Creep Van

source: Creep Van

Forced to take a job at a car wash or his welfare cheques will be stopped Campbell Jackson finds out that's difficult to get to work every morning so starts looking for a mode of transport . Being short of money his options are limited but finds an old white van which might the bill . Unknown to Campbell both the van and the owner have dark secrets Yet another obscure film I caught on the Horror Channel and yet another one that has that 1980s retro feel . One wonders with so many horror movies adopting this type of movie if it's actually deliberate , down to a lack of budget or merely low budget horror films all tend to look and feel the same ? Certainly CREEP VAN does share that dark , slightly camp look and feel of exploitation movies from the 1980s where grotesque and gruesome things happen and yet isn't mean spirited enough to shock . Many people have commentated that the film does contain tongue in cheek humour and it's impossible not to notice this as people get involved in sex and become victims of murder . It's all a bit sleazy but at the same possesses a nostalgic aurora for those of us old enough to remember the fodder you could rent from a 1980s video store . The murders themselves with the damage being wrought upon the human body might bend the laws of physics but the ingenious methods of murder are what sets it apart from other slasher movies . It also contains a larger than life unlikely character in the shape of Swami Ted and stuff like this doesn't stop the film being rubbish but does elevate it in to being very enjoyable rubbish

Really not the best film but I get the impression that if it was remade with the 'right actors' people would say 'Yeah but did you see the original'. It was entertaining and funny. Watch it. You'll like it or not.

One of those straight to video movies that you decide to give a chance and then wonder why you did. I like the way the main character is stuck in this dead end job but is trying to make the most of it with attempting to pick up the attractive young lady working at the same place and trying to enquire about the van for sale. The Creep Van - The same van that kills its first two occupants in glorious fashion - and then of course the film makers seem to run out of cash as very little happens of any merit after that. An OK film if you find you can relate to the main guy but the ending will lead you back to that wonder, the wonder why you bothered and to that point, why the filmmakers bothered also.

I'm betting everyone involved with this flick worked for free, because this creep van was filled with crap! The movie was so ridiculously bad it was funny - but not in a funny this is a parody way either. The acting was horrendous - really awful. The plot was idiotic and the set-ups to show some T&A were laughable. The characters were so very unlikable and nothing made any sense whatsoever. The one and only redeeming value was the teeny plot twist at the end and that was ridiculous too. That little twist at the end earned it 1.5 stars because otherwise this wouldn't have even garnered a single star. It's just that bad.

I read some of the other reviews and was kind of surprised by the hate. The movie was actually very well made, quality-wise. The gore was very convincing, almost like actual humans were used. Very graphic. Almost "lose your dinner" graphic. The film didn't have to rely on shaky quick takes to cover any cheapness during the graphic scenes. I mean, in one scene, this guys face got cut off and the film gave you multiple long views of the gore. Lovely... It had a lot of tongue-in-cheek comedy also. One character died very graphically and just before death he looked at his killer and said something like, "Oh, wow, man" or something of that nature. I really recommend this movie. I found mine at the WalMart in the $5 bin. Well worth it. I know I'll watch it more than once.

If you're a Troma fan (like me) you could do a hell of a lot worse than giving this a spin. Sure the acting is very ordinary but this film knows what it wants to be and wears it's schlock on its sleeve like a badge. Some great prosthetic fx kills (no cgi to be seen thank god) some mild, often weird nudity for the sake of it (not complaining) and a decent plot. A lot of fun for a mindless Sunday afternoon watch. Give it a go.

CREEP VAN is a very, very low budget slasher flick, barely more expensive than your average Troma movie although it's a lot more serious in tone. Saying that, there is a Lloyd Kaufman cameo to hammer home the similarities, along with a couple of entirely goofy sex scenes that are played for laughs and have absolutely nothing to do with the central thrust of the storyline. The creep van of the title is used by a sinister serial killer to butcher his usually female victims, and it takes a couple of no-good characters to team up and go after him. The plot is very light and pretty much an excuse for a string of gory deaths, which are the best thing about the film. The special effects are surprisingly decent for what is a low budget, even if they're completely laughable at the same time. Still, it takes more than gore to make a decent movie, and this is anything but; just another ultra-low budget piece of trash no different from all the rest.

Down on his luck misfit Campbell Jackson (a fine and likable performance by Brian Kolodzeij) runs afoul of a vicious and mysterious roving psycho (a creepy portrayal by Mike Butler) who drives around in a beat-up old 70's van. Campbell joins forces with amiable hippie conman Swami Ted (a hilarious and engaging turn by Collin Bernsen) to prevent both himself and his sweet newfound girlfriend Amy (winningly played by the pretty and appealing Amy Wehrell) from becoming the wacko's next victims. Director Scott W. McKinlay and writer Jim Bartoo concoct a delightfully eccentric and entertaining affair that unfolds at a brisk pace, makes the most out of an amusing sense of quirky humor, delivers the gruesome goods with several inventively nasty murder set pieces, manages to build some tension for the suspenseful climax, and even comes through with a nice smattering of tasty gratuitous female nudity as well as a dab of kinky sex. Moreover, it's acted with zest by an enthusiastic cast: Kolodzeij and Wehrell display a charming chemistry in the leads, the luscious Veronica Adkinson bitches it up well as the snarky Danni, Gerald Emerick is a riot as Campbell's hearty boss Mr. Kaufman, Lloyd Kaufman contributes a funny bit as a disgruntled man, and hot blonde Tonya Kay has a stand-out small role as a sassy gal who beats up a jerk mechanic. The surprise bummer ending packs a startling punch. Kudos are also in order for Michael J. Walker's sharp cinematography, the gnarly practical make-up, and Dennis Dreith's cool bluesy rock score. An inspired and idiosyncratic hoot.

One thing I will say about this film...if you have seizures or are prone to headaches if flashing lights etc, as soon as the credits appear at the beginning, skip. I thought my eyes were going to explode watching that bit. Anyway, the film. I liked it. True, its not an AAA title, but some of these films that are unknown can turn out to be real gems....sometimes. So, this guy is down on his luck, starts work in a carwash, and due to public transport being a pain, wants a car/van etc. Rings a number, and thats when the trouble begins. The van itself, has some very interesting ways to kill a person, obviously controlled by the driver. I was a little confused why no-one reported all these bodies etc, but that would have spoilt the film. There is some humour in there, not a comedy type film, but just little bits that make you chuckle. Also, the sepecial effects are all the original type of stuff, no cgi/green-screen stuff, of which I mostly prefer. If you like that kind of film, then give this a go, you may just like it