Night of the Creeps Blu-ray Review

Remastered, the ’80s cult classic comes alive on Blu-ray.

PACKAGE:  
Continuing the streak of better-than-expected features for a rather niche cult horror film is a handsome set of supplemental material for Night of the Creeps, all arriving on a single BD-50 disc.

First off, the film is presented with Dekker’s preferred cut, which is noticeably different than his theatrical cut, and incorporates unused footage into the Blu-ray release. The most striking difference is a completely different ending than that of the theatrical cut; one that leaves room for a sequel that never came to fruition.

Moving on, Night of the Creeps actually offers not one, but two separate audio commentary tracks – one with director Fred Dekker and producer Michael Felsher, and the other with cast members Steve Marshall, Jill Whitlow, Jason Lively and Tom Atkins (yes, he is still alive).

Dekker’s commentary is far more interesting, and doves right into the technical details of the production. You get a unique perspective of the amount of effort involved, and proves to be a worthwhile listen for aspiring filmmakers.

The cast commentary is also enjoyable, in that is a glorified reunion of sorts, as the crew looks fondly back on production.

Also included is a lengthly, multi-faceted documentary on the entire production – from initially screenwriting, to makeup and effects, and even an entertaining retrospective on the film’s legacy. When most genre films can barely muster a 10-minute exercise in promotional material, the well produced documentary is a welcome surprise.

Sony caps this all off with handful of deleted scenes, promotional material and BD-Live support. It all adds up to a surprising, but well-rounded set of supplemental material with a tangible appreciation for the film noticeably absent from similar genre titles.

BIAS:
It’s nice to know that after all these years, that Fred Dekker is having a resurgence of sorts.

And although Monster Squad might be his most memorable film (also due for the Blu-ray treatment shortly), Night of the Creeps is his greatest contribution to the genre.

It is a travesty that enthusiasts were forced to import substandard DVD releases from other regions over the past decade, and the lack of immediate availability has stymied the film’s ability to find a much-needed audience.

But, alas, it’s finally here – on Blu-ray. And not only does it look great, sound great and offer more than a lousy trailer for supplemental material, it also holds up after all these years.

Sure, it’s been a long time coming, but it’s obvious that Sony has handled this release with more care than other, more popular genre films have been afforded – and it’s something I hope pays dividends for the company down the line.

Dekker has expressed interest in making a sequel depending on the commercial success of both the DVD and Blu-ray releases, and although I was initially skeptical, the quality of this release makes me feel his enthusiasm is warranted.

If you’re a horror fan, you owe it to yourself to pick this title up; it’s most definitely a solid purchase. If you’re not, you should at least give it a spot in your rental queue.

It’s as close to a guaranteed fun time as horror films go.

Verdict:  AVOID / CONSIDER / RENT / BUY / TREASURE

Editor’s Note: This is a review of a Region 1 release. Night of the Creeps is only available for import in the UK.

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