{"id":69995,"date":"2021-03-01T23:15:06","date_gmt":"2021-03-02T06:15:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=69995"},"modified":"2021-03-02T14:51:00","modified_gmt":"2021-03-02T21:51:00","slug":"creepers-1985","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=69995","title":{"rendered":"Creepers (1985)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <strong>&#8220;It&#8217;s perfectly normal for insects to be slightly telepathic.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Phenomena-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Phenomena-Poster-174x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"174\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-70001\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Phenomena-Poster-174x300.png 174w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Phenomena-Poster-596x1024.png 596w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Phenomena-Poster-74x128.png 74w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Phenomena-Poster-157x270.png 157w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Phenomena-Poster.png 645w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 174px) 100vw, 174px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA boarding school student (Jennifer Connelly) who has the power to communicate telepathically with insects befriends a wheelchair-bound entomologist (Donald Pleasence) with a pet chimpanzee, and together they try to solve the mystery of who has been stalking and killing local girls.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Amateur Sleuths<\/li>\n<li>Boarding School<\/li>\n<li>Dario Argento Films<\/li>\n<li>Donald Pleasence Films<\/li>\n<li>Horror Films<\/li>\n<li>Insects<\/li>\n<li>Serial Killers<\/li>\n<li>Supernatural Powers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary writes that this &#8220;brutal Dario Argento horror film&#8221; &#8212; also known as <em>Phenomena<\/em> &#8212; &#8220;has the striking visual style we&#8217;ve come to expect from the Italian director, and there are a couple of his customary shocks&#8221;, but he &#8220;too often forgoes legitimate shocks for nauseating sights &#8212; lice crawling on a rotting head, Connolly throwing up, heads crashing through glass, deformed faces&#8221; (who enjoys this kind of fare?!). In addition, as Peary notes, &#8220;Argento&#8217;s script is extremely weak&#8221;, with &#8220;Connelly&#8217;s sleepwalking: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Sleepwalking.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Sleepwalking-1024x573.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"358\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-69998\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Sleepwalking-1024x573.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Sleepwalking-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Sleepwalking-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Sleepwalking-768x430.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Sleepwalking-1536x859.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Sleepwalking-483x270.png 483w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Sleepwalking.png 1825w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and even her control over insects smack[ing] of writer&#8217;s &#8216;convenience&#8217;; in fact, the insect premise has such little effect on what happens that they could easily be eliminated without serious damage being done to the film.&#8221; Indeed, everything about the screenplay is awkwardly handled, clumsily plotted, occasionally illogical, and woodenly acted. To that end, Peary points out that Pleasence&#8217;s chimp &#8220;gives the film&#8217;s most impressive performance&#8221; (!). While 15-year-old Connelly is undeniably stunning: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Connelly.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Connelly-1024x570.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"356\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-69999\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Connelly-1024x570.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Connelly-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Connelly-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Connelly-768x428.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Connelly-1536x855.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Connelly-485x270.png 485w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Connelly-1038x576.png 1038w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Connelly.png 1837w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; she&#8217;s given terribly lame dialogue and situations to play out. Feel free to skip this one. To watch a humorous overview by a fan of this film (who generously points out its many laughably bad moments: &#8220;It&#8217;s time for another Donald Pleasence monologue&#8230;&#8221;), <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Joc4Oak_VaY\">click here<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> For this review, I&#8217;ve used the American-release title of the film as referenced in <em>Guide For the Film Fanatic<\/em>, which had 20+ minutes removed. This is likely the version Peary saw, though I watched the 116 minute version known as <em>Phenomena<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Atmospheric cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Cinematography2-1024x571.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"357\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-69997\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Cinematography2-1024x571.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Cinematography2-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Cinematography2-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Cinematography2-768x428.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Cinematography2-1536x856.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Cinematography2-484x270.png 484w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Cinematography2.png 1815w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Beautiful location shooting<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Scenery.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Scenery-1024x582.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"364\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-69996\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Scenery-1024x582.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Scenery-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Scenery-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Scenery-768x436.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Scenery-1536x872.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Scenery-475x270.png 475w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Creepers-Scenery.png 1819w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0087909\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/horror\/phenomena-1985-creepers.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s perfectly normal for insects to be slightly telepathic.&#8221; Synopsis: A boarding school student (Jennifer Connelly) who has the power to communicate telepathically with insects befriends a wheelchair-bound entomologist (Donald Pleasence) with a pet chimpanzee, and together they try to solve the mystery of who has been stalking and killing local girls. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Amateur Sleuths Boarding School Dario Argento Films Donald Pleasence Films Horror Films Insects Serial Killers Supernatural Powers Response to Peary\u2019s Review: Peary writes&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=69995\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69995","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=69995"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69995\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70023,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69995\/revisions\/70023"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=69995"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=69995"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=69995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}