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The anthology format is a woefully underused cinematic style, in particular when it comes to horror. The 1980s gave us numerous proofs of the concept like Cat’s Eye, the Twilight Zone movie, and even the first three Halloween movies. But today’s review covers what might be the best of the bunch.
Creepshow, a macabre collection of spine-tingling tales written by Stephen King and directed by George A. Romero, debuted in 1982 and has been thrilling horror fans ever since. The film’s narrative structure – and visual presentation – harkens back to classic horror comics, creating a uniquely stylized storytelling approach that evokes nostalgia for the old EC horror comics.
Romero showcases his talent for creating an atmosphere of dread. He uses clever camera angles, eerie lighting, and a deliciously kitsch period score to heighten tension. Stephen King leverages his early career knack for plumbing the darkest corners of the human psyche. The results do the old EC rags proud, weaving tales as thought-provoking as they are terrifying.
After an opening wraparound segment featuring a young Joe Hill – King’s son and a best seller in his own right – the comic book vignettes kick off with a classic return-from-the-grave story about a father who comes back for revenge and cake. “Father’s Day” sets a pitch-perfect tone supported by exceptional practical effects that still hold up today. The tension and gore are expertly balanced, making them horrifying and strangely captivating.
More impressive still, Creepshow‘s tales manage to work in just the right amount of comedy without blunting the horror. The second tale, to the delight of Stephen King fans and detractors alike, features the author hamming it up as a Down East hick who gets an ironic comeuppance. In another against-type performance, beloved comedic actor Leslie Nielsen takes a ghoulish turn as a coldblooded murderer. This juxtaposition creates striking contrast that gives the horror all the more impact.
Perhaps the most memorable story follows a mysterious crate discovered in a university basement. Veteran gore makeup master – and veteran – Tom Savini achieves a career high point crafting the havoc unleashed when the crate is opened. These landmark practical effects and creature designs clinch the film’s status as a classic.
Fun fact: Much like its contemporary genre fellow Poltergeist, this movie features real human remains.
This dedication to detail is how Creepshow masterfully balances multiple subgenres of horror, from the supernatural and psychological to the downright gruesome. Each segment explores a different facet of fear in a way that makes the whole greater than the sum of its parts.
Creepshow is a horror anthology that has stood the test of time. Watching it leaves the viewer reflecting on what a shame it is that the horror anthology format didn’t get wider play in Hollywood. And this film’s ability to deftly combine multiple subgenres of horror under the aegis of classic horror comics and deliver a suspenseful, visually striking experience makes it a bloody gem.
If you’re a fan of films that offer equal parts chills and laughs, Creepshow is a classic that deserves a place on your shelf.
As do its two sequels.
That’s right, two.
More on those later.
In the meanwhile, for entertainment that also gives pride of place to detail, read my second illustrated tech guide.
There is a current anthology series right now called V/H/S that centers on different themes around found VHS footage, but I have yet to see it. Reception is all over the place.
Honestly though, I do wish anthologies were more common in film. They seemed to die off with the ’80s. Even anime had them like with Memories, Robot Carnival, The Cockpit, and Neo Tokyo. It’s a shame that they stopped.
From what I’ve heard about some recent horror films is that they are needlessly padded to reach full feature length and I wonder if a lot of that could be alleviated if they started making anthologies common again. Who knows, maybe it’ll take the indies to make that change. At this point I don’t know who else would.
At this point, mixed reviews are a hopeful sign.
Could it just be that anthologies are harder to merchandise?
It’s possible. If so, Creepshow would be the exception to the rule. You still see Gen Y horror geeks sporting the tee shirts.
Two sequels? Now we’re talking!
Are you going to cover the TV series and animated special, while you’re at it?
Glad you’re interested. To be honest, I haven’t seen enough of the TV series. And you’re the first to mention an animated special to me.