I am sure you have watched Creep before, but if you haven’t, you’re missing out.
Synopsis
Aaron answers an online ad and drives to a stranger’s house to film him for the day. The man wants to make a movie for his unborn child, but his requests become more bizarre as the day goes along.
My Thoughts
I am sure you have all seen Creep, but it had been a while for me, so I decided to watch it at the weekend, and will follow it up with Creep 2 soon. You can already read my thoughts on The Creep Tapes Season One.
If you haven’t watched Creep before, go and watch it, because it is genuinely uncomfortable from beginning to end, and the whole thing basically runs on awkward tension.
It’s almost boring at times I think, as if it’s not really going anywhere at all, which just makes it even more unsettling.
Mark Duplass is of course the star of the show, and Josef has to be one of my favorite characters from any found footage film. He plays the kind of guy you meet and instantly hope he isn’t planning to hang out with you.
He says things that sound innocent, but the tone is always just slightly off, and it only gets worse, but you almost get used to it. By the time it really crosses a line, you’ve already sat through so many minor red flags from the guy that it doesn’t even feel like a big shift.
The unlucky guy in the film is Aaron, the man behind the camera, and he is quiet, passive, and maybe too polite for his own good, and it’s easy to sit there and think, “Why doesn’t he just leave?” when all of this is going on.
But Aaron needs money!
There’s also this weird sense of humor running through the whole film, the kind of humor that happens when things get so awkward you don’t know what else to do. A lot of it is absurd, but it just adds to the overall unease.
What’s really interesting is that the film never really tries to surprise you, as it shows its hand pretty early, and you’re not watching it to figure anything out, you just want to see how far it’ll go.
There are long pauses, pointless conversations, moments that feel improvised or just thrown in, but it all adds up. You don’t get a twist, you get a slow, inevitable conclusion that still surprises you.
Creep is a film all about the tension. It’s just uncomfortable people in an uncomfortable situation, and that’s enough. It leans into the tension and stays there, which is probably the boldest thing about it.
Most films like this would have tried to ramp things up or add some big reveal. Creep doesn’t bother. It just sits in the discomfort and lets you deal with it.
It’s definitely not the kind of horror film you watch for entertainment. But as a piece of psychological tension, it’s very very solid. Quiet, weird, and very effective without trying too hard.
A must watch.
Good Points
Duplass Is Perfectly Uncomfortable – He plays Josef with the right amount of charm and unease. It’s a performance that never goes over the top but just keeps you tense and on edge the whole time.
Keeps It Simple and Tight – Two characters, one location, minimal setup. It’s stripped down to the essentials and doesn’t overcomplicate anything.
The Tension – Social discomfort and unpredictability. The tension is masteful.
The Ending – I love it.
Bad Points
Aaron’s Choices – He does need the money, and at a point in the film, his decision to stay just stops making sense.
Is Creep Worth Watching?
100%.
It’s a fantastic film showcasing a minimalist set up and expert tension. It’s a slow and uncomfortable watch and does a lot with very little.
I’m sure you have already watched it, anyway?
Where To Stream
Director and Cast
Director – Patrick Brice.
Main Cast – Mark Duplass, Patrick Brice.
Found Footage Horror Movies 
Let Me Know Your Thoughts!