Netflix Movie Night Streaming Review of "Creep 2"
by The Headless Critic

Creep – 2014

Production by: Blumhouse, Duplass Brothers Productions
Distribution by: Netflix, The Orchard



Josef (Mark Duplass) has adopted the name of one of his favorite victims Aaron. Josef/Aaron is a serial killer. After thirty-nine kills, Aaron finds it harder and harder to get a satisfying kill. Perhaps killing and taking the persona of his best friend was the peak for him. Oh well, he’ll just have to try harder this time. Time to place another Craigslist ad.

Web series creator Sara (Desiree Akhavan) has peaked on creativity and views. Her introspective look into the lives of lonely men for her show Encounters has become repetitive. In order to spice up her documentary style series, she answers an ad by a creep named Aaron who claims to be a serial killer. At an isolated house in a remote part of the woods, Sara’s attempt to create a “shockumentary” may have landed her in a hole she can’t dig herself out of.

Creep 2 bares all as Aaron makes a new friend, reigniting his passion for murder. Sara isn’t like the other girls. She plays back. Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass are back to make another cheaply filmed, documentary style horror film. The duo fumbled through their first effort capturing magic in a mix of black comedy and realistic horrors. Their second go round is more refined but a little less magical. The comedic undertones are turned down a notch. Our initial confusion of just what kind of Creep Mark Duplass was in the original is already known, taking away some mystery. Don’t worry, he still starts his friendships with a hug and ends with a kill.

Duplass revisits the charming and hilarious role of Josef/Aaron. The brilliance of his comedy killer remains, different, having grown a little but still there. New potential victim Sara is equally intriguing as the original Aaron. While Aaron and Aaron/Josef’s fake friendship isn’t recaptured, a new pseudo sexual bond is added with the addition of a female friend, creating a new killer experience.

Something is lost this time around. The first Creep was filmed as a comedy then edited into horror. Creep 2 knew it was horror going in. The long, lengthy build of the original is kept more entertaining, with more going on in its sequel. We also don’t get the amazing payoff finale of the first. Still an excellent follow-up on the same level of the original that should please all those creeps out there.

Available Now on Netflix

4 out of 5 Headless Critics