Summary
Once in a while, a new show will come along with little to no warning. It is a show that seems simple in concept yet provides a complex, compelling, and engaging experience between the audience and the characters in that show. Even rarer still is a show thatstems from a popular film franchisethat captures the magic that made those films such standouts. Yet Shudder’sThe Creep Tapesis just such a show.
The Creep Tapesare a continuation of theCreepfilm franchise. It stars Mark Duplass as thecharismatic yet disturbing serial killerwho uses ads placed online or seemingly happenstance circumstances to mess with and then end the lives of his victims. The series is shot in a found-footage style format, with each “tape” part of the killer’s haunting collection. While the stories in this series and the honest way the shots are set up for each “tape” add to the series' appeal, there is little doubt that Duplass’s performance is what draws in audiences.The Creep Tapesdeserve a second season, and there are a few reasons why.
The Creep Tapes, Explained
The story ofCreepfollows a serial killer whose name varies from victim to victim. He officially holds the moniker of “Peachfuzz,” and the exploits he has with each of his victimsare documented in home moviesfilmed by the victims themselves. Each victim experiences the killer similarly, with only a few details changing from person to person.
At first, the killer appears as an overeager, upbeat, and intense individual who charms his way into the lives of his victims, whether by chance or by design through online ads he has placed. As the day goes on with each person, the killer begins to exhibit more and more unhinged behavior, from confessions of violent tendencies to invading the personal space of his victims and so much more.The killer’s true intentionsbegin to reveal themselves, and the victims are left scrambling to fight for their lives against a confident killer who often boasts of a deep connection between himself and his victims.
The Creep Tapesare a continuation of those films, with each tape representing one of his many victims over the years. Scenarios show him pretendingto be an aspiring actorsending in an audition tape, as an esteemed school to a skydiver who landed in the wrong spot, and so much more. Each tape expands upon the chaos and the psychopathy of the deranged killer and his effortless drive to kill.
Season 2 Needs to Arrive Before Creep 3
For years, the franchise has teased a third film in theCreepseries. Having gained popularity with the first two films on Netflix, the cliffhanger ending ofCreep 2has left many fans eager to see Duplass’shaunting yet engaging serial killerreturn for one final hurrah. Yet asThe Creep Tapeshave shown, the killer’s disturbing collection of home movies is the perfect way to expand upon the mythos of this evolving story. A second season needs to arrive before the third film is made (assuming it does get made at some point).
The tapes themselves represent the history and evolution of Peachfuzz and its killer creator, with the first film having ended showing an entire entertainment center filled with tapes similar to the one he got from the first film’s target. Whether it is an art form, a skill, or a disturbance in the force, the killer’s ability to charm, disarm, and then “Creep” the victims out with his bolder and bolder actions didn’t occur overnight. Seeing this character’s arc through each tape and how he has grown over time is important to understandingthe future of the franchiseas a whole.
The simplicity of the idea makes it even scarier. Everyone has come across a seemingly nice and charming person in their lives at one point or another, who turned out to be far more sinister than they appeared. It plays well into the idea that everyone and anyone can be that kind of creep. There are also many questions left to be answered, from whom the woman at the other end of the phone from the first film truly was, to what happened at the end of the second film andhow he became a killerto begin with.
These unanswered questions and Duplass' incredible performances makeThe Creep Tapesamasterful new series for horror fans on Shudder, and one that is in need of a second season. The mix of an anthology style of storytelling with the overarching connection these stories share thanks to the stellar performance of Mark Duplass and the chilling nature of this killer overall will leave fans eager for more. Horror fans can watch all episodes ofThe Creep Tapesnow on Shudder.
