FRIDAY NIGHT FRIGHTS: CREEPSHOW 2 (1987) “Thanks For the Ride, Nerd!”
I can clearly remember my first time seeing Creepshow 2. It was back in the sixth grade and a friend of mine managed to talk the guy who worked at our tiny neighborhood video store into letting us rent it. This despite the fact that it was rated R and we were only 11 years old. We took it back to his place since his parents weren’t home (my friend, not the video store guy) and popped it into the VCR. We were clearly doing something “bad” which only heightened that viewing. It also meant that even if the movie ended up not being any good (spoiler alert, it’s pretty good) it was still going to be fun. Oh and there’s also that minor detail about it being one of my earliest memories of seeing a woman topless.
Like the original, this sequel is an anthology movie featuring several tales woven by Stephen King with both featuring a cool wraparound storyline about a kid reading a comic book clearly based on the old EC horror titles (Tales from the Crypt, Vault of Horror, etc.). And while Creepshow was directed by George Romero, this one sees him taking on screenplay adaptation duties with Michael Gornick (veteran of Tales from the Darkside and Monsters) behind the camera. Also unlike that first installment there are only 3 stories featured here instead of 5 (with unfortunately none of them reaching the terrifying heights of that film’s “The Crate" chapter but whoo boy, talk about a tall order). Let’s dive in!
Old Chief Wood'nhead
First up is in my opinion, the weakest of of the bunch and also one that for sure wouldn’t fly these days. It centers around a kind old couple who run a general store in a small town. A nearby Native American tribe bring them valuable jewelry to pay off some debt and before leaving bid farewell to Old Chief Wood'nhead, the cigar store Indian standing guard in front of the shop. Later that night a rebellious member of the same tribe and his dipshit buddies decide to rob the joint and make out with anything they can to help fulfill the leader of the gang’s dream of hitting the big time in Hollywood. Well, let’s just say he doesn’t make it to L.A. This is one that I tend to skip when watching the movie but I do have to give credit to the makeup and practical effects work included (but that’s really across the board).
The Raft
Up next we’ve got The Raft which is also the story that was featured most prominently in the advertising campaign. And for good reason! Despite the glaring narrative simplicity, this one is highly effective in instilling the uh…creeps (?). It sees a group of kids on a hot Summer afternoon looking for a good spot to go swimming. Upon seeing a raft out in the middle of a small lake they hit the water and swim toward it to lounge in the sunshine. Once there, a mysterious dark spot in the water that resembles a giant trash bag begins to head their way and yep, you can see where this is going. While the creature itself isn’t particularly impressive visually, the kills themselves look great and are highly disturbing. The Raft has a charming kind of less is more quality that works very well and oh yeah, the boobs. This is the one that has the boobs.
The Hitchhiker
The 3rd and final tale is one that feels the most like a classic urban legend or something out of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. The set up again is very simple: A woman who is having an affair has to make it home in time before her husband gets there. Along the way, she is involved in a hit and run and the man that she ran over keeps appearing, haunting her on the rest of the drive. The premise is admittedly stretched pretty thin and does become a bit repetitive but this is the one I remember loving most as a kid. If not for the great catchphrase (“Thanks for the ride, lady”) then for that always welcome in these kinda movies Stephen King cameo.
“Thanks for the ride, Stephen.”
If one were to stack the two movies up together, the first Creepshow would certainly come out on top in just about every category: Cinematography, effects, variety of stories (not to mention amount) and performances. But 2 still has some good scares and I think it’s fun to watch them both together anyway as a natural double feature. Oh, and it does have one crucial bit of imagery going for it which is the legendary Tom Savini as a live action The Creep who pops up in the wraparound.
Now that is some damn nightmare fuel right there people.
Creepshow 2 is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel , AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+, Shudder, Shudder Amazon Channel or for free with ads on The Roku Channel, Tubi TV, Pluto TV
