Don’t Answer That Craigslist Ad
Found footage horror movies have often disappointed me. I didn’t like The Blair Witch Project or Paranormal Activities, though I do understand their mass appeal. The few films within this sub-genre that I have enjoyed usually have a different approach and Patrick Brice’s Creep is a perfect example of a fresh take on a tired trope.
Aaron accepts a job on Craigslist to spend the day filming Josef, a liver cancer survivor who has recently been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. He needs Aaron’s help to create a document of who he is for his unborn child. Throughout the day, as they spend more time together, Aaron begins to suspect Josef may not be what he appears.
As awkward and creepy as Josef (Mark Duplass, Baghead, The One I Love) is, there are moments where I truly felt sympathetic towards his situation. I even thought that maybe Aaron was overreacting a little, until things really started to get weird. To me, this signifies a great accomplishment by both Brice and Duplass as actors, and especially by Brice as a director. It’s a simple enough film on the surface, mostly composed of one of two talking heads, yet somehow it manages to convey more depth, understanding and psychological terror than most horror films I’ve seen this year.
It made me realize that found footage movies aren’t the problem. The problem, as with most horror movies, is originality. Creep shows how two guys with a camera, a overused aesthetic and a different approach can create something unique and terrifying. Highly recommended.
Availability: Netflix US, Netflix Canada
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