Malcolm Talks Movies
CREEP
Directed by: Patrick Brice
“This week I will be discussing the feature film Creep. If you’ve already seen it, then just go ahead and watch the sequel (Creep 2, also available on Netflix). If you’ve already seen both of them, then I don’t know what I can do for you. Go be pretentious somewhere else, this is my corner of the internet.
Creep is Patrick Brice’s debut film, and like many first time directors of his generation, he managed to cobble together a deeply unique reimagining of a previously tired genre. In this case, that genre being found footage horror. The unique innovation Brice brings to the table here is that he seems genuinely disinterested in the convention of "heavy breathing shakey camera POV scares" which have become a tired staple of found footage horror films. Instead, he is far more fixated on the intimacy innately loaned to the characters via this filmmaking technique. A character study in which the camera doesn’t just capture what is happening, but is an active participant. These are the moments where Creep shines.
The premise of the film is that Aaron (played by Director Patrick Brice) answers a Craigslist Ad offering $1,000 for a day of videography services. The ad is oddly vague from the get go, and Aaron seems slightly excited by this element as well. After driving deep into the woods, he meets Josef (Mark Duplass), who is equal parts off putting weirdo and inspirational speaker. Josef reveals that he is dying of cancer and wants to spend a day in the life filming a video for his unborn son. Aaron decides he’s up to the challenge, and the two embark on their journey. A journey which immediately leads to Josef completely naked in a bathtub surrounded by candles bathing his imaginary boy.
This is just the start of this film's deep dive into the rich and off-putting psychology of Josef. Like countless other Mark Duplass projects this film relies heavily on improvised scenes. Something about the combination of grounding the camera as a CHARACTER within this technique loans a very visceral and realistic feeling to the entire project. The loose camera movement, the heavily improvisational tone, the unhinged Duplass grinning wildly, it all feels like it could spin out of control at any moment. Which, of course, it does. I won’t spoil too much, but the films title absolutely does not disappoint, and the ending features several very unique innovations on the found footage genre as a whole.
Creep represents the best of what the Mumblecore movement resulted in. For the uninitiated, mumblecore was a film movement kicked off in the early 2000’s by indie filmmakers the likes of Mark and Jay Duplass, Joe Swanberg, The Safdie Brothers, Lena Dunham, and other less important people you don't need to worry about. The basic concept was “hey, we have digital cameras, friends, and houses, what else do you need other than a good idea?” and they were right. They created some really incredible indie films with this ethos. Here are a few solid picks if you are interested: Cheap Thrills, The Overnight, Tiny Furniture, Hump Day, Happy Christmas, Frances Ha.
Ultimately, what I love about this film movement is it encourages would be filmmakers who have nothing to simply make something, make anything. Because if you have talent, people WILL notice. Creep is an incredible example of that. Two cast members and a cabin were all it took, and it skyrocketed Patrick Brice’s career. The idea that culturally there is a space which is actively affirming the idea that it is indeed worthwhile to make art at any level is deeply comforting. The fact that SOMETIMES that art isn’t absolute trash, is deeply inspiring.”
Creep is available to stream on NETFLIX