1h 31m
Director: Victor Salva

Check out this premise. An immortal, supernatural creature is collecting human body parts to replenish its own (it eats them). So it has to tear you to pieces to steal what it needs and it can smell the parts it wants so it has a sensory advantage - and wings, which adds a bit of menace. It comes every 23 Springs and it kills for 23 days. It also thinks you taste better when you're scared.

So it's like a mish mash of borrowed elements from other movie monsters. The Zombie (immortal eater), IT (preys on fear), The Predator (arrives at a certain time) and a demon (has wings).

There's a nice play between a brother and sister at the beginning of this movie. They're driving home together and playing that game where you make a phrase from a vehicle registration plate when they are hassled then passed by a rusty old truck. It's plate is 'BEATINGU', Darry guesses 'Beating You' which given that they've just been overtaken makes sense, but of course with this premise it's really 'Be Eating You'.

An investigation of a nearby property where 'BEATINGU' was parked has them discover a pile of bodies, some which appear to be surgically altered and attached to the walls. If you don't already know what's coming then it's framed a bit like 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre', you expect an inbred hillbilly to appear to terrify the innocents at any moment.

So when it's revealed that they're dealing with a supernatural monster and it has absolutely no respect for the police and has that unstoppable quality like Michael Myers (Halloween) or Jason Vorhees (Friday 13th) then you know it's game on!

Sometimes, especially in horror, it's about what the characters don't see which builds the tension. You get a lot of feedback from the looks on the character's faces. They use that a lot in this film (probably to keep the budget down), but this is often why low budget horror films work. Bad or cheap effects also help because it subconsciously reminds you that it's all just pretend and that helps the audience to relax and enjoy the show more.

The only thing I'd really have a little moan about in this film is the exposition dump psychic who arrives quite late in the plot to fill us in on all the missing juicy monster details. She feels out of place.

The final scene though (foreshadowed by the psychic), is a classic! Chilling...

There's some nicely framed shots in this film and no shortage of tongue-in-cheek moments. It's schlock but it's well polished with a few justified (appropriate in the narrative) jump scares. Also some fake outs. All coming together to make a cool hybrid between an old school slasher, a road movie and a horror mystery.

I love this film, it's one of my favourite horrors so I have no reservations in recommending it - As long as you're an adult and enjoy a bit of gore!

"Jeepers creepers, where d'you get those peepers?
Jeepers creepers, where d'you get those eyes?"



Trailer: