be unforgettable, the only thing I could remember about this film 6 years after I first saw it.
The final story is notable in that it stars Lois Chiles, better known as Holly Goodhead in MOONRAKER. Chiles is seemingly down on her luck here, whipping off her top within the first minute of appearing, and her acting isn't too good - far too over-the-top. However, the rest of the story ingredients are also over-the-top, so it seems somehow appropriate. This is the one with the famous quote "thanks for the ride, lady!", as a woman driver kills a hitch-hiker in a hit and run accident, and is subsequently haunted by his rapidly-falling-apart body. Tom Wright (the Jamaican cop from MARKED FOR DEATH) is the hitch-hiker, and, despite the comedy, this is the film's strongest segment with some really icky gore effects. Stephen King also pops up in an amusing cameo as a trucker.
The first story in CREEPSHOW 2 has the best cast and most old-fashioned and detailed of plotting. It takes the form of a simplistic revenge story in which a giant wooden Indian statue takes revenge after its owners are murdered. George Kennedy and Dorothy Lamour, two old-timers from the heyday of cinema, put in good work here, and the villains are suitably villainous to be effective. There's a nice element of Native American mysticism added to the mix, and a fun climax.
The second story is based on a Stephen King story, and is definitely the most exciting of the bunch. Four teenage tearaways are trapped on a raft in a lake in the middle of nowhere by a gloopy blob that is pretty similar to the one in THE BLOB (surprise). There's a memorable scene in which the hero forgets about his peril and sneaks a peek up his (female) companion's shirt only to get a nasty surprise, and lots of slimy, sticky and quite disgusting special effects to stay in the mind. The segment's final image proves to be unforgettable, the only thing I could remember about this film 6 years after I first saw it.
The final story is notable in that it stars Lois Chiles, better known as Holly Goodhead in MOONRAKER. Chiles is seemingly down on her luck here, whipping off her top within the first minute of appearing, and her acting isn't too good - far too over-the-top. However, the rest of the story ingredients are also over-the-top, so it seems somehow appropriate. This is the one with the famous quote "thanks for the ride, lady!", as a woman driver kills a hitch-hiker in a hit and run accident, and is subsequently haunted by his rapidly-falling-apart body. Tom Wright (the Jamaican cop from MARKED FOR DEATH) is the hitch-hiker, and, despite the comedy, this is the film's strongest segment with some really icky gore effects. Stephen King also pops up in an amusing cameo as a trucker.