In
the 1930s, the classic Universal monster movies suggested monsters were really
a lot like people, except maybe more so. The pendulum shifted in the 1970s,
when horror movies argued people were a lot like monsters, but maybe worse. The
second contention is clearly reflected in both of the latest tales of terror
featured on the third episode of Creepshow, the series, which just debuted on Shudder.
Trick-or-treating
is a classic staple of horror movies, but there is something different about the
group of kids-in-costume we will be following in All Hallows Eve. It soon
become clear the town is terrified of what they might do as a trick, so they
nervously indulge them with treats. Hallows seems like a disappointingly
conventional horror story, maybe somewhat akin to the It’s a Good Life segment
of the Twilight Zone Movie, but director John Harrison and screenwriter
Bruce Jones successfully manage to turn our assumptions about the characters
inside-out during the third act. In fact, Hallows turns out to be surprisingly
poignant at the eleventh hour. It is definitely the best of the episode, but
far from the series’ best.
Things
get rather Faustian in The Man in the Suitcase, directed by David
Bruckner (known for The Ritual and a segment of the original V/H/S),
arguably the best-known director to helm an episode of Creepshow, the series,
thus far. It all start when Justin, an underachieving stoner (is there any
other kind?), picks up the wrong bag at the airport. Instead of his Bermuda shorts
and dirty underwear, he finds a distressed Middle Eastern man crammed inside,
in a painful looking contorted state.
As
the sluggish Justin ineffectually struggles to help the man escape his luggage
prison, he discovers his guest spontaneously produces gold coins whenever he
feels pain. That doesn’t really give Justin any ideas, but his roommate Alex
and his ex-girlfriend Carla are far greedier and considerably more devious.
When they learn his secret, they quickly devise torturous methods to mine gold
from the stranger’s misfortune. Of course, there is more to it than that, or it
wouldn’t have a place in the sinister world of Creepshow.
Creepshow, the series,
still has great potential and some terrific stories already under its belt. All
Hallows Eve & Man in the Suitcase both have some
intriguing moments, but this is not likely to be an episode fans frequently
re-watch. Horror fans will still probably find it worth sticking with the
series. After all, who could possibly turn away from Creepshow? Episode
three is now streaming on Shudder.
