When the original “Creepshow” film came out in 1982, I went absolutely nuts. I loved the teaming up of author Stephen King and director George Romero. I loved the stories, and the way they were all tied together with the use of comic book panels. Every story was a dead-on throwback to the old EC comic books I loved so much. About 5 years later, news of a sequel started circulating and once again I started salivating. I learned that while Romero was still attached to the project and was adapting King’s stories into a screenplay, he was not set to direct. That job fell to Michael Gornick, who at the time had only directed episodes of a series called “The Winners” and later, “Tales from the Darkside.” In 1987, “Creepshow 2” hit theatres with three new tales of horror. Unfortunately this time around it didn’t quite make the splash that the original had. The stories themselves were fine, what with the wrath of a cigar store Indian being incurred on a murderous thief, a bunch of yuppie larva becoming lunch for a shapeless blob living in a lake, and a hitchhiker that just won’t seem to go away.

Where the film had problems was in its pacing and delivery. The comic book format was still there, but had been radically altered. And the cool-looking crypt keeper from the first film had been replaced by Tom Savini in a less than convincing makeup job as ‘The Creep.’ As for the pacing, there were just too many scenes that were simply dull. In spite of these problems and changes, “Creepshow 2” was still a bit of a favorite of mine since it still had King ‘written’ all over it, as well as his obligatory cameo.

Anchor Bay Entertainment is releasing a new DVD edition of “Creepshow 2” in its new Divimax format, and I will say the film never looked better. The high-definition picture is extremely clean and clear. They are also adding in a few features that make the DVD more than worth picking up. First up is a commentary by Gornick that is moderated by DVD producer Perry Martin. Martin knows his material well and knows just the right questions to ask. A lot of issues I had wondered about the production are covered in this enlightening commentary.

Next up is the best feature of the disc, which is “Nightmares in Foam Rubber.” This fairly lengthy documentary offers up all new interviews with F/X artist Howard Berger and Greg Nicotero. These guys are the founders of KNB Effects, and are some of the most sought after artists in the business, and have had a long relationship with George Romero. Any opportunity to hear what these guys have to say is worth your time. You’ll also find a behind the scenes gallery and storyboards, as well as DVD-Rom access to the original script.

“Creepshow 2” paled in comparison to the original movie, but this is not to say it is without its merits. The special effects are still very cool, and the stories are pretty good, if a bit uninspired. The DVD, on the other hand, is well worth picking up for the extra features alone.

Directed by: Michael Gornick
Starring: George Kennedy, Lois Chiles, Dorothy Lamour, Page Hannah
Extras: Commentary by Director Michael Gornick and DVD producer Perry Martin, “Nightmares in Foam Rubber” Featurette, Behind the Scenes Still Gallery, Original Storyboard Art
Specifications: Widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Release Date: 9/28/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating:
Website

We'll give Creepshow 2 a C-.