A film review by Rachael Vice Copyright © 2001 Rachael Vice

(This review contains some SPOILERS)

Like the beginning of the classic horror movies such as NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, JEEPERS CREEPERS begins as a harmless Sunday drive and quickly becomes a fight for survival, giving a refreshing resurrection to films about what happens when wandering too far out in the sticks.

Darry (Justin Long) and sister Trish (Gina Phillips) head home for spring break after a semester at college on a deserted road to "see the country scenery". Unfortunately, the road soon becomes un-deserted by a menace driving an old, banged-up truck that goes pretty fast for its age. Later, they see the same lunatic dumping, what appears to be, bodies down a pipe outside a church inhabited only by a few annoying birds. After investigating (does anyone in the world of scary movies actually have a brain?), Darry and Trish's suspicions are confirmed after finding hundreds of bodies (some over 20 years old) that have been sliced and diced. And when The Creeper comes after them, they realize one of them will be the next body added to the pile.

I've already heard so many negative comments about this film, and the thing people are complaining about the most is that nothing is really explained. I.E.: What's with the birds? Why and how were the bodies preserved? Where did The Creeper come from? And of course, what exactly was The Creeper?!
But, is it really a bad thing none of this was explained? What made this movie scary in the first place was the mystery of everything. And, had there been explanations, the only one who could tell you everything was The Creeper, and he doesn't exactly talk and I really don't think he would sit for tea and explain anything to anyone.

I had no problem with their being no resolutions to any of the above questions, but I did have other problems. My major dislike was with how The Creeper was made and handled. In the first half of the movie, the audience is watching a slasher-flick and in the blink of an eye we're watching a creature-feature. Yes, the creature version of The Creeper looked awesome and pretty damn scary but he was much scarier when he had clothes on and acted human because it made him even more mysterious. Besides, it's uncomfortable watching The Creeper grow wings and claws out of his face when you've watched the film for 45 minutes and labeled The Creeper as human.

JEEPERS CREEPERS also has a not-so-appetizing finish (no pun intended). We're on the EDGE OF OUR SEATS, BITING our nails to the cuticles as the big chase finally ends, and then we go to another scene and roll credits. Though the final scene is a nice finish, it didn't have to roll around, as hastily as it did, while the audience is still recovering from the chase. I don't want to give the ending away, so I won't go into anymore detail.

However, unlike most films that have those annoying drama queen psychics, 'JEEPERS' handles the aspect very well. The psychic makes the movie much more 'creepier' in telling Darry and Trish about The Creeper's eating cycle and to watch out when you hear that creepy song. This is the only movie I can recall seeing where a psychic doesn't handle fortune telling as an end-of-the world apocalypse.

Though Jonathan Breck did an outstanding job as The Creeper, Justin Long and Gina Phillips deserve the round of applause. And finally, we have a heroine that isn't some Jennifer-Gellar-Felicity cheerleader worrying about the right time to lose her virginity to her jock boyfriend.

Did I mention this is a scary movie? It's one of the few you'll see in a while so I wouldn't miss it if you're in for a real scare.

Final Rating:  * * *  of  * * * *

	Running Time: 87 Min | Rated: R | US Release: August 31st | More >>

Related Links:

• Official Site
• Creature Corner
• The Jeepers Creepers Message Boards