I’d seen THE CREEPING TERROR included in numerous box sets
of trash drive in/exploitation/horror films including some I own but never
really got around to watching it. When I heard Synapse was releasing this film
it got my curiosity up. With the real film I’m not sure that’s a good thing,
with the semi-documentary of the making of the film it was interesting.
The original film tells the story of a young couple on their
way home from their honeymoon. Martin is a sheriff who is soon faced with
trying to battle an outer space alien intent on devouring the occupants of the
town he protects. Simple enough story, terrible presentation. To begin with the
monster itself looks exactly like what it is, a carpet covered framework that
inspires more laughs or head scratching than actual terror. Then there is the
acting, if you can call it that. In the end the movie looks like it’s trying to
vie for worst film ever and making Ed Wood look great. The film is presented in
blu-ray format though and being included with the main film makes it something
to examine after watching that.
Now, THE CREEP BEHIND THE CAMERA. What we have here is part
documentary part biographical film, a combination to tell the story of the man
behind THE CREEPING TERROR, Art “A.J.” Nelson aka Vic Savage. And what a story
it is.
Nelson was at best a con man and at worst one of the most
inept movie directors to ever put story to film. He was a sleaze of the highest
order, a liar who felt that no matter what he said people would buy it, a man
who lied to himself as much as he did to others. He romances a young woman and
gets her to leave her home only to abuse her and sleep with other women in
front of her.
As the story progresses Nelson continues to tell people he
wants to make the greatest movie monster film ever made with the most
terrifying monster on screen filmed to date. But he squanders the money
investors provide and gives them back footage which is unintelligible and nonsensical
with things that don’t match from one scene to the next. Though it all he
believes he is making something special.
A tyrannical director prone to yelling and attacking his
crew, he forces the men inside the monster costume to work under deplorable
conditions to the point they pass out from the heat inside of it. He short
changes the effects manager who takes the costume back and then steals if from
him. He hires “actresses” based on their willingness to go to bed with him
rather than ability. His abuses of both those around him and of his own body
end up coming back to haunt him.
Rather than a rags to riches movie about how a poor boy
makes good in Hollywood we’re instead presented with a tale of poor boy gets
money and goes from bad to worse. The fact that Nelson has no more than two
titles with his name attached on imdb says a lot. His story offers little for
make you feel sympathy for him but tons for those whose lives he touched.
The film is well made with a great combination of interviews
mixed with actors portraying the events that took place. Josh Phillips as
Nelson does a great job to the point you end up wanting to punch him once the
final credits roll. Jodi Lynn Thomas as his long suffering wife who must learn
to stand up for herself does a great job here as well. The end result is a
movie that surpasses the original film by miles.
Even the extras that Synapse has included here are better
than the movie Nelson shot. Extras include a 2k restoration of the original
film, audio commentary with director Pete Schuerann, producer Nancy Theken and
stars Phillips and Thomas, a making of featurette, HOW TO BUILD A CARPET
MONSTER, BREAKING DOWN ART’S DEATH SCENE, MONSTER MOVIE HOMAGES, “One Mick to
Another” with Byrd Holland and Allan Silliphant, deleted scenes, an alternate
endings, Screamfest Black Carpet Q&A with Frank Conniff, the original
theatrical trailer and THE CREEPING TERROR Screamfest promotional trailer.
While the original film might provide a night of laughs the
new movie will offer something completely different. It will entertain and
frighten at the same time. And it will leave you wondering how anyone could
have believed the tales that Nelson told.
Click here to order.
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