I'd seen THE CREEPING TERROR included in numerous box sets of trash drive in/exploitation/horror films including some I own but never really got around to watching it. When I heard Synapse was releasing this film it got my curiosity up. With the real film I'm not sure that's a good thing, with the semi-documentary of the making of the film it was interesting.
The original film tells the story of a young couple on their way home from their honeymoon. Martin is a sheriff who is soon faced with trying to battle an outer space alien intent on devouring the occupants of the town he protects. Simple enough story, terrible presentation. To begin with the monster itself looks exactly like what it is, a carpet covered framework that inspires more laughs or head scratching than actual terror. Then there is the acting, if you can call it that. In the end the movie looks like it's trying to vie for worst film ever and making Ed Wood look great. The film is presented in blu-ray format though and being included with the main film makes it something to examine after watching that.
Now, THE CREEP BEHIND THE CAMERA. What we have here is part documentary part biographical film, a combination to tell the story of the man behind THE CREEPING TERROR, Art "A.J." Nelson aka Vic Savage. And what a story it is.
Nelson was at best a con man and at worst one of the most inept movie directors to ever put story to film. He was a sleaze of the highest order, a liar who felt that no matter what he said people would buy it, a man who lied to himself as much as he did to others. He romances a young woman and gets her to leave her home only to abuse her and sleep with other women in front of her.
As the story progresses Nelson continues to tell people he wants to make the greatest movie monster film ever made with the most terrifying monster on screen filmed to date. But he squanders the money investors provide and gives them back footage which is unintelligible and nonsensical with things that don't match from one scene to the next. Though it all he believes he is making something special.
A tyrannical director prone to yelling and attacking his crew, he forces the men inside the monster costume to work under deplorable conditions to the point they pass out from the heat inside of it. He short changes the effects manager who takes the costume back and then steals if from him. He hires "actresses" based on their willingness to go to bed with him rather than ability. His abuses of both those around him and of his own body end up coming back to haunt him.
Rather than a rags to riches movie about how a poor boy makes good in Hollywood we're instead presented with a tale of poor boy gets money and goes from bad to worse. The fact that Nelson has no more than two titles with his name attached on IMDb says a lot. His story offers little for make you feel sympathy for him but tons for those whose lives he touched.
The film is well made with a great combination of interviews mixed with actors portraying the events that took place. Josh Phillips as Nelson does a great job to the point you end up wanting to punch him once the final credits roll. Jodi Lynn Thomas as his long suffering wife who must learn to stand up for herself does a great job here as well. The end result is a movie that surpasses the original film by miles.
Even the extras that Synapse has included here are better than the movie Nelson shot. Extras include a 2k restoration of the original film, audio commentary with director Pete Schuerann, producer Nancy Theken and stars Phillips and Thomas, a making of featurette, HOW TO BUILD A CARPET MONSTER, BREAKING DOWN ART'S DEATH SCENE, MONSTER MOVIE HOMAGES, "One Mick to Another" with Byrd Holland and Allan Silliphant, deleted scenes, an alternate endings, Screamfest Black Carpet Q&A with Frank Conniff, the original theatrical trailer and THE CREEPING TERROR Screamfest promotional trailer.
While the original film might provide a night of laughs the new movie will offer something completely different. It will entertain and frighten at the same time. And it will leave you wondering how anyone could have believed the tales that Nelson told.
The original film tells the story of a young couple on their way home from their honeymoon. Martin is a sheriff who is soon faced with trying to battle an outer space alien intent on devouring the occupants of the town he protects. Simple enough story, terrible presentation. To begin with the monster itself looks exactly like what it is, a carpet covered framework that inspires more laughs or head scratching than actual terror. Then there is the acting, if you can call it that. In the end the movie looks like it's trying to vie for worst film ever and making Ed Wood look great. The film is presented in blu-ray format though and being included with the main film makes it something to examine after watching that.
Now, THE CREEP BEHIND THE CAMERA. What we have here is part documentary part biographical film, a combination to tell the story of the man behind THE CREEPING TERROR, Art "A.J." Nelson aka Vic Savage. And what a story it is.
Nelson was at best a con man and at worst one of the most inept movie directors to ever put story to film. He was a sleaze of the highest order, a liar who felt that no matter what he said people would buy it, a man who lied to himself as much as he did to others. He romances a young woman and gets her to leave her home only to abuse her and sleep with other women in front of her.
As the story progresses Nelson continues to tell people he wants to make the greatest movie monster film ever made with the most terrifying monster on screen filmed to date. But he squanders the money investors provide and gives them back footage which is unintelligible and nonsensical with things that don't match from one scene to the next. Though it all he believes he is making something special.
A tyrannical director prone to yelling and attacking his crew, he forces the men inside the monster costume to work under deplorable conditions to the point they pass out from the heat inside of it. He short changes the effects manager who takes the costume back and then steals if from him. He hires "actresses" based on their willingness to go to bed with him rather than ability. His abuses of both those around him and of his own body end up coming back to haunt him.
Rather than a rags to riches movie about how a poor boy makes good in Hollywood we're instead presented with a tale of poor boy gets money and goes from bad to worse. The fact that Nelson has no more than two titles with his name attached on IMDb says a lot. His story offers little for make you feel sympathy for him but tons for those whose lives he touched.
The film is well made with a great combination of interviews mixed with actors portraying the events that took place. Josh Phillips as Nelson does a great job to the point you end up wanting to punch him once the final credits roll. Jodi Lynn Thomas as his long suffering wife who must learn to stand up for herself does a great job here as well. The end result is a movie that surpasses the original film by miles.
Even the extras that Synapse has included here are better than the movie Nelson shot. Extras include a 2k restoration of the original film, audio commentary with director Pete Schuerann, producer Nancy Theken and stars Phillips and Thomas, a making of featurette, HOW TO BUILD A CARPET MONSTER, BREAKING DOWN ART'S DEATH SCENE, MONSTER MOVIE HOMAGES, "One Mick to Another" with Byrd Holland and Allan Silliphant, deleted scenes, an alternate endings, Screamfest Black Carpet Q&A with Frank Conniff, the original theatrical trailer and THE CREEPING TERROR Screamfest promotional trailer.
While the original film might provide a night of laughs the new movie will offer something completely different. It will entertain and frighten at the same time. And it will leave you wondering how anyone could have believed the tales that Nelson told.
