Night of the Creeps [Director's Cut] [Blu-ray]

Director: Fred Dekker Fred Dekker

Overview

Virtually unnoticed during its brief theatrical run, this wildly entertaining horror-comedy achieved healthy cult status following its home-video and cable TV releases. The directorial debut of Fred Dekker (writer of the successful horror parody House), this low-budget effort throws alien monsters, axe-wielding killers, flesh-eating zombies, nudity, and (gasp!) drunken fraternity shenanigans into a blender, spiced with witty one-liners and references to dozens of horror classics (and anti-classics). The result is a satisfying treat that will tickle the tastebuds of horror fans. The film's nominal protagonists are a pair of randy fraternity pledges (Jason Lively, Steve Marshall) who open a literal can of worms when they steal a corpse from the campus medical facility and release a horde of space-leeches, which proceed to infest the bodies of everyone in sight. The host bodies subsequently become homicidal zombies with a penchant for popping in on unsuspecting (and undressing) sorority girls. The town's only hope (such as it is) seems to be a hard-boiled ex-cop (Tom Atkins), who has uncovered the secret link between the zombie invasion and a 30-year-old axe-murder case... and who's also several sandwiches shy of a picnic. Dekker keeps things moving at a brisk pace thanks to some outrageous set-pieces (some of which happen so quickly they'll have viewers reaching for the pause button) and clever dialogue, particularly for Atkins ("Girls, the good news is your dates are here; the bad news is, they're dead"), who dives into his crusty character with relish.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/27/2009
UPC:	0043396332249
Original Release:	1986
Rating:	NR
Source:	SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMT
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	1:30:00
Sales rank:	4,393

Special Features

Commentary with writer / director Fred Dekkar; Cast commentary; Original theatrical ending; Deleted scenes; Birth of the Creeps; Cast of the Creeps; Creating the Creeps; Escape of the Creeps; Legend of the Creeps; Tom Atkins: Man of Action; Trivia Track; Original theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jason Lively	Chris Romero,Lori
Steve Marshall	J.C. Hooper
Jill Whitlow	Cynthia Cronenberg
Tom Atkins	Ray Cameron
Wally Taylor	Detective Landis
Bruce Solomon	Sgt. Raimi
Vic Polizos	Coroner
Allan J. Kayser	Brad
Ken Heron	Johnny
Alice Cadogan	Pam
June Harris	Karen
David Paymer	Young Scientist
David Oliver	Steve
Evelyne Smith	House Mother
Ivan E. Roth	Psycho Zombie,Psycho Zombie
Dan Frishman	Alien Zombie
David Alan Johnson	Young Roy Cameron
Kevin Thompson	Alien Pursuer
Joseph S. Griffo	Alien Pursuer
Katherine Britton	Sorority Girl on Phone
Leslie Ryan	Sorority Girl with Hairbrush
Dave Alan Johnson	Young Roy Cameron
Suzanne Snyder	Lisa, Kappa Delta
Jay Wakemann	Judy, Kappa Delta
Elizabeth Cox	Kathy, Kappa Delta
Emily Fiola	Jennifer, Kappa Delta
Russell Moss	Biff, Beta
Richard DeHaven	Dick, Beta
John J. York	Todd, Beta
Jim Townsend	Chett, Beta
Tex Donaldson	Cop Outside Sorority
Jay Arlen Jones	Cop at Police Station
Melanie Manos	Blair
Craig Schaefer	Irksome Cop at Cryogenics Lab
Richard Sassin	Irksome Cop at Murder Scene
Robert Kerman	Policeman with Searchlight
Jack Lightsy	Patrol Car Driver
Elizabeth Alda	Cop in Alley
David B. Miller	Beta Zombie,Police Armorer
Earl Ellis	Beta Zombie
Arick Stillwagon	Beta Zombie
Robert Kurtzman	Beta Zombie
Ted Rae	Beta Zombie
Alexander Folk	Cop in Morgue
Keith Werle	Beta Zombie
Earl C. Ellis, Jr.	Beta Zombie
Howard Berger	Beta Zombie
Beal Carrotes	Beta Zombie
Robert Kino	Mr. Miner
Todd Bryant	Informative Student
Dawn Schroder	Sorority Girl at Squad Car
Chris Dekker	Dormy
Brian MacGregor	Dormy

Technical Credits

Fred Dekker	Director
William Finnegan	Executive Producer
Charles Gordon	Producer
Ted Rae	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

An under-appreciated gem of campy sci-fi-tinged horror, this effort from director Fred Dekker (The Monster Squad) has everything from a busload of frat-guy zombies to an undead killer puppy to an amusing death by lawnmower rampage that foreshadows Peter Jackson's over-the-top finale to Dead Alive. Not only does director/screenwriter Dekker keep things moving along nicely by offering some exciting and bloody thrills, but he also makes some interesting choices with the portrayal of his main characters as well. In addition to offering a social misfit protagonist who remains uninterested in the usual college party scene, the inclusion of a handicapped sidekick who isn't defined by his disability shows a director unafraid to offer real, identifiably human characters; a refreshing change of pace compared to the all-too-perfect teens that populated horror films throughout the following decade. It's obvious that Dekker has a healthy sense of humor in his approach as well. Along with character names that offer sly nods to numerous famous horror directors, Dekker also includes a beyond hard-boiled police detective hilariously cocksure swagger provides much of the film's effective gallows humor. Sure Dekker includes such college horror film mainstays as the obligatory love interest and the spoiled jock who gets his rocks off humiliating the "nerds," but once he turns up the heat during the final act, cinematic clichés take a backseat to fast-paced zombie head-bursting fun.

All Movie Guide - Jason Buchanan