• Release year: 2024–
• Creators: Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass.
• Director: Patrick Brice.
• Producers: Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass, Mel Eslyn, Will Dowsett, and John Baker.
• Screenplay by: Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass.
• Cinematography by: Patrick Brice.
• Music by: Julian Wass.

Shotgun Commentary: Uncomfortable in the best way.

Review

I have certainly arrived late at The Creep Tapes party. Its third season is being released in SHUDDER now and until the end of September, and it could not be creepier. As a spectator who just joined the show, I can confirm that this third season is INTENSE.

For those of you who, like me a month ago, knew little to nothing of this series, it is an anthology of murder. The main character, Peachfuzz (Mark Duplass), meets random people for one reason or another and records them. He gets to know them for a bit, and then he murders them, which is also mostly on tape. The idea is that each episode shows the footage of a different victim.

Legends at work

Opening with one of my favourite actresses of all time, Kate Siegel, this season completely captured my attention from the very beginning. For someone with no context whatsoever, the first episode will be disconcerting at best. It is hard to tell what to make of it once it is over, but it is easy to get hooked nonetheless.

This addictive factor exists largely thanks to Duplass’ performance, which is simply masterful. To be able to portray a character so awkward, dangerous, adorable, cringe, and oddly hilarious, one must thread incredibly carefully, but Duplass has taken to the role like a duck to water. Naturally, this has a lot to do with the fact that he, along with Patrick Brice, writes the show.

Speaking of which, the stories. We need to talk about the stories. Without getting into spoilers, the stories begin like your most common flavour of creep but soon twist into something else. Something better. The circumstances change constantly, but so does the motivation, the relationships between murderer and victim, the approach to how each interaction is recorded… No episode feels like a repeat of another, and all of them push the boundaries a little bit more at a time.

Talented writing

The POV is particularly integral to the storytelling in this case. You watch most of the content through the perspective of Peachfuzz which puts you in the very uncomfortable position of being the one who makes others uncomfortable. This is particularly apparent in the “Mo” episode, which is one of the cringiest episodes to ever stream on any platform. And shockingly enough, I mean that in the best way possible. It is meant to make you feel uncomfortable, and it does its job splendidly. Still, a personal favourite has got to be episode 5, “Greg”, coming up this 29th of September to SHUDDER along with the final episode of the season “Jody + Brie”.

“Greg” combines a humungous amount of dark humour with a very real social critique that showcases a common reality and how it can quickly become a nightmare. A simple deeper reading makes you wonder if Greg’s regular life was not the actual nightmare, way before Peachfuzz even showed up in it. It makes you reflect on how you live your life and whether you are actually making something fulfilling in it.

All in all, The Creep Tapes is a fascinating horror show that provides a pretty original premise with an enthralling and dynamic point of view. If you want to delve into horror but are looking for something outside of the usual mainstream AHS horror pizazz, this is definitely your show.

Thanks to SHUDDER for access!

Advice to take from this movie:

• Do not engage with random people on the street.
• Remain aware of your surroundings.
• Do not go away with random strangers without an escape plan.

What’s your take? Have you watched The Creep Tapes? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