Post by StevePulaski on Jun 29, 2015 13:40:15 GMT -5
Creep (2015)
Directed by: Patrick Brice
Mark Duplass in Creep.
Rating: ★★★½
Directed by: Patrick Brice
Mark Duplass in Creep.
Rating: ★★★½
The locations, the lack of many characters, the simple, unremarkable settings, and the lack of any special effects make Creep a film almost anybody could make, but its deceptively thoughtful writing and visceral, effective acting make it a film that few could really make well. Creep is far and beyond the most tantalizing and unsettling film of the year, taking mumblecore horror films to the next level with its pacing and muted aesthetics despite a threadbare plot and minimal action.
We focus on Aaron (Patrick Brice), a videographer looking to make a quick buck via Craigslist. He takes a job offered by a man named Josef (Mark Duplass), who requires a simple video shoot throughout his spacious cabin. Josef tells Aaron early on that he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer that will kill him in the next three months and he won't be able to see the birth of his child. The video project involves Josef talking to his son and playfully interacting with him, such as engaging in a "tubby time" together in the bathtub.
Josef's personality is loud and unpredictable; he believes in the miracles of life, as him and Aaron venture into the woods and get lost, in addition to Josef repeatedly scaring Aaron or revealing very personal and often disturbing stories about him. Throughout the film, Josef progressively becomes more and more off, but not in the blatant way films portray oddball characters. Josef's demands of Aaron don't grow more specific and haunting, but his general attitude and bipolar personality does, resulting in Aaron becoming concerned for his safety.
Duplass, who may just be my favorite actor working today, is masterful here. Traditionally, Duplass takes on the role of a listless soul or a stubborn cad with little concern for the feelings of others. In Creep, Duplass inches his stubborn cad role just a tiny bit further into manipulative and unpredictable territory, becoming a haunting screen presence throughout the film. His character is just charismatic enough to believe and just mesmerizing in his ability to be persuasive that you can't take you eyes off of him. Duplass has played many roles and characters well, but this is the first time where he is the driving force behind a project that isn't his own in a directorial sense.
Cowriter/producer/director Brice, however, shouldn't go unnoticed. With every manipulator comes the manipulated and, while delegated to the ostensibly thankless role of being on the losing side, Brice handles his role with conviction and a great deal of control. Brice never becomes too animated with his role nor too obsessed with conjuring up loud, thespian-esque fright or overblown reactions to things happening. He's collective and even-tempered throughout the entire film, even when things get dark.
The real friend to Creep is its pacing, which is intense and consistently frightening. Brice and Duplass conduct this film in a way that flows like a stream of consciousness, never offering hefty, unrealistic plot points and simply go with the flow. This allows for a very naturalistic flow and pace to build, like many other mumblecore films. The film strips down all aesthetic flair and simply allows for pulsating tension, unsettling sequences, sprinkles of humor, and strong performances to carry the film.
Consider Duplass's ability to haunt in the aforementioned "tubby time" scene, where Duplass sits in a bathtub, pretending to wash and play with his baby, going as far to nibble their imaginary toes and snuggle with them on his chest. The scene is incredibly unsettling because of Duplass's capability to leave us uneasy at his level of involvement with this personal project of his. That, combined with the minimalist directorial and aesthetic flair, and all you have left is a wave of unsettling fear.
Creep is an immensely strong effort, and Brice makes a splash on the independent scene, releasing this and his other film The Overnight (soon to be seen by me) alongside one another. Brice makes the kind of splash Mark Duplass and his brother Jay made on the indie scene, following the release of their 2005 Sundance debut The Puffy Chair amidst a plethora of early short projects. This kind of work early on in a career is startling and makes me anxious for what's to come from yet another soul unafraid to strip his filmmaking tactics down to the bare minimum to, in turn, offer the maximum in entertainment.
Starring: Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass. Directed by: Patrick Brice.