Jeepers Creepers Reborn Blu-ray Review

Creeper Redux For Zoomers

The first two Jeepers Creepers from MGM have their fans and Jeepers Creepers Reborn is an earnest attempt by director Timo Vuorensola (Iron Sky) to revive the moribund horror franchise for a new generation. Victor Salva’s surprise 2001 horror hit set the template for a winged monster driving around in a creepy old truck with the license plate reading “BEATINGU,” becoming one of the decade’s most indelible movie monsters.

Jeepers Creepers Reborn is a reinvention of the same terrifying formula, loaded with devices and gimmicks aimed at today’s zoomer youth. It’s the equivalent of cinematic junk food, moderately entertaining for b-movie horror on a limited budget. There’s a little fun humor when the female lead cosplays for her boyfriend, dressing up as Harley Quinn and others. Older fans who grew up on the first two films may be let down but seeing the Creeper back in action is better than nothing.

Jeepers Creepers Reborn is the franchise remade for the social media age

Despite so-so visual effects, the production works hard emulating the Creeper’s original truck and costume. The Southern gothic atmosphere is hampered by the movie’s digital filmmaking and inept CGI. The tone would have been far more intimidating and chilling on film.

Jeepers Creepers Reborn stars a mostly British cast faking American accents in Imran Adams, Sydney Craven, Gabriel Freilich and Pete Brooke, alongside Gary Graham. A cameo by Dee Wallace recalls a haunting scene from the original Jeepers Creepers.

Technically the fourth Jeepers Creepers film, the Creeper returns after 23 years to wreak havoc once more and terrorize anyone who unfortunately crosses its path. The movie is inundated with callbacks and nods to the original, mostly well-intended fan service. In other ways the sequel takes a completely different tact with the Creeper, turning the monster into a hackneyed slasher running everyone down. That is the movie’s biggest failing in a screenplay which takes time to get going and then becomes a bloodbath.

Fanboy Chase is a huge horror buff, dragging his skeptical girlfriend Laine along to a chaotic Horror Hound festival in Louisiana. There they encounter the local legend of the Creeper and Laine begins experiencing visions of the terrifying creature’s return after 23 years. A YouTube horror celebrity live-streams their prize trip to a remote mansion which ends in blood-curdling terror courtesy of the Creeper. A rag-tag group of strangers from the Horror Hound festival feebly run for their lives.

Jeepers Creepers Reborn is the franchise remade for the social media age, tossing in snark and gore. It’s not a perfect update by any means but the young cast gives a plucky effort. In terms of horror sequels, largely a reboot looking beyond the original movie’s internal rules and logic. We still don’t get a real backstory to the Creeper’s origins. Worth a look for adventurous fans who aren’t picky about shoddy VFX, the story borrows from Hell Fest.

Video

Jeepers Creepers Reborn runs 87 minutes on a BD-25, encoded in steady AVC. Some banding is evident in the 1080P video courtesy of Screen Media. The indie production utilizes digital cameras, producing high clarity and mostly razor-sharp picture quality. Flaws include a suspect color grading which has to mesh CGI fakery and occasionally questionable lighting. Black levels and contrast are fine, tuned for vivid imagery.

The Blu-ray presentation isn’t videophile quality but there’s nothing majorly wrong with the video. A crisp-looking movie, possibly too crisp, struck from a new digital intermediate without significant processing in the chain. Maybe too clean and sterile for a horror movie attempting a certain atmosphere.

Digital sell-through providers like VUDU are offering the movie in 4K resolution. I’m not sure there’s enough detail available in the cheap video to warrant anything beyond 1080p.

Audio

5.1 DTS-HD MA audio delivers a mildly immersive sonic experience laced with clean channel separation and engaging surround play. The soundstage is huge and dynamic, underscored with bass when necessary. Dialogue reproduction is flawless.

A lively sound design works best when the Creeper attacks. This isn’t the most active soundtrack but always provides nice flourishes at the proper time.

Optional English SDH subtitles play outside the scope presentation. 2.0 PCM stereo audio is a secondary soundtrack option.

Extras

Somehow Screen Media forgot to include the movie’s trailer on this disc. It is available on YouTube.

Behind the Creeps Featurette (10:43 in HD) – Clips from behind the scenes are interspersed with interviews featuring director Timo Vuorensola and both lead actors, who happen to talk in their native British accents.

Creeper Transformation Featurette (16:37 in HD) – A detailed examination of the process needed for applying the Creeper’s extensive make-up.

Till Death Trailer (01:55 in HD)

Monstrous Trailer (01:49 in HD)

Black Friday Trailer (02:10 in HD)

Full disclosure: This Blu-ray was provided by the label for review. This has not affected the editorial process. For information on how we handle review material, please visit our about us page.

The following six screen shots serve as samples for our subscription-exclusive set of 51 full resolution, uncompressed HD screen shots grabbed directly from the Blu-ray: