JEEPERS CREEPERS
US, 2001, 84 minutes, Colour.
Gina Phillips, Justin Long, Jonathan Breck, Eileen Brennan., Patricia Belcher.
Directed by Victor Salva.
Jeepers Creepers was something of a phenomenon on its release in 2001. It was the kind of horror film popular at this time – but there was the complication of the reputation of the director, Victor Salva, who had pleaded guilty to child assault and downloading pornography, serving a jail sentence. However, Salva saved his reputation and went on to make a sequel and other films.
In many ways, the plot is straightforward. Two twenty-somethings, brother and sister, played by Gina Phillips and Justin Long, driving home for the holidays, notice a strange vehicle and some activities as they pass a church. They are concerned, return, the brother looking down a vast well-whole, falls, discovers some bodies, then a whole basement full of so many bodies. His sister is terrified, he returns in shock.
Then follows a number of encounters. They go to a diner and try to ring the police, discover that their car has been damaged, sense the mysterious presence. There is a phone call from a woman who wants to warn them and indicates the song, Jeepers Creepers. They see the mysterious presence near a dark house, encounter a woman with a house full of cats (Eileen Brennan) who is threatened by the mysterious figure. They go to a police station where the mysterious woman of the telephone call, Jezelle, is ridiculed by the police. However, a prisoner is killed, a police officer is killed.
Brother and sister are in the car, the strange creature, now with the demonic face, is able to avoid attacks by leaping over their car. However, they run over him and destroy his leg.
Eventually, the brother is caught by the strange creature – and, down in the basement, his skin with open eyes is seen and the film stops.
There have been several sequels.
1. A successful horror film? Demonic?
2. The ending, pessimistic, seemingly incomplete? The making of a sequel?
3. The road journey, the open roads, the countryside? The church, the sinister basement? The old house and the cat lady? The diner, the customers, the coming of the police? The police precinct, Jezelle and her premonitions, the cells, the basement? The sinister vehicle? The musical score? The use of the code song, Jeepers Creepers?
4. The situation, audience identification with Trish and Darry? His studies, location, her picking him up, travelling home? The interactions between brother and sister? The mysterious vehicle and its effect?
5. The vehicle, the returning to the church, having seen the carrying of the bodies? The well shaft? Darry falling down, the discovery of the corpses, the range of corpses, so many? The effect on him? Trish afraid, running to the car, his appearance and frightening her?
6. On the road, wanting to get to a phone, the diner, the customers reactions? The mysterious phone call from Jezelle, warning, the song? The police arriving, Trish’s car damaged, the fingerprint?
7. Stopping with the cat lady, her not having a phone, eccentric so many cats, the scarecrow, the Demon appearing, her shooting and his explosion? His invasion in the house, taking possession of the woman, killing her? Trish and Darry escaping?
8. On the road, the police escort, the apparition on the road, his leaping over the car, the destruction of the police vehicle, decapitation? The appearance of the Demon? Trish mowing him down, his legs, the demonic wings?
9. At the police station, the phone call to their mother? Gisele and her premonitions, the reaction of the police? The code song? The prisoners, the cells?
10. The disturbance, the appearance of the Demon, power shortage, the Demon attacking the prisoner, attacking the policeman, as hanging?
11. Trish and Darry escaping the car, back to the church, Darry confronting the Demon, his being taken?
12. The pessimistic ending? The skin the holes for eyes?
