Creepshow

A decidedly erratic anthology film, Creepshow, directed by George A. Romero, gets off to a less-than-promising start that certainly doesn’t bode well for what’s to follow – as the movie kicks off with a watchable yet underwhelming short in which a murdered man returns from the grave to exact vengeance. And it’s clear, undoubtedly, that the underwhelming atmosphere is perpetuated by a second story that should’ve been excised completely – with the tale, involving a man (Stephen King’s Jordy Verrill) who discovers a meteor in his backyard, suffering from a meandering, uninvolving vibe and a seriously grating performance by King. There’s little doubt, then, that Creepshow benefits substantially from a midsection comprised of two comparatively stellar segments that resuscitate the viewer’s dwindling interest, with the pair of stories, revolving around a spurned husband seeking revenge and a centuries-old crate that houses a deadly creature, benefiting from fairly irresistible premises and the efforts of such inherently compelling performers as Ted Danson, Leslie Nielsen, and Hal Holbrook. The strength of this portion of the proceedings goes a long way towards cementing Creepshow‘s place as a just-passable piece of work, and it seems apparent, ultimately, that the film could’ve used some judicious edits in its post-production phase (ie the two hour running time is absurd, to be sure).

**1/2 out of ****