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Creepshow |
...greetings, kiddies!...
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Creepshow |
Ahhh, Creepshow. What Dr. Michael R. Collings calls a jeu d'espirite, a lark. That it is. But isn't it a cool lark?
Creepshow was printed as an oversized comic book, written by King and illustrated by the master of macabre art, Berni Wrightson (Wrightson, many of you may know, also illustrated Cycle of the Werewolf and the unexpergated The Stand) What is now known of as a "graphic novel," Creepshow was then imprinted on the back with the words "illustrated fiction," next to a large, devilish face of a bearded Stephen King. The cover art was done by Jack Kamen, who did much artwork for E.C. Comics in the fifties, the horror comics which were subsequently banned, and Creephow's main progenetor. (FYI -- The E.C. Comics (Tales from the Crypt, The Vault of Horror, The Haunt of Fear, Shock Suspensestories, etc) have been reprinted and can now be found in regular comics stores. For those who loved Creepshow, try these out. You won't be disappointed.)
Directed by George Romero, the companion anthology film is at once scary and campy, and a lot of fun to watch.
So, without further adieu, on with the right fest! (Heh, heh.)
This tale begins this creepy collection, with an introduction by The Creep (King's version of The Cryptkeeper), who "tells" all five tales and makes some appearances. "Father's Day" deals with a decadent family, the Granthams, and the dirty secret they share. You see, Aunt Bedilia Grantham hated her father, Nathan. He was a mean-spirited, nasty old man, and when he became wheelcair-ridden, she needed to be with him at all times. When she finds love, he has him "taken care of" in a "hunting accident". On Father's Day, seven years before the tale takes place, he starts screaming at her ("BEDELIA, YOU BITCH! I WANT MY CAKE!), and she gives him a marble ashtray in the head.
The Granthams are celebrating this morbid holiday, Aunt Bedelia sitting out by her father's grave, drunkenly mourning. She doesn't see the hands reach out of the ground ... until her long-dead father's hands wrap around her throat! Because it's father's day, and he wants his cake ... and he means to have it! And you should see how he gets it! But then I wouldn't want to head you in the wrong direction, eh, kiddies! And that's de cap of the tale, isn't it! Heh, heh, heh...
The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill
Best remembered for the performance Stephen King gave as jack-of-all-trades and master of none Jordy Verrill in the film version of Creepshow, "Lonesome Death" is King's answer to the question "What exists in outer space?" "And is is fertilized?"
Actually, the campiness of the film version ("METEORSH*T!" ) becomes much scarier in the comic. A meteor falls into Jordy's backyard, and when he tries to cool it with water, it splits open, revealing a superhot, oozing goo. He touches the goo and burns himself. Later, some type of moss starts growing from the burn, and soon the weeds from outer space begin to take over his house. When the itch hets so bad he can't contain it, Jordy jumps into the bathtub, watering the plants. When next we see him, he has become a plant-man, and his luck is in only when he can pull the rifle trigger at his head.
Notice the signs in the last panel, one pointing to Castle Rock! (FYI -- This story was based on the previously published but never collected story "Weeds.")
Dexter Stanley, the history professor at Horlocks University gets a call one day from Mike, the janitor. Mike wants the professor to come away from his university party to examine a crate he found underneath the stairs, something dating back over a hundred years. Dex is glad to leave, because his best friend Henry has brought along his wife Willhemena ("Oh just call me Billie, everyone does!"), a loud shrew of a woman. When he gets to the university, he and Mike open the crate slightly; Mike thinks he sees some diamond inside and shoves his hand in. The creature in the crate yanks him the rest of the way in, devoring him.
Professor Stanley runs, looking for someone who can help him. He stumbles upon Charlie Gereson, a full-time student. Charlie doesn't believe him, but when he sees Mike's shoe, he wants to measure the bite marks. Soon, as The Creep says, he'll get a chance to measure them ... personally!
Stanley speeds over to his friend Henry's house. Henry's wife Billie has gone out for the night, and Dex spills his guts to Henry in detail. Henry is shocked, of course, but sees a way that both he and Dex can escape from their monsters. Heh, heh, heh...
Overall, the best story in Creepshow, and one of my favorite shorts stories by King. Incidentally, there was originally a text version of this story, which is also quite good (but nothing can beat the picture of Billie getting her face bitten off by the crate-thing, can it, kiddies?!?!)
One of King's best story titles, this one also contains (probably) his most gruesome form of murder, distributed by a gruesome, angry man. You see, Richard Vickers is a happily married man ... until he discovers his wife Becky is fooling around with Harry Wentworth. One morning, he confronts Harry, telling him that he has Becky somewhere, and that Harry must come with him to find out where she is.
Richard brings Herry to a beach, has him make a hole, and climb into it. Then, he pulls a gun on him and makes him bury himself up to his neck in sand. It is when Harry can only move his head that Richard hauls out the video equipment and shows him where Becky is. She has been buried up to her neck, too, except she's further down the beach ... and lower than the high tide line. And, it turns out, so is Harry. Richard leaves Harry in his spot, setting up a video camera on him, too.
Later that night, when Richard goes to check on Harry, he finds that the body is gone. Probably dragged out to sea, he determines, and returns home. But Harry and Becky return home, too, covered in seaweed. They want Richard to find out how long he can hold his breath... heh, heh.
Similar to "Father's Day," but a lot more violent, this one proves that wetter ain't better! HA!
They sure are! Upson Pratt has spent his entire life making enemies. He has also tried to keep his house as clean as possible. We could go into the psychology of that, kiddies, but what's more fun is this:
Pratt hates being dirty. He hates anything he touched being dirty. And everyone that interferes with his life or makes him angry is a bug; a disease-spreading, disgusting bug. But when the lights go out, Mr. Pratt, the bugs get their revenge!
The most disgusting tale in Creepshow, and a good cap on the collection. The very last panel (the one with the bugs oozing out of Pratt's mouth) is enough to gross you out for years.
Well, that's the end of this creepy critique. Go back to my Morbid Main House, and check out some of my other putrid pages! So long, kiddies, heh, heh, heh...!