Picture this: You're a videographer offered a lucrative gig to document the life of a reclusive stranger, only to discover their sinister side unfolding on camera. That's the spine-tingling hook of the Creep franchise, and guess what? It's not ready to fade into the shadows just yet. But here's where it gets controversial – the creators are shaking things up by pivoting from a planned movie trilogy to a hit TV series, and fans are divided on whether that's a brilliant detour or a risky gamble. Stick around to uncover the full story, including why they're still committed to that epic finale.
Back in 2014, filmmaker Patrick Brice and actor Mark Duplass collaborated with Blumhouse Productions to unleash Creep, a gripping found-footage horror flick that captured audiences with its raw, unsettling vibe. For those new to the genre, found-footage style means the movie feels like real-life recordings – think shaky cameras and no fancy effects – making the terror feel eerily authentic and immersive. The film was such a hit that it spawned a sequel in 2017, cleverly dubbed Creep 2, which built on the original's creepy premise and kept viewers on the edge of their seats.
Even before Creep 2 hit theaters, Brice hinted at a third installment designed to cap off the trilogy as a satisfying conclusion. However, plans evolved unexpectedly. Instead of diving straight into another feature film, the duo shifted gears to create The Creep Tapes, a six-episode anthology series. This change sparked debate among horror enthusiasts: Was it a smart way to explore the killer's twisted mind in more depth, or did it dilute the intensity of a single, focused movie? The series debuted last November on Shudder and AMC+ streaming platforms, shattering records as the most-watched Shudder show on AMC+ and the top November launch in the service's history, boosting subscriptions and buzzing social media conversations. Now, with Season 2 set to drop on November 14th, Brice and Duplass are aiming to repeat that triumph – though the show's longevity remains an open question.
And this is the part most people miss: Despite the series' success, the pair hasn't abandoned their original vision. They still intend to wrap up the entire franchise with Creep 3, ensuring a proper send-off for the trilogy.
Crafted by Brice and Duplass, the first season of The Creep Tapes delves into the psyche of a isolated serial killer who entices unsuspecting videographers with job offers to film his daily existence. As the recordings play out, his bizarre antics and hidden motives emerge, revealing to the victims that they've stumbled into a lethal trap – a classic horror trope that builds suspense through gradual revelation, much like how real-life scams unfold slowly before the danger becomes clear. Season 2 picks up the thread, unveiling more hidden video tapes from this killer's secret archive, the most lethal and awkward predator imaginable. Once again, as the footage unspools, his shady agenda and peculiar habits come to light, forcing the protagonists to realize their grave error in trusting him. This fresh set of six episodes features Duplass alongside a stellar lineup of guest stars, including David Dastmalchian (known for his chilling role in Late Night with the Devil), Robert Longstreet (from The Haunting of Hill House), Katie Aselton (Black Rock), Diego Josef (There's Someone Inside Your House), Desean Terry (The Morning Show), Alec Bewkes (Lo$t BoyZ), Linas Phillips (Spree), Taylor Garron (Abbott Elementary), Timm Sharp (M3GAN 2.0), Jody Lambert (Banana Split), and Jeff Man (who appeared in Creep 2).
The Creep Tapes is a joint production between Duplass Brothers Productions and Shudder. Executive producers include Duplass and Brice, who also pen the scripts, with Brice handling direction for every episode. Additional execs are Mel Eslyn, Jay Duplass, and Chris Donlon, while Shuli Harel serves as co-executive producer.
In a chat with The Direct, Brice emphasized their commitment: 'We will make a Creep 3. But we want Creep 3 to kind of be a defining, sort of, end of a sentence… Like, it should be something that closes things up.' Duplass chimed in, reflecting on their hesitation: 'I think Patrick and I were a little paralyzed after we made Creep 2 to make Creep 3. They were so successful. And when I say successful, I mean the core fans loved them so much. We really didn’t want to make anything unless we felt like it could match, or in some ways supersede that, you know? So there’s something about making The Creep Tapes that freed us up a little bit to just be like, “Well, we’re not gonna make the double album. We’re gonna make a bunch of weird EPs,” you know? And that got really fun.' This analogy – comparing the films to a full album and the series to experimental EPs – highlights their creative shift, but it raises eyebrows: Is extending the story through episodic TV a way to avoid the pressure of a big-screen sequel, or does it enrich the universe? Some argue it dilutes the franchise's punch, while others see it as innovative expansion.
So, what do you think? Are you rooting for the Creep franchise, and does the idea of a series leading into Creep 3 excite you, or do you wish they'd stuck to the original movie plan? Is the found-footage format still fresh, or has it become overdone? Drop your opinions in the comments below – let's debate whether this detour is a horror masterstroke or a missed opportunity!
