JEEPERS CREEPERS: REBORN
US, 2022, 88 minutes, Colour.
Sydney Craven, Imran Adams, Jarreau Benjamin.
Directed by Timo Vuorensola.
Whether you want to watch this 2020s version of the horror franchise, Jeepers Creepers, with its eerie monster, The Creeper, will depend on whether you enjoyed the earlier three films (which are explicitly referred to by the central characters in this one, motivating them in their search for The Creeper who, apparently, appears every 23 years, a bit more frequently than Pennywise’s 27 years in Stephen King’s It).
The original two films had something of a following, then a third 15 years later and another film not explicitly connected with the franchise but using the name. So, we have our pick.
The opening takes us into familiar territory, an older couple driving through the American countryside, enjoying their drive, menaced by a truck, pushed off the road, their seeing eerie behaviour by the driver (familiar from the other films), and decide that it is the right thing to do to investigate and report to the authorities. But, it seems that this is being watched on a phone screen by the contemporary couple, he for love of conspiracy theories, wanting to propose to her, she very sceptical, discovering she is pregnant.
In the meantime, we see the resurrection of The Creeper, emerging from the ground, covered with earth, freeing himself (itself?) And beginning to go on the rampage, targeting the young woman, apparently wanting to capture her unborn child. In the meantime, disposing brutally of some of the characters.
Eventually our couple arrive at a horror of fun fair with all kinds of sideshows. But, they are drawn into a more particular sideshow, a house of horrors, with some overtones of satanic rituals, the young woman on an altar to be sacrificed, the hovering Creeper.
Into the house goes the hero, a seeming hillbilly who was hired to run one of the sideshows, as well as a media group, front person, producer and cameraman. Needless to say, but saying it, gradually they will be disposed of. A pity, because the hillbilly was rather sympathetic. The other is not so!
So, all building up, to an expected confrontation, dangers, brutality, and the hero getting the best of The Creeper.
Again, needless to say, but saying it, there is a moment at the end which indicates in sequel mentality, you can’t keep a commercially successful Creeper down.
