Directed by
George A. Romero
Made by
Warner Bros.
A stern and overbearing father named Stan (Hal Holbrook) is left furious when he discovers his young son Billy (Ted Danson) engrossed in a grisly horror comic book titled “Creepshow.” After a heated argument with his wife Adrienne Barbeau and striking Billy, Stan impulsively discards the comic into the garbage. Unbeknownst to them, a skeletal figure, known as the Creep, hovers outside Billy’s window, serving as the host for the dark narratives unfolding in the comic.
As a gust of wind sweeps the forgotten comic book from the trash can, the pages transform, bringing the five eerie tales to life. These stories intricately weave in and out of animated frames, shifting from comic illustrations to chilling live-action sequences.
1st Story: “Father’s Day” – A wealthy family called the Granthams engages in a macabre celebration every Father’s Day. Sylvia Grantham (Leslie Nielsen) hosts a gathering that includes her family members: Richard and Cass, alongside the peculiar Aunt Bedelia. As the family recounts Bedelia’s troubled past involving her murderous father Nathan, an ominous tension builds. On this fateful day, as Bedelia visits Nathan’s grave, his decaying corpse emerges to enact a terrifying revenge on the family. In an astonishingly grim twist, he surprises the remaining Granthams with the head of Sylvia, festooned like a Father’s Day cake.
2nd Story: “The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill” – Jordy Verrill (Ted Danson), a dim-witted farmer, stumbles upon a meteor that crashes onto his property. Fueled by dreams of wealth, he discovers too late that the meteor’s contact unleashes a strange green vegetation that soon consumes him. He is ultimately driven to despair when his mind and body succumb to the lush, alien growth that infiltrates his being, leading to a tragic end.
3rd Story: “Something to Tide You Over” – Harry Wentworth (Ted Danson) finds himself in a precarious situation when Richard Vickers (Leslie Nielsen) confronts him about an affair with his wife, Becky. What ensues is a sinister game of revenge where Harry is buried up to his neck on the beach, alongside Becky, as the tide threatens their lives. The horrifying conclusion reveals what lies in store for Richard after the doomed lovers return as water-logged zombies.
4th Story: “The Crate” – Mike, a janitor, discovers an ancient crate beneath a stairwell at Horlicks University. When Professor Dexter Stanley (Hal Holbrook) investigates, they unveil a creature inside that leads to a series of gruesome events. Dexter’s meek friend, Henry, concocts a devious plan involving his obnoxious wife Wilma (Adrienne Barbeau), which unwittingly becomes a deadly trap for her.
5th Story: “They’re Creeping Up on You!” – Upson Pratt (E.G. Marshall), a ruthless businessman, lives in an excessively sterile penthouse, where his paranoia about cleanliness reaches its peak. After receiving a call from the widow of a former employee he dismissed, Pratt’s life spirals into chaos as cockroaches invade his apartments, reflecting his deeply rooted phobia. This culminates in a shocking and gruesome demise, as he succumbs to a relentless swarm of the very bugs he detests.
In the wraparound story, the next day, two garbage men discover the abandoned comic next to the trash can outside Billy’s house. As they explore its contents, the tale culminates with the Creep holding the next edition of “Creepshow,” while Billy enacts his revenge on Stan with a voodoo doll.
The atmosphere darkens when the comic’s chilling host, the Creep, chuckles, signaling the end of this frightful saga as the credits roll. Even in the silence that follows, the Creep’s laughter echoes, leaving an unsettling impression.
Stan Discovers the Comic
Stan, an overbearing father, finds his young son Billy engrossed in a horror comic titled 'Creepshow.' Enraged by the discovery, he engages in a heated argument with his wife, leading to him physically discarding the comic into the trash.
The Creep's Arrival
As Stan discards the comic, a skeletal figure known as the Creep hovers outside Billy's window. This dark figure serves as the host bringing the eerie tales from the comic to life, setting the stage for the supernatural events to unfold.
Father's Day Celebration
The Grantham family gathers for their macabre Father's Day celebration, hosted by Sylvia Grantham. During the gathering, Aunt Bedelia recounts the troubling past of her murderous father, Nathan, creating a suspenseful atmosphere.
Nathan's Revenge
On Father's Day, as tensions rise, Bedelia visits her father Nathan's grave. In a horrifying twist, Nathan's corpse rises from the grave to exact revenge, shocking the remaining Granthams with the gruesome appearance of Sylvia's head.
Jordy Finds the Meteor
Jordy Verrill, a simple-minded farmer, discovers a meteor on his land and imagines the wealth it could bring. However, he quickly realizes that the meteor releases an alien vegetation that begins to consume him.
The Alien Growth
As the strange green vegetation grows, Jordy finds himself overwhelmed and consumed by despair. The alien intrusion affects both his mind and body, leading to a tragic and isolating demise.
Harry's Predicament
Harry Wentworth is confronted by Richard Vickers regarding his affair with Richard's wife, Becky. Richard orchestrates a cruel game of revenge, burying Harry and Becky up to their necks on the beach as the tide approaches.
