In honor of the witching season, we’ll profile a new Halloween-centric title every day throughout the month of October.
READY FOR ANOTHER SHOT, DAD?
Article by Adam Mast
CREEPSHOW (R)-1982
1982 saw a winning collaboration between horror heavyweights George A. Romero (NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD) and Stephen King (THE SHINING) in the form of this masterful, horrific, playful, creative, and all together hilarious adaptation of the E.C. comics series of the 50’s.
CREEPSHOW is a perfect film to watch during Halloween season, but it’s also a brilliant product of its time bringing together not only icons King and Romero, but make-up effects wizard Tom Savini as well. It literally is a comic book come to vibrant life, and it should also be noted that this is an anthology film. Five gleefully macabre tales strung together by a wonderfully Halloweenish wrap around tale.
Each story is pretty damn great on its own bringing to surface King’s demented sense of humor, Romero’s keen visual style, and Savini’s brilliant gore effects. Of all of CREEPSHOW’s strongest attributes, though-and there are too many to point out in this article-its strongest is its instant quotability! Seriously! There are lines in this picture that are memorable and quotable on an AIRPLANE and ANCHORMAN-like scale. But it’s a testament to the power of the filmmakers behind this 80’s gem that for all the laughter on display, this is also a startling work of horror from three masters of their craft at the very top of their game.
Here’s a more defined peek at the comical/horror brilliance that awaits you in CREEPSHOW! I’ve included snippets of the aforementioned “memorable dialogue” I was referring too. Trust me while I tell you, that the dialogue as recited in the context of this film is unforgettable.
FATHER’S DAY
A Father’s Day family get together is cut short when the long deceased guest of honor returns from the grave to wreak havoc. Ed Harris makes a memorable early screen appearance. His hilarious dance number in FATHER’S DAY is but one of several notable highlights. This one is an absolute riot!
Most Quotable Lines;
“He’s your husband. I don’t even like him.”
“Oh my God!!!!”
“It’s Father’s Day, and I got my cake.”
THE LONESOME DEATH OF JORDY VERRILL
Anyone intrigued at the notion of Stephen King turning into a weed will positively adore this segment in CREEPSHOW. Upon release, this was widely considered the weakest of the film’s five tales but if you ask me, at its very worst, it is still unbelievably badass! In THE LONESOME DEATH OF JORDY VERRILL, King himself plays a quirky backwoods hick whose life is turned upside down after he comes into contact with a meteorite that crashes into his property. The meteorite instantly creates an uncontrollable spreading of vegetation in Verrill’s backyard but more importantly, it has a strange affect on the man himself.
Most Quotable Lines;
“Metero shit!”
“This is going to be extremely painful, Mr. Verrill.”
“Oh no…Not there!”
SOMETHING TO TIDE YOU OVER
Leslie Nielsen stars as a disgruntled richie who doesn’t take kindly to the news that his trophy wife has been having an affair with handsome Ted Danson. So, he decides to do something about it. Something drastic! I’ll refrain from spoiling his vengeful plot only to say that in the irony-filled, darkly hilarious world of SOMETHING TO TIDE YOU OVER, life’s a beach!
Most Quotable Lines;
“I could cover Harry all up…I could make Harry all gone.”
“I’m just wild about Harry.”
“I can hold my breath…FOR A LONG TIME!”
THE CRATE
THE CRATE is the centerpiece of CREEPSHOW. It’s the longest of the 5 stories and has the most star power. THE CRATE features veteran actor Hal Holbrook as the nebbish husband of an abrasive alcoholic of a wife (played by a brilliant Adrienne Barbeau) who tries to aid best friend and college professor colleague Fritz Weaver in the disposing of a strange crate that rests beneath a stairway on campus. The crate itself isn’t as intriguing as the horrific contents that reside inside; Contents that Holbrook realizes he might be able to use to his advantage.
Most Quotable Lines;
“Nothing Wilma. Everything is just fine.”
“Hell of a shot!”
“Now move out of my way, or I swear to God, you’ll be wearing your balls for earrings!”
THEY’RE CREEPING UP ON YOU
E.G. Marshall positively dominates this segment about a cantankerous, ruthless, and incredibly selfish rich old codger who must tend to a bug problem in his multi-million dollar, state of the art penthouse. As Marshall’s bigger than life Mr. Pratt spends the day treating his employees like crap by way of vicious phone calls, he quickly learns that you reap what you so. If you have a fear of bugs, this one is sure to work you over in a big way, and the gruesome final moments are as disgusting as they are hilarious.
Most Quotable Lines;
“…But wear a damn rubber, everyone’s got the damn herpes these days.”
“…Then you can take the family to Disneyland on your f***ing welfare check.”
“What’s a matter, Mr. Pratt? Bug got your tongue?”
WRAP AROUND STORY
CREEPSHOW opens and closes on a fanboy youngster (played by Stephen King’s real life son, Joe) as he deals with his stern father’s abusive attitude towards his love of comic books. Punctuated by a reckless and rebellious spirit, this bookend tale perfectly compliments the tenor of this outstanding movie.
Most Quotable Lines;
“That’s why God made fathers, babe. That’s why God made fathers.”
“Those books…Those sex books.”
“Ready for another shot, dad?”
I positively adore CREEPSHOW! It sits alongside TRICK ‘R TREAT as the absolute personification of Halloween for me. It’s a classic horror/comedy fusion but it’s also rich with irony and subtext. This movie is righteously clever, and bitingly satiric, but mostly, I just love CREEPSHOW because it’s seriously funny and scary in equal measure. The tag line really says it all; “The Most Fun You’ll Ever Have BEING SCARED!”
COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN
October 10th-“Shaun of the Dead“-Click Here
October 9th-“Invasion of the Body Snatchers”– Click Here
October 8th-“The Final Girls”–Click Here
October 7th-“Something Wicked This Way Comes”–Click Here
October 6th- “We Are Still Here”–Click Here
October 5th-“Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn”–Click Here
October 4th- “Phantom of the Paradise“-Click Here
October 3rd-“Poltergeist“-Click Here
October 2nd-“The Babadook“-Click Here
October 1st-“John Carpenter’s The Thing“-Click Here
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