Creep (2014) Review – An Uncomfortably Intimate Found Footage Nightmare
Creep: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A lean, uncomfortable, and masterfully executed exercise in psychological tension that proves found footage still has plenty of bite. Creep succeeds primarily through its simplicity and the toweringly unsettling performance of Mark Duplass. By justifying the presence of the camera through a logical narrative hook, the film avoids the “why are they still filming?” pitfalls that plague the genre. While the “mumblegore” style keeps the production minimalist, the constant, unpredictable escalation of Josef’s behaviour creates a thick atmosphere of dread that is impossible to ignore. It is a 4 star standout that culminates in one of the most viscerally shocking endings in recent horror memory. Whether you love the format or loathe it, Creep is a legitimately frightening experience that stays with you long after the credits roll.
Details: Director: Patrick Brice | Cast: Mark Duplass, Patrick Brice | Runtime: 1h 17m | Release Date: 8 March 2014
Best for: Fans of psychological thrillers, those looking for effective “slow-burn” horror, and viewers who appreciate character-driven suspense over high-budget spectacle.
Worth noting: The film was originally titled Peachfuzz and was intended to be a dark comedy before the terrifying nature of Duplass’s performance steered it into the horror genre.
Where to Watch: Netflix
Rating: 4/5 Stars
(Superb lead performance, expertly utilised found footage, and a truly haunting finale.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are checking out some more found footage in the form of Patrick Brice’s 2014 movie Creep.
Table of Contents
A simple yet terrifying premise
The story is pretty simple. A videographer, Aaron (Patrick Brice), is hired by a terminally ill man, Josef (Mark Duplass) to help him document his everyday life. With a baby on the way that he may never get to see, Josef wants his child to have some idea of what his father was like. What initially starts as some slightly strange interactions that the desperate for money Aaron tolerates, quickly takes a turn for the sinister and strange when he can’t find his keys to leave.
Found footage! You really only need those two words to make some horror fans shudder to their core. Naturally, the cheap to produce, D.I.Y, nature of found footage has found its way into all genres of movies but horror is, undoubtedly, the place it calls home. Movies like The Blair Witch Project, REC, and Paranormal Activity constantly reminded viewers that this style could really work.
The great thing about the use of found footage here is that it makes total sense. Aaron is a videographer who is desperate for money and Josef is someone who wants to employ his services. This isn’t a case of someone bringing a camera along and filming every little last thing regardless of danger to themselves or inconvenience.
Josef wants Aaron to keep filming to maintain the intimate nature of the video diary they are making. When things start to go wrong, Aaron keeps on filming to document his suspicions and to protect himself.
One of the major found footage barriers is pushed aside
One of the major barriers to enjoyment of these types of movies is completely pushed aside. Nearly every subsequent moment of filming is explained and makes sense. The camera only rolls when it needs to. Something which does a brilliant job of keeping everything extremely tight and suspenseful.
“The great thing about the use of found footage here is that it makes total sense. Aaron is a videographer who is desperate for money and Josef is someone who wants to employ his services.”
After all, if the events are being filmed then there has been an escalation or there is about to be an escalation. It’s a very clever way of keeping the pacing up and keeping the viewer engaged. There is very little downtime outside of the initial moments of learning about the characters.
This is something that is particularly commendable given the mumblegore nature of the movie. A genre made popular by directors like Joe Swanberg (V/H/S). This approach is dependent on retro-scripting and extremely believable performances to keep you engaged, lest the movie turn into scene after scene of awkward, directionless, preamble. It never feels like Creep wanders away from the necessary and the important. Everything has a point and everything matters.
A genuine creep
We only have two characters here outside of a brief conversation with someone else on the phone. So it goes without saying that the movie is very dependent on our antagonist being both compelling and threatening. Josef is, very much, deserving of this accolade. Performed wonderfully by Mark Duplass, Josef is a character that ranges from being affable and nice to insanely creepy.
While other horror movies are attacking the viewer with numerous moments of visual nastiness, Creep only needs one thing and that is the wildly unpredictable Josef. The strange thing is, he can be tremendously likable, if not a little overbearing. He’d make for the most perfect type of neighbour if it wasn’t for his somewhat psychotic tendencies.
“Josef wearing his Peach Fuzz wolf mask is something that presents as slightly odd, at first, before turning into nightmare fuel later on.”
There are numerous moments here that are beyond unsettling. Josef wearing his Peach Fuzz wolf mask is something that presents as slightly odd, at first, before turning into nightmare fuel later on. The aforementioned phone call midway through the movie serves to add to the fear and the tension ramps up majorly from there. As I mentioned earlier, this is a mumblegore movie at its heart so expect minimalism. But Creep is likely to stay with you for just how effectively scary it can be.
An interesting process
Given the nature of just how effective Creep is as a horror movie, it is something of a surprise to know that director Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass had originally intended Creep to be a black comedy. Sure, you can see that here and there with the movie having a few moments of deliberately awkward silliness that would fit in nicely with this approach. But the movie is just so dark and harrowing that it is hard to imagine it ever being truly comedic.
The pair spent time together writing an outline for the movie. They then improvised and recorded scene after scene over the space of a week. The resulting collection of footage was shared with their friends. It immediately became clear that this was far more of a horror movie than anything, leading to what we have here.
Obviously there are a few issues here. People who dislike found footage, at its core, won’t find a whole ton to change their mind here. The format is used very effectively for some surprising jump scares. It does, however, fall foul of some of the genre’s typical issues.
There are a number of moments that will have you second guessing the character’s actions. Why didn’t they run away? Why didn’t they call the police? Brice and Duplass do try to answer these questions in a number of scenes. Due to this, Creep doesn’t feel anywhere near as silly as many found footage horror movies. But some people will find it a bit ridiculous, in parts.
“Mark Duplass is genuinely intimidating thanks to his unpredictable nature while also managing to perfectly convey the idea that Josef could be quite a nice guy.”
Acting is fantastic, particularly from Duplass. He is genuinely intimidating thanks to his unpredictable nature. He also manages to perfectly convey the idea that Josef could be quite a nice guy. Brice is more reactionary, acting as something of an avatar for the viewer, but does a nice job. The ending is utterly brutal, one of the more viscerally shocking in recent horror history, in fact.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Mark Duplass: His portrayal of Josef is sensational, perfectly balancing a “nice guy” facade with a deeply disturbing undercurrent of psychopathy.
- Format Justification: The film provides a solid, logical reason for the camera to be running, which significantly aids the viewer’s immersion.
- Tension: The “slow-burn” nature of the first half pay off beautifully as the film descends into a claustrophobic nightmare.
The Bad
- Found Footage Limitations: While better than most, it still relies on a few “jump scares” that might feel cheap to some viewers.
- Character Decisions: Despite the setup, a few of the protagonist’s choices will still prompt some frustrated shouting at the screen.
The Ugly: The Lake Scene. The final moments of the film are executed with such brutal, matter-of-fact precision that they provide one of the most visceral “gut punches” in modern horror.
Should You Watch Creep?
Yes, without question. It is a 4 star example of how to do found footage horror correctly. It is intimate, terrifying, and powered by an incredible central performance. If you want something that will genuinely get under your skin this October, Creep is the perfect choice. Just maybe don’t answer any suspicious ads for videography work afterward.
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