The Zombie Revenge
As the tide rises, Harry and Becky meet a horrifying fate when they are transformed into water-logged zombies. Their fate serves as a chilling reminder of Richard's malicious intentions and the consequences of betrayal.
The Discovery of The Crate
Mike, a janitor, stumbles upon an ancient crate under a staircase at Horlicks University. Curiosity leads Professor Dexter Stanley and Mike to examine the crate, unveiling a terrifying creature trapped within.
The Deadly Trap
Professor Stanley's friend Henry conceives a scheme involving Henry's obnoxious wife, Wilma, unaware of the fatal threat within the crate. When the creature is unleashed, it leads to a gruesome ending for Wilma.
Upson's Paranoia
Upson Pratt, a ruthless businessman, becomes increasingly paranoid about cleanliness while residing in a sterile penthouse. Following a troubling phone call from a former employee's widow, his obsessive fears begin to manifest.
The Cockroach Invasion
Upson's life spirals into chaos when his penthouse is invaded by cockroaches, the very creatures he detests. The overwhelming swarm leads to his shocking demise, reflecting his inability to escape his own phobias.
Garbage Men Discover the Comic
The next day, two garbage men stumble upon the discarded comic next to Billy's house. Their exploration of the comic's dark contents leads to an unexpected twist as they unwittingly engage with the Creep.
Billy's Revenge
As the garbage men sift through the comic, Billy begins enacting his revenge on Stan using a voodoo doll. The chilling conclusion of the comic's stories foreshadows the impending doom for Stan.
The Creep's Finale
In the unsettling finale, the Creep holds the next edition of 'Creepshow' while chuckling ominously. The laughter echoes, leaving an eerie aftertaste as the film concludes on a note of lingering horror.
Stan
Stan is portrayed as a stern and overbearing father whose anger leads to drastic actions against his son, Billy. His inability to understand Billy's fascination with horror results in a tragic fallout that serves as a catalyst for the supernatural events that unfold. His character epitomizes generational conflict and the ramifications of mistreatment.
Billy
Billy is a young boy with a vivid imagination, drawn into the world of horror through the 'Creepshow' comic. His passion for the comic and subsequent treatment by his father lead to a transformation in his character, culminating in a desire for revenge that is revealed at the film's conclusion. He symbolizes the innocent victim of parental authority gone awry.
The Creep
The Creep acts as the host and narrator of the horror tales within the comic, embodying the essence of horror itself. With a skeletal appearance and a sinister laugh, the Creep weaves the scary narratives while also serving as a symbol of the consequences of neglecting dark desires. Its presence creates a chilling atmosphere throughout the film.
Richard Vickers
Richard is portrayed as a jealous husband who resorts to sinister measures once he discovers his wife's affair. His character is marked by a sense of entitlement and vengeance, showcasing the darker aspects of human relationships. His actions ultimately lead to a horrifying conclusion where he faces the consequences of his jealousy.
Upson Pratt
Upson is depicted as a ruthless and obsessive businessman who is overly concerned with cleanliness. His paranoia drives him to isolation, but he soon learns that despite his efforts to maintain control, he cannot escape the consequences of his actions as he descends into madness when faced with his greatest fear: filth.
Time period
The film does not specify a particular time period, allowing the horror narratives to transcend time. Each story has a timeless quality, drawing on universal themes of fear, revenge, and the consequences of one’s actions. The stories feel contemporary, yet they evoke a sense of classic horror that continues to resonate with audiences.
Location
Billy's House, Horlicks University, Grantham Family Estate, Upson Pratt's Penthouse
The movie takes place predominantly in Billy's home, a typical suburban setting that becomes the backdrop for his father's stern behavior. Horlicks University, a site of discovery and horror, houses the ancient crate that contributes to the film's eerie narratives. The Grantham Family Estate hosts a dark Father's Day gathering, revealing family secrets and horrors, while Upson Pratt's sanitized penthouse underscores his paranoia and ultimately serves as the stage for his gruesome demise.
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Horror
Creepshow encapsulates the essence of horror through its anthology structure, bringing to life chilling tales that explore revenge, greed, and the macabre. Each story serves as a cautionary tale, revealing the dark side of human nature and the consequences that arise from one’s actions. The film intertwines comic book aesthetics with live-action horror, creating a unique narrative experience that amplifies the genre's eerie atmosphere.
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Revenge
Revenge is a central theme throughout the diverse tales in Creepshow. Characters like Richard Vickers and Bedelia Grantham find themselves entangled in horrifying scenarios that stem from their own acts of betrayal and malice. This theme drives the narrative forward, illustrating how vengeance can lead to tragic and gruesome outcomes for both the avengers and their victims.
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Consequences
The concept of consequences looms large in each story, as characters are often faced with the repercussions of their decisions. Whether it's Jordy's greed leading to his demise or Upson Pratt's obsession with cleanliness resulting in a chaotic invasion, the film emphasizes that actions have inevitable and often horrifying outcomes, serving as a message to the audience about the importance of personal accountability.
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