"Creep" (2014) is a horror-thriller starring Mark Duplass ("The League") and Patrick Brice.
Josef (played by Duplass) has terminal cancer and hires videographer, Aaron (played by Brice), to film him for his unborn son whom he will probably never get a chance to meet. Josef, has a cabin in the middle of the woods, where the story begins. Right off the bat, he’s an eccentric character—a fan of jump scares but also overly friendly. Aaron is cautious around him; quickly figuring out this guy is a bit loony. Josef explains his situation about having terminal cancer and most likely never meeting his unborn son, and requests Aaron to film him, explaining to his son who his father was and recreating things that a father and son do together—bathing (otherwise known as “tubby time”) and hiking. Josef pushes Aaron by begging him to stay longer, past dark, when the trip back through the woods would become more treacherous for Aaron. Josef reveals something shocking to Aaron over a few tumblers of whiskey and things just get stranger from there.
Duplass is known for his independent movies and quirky humor, starring in “The League” as Pete Eckhart and writing films such as "Cyrus," starring John C. Reilly, Marisa Tomei, and Jonah Hill. "Creep" holds many of his trademarks, like unsettling characters and perverted humor, helping make this movie unique and captivating. Josef’s first appearance in the movie is a jump-scare, freaking the cameraman Aaron out while still in his car upon arriving at the cabin. The cabin is, in fact, a beautiful house and any outdoorsy person's dream. The tone of the movie is set up within the first few minutes—the location itself is treacherous, made evident by the bumpy car ride and steep staircase up to the front door. High cliffs and streams show to be obstacles for Aaron, a hipster from the city who is used to his luxuries and comfort. Josef is remarkably cool at first with the whole “I have terminal brain cancer” thing, yet we feel pity for him when we watch him at his most vulnerable in a bathtub, telling his unborn son through the camera about their lost “tubby time.”
This little-known horror / thriller is a gem. Josef’s complex character draws you in immediately. The chemistry, or lack of, between Josef and Aaron helps establish what exactly is normal in a world where suspension of belief is necessary. You find yourself, in the beginning, wondering if Josef’s behavior is from him hopelessly coping with his impending death, or if he’s just a creep. Aaron’s role is purely to absorb Josef’s strange behavior, leaving his character flat and uninteresting, but it works because he’s only the person behind the camera, and all our attention needs to be focused on Josef. Aaron’s constant look of shock and bewilderment reflects what the audience feels, but eventually becomes repetitive and boring. Although his character is necessary, Josef’s is far more interesting, to the point that the audience begins to not care about Aaron anymore. There’s something about Aaron that draws Josef to him, yet we never see the alluring side of this character that makes us desperately want him to be okay. Duplass does an incredible job in creating an unsettling and disturbing atmosphere, but his opposite falls short, through no fault of Brice’s, but the writers who wrote this two-dimensional character. Duplass’ acting, Josef’s character, and the atmosphere are what make this great horror-thriller flick. Although not a Sundance-winner, its shocking moments, jump-scares, and bizarre dialogue make this movie a winner for horror fans that are willing to to forego the blood and guts.
