Plot: What’s it about?
The head of the household has just purchased a universal remote from a street vendor, a piece of equipment that should simplify part of his life. While that is indeed the point of such a remote control, instead it serves to complicate the life of the man’s daughter, Alice. As her father presses buttons, Alice is transported into different realities, one where her family is black, another where she turns into a hideous mutant. Across the street, an unusual scientist labors on a secret project while he prepares to be married, though two former students believe his wife is a little too perfect. At the same street vendor that sold the universal remote, a man buys a radio to replace his broken one. But when the reception proves to be a little too good and a voice speaks to him from within, his life is forever changed. Meanwhile, a doctor serving out community service finds himself haunted by the memory of a dead homeless man, while a serial killing hooker arrives at her latest victim’s home.
As a fan of the first two Creepshow movies, I had some hope that this next sequel would be good, but I kept my expectations on the low end. I am glad I didn’t expect much, as even with my hopes low, I was disappointed by Creepshow 3. This movie was one of the worst films I’ve seen in a while, which is saying a lot. I watch a ton of movies and I usually have a soft spot for bad horror movies, but not ones this bad. This comes off like a failed pilot for a Creepshow television show, low production values, no star power, and lame stories. The filmmakers tried to compensate for the obvious flaws in the material and cast by trying to inject humor, but it also falls flat. No one on the cast seems to be trying at all, with performances that make you wish William Shatner was involved. I have no clue how this was ever given a green light and how now, HBO saw fit to release it on home video. Creepshow 3 should have been stuck in the back of the vault, to rot and never be seen again. Even if you’re a horror maniac like I am, you’re better off with anything else, as Creepshow 3 just plain sucks.
Video: How does it look?
Creepshow 3 is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a solid looking effort, though the film’s low budget roots are evident. I found the image to be a little on the soft side, but still sharp enough on the whole, so no real concerns. The print is clean and compression is flawless, so no unwanted artifacts can be seen. The colors appear vibrant and bright, with no hint of errors, while flesh tones are natural throughout. I have no issues with the contrast either, as black levels seem accurate and consistent as well, so the movie looks quite good.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio track here is about what I expected, given that this is a low rent horror flick, not the best selection for pure audio potential. The material is driven by dialogue and low impact audio, so don’t expect a whirlwind of powerful audio elements here. There is a little presence when its called for, but don’t expect the world. The dialogue is crisp as can be and is never hard to understand, no problems whatsoever. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The lone supplement is a behind the scenes piece, with cast & crew interviews and a look at the film’s special effects. Given how awful the effects were, I have no clue why anyone would care. The piece runs over twenty minutes, but with a movie this bad, the less I know, the better.
