Director: Fred Dekker
Writer: Fred Dekker
Cast: Tom Atkins, Jason Lively, Jill Whitlow, Steve Marshall
Distributor: TriStar Pictures
Cdn video distributor: Sony Pictures
Night of the Creeps is a zombie/sci-fi/comedy hybrid that mostly passed without notice when released in 1986. Over the years the film has steadily developed a cult following amongst horror fans. Generally because such fans tend to be obsessive-compulsive collectors. Until now this has never been available on dvd, and it’s been driving the laddies crazy.
One striking thing is that it’s a handsomely-shot medium budget film. Nearly every scene is meticulously lit with a lot of smooth-looking dolly and crane shots. It’s a welcome change from the grubby look many genre films still have.
But that’s the main problem. The elegant visuals also enforces a leisurely pace that works against a story that is chock-full of silly action and half-realized story-lines. In the opening sequence, for example, we are introduced to space aliens (who then disappear from the rest of the film), an axe-murderer (who similarly has little to do with the central plot) and a love story between a cop and his high-school sweetie that ultimately becomes inconsequential too. It’s all set in 1959 before the film abruptly jumps forward a quarter-century later and focuses on the central premise; space slugs that gestate in human hosts and turn them into zombies.
Such a mixed-bag of disparate ideas would have worked fine in a more fast-paced film. It wouldn’t give the viewer much time to think about it. Here, though, we do.
The main story is set around a college campus and follows the adventures of a young, insecure boy named Chris (Jason Lively) who is in love with a girl named Cynthia (Jill Whitlow). With the aid of his best friend J.C. (Steve Marshall) the prospective lovers finally bond near the end when he’s blowing holes into fratboy zombies with a shotgun, and she’s finishing them off with a flamethrower. Sounds pretty wild, doesn’t it? It should be more exciting than it is.
In the climatic scene, for example, there’s a countdown moment; a building is going to blow up, and our heroes have 20 seconds to get out. Such scenes are classic opportunities for suspense but the aforementioned pacing drains it of any thrills.
The only time the film treats us to any quick cutting is when there’s a special effect or gore moment. Mostly because the effect only holds its believability if viewed briefly. Their inclusion is more clumsy than anything. Just like the humour.
While the gags are often times inventive, they are clearly the work of a screenwriter being clever — not something any of the characters would logically say or do.
No matter. It doesn’t take much to make a fanboy happy anyway. The fact remains this is a good-looking zombie movie with some gore, a few boobie shots, and a overall spirit of fun. Some people are just easy to please that way.
The dvd has ample extras to appease those who have waited a long time for this release. It has two commentary tracks (director and cast), deleted scenes, an alternate ending, five retrospective segments covering the making of the film (about an hour’s worth), and a profile on actor Tom Atkins. The blu-ray edition should especially benefit from the attractive look of the film.
NOTE: There doesn’t seem to be much explanation given for why a video re-release took so long but, the best guess is, getting clearances for music rights. Well-known classics such as The Platters “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” are prominently featured in the film.
You gotta give a zombie film praise for using lovely music like this.
- Theatrical release date: August 22, 1986
- Video release date: October 27, 2009
- Production Budget: $5 million
- Worldwide Box Office: $591,366 (domestic)
FUN ALTERNATIVE: There are a number of appropriate companion films to Night of the Creeps, including Fred Dekker‘s next film The Monster Squad. Another fan favorite is Return of the Living Dead which is an inventive re-imagining of Night of the Living Dead. But, in the league of under-appreciated scary films that marries horror with comedy, sci-fi and action, one that deserves mention is Silent Rage.
Looking at the cover art, it’s easy to understand why it slips a lot of people’s radar. At first glance it looks like every other Chuck Norris butt-kicking cheapie. In actuality it’s a fun premise; a mad scientist has reanimated a mass-murdering maniac and nothing can stop it. Nothing can kill it. Not even Chuck Norris.
It’s especially enjoyable to see this film now in light of all the Chuck Norris Facts and Jokes that currently populate the internet, some of which are highlighted in this clip and prompted clever parodies such as this Mountain Dew commercial.
It all underscores the persona of a man who can conquer anything. Silent Rage is the rare exception where he doesn’t. The set-up is akin to Jason Voorhees vs Chuck Norris (just some free food for thought to the producers of the next Friday the 13th sequel).
The first half of the film is the most fun. It opens by introducing us to a mentally-disturbed man who snaps, grabs an axe, and slaughters everyone in the rooming-house where he lives. Norris, as town sherriff Dan Stevens, shows up and nabs the guy barehanded but during a custody struggle the killer is blown out of his socks by Stevens’ deputies. While we wait for him to come back from the dead, Stevens reunites with his old sweetheart (Toni Kalem) in a surprisingly nice love story subplot. There’s also a gratuitous encounter with a biker gang that establishes the usual Norris “Don’t mess with me” character trait.
It’s when the film settles into standard slasher movie cliches (e.g. the killer quickly pops up and then waits to give the victim a running start) that things gets tiresome. Try to count the number of times the killer dies, and the victim turns their back on the supposedly dead corpse (which, of course, constantly rises from the dead). When those moments start getting into the double-digits, it’s impossible to experience anything but annoyance. It all started so well.