Creepshow 2 (1987): Review from March, 2007

Trio of tales based on Stephen King stories within an anthology which doesn't hold a candle to the first film which not only featured more stories, but more entertaining, gory ones. The first is titles OLD CHIEF WOOD'NHEAD and is about three bastards who decide to pillage a kind husband and wife(George Kennedy and Dorothy Lamour)who run a department store. It ends in both being murdered by Native American heel Sam Whitemoon(Holt McCallany)who wanted the family jewelry given to the couple by his father Ben in accordance to owing them borrowed moneys during poverty-stricken times. A tall wooden Native American named Old Chief Wood'nhead comes to life to destroy them. The second tale is about four teens who decide to drive to a river spot holding a raft in the center. These kids realize that some massive form of sludge is coming towards them as they make their way onto the raft. One by one, the sludgy oil slick "eats" them until there's little choice but to try and swim for the shore where their car is parked(the radio was left on). But, will anyone be left to take that swim? The third is about a successful lawyer(Lois Chile)who is returning home after a tryst with a male prostitute. She accidentally hits a hitchhiker, and yet leaves the scene of the crime. What she doesn't expect is the hitchhiker's ghost who keeps returning for his ride.

To be honest, this anthology is very mediocre and features decent, if uncomplicated, gore effects which expose how cheaply made this was. The cast isn't as lively as the previous film and the wraparound is made in weak animation one might expect to see on NBC in the 80's Cartoon Age. Just disappointing. The stories themselves also lack bite or true scares which also hurts. THE RAFT comes the closest to creating blood-curdling terror because of the difficult situation the young characters face against a blob that has you when it grabs hold.

Stephen King has a small role in the segment THE HITCHHIKER as a truck driver and make-up extrordinaire Tom Savini is "The Creep" our guide through the tales. Rating in 2007: 3/10 (equivalent to my blog's 1.5/5).