Creepshow: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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#''Father's Day'': Bedelia Grantham's domineering father Nathan had her boyfriend killed. That Father's Day, she proceeded to bash Dad's head in with an ashtray as he yammered loudly for his cake. But you can't keep a hungry man down. Nathan wants his cake, and a little thing like dying isn't going to keep him from getting it.
#''Father's Day'': Bedelia Grantham's domineering father Nathan had her boyfriend killed. That Father's Day, she proceeded to bash Dad's head in with an ashtray as he yammered loudly for his cake. But you can't keep a hungry man down. Nathan wants his cake, and a little thing like dying isn't going to keep him from getting it.
#''The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill'': Backwoods hick Jordy Verrill (King) thinks his financial woes are solved when a meteor crashes into his front yard, and he intends to sell it to a local college professor. But Jordy's hopes for both fortune and survival are dashed when the meteor turns out to contain a parasitic alien plant. Partially inspired by [[HP Lovecraft]]'s ''The Colour Out of Space''.
#''The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill'': Backwoods hick Jordy Verrill (King) thinks his financial woes are solved when a meteor crashes into his front yard, and he intends to sell it to a local college professor. But Jordy's hopes for both fortune and survival are dashed when the meteor turns out to contain a parasitic alien plant. Partially inspired by [[H.P. Lovecraft]]'s ''The Colour Out of Space''.
#''Something to Tide You Over'': Control freak Richard Vickers (Nielsen), upon learning that his wife, Becky, is sleeping around with well-to-do beach bum Harry Wentworth (Danson), enacts a sadistic revenge upon them: by burying them in the sand below the high tide line at his stretch of private beach. Richard is certain they'll be gone once they drown. Unfortunately, he never saw ''Father's Day''. Otherwise he'd know that death isn't always the end.
#''Something to Tide You Over'': Control freak Richard Vickers (Nielsen), upon learning that his wife, Becky, is sleeping around with well-to-do beach bum Harry Wentworth (Danson), enacts a sadistic revenge upon them: by burying them in the sand below the high tide line at his stretch of private beach. Richard is certain they'll be gone once they drown. Unfortunately, he never saw ''Father's Day''. Otherwise he'd know that death isn't always the end.
#''The Crate'': An old crate is found underneath the stairs at a prestigious university. Upon being opened by Professor Dexter Stanley and janitor Mike Latimer, it turns out to contain an ancient and ferocious beast. After the thing kills and eats Mike and a grad student, Dexter goes to his colleague Henry Northrup (Holbrook) for help. Henry is married to a cruel shrew of a woman named Wilma (Barbeau and her cleavage), and a flesh-eating monster is a tempting alternative to divorce.
#''The Crate'': An old crate is found underneath the stairs at a prestigious university. Upon being opened by Professor Dexter Stanley and janitor Mike Latimer, it turns out to contain an ancient and ferocious beast. After the thing kills and eats Mike and a grad student, Dexter goes to his colleague Henry Northrup (Holbrook) for help. Henry is married to a cruel shrew of a woman named Wilma (Barbeau and her cleavage), and a flesh-eating monster is a tempting alternative to divorce.
#''They're Creeping Up on You!'': Upson Pratt, a loathsome, racist, eccentric, germophobic billionaire, hates pretty much everybody. He treats his hard-working employees like dirt while he rules his multinational business empire from a sterile, germ-proof apartment. After driving a business rival to suicide, Pratt finds out the hard way that sometimes, if grieving widows wish hard enough, they can make lots of killer roaches invade his domicile.
#''They're Creeping Up on You!'': Upson Pratt, a loathsome, racist, eccentric, germophobic billionaire, hates pretty much everybody. He treats his hard-working employees like dirt while he rules his multinational business empire from a sterile, germ-proof apartment. After driving a business rival to suicide, Pratt finds out the hard way that sometimes, if grieving widows wish hard enough, they can make lots of killer roaches invade his domicile.


