Jeepers Creepers Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)August 31st, 2001
JEEPERS CREEPERS
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2001 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ** 1/2
You have just seen a creepy looking stranger dump two dead bodies out of his truck. Do you drive away as fast as you can, or do you go and investigate? If you happen to find yourself in a formula horror picture like Victor Salva's JEEPERS CREEPERS, the decision, of course, is obvious. As Trish (Gina Philips) explains it to her brother, Darryl (Justin Long), "You know the part in a scary movie where someone does something really stupid? This is it."
Salva has studied the horror movie rule book well. Cell phones, if present, will always have low batteries or get no signal. All warnings will be ignored. People will stay and stare at a killer in action when any thinking person would beat a fast exit. Characters will basically do one stupid thing after another.
What JEEPERS CREEPERS has going for it are a few genuinely scary scenes enhanced by odd camera angles and sharp editing. The performances by the two leads are good, better than the movie deserves. As they argue about things important and trivial, their chemistry is genuine, and their sibling relationship always credible. My favorite character, however, wasn't human. It was the truck -- a bizarre cross between a World War I tank, a train cowcatcher and a farmer's old pickup. One look at this rusting hulk of a vehicle and you know that you don't want to be caught within miles of it.
JEEPERS CREEPERS is little more than a standard horror flick, but at least it doesn't go for camp. One thing is for sure. After watching this film, you may never want to take a leisurely drive down an old country road as Trish and Darryl did. It'll be a nice, safe highway for you.
JEEPERS CREEPERS runs 1:30. It is rated R for "terror violence/gore, language and brief nudity," and would be acceptable for most teenagers
The film opens nationwide in the United States today, Friday, August 31, 2001. In the Silicon Valley, it is showing at the AMC and the Century theaters.
Web: http://www.InternetReviews.com
Email: [email protected]
***********************************************************************
Want free reviews and weekly movie and video recommendations via Email? Just send me a letter with the word "subscribe" in the subject line.
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
