(2003) 2 Jeremy Wheeler Yes, the Creeper (Jonathan Breck) is back in Victor Salva's big monster movie blowout, Jeepers Creepers 2. Gone is any mention of the shadowy winged-beast only appearing whenever that terrible song is sung (used to extreme cheesy effect in the first film), though the pseudo-psychic slant still makes a return in this strange follow-up -- a modern update of Lifeboat for monster movie fanatics. If the first film's ending annoyed people by betraying it's atmospheric and intense early intentions, then they've got a big surprise ahead of them with this flick....This is wall-to-wall creature action on display. It's Monster Movie 101 in Salva's land, and everything from Jaws to Rob Bottin's grotesque Thing creations are on the chopping block for the director to hang his own hat on. What works here is the simplicity of the story -- a bus load of kids get trapped in the country with an ancient flying beast outside preying on them who only gets to eat for 23 days every 23 years, this being the last day. With this premise, Jeepers Creepers 2 not only promises a high body count, but also gives room for a truly outrageous performance from Ray Wise as the vengeance-filled father hot on the trail of the beast. His Ahab-like tough guy is a welcome distraction from the bickering, idiotic teens in the bus, of which there are many (half of whom end up running away with no mention of them afterwards). Though it succeeds mostly at being a jam-packed thrill ride, the sequel does take a few missteps along the way. By making the Creeper the main focus of the flick, you let the audience know right off the bat what kind of fun they're in for -- lots of screamin', lots of killin', and a little more humor added in to beef up the quirky likeability of the creature (something most horror sequels take pleasure in being culprits of). Sadly, they're aren't too many gratuitous kills to be had, nor does the Creeper ever fully grow into the horror icon the filmmakers might've been shooting for with this installment -- there are moments that come off straight-up cartoon-like, while others are nothing more than gross-out monster clichés or downright campy. That said, this is a monster movie, pure and simple. There's nothing much else to it. They could've handled the whole psychic angle much better this time and yes, there are more than a few bare-chested boys in the film (which, given Salva's shady past, comes off suspiciously gratuitous), but overall, it's a decent and mindless monster movie that's well scored, directed, and written to be nothing more than just that.

cast-crew for Jeepers Creepers 2 on AllMovie

Jeepers Creepers 2 (2003)

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Jeepers Creepers 2

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Graphic Violence
Adult Situations
Profanity
Gore

genres

Horror

sub-genres

category

Feature

directed by

Victor Salva

countries

USA

release date

August 29, 2003 (USA)

run time

104 min.

produced by

American Zoetrope, Myriad Pictures, United Artists, Victor Salva Film

released by

MGM, United Artists

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cast

Ray Wise: Jack Taggart

Jonathan Breck: The Creeper

Garikayi Mutambirwa: Deundre "Double D" Davis

Eric Nenninger: Scott Braddock

Nicki Lynn Aycox: Minxie Hayes

Travis Schiffner: Izzy Bohen

Lena Cardwell: Chelsea Farmer

Billy Aaron Brown: Andy "Bucky" Buck

Marieh Delfino: Rhonda Truitt

Diane Delano: Bus Driver Betty

Thom Gossom, Jr.: Coach Charlie Hannah

Tom Tarantini: Coach Dwayne Barnes

Al Santos: Dante Belasco

Josh Hammond: Jake Spencer

Kasan Butcher: Kimball Ward

Drew Tyler Bell: Jonny Young

Luke Edwards: Jack Taggart Jr.

Shaun Flemming: Billy Taggart

Justin Long: Darius "Darry" Jenner

Bob Papenbrook: Man in Station Wagon

Jonathan Powell: Older Jack Jr.

Marshall Cook: Boy

Joe Reegan: Boy

Stephanie Griffin: Girl

crew

Victor Salva: Director, Screenwriter
Tom Luse: Producer, Second Unit Director
Don E. Fauntleroy: Cinematographer
Bennett Salvay: Composer (Music Score)
Ed Marx: Editor
Peter Jamison: Production Designer
Nanci B. Roberts: Art Director
Bobby Rock: Executive Producer
Francis Ford Coppola: Executive Producer
Kirk D'Amico: Executive Producer
Lucas Foster: Executive Producer
Philip Von Alvensleben: Executive Producer
Linda Spheeris: Set Designer
Jana Stern: Costume Designer
Paul Clay: Sound/Sound Designer, Supervising Sound Editor
Steve Aaron: Sound/Sound Designer
Mark Anthony Little: First Assistant Director
The Orphanage: Animator, Visual Effects
Aaron Griffith: Casting
Linda Phillips-Palo: Casting
Brian Penikas: Makeup Special Effects
Jonathan Rothbart: Visual Effects Supervisor
Robert La Bonge: Additional Cinematography