Mad Dog Movie Reviews

Night of the Creeps (1986)

(4 Mad Dogs)

Directed by: Fred Dekker (also the Director of the classic Monster Squad!)
Starring: Jason Lively (European Vacation), Steve Marshall (Sleeping in a Dream???), Jill Whitlow (Twice Dead???) and Tom Atkins (Maniac Cop)

I am going to cheat on describing this movie and by doing so I am using the bible of trash, Video Hound’s Complete Guide to Cult Flicks and Trash Pics (1st ed. 1996). If you are a fan of trash cinema, be sure to pick this up or the second edition which came out in 2001.

“In 1958 alien meanies crash-land on Earth and assume the form of parasitic slugs. The man they infect is cryogenically frozen, then thawed out thirty years later on the Campus of Corman University (the University name is funny for those who get it), where he staggers about as a moldering zombie, spreading the living dead contagion throughout the town.”

Wow

Story: A genius if not cheesy as an homage to both the 50’s space invasion flicks and the 70’s/80’s zombie flicks.

Characters: The zombie Breakfast club

Humor: Corny and yet extremely funny. Tom Atkins becomes an icon for the B set with his many one liners including the greatest use of “It’s Miller time”

Nudity: Some nice tittie shots but a little too quick. Still any nudity is better than no nudity or worse yet…guy nudity!

Violence/Gore: A great mix of gross slugs, attacking zombies and the teens that flame their way to victory. Plenty of gore to keep you from eating that last slice of pizza while watching.

Other: There are actually two endings to this movie, one for the cinematic release and one for cable. If you buy the non-studio DVD release on Ebay you will get both endings. I have only seen one.

Final Verdict: Ok, I am a bit biased due to my love for this movie for some strange reason. Maybe it is due to all the showings of it on regular TV when I was a kid but this is a great movie.