Richard Anthony
05-20-2004, 04:55 PM
CREEPSHOW(1982)
Director: George A. Romero
Starring: Hal Holbrook, Viveca Lindfords, Adrienne Barbeau, Leslie Nielsen, Fritz Weaver, Ted Danson, Stephen King.
In 1982, Horror fans looked forward to the teaming of two of Horror's most important icons. These two Masters of Horror, Stephen King, and George A. Romero, would team up together for the first time to give fright film fans one of the best and most popular Horror anthology films of the 80's. Stephen King was well known at the time as the Master of Horror Novels, his books were best sellers among genre fans, and his novels were being turned into highly anticipated films. George A. Romero was the Master of the Zombie Horror films, his Classic Horror films, "Night Of The Living Dead", and "Dawn Of The Dead" were legendary among Horror fans, and he changed the face of Zombie Horror films forever. It was a natural pairing that the two genre Masters would team up, the only question was when, and on what film they would work on. In 1982, Horror fans were given the answer, Stephen King would write 5 short tales for "Creepshow", and George A. Romero would direct the film. The result was one of the best Horror anthology films to come along in awhile.
"Creepshow" is a wonderful blend of Stephen King's creepy terror tales, mixed with a wonderful sense of macabre humor. Stephen King was inspired by the 1950's EC Horror Comics, which would later be developed into a series of their own, called "Tales From The Crypt". The film mixes Horror and humor with great ease, and each tale has it's own thrills, and chills. The film opens with an upset Father throwing out his young son's Horror comic book. The son sits alone in his room, when suddenly the Creeper, the evil host of the Horror Comic Book, comes to the window and he is ready to spin his tales of terror. This is how "Creepshow" beings, and we are next given 5 frightening and fun tales of terror.
The first story is called "Father's Day", it is the tale of a old man who comes back from the dead, in order to get revenge on his greedy relatives. The old man has revenge on his mind, and he also wants to make sure that he gets a piece of his "Father's Day" cake! This is the macabre humor that Stephen King is noted for in his stories. This tale also has a nod to Romero's 'Dead Films', with the Father coming back for his revenge out of the grave, and Romero directs these scenes with a knowing homage to his classic Zombie films. This tale also has a great cast that includes Ed Harris, and Viveca Lindfords.
The next tale is called "The Lonesome Death Of Jordy Verril", and it's very interesting to note that this tale stars none other than Stephen King himself as Jordy Verril. The tale is about a stupid country bumpkin who discovers a metorite in his backyard and he decides to keep it for himself, and make a fortune on it by selling it. However, being the simpleton that he is, he gets some of the meteorite on himself, and soon he is covered head to toe with it. King plays the part of a dumb simpleton well, and this tale is mostly played for laughs. It is a fun little tale to watch.
The next story is one of my favorites, it's called "Something To Tide You Over", it's the perfect mix of George A. Romero's Zombie Terror, and King's dark and macabre humor. This tale stars Leslie Nielsen, in another one of his serious roles, as a man who finds out that wife is cheating on him(with "Cheers" star Ted Danson). Of course, he wants to get revenge on his cheating wife and her boyfriend, so he does what any reasonable man would do, he buries his wife and her lover up to their necks on the beach, and he waits for the tide to come in! However, things take a strange turn in this tale, as not everything goes as planned for him. This tale is my favorite in "Creepshow", it has just the right mix of terror and humor, and Leslie Nielsen is wonderful as the wronged husband who ends up taking his revenge. George A. Romero also cast Gaylen Ross from his Horror Classic, "Dawn Of The Dead", as the cheating wife in one more nod to his classic Zombie Horror films. The music in this tale is also a standout, the music is haunting and works very well for this tale.
The fourth tale in the film is called 'The Crate", and it's also one of my favorite tales of the film. Hal Holbrook stars in this tale as an unhappy husband who spends most of his time dreaming of ways to get rid of his nagging wife. When Halbrook's friend, played by Fritz Weaver, finds a large Crate, that happens to contain a man-eating beast inside it. It seems that Holbrook's problem is solved, or is it? This tale once again like the tale before it, stands out because it does a perfect job of mixing King's dark humor, and Romero's interesting directing style. The cast in this tale is also outstanding. Hal Holbrook plays the part of the long suffering husband quite well, and Horror favorite Adrienne Barbeau is great as the shrewish and annoying wife. Fritz Weaver is also is good as Hal Holbrook's friend who knows all about the evil beast in the Crate in the basement. Once again, the music in this tale works quite well, and it is a standout in this tale.
The fifth and final tale in the film is called "They're Creeping Up On You", and this tale is not for those who have a fear of cockroaches. This story is about a billionare who can't stand cockroaches, and he goes to great lengths to get rid of these annoying little pests. When there is a blackout in his buliding, he left to defend himself against an army of cockroaches, and they have no intention of letting him leave the building alive. One of the most notable things about this tale is the outstanding FX work from Horror Master, Tom Savini, he has worked with George A. Romero before on his Classic Zombie film, "Dawn Of The Dead", and he lends his great FX work and talent to this film also.
"Creepshow" is an interesting and very successful Horror film. Where some Horror Anthology films in the past may have only had one or two interesting or worthwhile stories, this film has 5 tales that are all interesting and enjoyable. The pairing of Stephen King, and George A. Romero was a success, and the film was a big hit with Horror fans at the box office, and it stands the test of time as it still holds up today. The film was followed by a sequel, "Creepshow 2", which also told a few good tales of terror. "Creepshow" is one of the best films of it's kind, and it proved that the teaming of Horror's Masters was worth the wait after all. For anyone who is looking for a night of Terror and fun, then look no further, as "Creepshow" is the Horror film for you.
