Creep 2

Creep 2, a 2017 mimeo-reality-based psychological thriller, is born from the astute directorial minds of Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass. It’s the follow-up to the 2014 found footage-style film, Creep, an unexpected sleeper hit. As with the first installment, the sequel does an exceptional job of keeping its audience on edge from start to finish.

The film features Desiree Akhavan as the main protagonist Sara, a videographer who runs an obscure web series called "Encounters". Her series focuses on creating intimate profiles of lonely hearts seeking company online. However, due to low viewership, she is considering to end the venture. Apart from this, her personal life swirls with ongoing struggles. However, everything changes when she comes across an ad posted by an unusual individual (played by Mark Duplass), presenting an opportunity she simply cannot resist.

Mark Duplass reprises his role from the first film as the eerie but fascinating character, also known as Aaron (his pseudonym in the prequel was Josef). Even though he's alarmingly honest about his past, his discerning behaviors and puzzling tales keep Sara intrigued. What primarily grabs your attention is his revelation that he is a serial killer, throwing you immediately into the heart of this suspense-thriller. Duplass’ superb acting builds a unique disquiet in the character, merging the charming vulnerability and concealed menace that was dominant in the first film.

Karan Soni plays the role of Dave, an incidental character that adds another aspect of unpredictability to the narrative. Each actor in the film excels in performing their respective roles, keeping the audience guessing until the last frame.

The directional style by Patrick Brice brilliantly keeps the audience on tenterhooks. The film's thread of macabre-comedy twists and turns, creating a tense atmosphere that’s characteristic of a high-quality horror-thriller. The entirely unpredictable nature of the movie is its greatest attribute. Just when you think you've figured out where Creep 2 stands, it jerks away from your expectations, consistently presenting surprising developments that lure you deeper into its edgy narrative.

Additionally, the complex two-character dynamic between Sara and Aaron forms the central focus of the movie. It’s an exploration of engagement and distance, questioning how much one person can truly know about another, especially in circumstances as precarious as presented here.

The visual narrative composed by Patrick Brice is intensely intimate, offering an intense, first-person perspective into the encounters between Sara and Aaron. The extensive use of handheld cameras generate a found-footage aesthetic which amplifies the impending uncertainty, unease, and unexpected humor.

Creep 2 works incredibly well as a stand-alone movie, but it undoubtedly benefits from being a sequel. It builds on the narrative and character study initiated in the first movie and extends it far beyond the original scope, while retaining the distinctive wingspan of the initial aesthetic. The movie also excels in its unique package of horror and dark humor, which not only enhances the thriller factor but also introduces moments of odd hilarity.

As the story unfolds, it develops an enthralling tension that manages to keep audiences continually guessing. The intricate character personalities and the unpredictable plotline make it a captivating watch from beginning to end. Presenting the viewers with an obscured view into the human psyche and the depths of peculiar obsessions, Creep 2 is a constant game of cat-and-mouse, constantly pushing the limits while providing its audience with an immersive, thrilling experience.

Well-shot, tightly edited, and well-performed, Creep 2 is a terrifyingly good addition to the world of indie horror-thrillers. Whether you’re a psychological horror enthusiast yearning for a twist on classic tropes, or a casual viewer looking to expand your horror boundaries, Creep 2 is likely to leave an unsettling, yet intriguing, impression. All in all, Creep 2 is a psychological horror-thriller that takes its audience on a roller-coaster ride of suspense, macabre humor, and terrifying possibilities.