JEEPERS CREEPERS is a franchise based off of monstrous attacks, big loud trucks and gritty graphic gore. Even though I'm not the biggest fan it works for them so you would think there would be no reason to change the script. In the new feature from Timo Vourensola we get the long awaited return of the creeper in a different set of circumstances. He is presented as a slasher. It's a novel idea but unfortunately gives a weird sensation while watching this feature. The creeper is the main selling point of the franchise so to change his behavior was very bold and very unsatisfactory.
The vibe of the new Creeper film was off from the start. Everyone enjoys a good "the monster has become famous" storyline but I have no idea where we are headed here. There are a few times I recall the creeper providing comedic content to the first two films. REBORN was over the top as I was eagerly anticipating the creeper to do the "suck it" DX gesture before killing one of it's victims. It's possible my expectations were a little too high for a franchise I don't even enjoy. Still tis the season and I assumed with the inclusion of a horror festival in this chapter it would at least be entertaining. I was so wrong. Possibly one of the more lukewarm releases of the year.
As I mentioned earlier who knows what direction the creeper will return to next. The cornfields worked, the long desolate roads made sense. A house of horrors does not. Are they really going to do another horror hound festival in the next 23 years in the same spot? Or will the creeper be in the suburbs? I'm not sure but of course regardless of what path it takes I'll be reluctantly watching!
2/5
JEEPERS CREEPERS: REBORN is Directed by Timo Vourensola Written by Sean-Michael Argo, Jake Seal Produced by Jake Seal and Michael Ohoven Starring Sydney Craven, Imran Adams, Ocean Navarro, Matt Barkley, Alexander Halsall, Jodie McMullen, Georgia Goodman, Jarreau Benjamin
It is available on demand today!