Found footage films are often truly a mixed bag. Far too many films use it as a lazy trope to attempt to keep budgets low, using the quality of the “homemade” footage as a cover for the limitations of the film. Ever since The Blair Witch Project popularised the idea 25 years ago, it has been done to death. However, in 2014 Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice managed the seemingly impossible – creating something new and truly unique with the technique in the form of Creep.
The central concept of Creep is the tapes of handheld footage recorded by videographer Aaron, who has accepted a mysterious job in a remote area after answering an advert online. When he arrives, he is met by Josef, who claims to have terminal cancer and is attempting to record a video for his unborn child in case he isn’t around when it is born. Josef is charming, but manic although seemingly harmless. Of course, as things progress Aaron becomes more and more concerned for his safety as Josef’s behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and dangerous. However, despite escaping from Josef’s house, Aaron quickly discovers that his experience with Josef is far from over.
It’s difficult to provide a synopsis for Creep in some regards, simply because for much of the film very little actually happens. The real focus is the increasingly odd behaviour of Josef, as he takes Aaron to places he claims were from his childhood, introduces his wolf mask “”peachfuzz” and eventually tells a story of raping his wife while wearing it. Mark Duplass is electric as Josef, as he needed to be given he’s largely the only character on screen for much of the film, but there’s something really engrossing, even mesmerising about the way he behaves as Josef. The slow creeping realistion (pun intended) for Aaron that Josef is not what he purports to be is really well portrayed by Brice who just wants to see the best in Josef, despite his actions, and pays dearly for kindness. It’s hard not to laugh at points, because the physical creepiness, and oddball behaviour of Josef is intense, but also frequently straddles the line of hilarious and legitimately worrying, such is the breadth of the performance from Duplass.
The “found footage” element of Creep works really well where other movies have failed. It could so easily be derivative and boring, but because there are only two characters involved for almost the entire plot, it operates as a helpful framing device to give the audience a direct line into what Aaron sees, and the increasingly unnerving antics from Josef. That point-of-view makes the whole thing even more eerie as if Josef is talking directly to the audience, and Duplass’ significant and intense eye contact really makes that a disturbing but completely engaging experience.
Ten years after its initial release, Creep continues to be a masterpiece in uncomfortable viewing, with Duplass putting in an otherworldly performance as the troubled, deranged Josef and Brice working as a tremendous counterpoint as the kind, trusting Aaron. It’s a brilliant dynamic at the heart of what is still a disturbing, engrossing watch that has only got better with age. It also has moments that are awkward, laugh-out-loud funny, and genuinely troubling. A truly unique film that takes a well worn concept and takes it in a whole new direction.
Special Features:
- New audio commentary with Director Patrick Brice, Editor Christopher Donlon and Actor MarkDuplass
- Archive audio commentary with Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass
- Peachfuzz: an interview with Patrick Brice
- Into Darker Territory: an interview with Mark Duplass
- Expand the Universe: an interview with Christopher Donlon
- 10 Years of Creep: a live Q&A with Cast and Crew
- Deleted Scene: Cold Opening
- Alternative Scene: Message to Aaron
- Alternative Endings
Limited Edition Contents:
- Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Luke Headland
- 70-page book with new essays by Sarah Appleton, Kat Ellinger, David Kittredge and Amber T
- 6 collectors’ art cards
Creep Limited Edition Blu-ray Box set’ set for release on 9 December from Second Sight
