Jeepers Creepers Review

Written by: BlackTequilaKiss   

This is a double feature. I plan to do a review for this lil beauty and then for the sequel. Why? Well darn I just love Jeepers Creepers.
We start with the original conception and film.
Jeepers Creepers.

Plot: On their way home from spring break, brother and sister, Darry and Patricia Jenner, drive down a road that is eerily quiet. It is along this road that they witness a mysterious person dumping something down a pipe to somewhere. Darry unable to forget what he has seen insists on going back and finding it out what was thrown down that pipe against Patricia's wishes. What he discovers is a hideout full of sewn up bodies and modified to boot. Setting off for help they have no idea the said individual knows who has been rooting down in his hideout. Who is the mysterious stranger and will brother and sister come out of it better?

I would like to say straight away I love this film! I love how it doesn't just rely on scares but the old fashioned fear that movies back in the hey-day caused. It's fantastic also that you, yourself, are left wondering who the stranger is? What kind of person could do something so barbaric? I was also grateful that unlike some movies, the questions were answered in this one. This was a gem and confirmed that horror films still can defy expectation if the boat is pushed and the imagination worn well.

CAST

Gina Philips-
Aside from Jeepers Creepers she has yet to star in a breakout hit. It is a damn shame because I think of many actresses gracing screens she was one of the ones I started to like immediately. I adored her strong headedness throughout the movie as Trish and the fact she was not willing to go down without a fight. The finale where she begs for her own life to be taken instead of someone else she loves is truly an heart rendering scene. Her skills go beyond that of JC and she has a depth that most actresses of her age stretch to find. A diamond among actresses and a joy to watch on the screen.

Justin Long-
He play's Darry, Trish's brother. A young actor who has already got an impressive movie resume, to me this was his big break. What got him noticed. Ironically I found it sweet that whilst Trish plays the strong headed gal he ends up playing the lad who would rather run away. It's ironic given that originally he was the one who wanted to check the site and Trish wasn't. The role reversal through the score of the movie is very adeptly played and done to great strength. Long is an admirable talent and I like where he can take his character. Fantastic.

Special mention ought to go to Jonathan Breck for his role as the creeper. How he managed to play such a versatile role his due credit.
He allowed me to believe in what he portrayed and allowed me to fear him equally along the way.

Special Effects & Music
(With a little something extra)

Damn that tune! "Jeepers Creepers where'd you..." see I cannot type it all. It chills me every time I watch the movie and so far that chill remains. Smart thinking in compiling such a ordinary tune with this film and creating a tune that now I can never listen to again. The dense fast paced composing when the truck is chasing brother and sister down is also superb, my heart in my mouth the entire time. Flawless in the music score I just loved it!

Cinematography. Ahh, bliss. The light and dark contrast when the creeper has caught it's next victim and the ensuing shots are done to such fantastic aplomb. It was those scenes that drew my attention utterly. The scarecrow scene during the middle with crazy cat lady was just one of those moments where you knew something was going to happen but not what.

What gave this movie the edge though was the chemistry between Philips and Long. Had it not been a movie I swear they could have been brother and sister. The fighting, the bitter arguments are all accumulated as the same thing me and my brother did for so many years. So close to the reality of situations that sometimes it actually seemed to go from a movie to a life documentary where I was the star and that is where the genius of this movie comes to roost.

In the end this was a refreshing change from the usual fodder and it worked well.

I loved the movie and still consider it a great way to end a night.

With the lights low and the stereo up full whack this is a no-brain fun flick. Watch, enjoy and then come and thank me lol.

Awesome!