[Review] Creep 2

2015's lo-fi horror hit Creep snuck around as an under-the-radar "Have you seen this?" found footage flick. This year, we get the unexpected sequel Creep 2, and well, it definitely ups the creep factor.

Mark Duplass reprises his role as the creep, while newcomer Sara (Desiree Akhavan) -- a struggling documentarian with a focus on the people behind oddball Craigslist ads -- answers to his ad and shows up to his house with a camera at-hand. Sara quickly notices the red flags, but she's determined to stick with it in order to get that crucial footage. And, well... things get weird.

This sequel retains the off-kilter tone of its predecessor, as well as the found-footage aesthetic. If you've been following me, you know that I'm not a huge fan of the found footage subgenre, but the Creep series is a case where the format enhances the story's concept instead of detracting or distracting from it. The picture is a blend of subtle details and shocking scares, and there's an immediate, uneasy sense of realism to it. And despite having a very similar setup to the first one, Creep 2 avoids being too redundant. I'd say it's an improvement, actually. The structure is tighter, there's a bit more suspense and intrigue, and this time it contains some role reversals.

The always great Mark Duplass gives another exceptional turn, deviating from the dramedy roles that we're used to seeing him in. This is a character who initially seems charming and innocent on the outside, but he quickly slips into layers of intense awkwardness, dark hilarity, unhinged sarcasm, and a teetering evil that constantly walks the line between performance art and sociopath. He's the type of weirdo to make an unsuspecting observer ask "Is this guy for real?" Unfortunately, he is...

( 7.5/10 )

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