The Creep Tapes (2024) - Horror Series Review

Creep and Creep 2 are two fantastic found footage horror films that shine mainly due to the hypnotically awkward performance of the antagonist (played by Mark Duplass). I have always felt a bit bad about giving that first film a six out of ten, but have to assume that was what my thoughts were at the time. With the last film released in 2017, I had assumed this series was done and dead. Last year I was delighted to see a TV series based on the character was released. The Creep Tapes is a found footage horror series, each episode taking the form of a snuff film that the titular creep has made. 

Season 1 is made up of six roughly twenty five minute long episodes, each one featuring a different victim that the killer has tricked into meeting with him. I wasn't sure how the episodes would feel varied seeing as I assumed the central concept would be the same. The fun comes from the different personas and situations that Duplass' character gets to act out in. It begins with 'Mike' in which a man hoping to make a video to help him get into film school has came to the killer's remote house. This was a bit Creep by numbers but it had some shining moments. In this one, the killer is pretending to be a killer for the film being shot, a lovely blend of you not knowing if he is just pretending or is actually attempting to kill Mike. Lovely stuff and it makes sense they would want to start the season with something more familiar. Next up is 'Elliott' which takes place entirely out in a remote location where the killer has joined a man for a spot of bird watching, enjoyed the way killing is described in bird watching terms, though this was one of the weaker episodes due to the location. Halfway through the first season brings 'Jeremy' that was probably my favourite here. Duplass' character is in full cringe mode, playing the part of a priest in order to trick someone who makes a living out of ridiculing religion online. The tables are of course turned in the most delightful ways, with Jeremy failing to out-creep the sinister odd-ball.

The second half of the season begins with 'Brad' in which the killer offers a true crime documentary maker the opportunity to film a real crime in progress, with penultimate episode 'Brandt' mainly just being Duplass' character on his own after the titular man fails to show up. Season finale 'Mom (and Albert)' is the biggest lore dump, with the killer visiting his equally insane mother and her new boyfriend. It is all as you would expect and there were no real revelations, and was also the least horror filled episode. Throughout the season, things were always entertaining but I was never blown away. I enjoyed the variation in these episodes but they remained relatively samey. Of course the iconic wolf costume 'Peachfuzz' makes plenty of appearances, even appearing to be sentient during 'Brandt'. The scenes where the victims come to understand the danger they are really in was always the highlight, Duplass plays his role to perfection, plenty of sudden jump scares by screaming at characters, and the chase sequences were always a lot of fun. The short length of the episodes prevents a feeling of slow pacing that can be the case in found footage feature lengths, with the story picking up at the most interesting point typically.

If you liked the Creep films then I am sure you would also enjoy the series. There is nothing that fresh and exciting here, but it works as a greatest hits of the best that the films had to offer. This was certainly a fun watch, but it didn't blow me away, Duplass of course is perfection in his twisted role. The Creep Tapes is currently streaming on Shudder.

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