A less well-received (but still mostly good) sequel, ''[[Creepshow 2 (Film)|Creepshow 2]]'', which was followed by the unofficial and nowhere near as popular ''[[In Name Only|Creepshow 3]]''.
A less well-received (but still mostly good) sequel, ''[[Creepshow 2]]'', which was followed by the unofficial and nowhere near as popular ''[[In Name Only|Creepshow 3]]''.
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=== Tropes used in this film: ===
=== Tropes used in this film: ===
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* [[Creepy Cockroach]]: The "They're Creeping Up On You" segment.
* [[Creepy Cockroach]]: The "They're Creeping Up On You" segment.
* [[Cultural Stereotypes]]: Hick Jordy is totally incompetent and all of the rich folks (particularly Upson Pratt) are total dicks.
* [[Cultural Stereotypes]]: Hick Jordy is totally incompetent and all of the rich folks (particularly Upson Pratt) are total dicks.
* [[Death By Racism]]: It isn't really what kills Pratt, but his racist comments to his apartment's ironically-named superintendent, Mr. White, [[Kick the Dog|don't endear him to us any]].
* [[Death by Racism]]: It isn't really what kills Pratt, but his racist comments to his apartment's ironically-named superintendent, Mr. White, [[Kick the Dog|don't endear him to us any]].
* [[Defiant to The End]]: Richard as he receives his [[Karmic Death]].
* [[Defiant to the End]]: Richard as he receives his [[Karmic Death]].
{{quote| ''{{spoiler|I CAN HOLD MY BREATH! I CAN HOLD MY BREATH A '''LOOOONG''' TIME!}}''}}
{{quote| ''{{spoiler|I CAN HOLD MY BREATH! I CAN HOLD MY BREATH A '''LOOOONG''' TIME!}}''}}
* [[Disproportionate Retribution]]: Even considering the fact that [[EC Comics]] morality has a much lower threshold for bloody revenge, it's still hard to see what Hank Blaine did to deserve his death.
* [[Disproportionate Retribution]]: Even considering the fact that [[EC Comics]] morality has a much lower threshold for bloody revenge, it's still hard to see what Hank Blaine did to deserve his death.
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* [[Fluffy the Terrible]]: The monster in ''The Crate'' [[Production Nickname|was nicknamed]] "[[Trope Namer|Fluffy]]" by Tom Savini.
* [[Fluffy the Terrible]]: The monster in ''The Crate'' [[Production Nickname|was nicknamed]] "[[Trope Namer|Fluffy]]" by Tom Savini.
* [[Framing Story]]
* [[Framing Story]]
* [[Freeze Frame Bonus]]: Oh so much. It's fun to pause the video to read the letters page or some of The Creep's [[Deadpan Snarker|Deadpan Snarking]]. For example, at the end of ''The Crate'', in the final comic book frame, the Creep snarks, "Oh, Henry. You didn't think you could ''drown'' your fears that easily?"
* [[Freeze-Frame Bonus]]: Oh so much. It's fun to pause the video to read the letters page or some of The Creep's [[Deadpan Snarker|Deadpan Snarking]]. For example, at the end of ''The Crate'', in the final comic book frame, the Creep snarks, "Oh, Henry. You didn't think you could ''drown'' your fears that easily?"
** That ghoul puts the [[Tales From the Crypt|Crypt Keeper]] to shame!
** That ghoul puts the [[Tales from the Crypt|Crypt Keeper]] to shame!
* [[Genre Savvy]]: The first place Richard shoots when he's confronted by waterlogged corpses? The head, and subsequently the eye, too bad...
* [[Genre Savvy]]: The first place Richard shoots when he's confronted by waterlogged corpses? The head, and subsequently the eye, too bad...
* [[Guns Are Worthless]]: ''Something to Tide You Over.''
* [[Guns Are Worthless]]: ''Something to Tide You Over.''
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** To be fair, nearly everyone in the film is a complete asshole, save a few exceptions - most notably Jordy, Hank and Dexter.
** To be fair, nearly everyone in the film is a complete asshole, save a few exceptions - most notably Jordy, Hank and Dexter.
* [[Karma Houdini]]: Arguably Dexter and Henry.
* [[Karma Houdini]]: Arguably Dexter and Henry.
* [[Killer Space Monkey|Killer Eldritch Monkey]]: The thing in the crate looks like a [[HP Lovecraft|Lovecraftian]] baboon. In King's original short story, it was more like a badger or wolverine, as befits its icy origins.
* [[Killer Space Monkey|Killer Eldritch Monkey]]: The thing in the crate looks like a [[H.P. Lovecraft|Lovecraftian]] baboon. In King's original short story, it was more like a badger or wolverine, as befits its icy origins.
