Post by StevePulaski on Oct 25, 2017 20:38:11 GMT -5
Creep 2 (2017)
Directed by: Patrick Brice
Directed by: Patrick Brice
Mark Duplass in Creep 2.
Rating: ★★★½
Creep 2 is the sequel few outwardly predicted that now spawns a franchise few could've successfully dreamed. A big enough thanks to Netflix for its continued commitment to funding and releasing eclectic films such as this, the original Creep, Pat Healy's Take Me, and a plethora of other obscure movies that big movie studios wouldn't bother to sneer at is seriously in order.
Immediately as Creep 2 begins, one gets the feeling that collaborators and co-writers Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass sat down and had a long talk with one another about how to conduct a sequel to such an off-kilter film. The two wisely commit to a formula that isn't designed to shock and provoke like the first film; both men seem to know that the tricks in the first film are now well-known and recognized by the eager viewers that ate Creep up as soon as it hit streaming. Because Brice and Duplass aren't trying to scare you on a consistent basis, but rather unsettle and heighten your moviegoing senses, the fun of Creep 2 lies much deeper, with a lot more psychological and charismatic undertones surfacing over the course of 80 briskly paced minutes.
We follow Sara (Desiree Akhavan), a devoted content-creator on the internet, who films and produces her own show called "Encounters." Sara has made her life interesting and her online personality exciting by responding to the strangest Craigslist ads and filming the encounters into weekly episodes. Despite her commitment, her views are paltry and she feels as if she's playing life a bit too safe. She responds to the ad of a man requesting filming services (in addition to someone with mutual interest in the film Interview with a Vampire). Sara arrives to his home and he introduces himself as Aaron (Mark Duplass, who, if you recall, is now using the same name as Patrick Brice's character from the first film), instantly positioning himself as a squirrely person with plenty of eccentric quirks.
The difference this time around is Aaron (who was known as "Josef" in Creep) has grown tired of being a serial killer. Within the first few minutes of the film, Aaron begrudgingly slits the throat of an amiable character the second he realizes he's in a dangerous situation and needs to make a run for it; he's murdered by the same person who pretended to be his friend for so many weeks. Following his unforgivable acts, Aaron puts his head in his hand as the blood spurts from the man's throat and dries on the wall, in the midst of an existential funk Ingmar Bergman wouldn't bestow on his subjects.
Aaron admits to Sara within moments of meeting her that he has murdered 39 people, and promises not to murder her for the next 24 hours if she assists him in making a documentary about his life. After a nervous monologue in the bathroom with the camera, Sara agrees, only for Aaron to become frustrated rather quickly and throw a temper-tantrum in the middle of the words when outside forces such as squawking birds and airplanes effect the quality of their shoot. Aaron soon shows his roots as a pathological liar, unable to be trusted as his relationship with Sara becomes deeply personal and rapidly uncomfortable.
The whole aura of Creep 2 is uncomfortable, but never bluntly scary, which might turn off a few fans of the original. Creep awkwardly positioned the viewer where they felt perpetually offput by Josef's increasingly personal advances, but we could never look away despite squirming in our seat. In Creep 2, Sara carries a stronger aura than the timid Aaron from the original film, shown by Duplass' characters repeated attempts to make her jump that fall flat. Sara's reactions to Aaron's pathetic attempts to scare us do in part to echo the possible reactions of the audience had they been treated to the same worn-out jump-scares for a second outing.
With that in mind, Creep 2 proceeds forward on intrigue, with deeply convincing moments involving Aaron that show the more vulnerable side of his character. I stand by my belief that Creep is a strong showcase of what Duplass can do as a performer, and in the sequel, he's aided by the capabilities of Desiree Akhavan, an ideal co-star and lead actress whose strength as and raw emotion are well-communicated as she tries to remain strong during a very unconventional situation.
Creep 2 keeps this unlikely series going simultaneously by sticking to familiar territory and yet changing it up enough to adapt to the consumer who has wised up a little since the previous outing. Like the first film, there's nothing daring nor revolutionary about the filmmaking, but the way that Brice, Duplass, and even Akhavan confidently move forward in positioning this sequel and thoughtfully changing the formula so as not to look and feel like a retread tells us all we need to know about them. They are passionate about what they do and willing to churn out a solid product for the brave and willing.
Starring: Desiree Akhavan and Mark Duplass. Directed by: Patrick Brice.