Stemming from the psychologically demented brains of indie-film-making connoisseur Mark Duplass and horror director Patrick Brice, everyone’s favourite Peachfuzz returns in The Creep Tapes, an anthological continuation of the brilliant found-footage films Creep and Creep 2.
This six-episode series unravels the mind of an unhinged, secluded serial killer (played by Duplass) who lures in videographer’s from sites like Craigslist under the guise of documenting his life. But the unbelievably awkward encounters between predator and prey often lead to the unsuspecting camera-operators recording their own demise for this twisted sicko’s own collection of snuff films.
The premise of Creep in general lends perfectly to the episodic format, as it’s seen in the preceding films that (due to the serial killer’s ever changing identity and name, let’s call him Peachfuzz, inspired by his terrifying werewolf-like mask he often wore in the films) Peachfuzz has an array of killer tapes and DVDs, leading to a plethora of potential situations that the victims could be placed in for this series. And with each episode being named after the victim, an air of unsettled creepiness is already surrounding the show.
Whether it’s filming an upcoming actors showreel, a gotcha show exposing a priest, or a documentary pitch gone wrong, the scenarios in which the videographers find themselves in are such a solid foundation for The Creep Tapes to deliver what worked incredibly well in the films – Mark Duplass absolutely leaning into the unhinged nature of Peachfuzz. All the creepy staples like the unsettling smiles directly into the camera, the unnatural movements, the off-putting obsession with trying to connect with his subjects, and most importantly, the terrifying switch when he goes into ‘killer mode’, are amplified to 11 by Duplass, who is obviously having a blast reprising this role. And while the show doesn’t necessarily expand too much on the background and lore of Peachfuzz (which would be something incredibly interesting to explore), it’s still thoroughly entertaining watching Duplass act this insane.
The familiarity of not just the found footage genre, but this specific lo-fi, gritty style that made the Creep films feel quite genuine continues to enhance the off-putting nature of each episode, and the overall premise. There is something dirty and wrong watching The Creep Tapes because it really does feel like unearthed serial killer videos that are from a dark part of the internet, not for public viewing… unless you’re a creep like Peachfuzz.
With each episode featuring a new victim and scenario, and usually clocking in around a brisk 25-minutes, the variety and freshness is a necessary element for the familiar formula that the show follows. There is a rinse-and-repeat quality over the six episodes that often goes like this: weird situation set-up, oddball guy doing oddball things, the placebo feeling that everything is okay, death. The Creep Tapes is one of those shows where you practically know exactly what you’re getting when you press play, but Duplass and Brice’s twisted ideas and characters are entertaining enough to let the formulaic plot slide.
The Creep Tapes is an unsettling and entertaining follow up to the found-footage films within the same universe, giving the sickos and creeps who love this style of horror exactly what they would expect and want from Peachfuzz’s return, with Mark Duplass once again standing out as the unhinged maniac and star of his own snuff tapes.
The first two episodes of The Creep Tapes premiere on Shudder and AMC+ on Friday November 15, with episodes releasing weekly up to December 13.
