Creepshow has always had a certain fun factor to it. The stories may be gory or straight up gross, and they definitely tend to be scary, but there is usually a silliness to them. They are colorful and almost vibrant. The latest episode in the anthology series provides two tales that are filled with sadness and are light on the laughs and loud colors.
“Drug Traffic” is about an ambitious politician (Reid Scott) who is going to use the heated topics of immigration and healthcare to his political advantage. When his staged PR move goes awry, his true feelings come out. The closing moments of the story poke fun about a lesson being learned. There are jokes about togetherness and access to medicine in a scene that reeks of hypocrisy. It is a telling moment that touches on the classism in this country. It is also funny in a way that Creepshow normally is not.
The rest of the episode builds to this moment using one of the most unique creatures in the show’s history. It is disgusting to look at, but it is also impossible to turn away from. There is a lot of blood and death. The end result is a segment that ends up being topical and scary.
The second installment is a nod to a horror classic. “A Dead Girl Named Sue” also deals with privilege, but in a much more blunt manner. Cliven Ridgeway (Josh Mikel) is the son of a small town’s mayor. Thanks to his father’s position, Cliven is able to get away with committing some atrocious acts. Even worse, he is aware of the situation and makes sure to let everyone know about it.
The citizens are fed up and are ready to disperse their own brand of justice. Police chief Evan Foster (Cristian Gonzalez) has a different idea, however. The story ends on a karmic note that places it firmly in the universe of a famous horror movie. There is also a sense of grief and hopelessness that goes against what Creepshow is known for, but still works.
New episodes of Creepshow premiere on Shudder each Thursday
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