Jeepers Creepers (2001) - The First Thirty Minutes Are Extremely Atmospheric and Creepy - 8/10

This horror b-movie is one of the best films of its kind in my opinion and this especially because of the first thirty minutes or so of the movie. The movie begins with a very dark and disturbing atmosphere when two innocent teenagers see a strange person in an old and ugly truck who seems to throw dead bodies in garbage bags onto a row underneath a creepy old church next to a lost highway where only some ravens live. In the first half an hour you really get into this movie because you don't know what is coming next, what the two students discover next or what they might do in a strange combination of naive curiosity and foolish ignorance. Those scenes send shivers down my spine and are a really intense and captivating beginning for a horror movie. The acting is more than appropriate and the scenery is filled with clichés but works perfectly.

But then comes a little down and this great atmosphere is broken when the two students come back into civilization and as the true identity of the creeper is soon uncovered. It is true that the creeper is a really ugly, strange and frightening creature but I found it even more creepy and uneasy when I didn't know what or who this creature was in the beginning of the movie and I think that the identity of the monster should not have been revealed that fast but only in the very end. The movie becomes then less frightening and concentrates less on the atmosphere but on some gore and action scenes. The acting is also less intense than in the very realistic and shocking beginning.

The gore and action parts are still well-done for example when the creeper meets the strange old cat lady or when he is entering a local police department but the movie is only entertaining and not quite frightening anymore apart of the very last scene that finishes the movie in such an uneasy way as it began. That's why this movie only gets a really solid rating but not the two highest notes. The second part of the series is really less interesting because you know from the beginning on what the creeper is and what he does and the acting is also less convincing. I'm however still looking forward to potential sequels because I highly appreciate the first movie.

That's why I can really recommend this first movie to any fan of atmospheric psycho thrillers for the first thirty minutes and to any fan of the typical horror, gore and splatter movies because of what is following afterwards. From that point of view the movie rejoins two different genres and fans and the rupture after the amazing beginning has at least one positive point.

Jeepers Creepers II (2003) - Entertaining but Less Intense than the First Film - 5/10

I was a fan of the first movie and as I often know that the sequels of good movies are often quite weak, I didn't expect much from this movie. In fact, this one is one of the better sequels and I recommend you to give it a chance and to watch it, even though there are worlds between this one and the first one. I would like to tell you about the acting and the atmosphere of the movie as the story is quite simple: The monster is back and kills once again in his twenty-three days every twenty-three years to refresh itself.

This one is a stereotypical American horror movie with some sports students and a group of cheerleaders who try to survive and escape from the monster. The actors are not very known, they didn't take any stars and gave the chance to a few young and unknown actors which is a quite good idea and somehow refreshing, even if it's not always very professional acting. The only actor who is very known is Ray Wise. If you have seen some movies with him, you might know that he is an excellent actor, but his talent isn't very well-used here and the focus is really on the students which is a little bit sad because Ray Wise could have increased this movie's quality a lot. The acting idea is refreshing on paper but runs dry rather quickly.

Concerning the atmosphere of the film, it is much less frightening than the first one. The first thirty, forty minutes of the first film are just intense, brilliantly acted and mysterious, but it isn't the case in this one as the behaviour of the actors is quite predictable and as you already know the appearance of the monster which takes away the mysterious horror element. The psychological aspect of the first film is almost absolutely missing in this one. This sequel is also less brutal, disturbing and shocking. It is an entertaining movie, but not really an excellent horror movie.

All in all, Jeepers Creepers 2 is a movie with some action elements and a few horror and gore effects, it is all quite entertaining but nothing really frightening or original. I wouldn't buy this one but it is still better than most of the silly teen horror movies of the last few years and if you like that genre you should give the film a chance.

Jeepers Creepers 3 (2017) - One Should Be Glad That This Movie Even Saw the Light of Day - 7/10

Being a fan of the first two installments, I had been looking forward to this third film for years but the release had been delayed multiple times and once it got released it received overtly negative reviews. The film wasn't played in any movie theater near me and once it got released it cost thirty bucks which was way too much in my opinion. I had to wait until very recently to pick the film up for ten bucks and didn't have any expectations anymore at that point.

As it turns out, Jeepers Creepers 3 is much better than its reputation. It isn't as atmospheric, creepy and intense as the first film but it's clearly better than the odd second instalment in my opinion. A lot of people criticized that the film follows too many characters. I actually think this is a strength that keeps the movie diversified, entertaining and even surprising from start to finish. The different characters also have enough depth to convince. We follow cool black Sheriff Dan Tashtego and a group of citizens who want to see the titular monster dead because they have lost family members and friends to it twenty-three years earlier. Other parts of the movie focus on sharpshooter Sergeant Davis Tubbs who sees his police officers decimated by the mysterious creatures. We encounter mentally unstable farmer Gaylen Brandon who has lost her son to the creature. We meet her solitary granddaughter from a broken family who tries to defy the monster's attacks with the help of a young gentleman who has a love interest in her. The movie also shows what happens to the rude brother of the granddaughter's best friend and his three mates who go on a fateful biking trip. Despite all these story lines, the movie never loses focus or momentum as everything revolves around the titular monster and its gruesome actions. One could actually say the monster is the lead character here.

Another element I liked is the importance of the monster's vehicle in this film. It is filled with traps that prevent victims from escaping and others to get inside the vehicle. The vehicle almost seems to be an otherworldly entity which adds a fresh mysterious touch to the franchise.

The film is set between the first and the second instalment which some people criticized. However, the movie connects all three movies and their characters very well. It gives some more background information on the creature without revealing too much which would be fatal for such a horror franchise.