** Since the creature was found in Antarctica in the film, it's probably a Yeti.
** Since the creature was found in Antarctica in the film, it's probably a Yeti.
* [[Mood Whiplash]]: The film swings from horror to comedy and back in an eyeblink.
* [[Mood Whiplash]]: The film swings from horror to comedy and back in an eyeblink.
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* [[Older Than They Look]]: Despite being "older than God," Great Aunt Bedelia actually looks a decade younger than Aunt Sylvia.
* [[Older Than They Look]]: Despite being "older than God," Great Aunt Bedelia actually looks a decade younger than Aunt Sylvia.
* [[Offscreen Teleportation]]
* [[Offscreen Teleportation]]
* [[Out With a Bang]]: [[Lampshaded]] by Upton Pratt to Mrs. Katzenmeyer about her husband's suicide.
* [[Out with a Bang]]: [[Lampshaded]] by Upton Pratt to Mrs. Katzenmeyer about her husband's suicide.
* [[Plant Person]]: {{spoiler|With a very sad demise, indeed. Although it's not much of a spoiler, because you did read the title of the second story, right?}}
* [[Plant Person]]: {{spoiler|With a very sad demise, indeed. Although it's not much of a spoiler, because you did read the title of the second story, right?}}
* [[Playing Against Type]]: Leslie Nielsen
* [[Playing Against Type]]: Leslie Nielsen
* [[Psychic Powers]]: Psychic ''zombie'' powers, no less; used to bring a tombstone down onto Hank's head. Hank is Ed Harris, by the way.
* [[Psychic Powers]]: Psychic ''zombie'' powers, no less; used to bring a tombstone down onto Hank's head. Hank is Ed Harris, by the way.
* [[Recycled: The Series]]: ''[[Tales From the Darkside (TV)|Tales From the Darkside]]'' is the [[Spiritual Successor]]. ''[[Tales From the Darkside (TV)|Tales From the Darkside]]: [[The Movie]]'' is considered to be the "real" Part Three, since the film that is actually called ''Creepshow 3'' had none of the same people involved.
* [[Recycled: the Series]]: ''[[Tales from the Darkside]]'' is the [[Spiritual Successor]]. ''[[Tales from the Darkside]]: [[The Movie]]'' is considered to be the "real" Part Three, since the film that is actually called ''Creepshow 3'' had none of the same people involved.
** And eventually, ''Creepshow's'' [[Tales From the Crypt|chief inspiration]] was revived as a TV series, maybe even thanks to this movie.
** And eventually, ''Creepshow's'' [[Tales from the Crypt|chief inspiration]] was revived as a TV series, maybe even thanks to this movie.
* [[Retraux]]
* [[Retraux]]
* [[Roaring Rampage of Revenge]]: Subverted, somewhat. Nathan Grantham doesn't so much come back from the dead to get revenge as he does to just get his darn cake. We say "somewhat" because {{spoiler|he settles for Aunt Sylvia's ''head''.}}
* [[Roaring Rampage of Revenge]]: Subverted, somewhat. Nathan Grantham doesn't so much come back from the dead to get revenge as he does to just get his darn cake. We say "somewhat" because {{spoiler|he settles for Aunt Sylvia's ''head''.}}
* [[Rule of Scary]]: It is never given a good explanation of how the zombies of stories 1 and 3 are re-animated, or how the crate monster was able to survive for many years without needing food, or the cockroach invasion against Pratt. They just happen because they have to. And let's not even talk about zombie Nathan's [[Psychic Powers]]...
* [[Rule of Scary]]: It is never given a good explanation of how the zombies of stories 1 and 3 are re-animated, or how the crate monster was able to survive for many years without needing food, or the cockroach invasion against Pratt. They just happen because they have to. And let's not even talk about zombie Nathan's [[Psychic Powers]]...
* [[Society Marches On]] / [[Inflation Negation]]: Upton Pratt's hi-tech apartment costs a mere $3200 a month. In midtown Manhattan.
* [[Society Marches On]] / [[Inflation Negation]]: Upton Pratt's hi-tech apartment costs a mere $3200 a month. In midtown Manhattan.
* [[Sealed Evil in A Can]]: The crate monster.
* [[Sealed Evil in a Can]]: The crate monster.
* [[Smug Snake]]: Richard.
* [[Smug Snake]]: Richard.
* [[Too Dumb to Live]]: Hank lays underneath the tombstone for almost a full minute before Zombie!Nathan gets around to squishing his head with it, far too long to just chalk up to being paralyzed with fear. Guess snobs don't have the "fight or flight" reflex.
* [[Too Dumb to Live]]: Hank lays underneath the tombstone for almost a full minute before Zombie!Nathan gets around to squishing his head with it, far too long to just chalk up to being paralyzed with fear. Guess snobs don't have the "fight or flight" reflex.