Director: George A. Romero
Starring: Hal Holbrook, Viveca Lindfords, Adrienne Barbeau, Leslie Nielsen, Fritz Weaver, Ted Danson, Stephen King.
In 1982, Horror fans looked forward to the teaming of two of Horror's most important icons. These two Masters of Horror, Stephen King, and George A. Romero, would team up together for the first time to give fright film fans one of the best and most popular Horror anthology films of the 80's. Stephen King was well known at the time as the Master of Horror Novels, his books were best sellers among genre fans, and his novels were being turned into highly anticipated films. George A. Romero was the Master of the Zombie Horror films, his Classic Horror films, "Night Of The Living Dead", and "Dawn Of The Dead" were legendary among Horror fans, and he changed the face of Zombie Horror films forever. It was a natural pairing that the two genre Masters would team up, the only question was when, and on what film they would work on. In 1982, Horror fans were given the answer, Stephen King would write 5 short tales for "Creepshow", and George A. Romero would direct the film. The result was one of the best Horror anthology films to come along in awhile.
"Creepshow" is a wonderful blend of Stephen King's creepy terror tales, mixed with a wonderful sense of macabre humor. Stephen King was inspired by the 1950's EC Horror Comics, which would later be developed into a series of their own, called "Tales From The Crypt". The film mixes Horror and humor with great ease, and each tale has it's own thrills, and chills. The film opens with an upset Father throwing out his young son's Horror comic book. The son sits alone in his room, when suddenly the Creeper, the evil host of the Horror Comic Book, comes to the window and he is ready to spin his tales of terror. This is how "Creepshow" beings, and we are next given 5 frightening and fun tales of terror.
The first story is called "Father's Day", it is the tale of a old man who comes back from the dead, in order to get revenge on his greedy relatives. The old man has revenge on his mind, and he also wants to make sure that he gets a piece of his "Father's Day" cake! This is the macabre humor that Stephen King is noted for in his stories. This tale also has a nod to Romero's 'Dead Films', with the Father coming back for his revenge out of the grave, and Romero directs these scenes with a knowing homage to his classic Zombie films. This tale also has a great cast that includes Ed Harris, and Viveca Lindfords.
The next tale is called "The Lonesome Death Of Jordy Verril", and it's very interesting to note that this tale stars none other than Stephen King himself as Jordy Verril. The tale is about a stupid country bumpkin who discovers a metorite in his backyard and he decides to keep it for himself, and make a fortune on it by selling it. However, being the simpleton that he is, he gets some of the meteorite on himself, and soon he is covered head to toe with it. King plays the part of a dumb simpleton well, and this tale is mostly played for laughs. It is a fun little tale to watch.
The next story is one of my favorites, it's called "Something To Tide You Over", it's the perfect mix of George A. Romero's Zombie Terror, and King's dark and macabre humor. This tale stars Leslie Nielsen, in another one of his serious roles, as a man who finds out that wife is cheating on him(with "Cheers" star Ted Danson). Of course, he wants to get revenge on his cheating wife and her boyfriend, so he does what any reasonable man would do, he buries his wife and her lover up to their necks on the beach, and he waits for the tide to come in! However, things take a strange turn in this tale, as not everything goes as planned for him. This tale is my favorite in "Creepshow", it has just the right mix of terror and humor, and Leslie Nielsen is wonderful as the wronged husband who ends up taking his revenge. George A. Romero also cast Gaylen Ross from his Horror Classic, "Dawn Of The Dead", as the cheating wife in one more nod to his classic Zombie Horror films. The music in this tale is also a standout, the music is haunting and works very well for this tale.
The fourth tale in the film is called 'The Crate", and it's also one of my favorite tales of the film. Hal Holbrook stars in this tale as an unhappy husband who spends most of his time dreaming of ways to get rid of his nagging wife. When Halbrook's friend, played by Fritz Weaver, finds a large Crate, that happens to contain a man-eating beast inside it. It seems that Holbrook's problem is solved, or is it? This tale once again like the tale before it, stands out because it does a perfect job of mixing King's dark humor, and Romero's interesting directing style. The cast in this tale is also outstanding. Hal Holbrook plays the part of the long suffering husband quite well, and Horror favorite Adrienne Barbeau is great as the shrewish and annoying wife. Fritz Weaver is also is good as Hal Holbrook's friend who knows all about the evil beast in the Crate in the basement. Once again, the music in this tale works quite well, and it is a standout in this tale.
The fifth and final tale in the film is called "They're Creeping Up On You", and this tale is not for those who have a fear of cockroaches. This story is about a billionare who can't stand cockroaches, and he goes to great lengths to get rid of these annoying little pests. When there is a blackout in his buliding, he left to defend himself against an army of cockroaches, and they have no intention of letting him leave the building alive. One of the most notable things about this tale is the outstanding FX work from Horror Master, Tom Savini, he has worked with George A. Romero before on his Classic Zombie film, "Dawn Of The Dead", and he lends his great FX work and talent to this film also.
"Creepshow" is an interesting and very successful Horror film. Where some Horror Anthology films in the past may have only had one or two interesting or worthwhile stories, this film has 5 tales that are all interesting and enjoyable. The pairing of Stephen King, and George A. Romero was a success, and the film was a big hit with Horror fans at the box office, and it stands the test of time as it still holds up today. The film was followed by a sequel, "Creepshow 2", which also told a few good tales of terror. "Creepshow" is one of the best films of it's kind, and it proved that the teaming of Horror's Masters was worth the wait after all. For anyone who is looking for a night of Terror and fun, then look no further, as "Creepshow" is the Horror film for you.