Creepshow 2 (1987) (4K Ultra HD Review)
DIRECTED BY: Michael Gornick
STARRING: Tom Savini, George Kennedy, Lois Chiles
RATED: R/Region: O/1:85/2160P/NUMBER OF DISCS 1
AVAILABLE FROM Arrow Video
Creepshow 2 is what happens when you try to recapture lightning in a bottle, realize the bottle is gone, and decide to use a jar instead. It’s not terrible—it’s just forever living in the shadow of its much-beloved predecessor, like the sequel that keeps reminding you it’s technically part of the family even if it doesn’t get invited to Thanksgiving.
The anthology trims things down to three segments, and the results are… mixed, at best. “Old Chief Woodenhead” is a mean little opener with a solid concept and a strong payoff, even if it feels like it’s trying a bit too hard to prove it belongs here. “The Raft” is the clear MVP—a nasty, nihilistic crowd-pleaser that understands exactly what Creepshow horror should feel like: cruel, slimy, and faintly amused by your suffering. Then there’s “The Hitchhiker,” which starts creepy, overstays its welcome, and ends up feeling like an endurance test built around one catchphrase. Thanks for the ride, indeed.
What really hurts Creepshow 2 is the absence of Stephen King on-screen and George A. Romero behind the camera. Without their playful energy and comic-book flair, the film feels flatter and more self-serious, despite trying desperately to maintain that EC Comics vibe. The wraparound animation is thinner, the tone is less mischievous, and the whole thing just lacks that spark of ghoulish fun that made the original such a classic.
Arrow Video’s 4K release, however, is undeniably solid. The transfer looks clean and sharp, with well-preserved grain and strong contrast that brings out the film’s practical effects and moody lighting. “The Raft” in particular benefits from the upgrade, with the creature effects and nighttime lake sequences looking appropriately grimy and tactile. It’s easily the best the film has ever looked, even if it can’t fix the uneven storytelling.
In the end, Creepshow 2 isn’t a disaster—it’s a decent anthology with one great segment, one good one, and one that probably should’ve been shorter. Arrow’s 4K presentation gives it a level of polish it’s never had before, but no amount of restoration can quite make it feel like the real deal. Creepy enough, just not classic.
Extras
- Commentary by Michael Gornick & Perry Martin
- Screenplay for a Sequel (HD; 10:45) is a fun interview with George A. Romero.
- Tales from the Creep (HD; 7:53) features Tom Savini discussing his makeup, animatronics and even acting work in the film.
- Poncho’s Last Ride (HD; 14:44) is an interview with Daniel Beer, who portrays Randy in the swimming vignette.
- The Road to Dover (HD; 13:51) interviews Tom Wright, who plays the hapless hit and run victim.
- Nightmares in Foam Rubber (HD; 32:03) interviews SFX artists Howard Berger and Greg Nicotero. The menu has a misspelling in the title, for those who care about such things.
- My Friend Rick (HD; 2:43) features Howard Berger discussing his mentor Rick Baker.
- Behind the Scenes (HD; 5:50) has some good footage of makeup, prosthetics and the like.
- Image Gallery (HD; 3:34)
- Trailers and TV SpotTheatrical Trailer 1 (HD; 1:38)Theatrical Trailer 2 (HD; 1:12)TV Spot (HD; 00:35)
- Image Galleries
- Image Gallery (HD; 3:35)
- Screenplay (Second Draft, 1984) (HD)
- Screenplay (Final Draft, 1986) (HD)