Revision as of 08:16, 9 April 2014

The Most Fun You'll Ever Have...BEING SCARED!


In 1982, horror author Stephen King teamed up with zombiemeister George Romero and special effects wizard Tom Savini to make Creepshow, a Horror anthology Film with an all-star cast (including Leslie Nielsen, Ed Harris, Ted Danson, Hal Holbrook, Adrienne Barbeau, Adrienne Barbeau's cleavage, and Stephen King himself) which tells five stories:

  1. Father's Day: Bedelia Grantham's domineering father Nathan had her boyfriend killed. That Father's Day, she proceeded to bash Dad's head in with an ashtray as he yammered loudly for his cake. But you can't keep a hungry man down. Nathan wants his cake, and a little thing like dying isn't going to keep him from getting it.
  2. The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill: Backwoods hick Jordy Verrill (King) thinks his financial woes are solved when a meteor crashes into his front yard, and he intends to sell it to a local college professor. But Jordy's hopes for both fortune and survival are dashed when the meteor turns out to contain a parasitic alien plant. Partially inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's The Colour Out of Space.
  3. Something to Tide You Over: Control freak Richard Vickers (Nielsen), upon learning that his wife, Becky, is sleeping around with well-to-do beach bum Harry Wentworth (Danson), enacts a sadistic revenge upon them: by burying them in the sand below the high tide line at his stretch of private beach. Richard is certain they'll be gone once they drown. Unfortunately, he never saw Father's Day. Otherwise he'd know that death isn't always the end.
  4. The Crate: An old crate is found underneath the stairs at a prestigious university. Upon being opened by Professor Dexter Stanley and janitor Mike Latimer, it turns out to contain an ancient and ferocious beast. After the thing kills and eats Mike and a grad student, Dexter goes to his colleague Henry Northrup (Holbrook) for help. Henry is married to a cruel shrew of a woman named Wilma (Barbeau and her cleavage), and a flesh-eating monster is a tempting alternative to divorce.
  5. They're Creeping Up on You!: Upson Pratt, a loathsome, racist, eccentric, germophobic billionaire, hates pretty much everybody. He treats his hard-working employees like dirt while he rules his multinational business empire from a sterile, germ-proof apartment. After driving a business rival to suicide, Pratt finds out the hard way that sometimes, if grieving widows wish hard enough, they can make lots of killer roaches invade his domicile.

A less well-received (but still mostly good) sequel, Creepshow 2, which was followed by the unofficial and nowhere near as popular Creepshow 3.

Tropes used in this film:

  • Absolute Cleavage: It's Adrienne frickin' Barbeau!
  • Abusive Parents: Nathan Grantham is the dad from hell. Also, the little boy's father in the framing story is a real scumbag, too.

 That's why God created fathers.

  I CAN HOLD MY BREATH! I CAN HOLD MY BREATH A LOOOONG TIME!

 Wilma: Same old Henry; afraid of your own shadow! You know what, Henry, you’re a regular barnyard exhibit. Sheep’s eyes, chicken guts, piggy friends……, and shit for brains! No good at departmental politics, no good at makin’ money, no good at makin’ an impression on anybody,….and no good at all in BED! When was the last time ya got it up, Henry? Huh? When was the last time you were a man in our bed? Now get outta my way, Henry, or I swear to God you’ll be wearin’ your balls for earrings!

 Harry: RICHARD! I'm going to get you. I'm going to get you.

  • Immune to Bullets
  • Indulgent Fantasy Segue: Henry has two of these about killing his wife, Billie. The first is possibly a Crowning Moment of Funny.
    • Jordy also has one about getting rich from the meteor.
  • Jerkass: Upson Pratt.
    • To be fair, nearly everyone in the film is a complete asshole, save a few exceptions - most notably Jordy, Hank and Dexter.
  • Karma Houdini: Arguably Dexter and Henry.
  • Killer Eldritch Monkey: The thing in the crate looks like a Lovecraftian baboon. In King's original short story, it was more like a badger or wolverine, as befits its icy origins.
    • Since the creature was found in Antarctica in the film, it's probably a Yeti.
  • Mood Whiplash: The film swings from horror to comedy and back in an eyeblink.
  • Not of This Earth: Jordy's meteor.
  • Neck Snap: Nathan Grantham unleashes the ultimate neck-snapping kill with no effort whatsoever.
  • Oh Crap: Harry when seeing the incoming tide.

 Harry: ... Oh my God...

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