Synopsis: When a videographer answers a Craigslist ad for a one-day job in a remote mountain town, he finds his client is not at all what he initially seems.

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Calamity Brains:

Creep was very effective at what it set out to do – namably, creep the fuck out of its audience. The entire movie is a long, tension-filled roller coaster of what-the-fuckery, and although the manipulative Josef (Mark Duplass) is good at trying to diffuse the tension, it’s still very clear that there’s something deeply wrong with the situation Aaron (Patrick Brice) finds himself in.

Creep was deeply effective at creating an unsettling experience for its viewers, and both of the main actors were excellent in their awkward realism. There are definitely some moments I will remember for a long, long time (and some I wish I wouldn’t).

That being said, I also felt like Creep suffered a little more than most horror movies when it came to plot holes. While it’s easy to sympathize with Aaron, as part of the audience it becomes increasingly unbelievable that he hasn’t made more of an effort to deal with the situation unfolding before him. Though cameramen are classically (stereotypically?) passive in order to capture their subjects, I found that I was almost immediately doubting Aaron’s willingness to go along with Josef’s antics.

I’ll be the first to admit that found footage is not really my thing. I enjoy cinematography as an expressive and symbolic element in movies, and while I’m always impressed when filmmakers are daring enough to eschew its use, I find that the lack doesn’t usually work for me. It was appropriate for this movie, but again, I didn’t really enjoy its use. Only one scene at the end really captured my artistic eye… but instead of ending on a high note, the filmmakers Lord of the Rings’d the ending in what I assume was an effort to solidify the potential for sequels.

Creep definitely stands out in the mumblegore subgenre; despite its low budget roots, the quality is never distracting (and in fact, is usually on par with bigger studios). It’s a creepy, WTF-filled journey that’s hard to get out of your head – despite the plot holes and questionable choices. If you haven’t seen this flick already, it’s definitely worth your time… if you can handle it.

Calamity Brains’ Rating: B-
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