CREEPSHOW 2 (1987)

3 stars

Arrow Films. Limited Edition 4K UHD and Limited edition Blu ray. Out Now

Another helping of EC comic style horrors adapted from Stephen King – the second segment here is based on a short story by the author, with the other two being written for the film itself. George Romero steps away from the directing this time out and wrote the screenplay, with Michael Gornick helming this outing. He was cinematographer on the first film an d other Romero movies. Instead of the five tales, like the original, this has just three parts, plus the usual animated wraparound (which looks like it was done on the cheap, like much of the film itself).

First up is ‘Old Chief Wood’nhead’ – in the appropriately named town Dead River, which has seen better days, an elderly couple, Ray Spruce (George Kennedy) and his wife Martha (Dorothy Lamour), run the general store. One day he is given a bag of precious jewellery by the local elder of the Native American tribe, Benjamin (Frank Salsedo), as collateral against their debt to the store. Unfortunately, later that night the couple end up killed when Benjamin’s nephew and friends rob the shop – the titular large wooden statue outside (which Ray has lovingly looked after for years) comes to life to avenge their deaths… a low key start to the terror tales.

The second story, ‘The Raft’ is a rather silly story of a bunch of teens visiting an out of the way lake. They swim out to the wooden platform in the middle of the waters and are soon attacked by what looks like a large plastic bin bag covered in rubbish which gobbles them up Blob-style. The stinger is an unseen sign saying “No Swimming”.

The last is the best and the one that leans into horror more. Annie Lansing (Lois Chiles) is having an affair. Rushing home to get back before her husband gets home, she loses control of her car and runs down a hitchhiker. As no one saw her, she leaves the scene of the crime – but the victim of her hit and run keeps reappearing, ever more grisly at each encounter. This episode is actually well done with great bloody make up effects. Author Stephen King pops up in a cameo.

Having just a trio of tales does give them more room to breath but the quality her is variable (as it is in many of these multi part outings). If you are a fan, the movie looks splendid on this new release from Arrow. It is the usual extras stuffed package.

Steve Kirkham

EXTRAS

Audio commentary with director Michael Gornick

Interviews with screenwriter George A. Romero/actor and make-up artist Tom Savini/actor Daniel Beer/interview with actor Tom Wright

Various featurettes – one on the specials effects, and appreciation of special effects pioneer Rick Baker by Howard Berger, plus Behind-the-scenes footage

Image gallery and Trailers & TV spots

Original screenplay galleries

Plus: Creepshow 2: Pinfall, a Limited Edition booklet featuring the comic adaptation of the unfilmed Creepshow 2 segment “Pinfall” by artist Jason Mayoh, an Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by festival programmer Michael Blyth and a Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Mike Saputo