Whether you’re already a member of the Peachfuzz fan club, or you are new to the world of Creep, make sure you press play on The Creep Tapes. Brice and Duplass have created a master class in dark humor that will have you begging for more.

It’s tubby time! Creep fans roared with excitement when Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass (and Peachfuzz) appeared in the flesh to introduce Shudder’s new series, The Creep Tapes, previewing its first three episodes to audiences at Fantastic Fest.

First premiering ten years ago, Creep (2014) has become a cult classic, especially for fans of found footage. Known by various names like Josef and Wolfy, Mark Duplass’s character has become everyone’s favorite fictional serial killer. His charm lures you in and it is not until it is too late that you notice the strangeness start to bleed through. After continuing his story in Creep 2 (2017), which gives a new meaning to finding someone to match your freak, it remained a mystery what dark places the franchise would choose to explore. Rather than another feature film, audiences will be able to witness a variety of shenanigans in episodic form. Explaining that it is already difficult enough to create a solid story that exceeds the 80-minute mark given their chosen method of filmmaking let alone try to conjure a third feature as was promised, Brice and Duplass found a freedom in creating tight and contained vignettes into the life of this whimsical killer.

This freedom is evident in the playfulness of The Creep Tapes. Brice and Duplass, and the rest of their crew, are able to play make-believe within the world of horror and even stated during the accompanying Q+A that they feel like little kids just running around the forest with a camera–which is a familial and nostalgic style of filmmaking that makes its audience feel like part of something special. Not to mention, Mark Duplass is truly committed to the portrayal of someone so terrifying and uncomfortable yet silly—you never quite know which side of him you’ll get and we see more of this certified creep than we’ve ever seen before, even if you did not think it possible. Each episode is named for the victim that will be subject to the wrath of Peachfuzz, and we are able to see the range of creativity and experimentation he enacts on his victims. Rather than a “monster of the week” type show, we get a “victim of the week” that will not follow a broader narrative arc, which is refreshing in the current television climate.

Of the six episodes set to air on Shudder starting this November, Fantastic Fest audiences were able to see the first three episodes—and each episode gets wackier. The first episode reintroduces you to the format, following a man who hires a filmmaker off Craigslist to record him, and as the day progresses, the cameraman bears witness to more and more unsettling behavior. After this first episode, all rules are off the table. While there is a simplicity intact, making sure Creep never flies too close to the Sun, there is still a guarantee that each episode will bring something new to the lore behind this killer. He is more than just the gyrating hips and wolf mask that we know and love.

Brice and Duplass have created a master class in dark humor that will have you begging for more. Even if you prefer a feature to a television series, you can never go wrong with the simple and honest filmmaking that this team brings to this project. Whether you’re already a member of the Peachfuzz fan club, or you are new to the world of Creep, make sure you press play on The Creep Tapes.

Grade: A

Oscars Prospects:
Likely: None
Should be Considered: None

Release Date: November 15, 2024
Where to Watch: Streaming on Shudder