The movie oozes with atmosphere since numerous scenes are set in the disgusting vehicle and because the titular monster gets a lot of screen time and is seen flying, investigating, killing, running and smelling in order to get as many victims as possible. Even though most parts of the movie take place during the day, the film manages to evoke a creepy atmosphere.

Despite an abysmal budget, the movie is filmed with care. The special effects look solid and never too artificial. The camera work is calm and not shaky. The sound effects blend in very well. The soundtrack is appropriately chosen for this type of movie. The actresses and actors deliver overall realistic performances.

However, the film also has its flaws. First of all, the film fails to surprise and is missing some intriguing twists and turns. The story could have been more imaginative. The conclusion is rather underwhelming and indicates that there might or might not be a sequel at a certain time which is frustrating after a waiting time of a decade and a half between the second and the third instalment.

Secondly, the movie has a creepy atmosphere but is missing some truly horrifying scares that made especially the first part so intense. This third entry focuses on character development but fails to elaborate upon its horror elements. One could rather describe this film as drama with supernatural elements.

Thirdly, the movie obviously hasn't met everybody's expectations and one could have expected something more spectacular after such a long waiting time. The film feels as if it were mostly just trying to cash in on the commercial success of the first two features instead of bringing anything new to the franchise. Don't get me wrong, Jeepers Creepers 3 is still an enjoyable movie in my book but the delivery is too safe to leave a deeper impression after all.

In the end, fans of the franchise should ignore the overtly negative reviews and give this film a fair try without any unrealistic expectations. I'm glad the movie finally saw the light of day and was positively surprised by it. I can't wait to watch the three films in a row in the near future.

Jeepers Creepers: Reborn (2022) - A Tree Bearing Fruit - 7/10

Few franchises have faced as much negative backlash as Jeepers Creepers and especially the third and fourth movies have been harshly criticized. Jeepers Creepers: Reborn has a worse rating on this website than infamous cinematic disasters such as Samurai Cop, The Room and New York Ninja to only name a few examples. Any reviewer who has dared giving this film a higher rating than two out of ten points has been met with massive negative feedback, no matter how well-written, meaningful and articulate some of these reviews have been. Under grislier circumstances, one might describe such instances as excessive peer pressure, relentless internet bullying and particularly radical bias. Let's not go so far in the case of an underproduced low-budget horror movie but it's already obvious for me at this point that this review is going to be sparking angry reactions. I'm however not looking to get attention, to enrage or to be passive-aggressive. I'm simply putting down my honest opinion on Jeepers Creepers: Reborn.

Ever since watching the first movie about two decades ago, I have had a soft spot for the franchise and have remained a fan for two decades and counting by now. From the start, I was hoping for Jeepers Creepers: Reborn to be atmospheric and entertaining and didn't expect anything more due to the unknown cast and limited budget. This movie has delivered in both regards and even offered some additional quality that was unexpected.

The film's story is simple but efficient. It tells how young adult Chase desires to attend a niche horror convention known as Horror Hound Festival with his skeptical but supportive girlfriend Laine. Chase nervously prepares to propose to his beloved girlfriend while she learns that she is pregnant. The couple wins a fixed competition at the convention that allows them to participate in an escape room activity connected to a mysterious urban legend. Things take a grisly turn when members of the television team that accompanies them go missing. The couple and its companions soon realize that they are trapped in a gigantic mansion and that something very dangerous is inside with them.

On the film's positive side, this movie has a creepy atmosphere from the opening scenes with the sympathetic elderly couple to the flick's final showdown involving the titular character. The film doesn't rely on predictable jump scares but instead works with gloomy lighting techniques, sinister locations and ominous soundtrack. This movie is also pleasantly entertaining in its concise length. The opening scenes go by in a heartbeat and reference the franchise's first film charmingly. The introduction to the film's main characters is just long enough to develop them properly without drifting off into boring stereotypes. The scenes at the festival are colourful, eclectic and memorable. The passages at the cemetery are without any lengths and increase the film's vibrant atmosphere a few notches. The concluding finale at the mansion is creative, detailed and intense. The film has a satisfactory conclusion and then the credits already start rolling. I wouldn't have added or cut anything to or from this film as director Timo Vuorensola deserves praise and recognition for an expert job under challenging circumstances. Other elements that deserve praise in my opinion are the two protagonists who complete each other perfectly and make for a believable, charming and sympathetic couple you want to root for. The acting performances might not earn the cast any nominations or awards at film festivals but they are doing surprisingly solid jobs for this kind of movie genre. The plot also deserves some respect as several side elements such as the references to the first entry in the franchise, the male protagonist's objective to get engaged to his girlfriend and the female protagonist's surprising discovery that she is pregnant are diversified, entertaining and sympathetic. As you can read, this movie has enough strengths to warrant a positive rating.

However, there are obviously also a few downsides. The story around the titular character is obviously quite predictable. The film itself is lacking scary or even shocking moments and could have been slightly more intense and sinister. The movie's low budget is visible in some special effects and would certainly have benefitted from a more generous production. However, all those flaws are relatively small and won't prevent franchise fans from enjoying this film to the fullest.

As you can read, Jeepers Creepers: Reborn is a very decent atmospheric horror movie that should certainly please fans of this particular franchise and independent horror cinema of the twenty-first century in general. Ignore the masses of pessimistic reviews and give this film a fair chance. A trailer might actually give you a good idea whether this film lives up to your expectations or not. In my personal case, Jeepers Creepers: Reborn is a positive surprise and while it can't compete with the first entry, it certainly equals and even outclasses parts of the second and third movie in the franchise. I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to read my review until the end and given it a rating.