b_kite First of all there's obviously a big quality drop with "Creepshow 2" first Romero didn't direct this one instead both he and Stephen King just returned as writers. This one was instead given to cinematographer Michael Gornick who had worked with Romero on the original "Creepshow" and "Day of the Dead" and this was the only real film he ever did other then directing TV episodes. Overall, he does a nice job, but, every time I re-visit "Creepshow 2" I'm left wanting more. There's only three tales this time around being ""Old Chief Wood'nhead", "The Raft", and "The Hitchhiker". My personal favorite being "The Raft", Apparently there were suppose to be two more tales, but, they were dropped because of budget reasons, which is highly disappointing. However, the film is still a fun ride and keeps the homages to the classic EC comics intact, there's also some clever animation in here as well, and Tom Savini returned to do effects.

Mark Turner I loved George Romero's CREEPSHOW. I was a fan from the first moment I laid eyes on the trailer. When it was released I was working as a theater manager showing the film and I would pop in to watch moments from the film when time provided. To this day I consider it a classic. Had it not been for the success of the film we might never have seen anthology shows like TALES FROM THE CRYPT, MONSTER or Romero's own TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE come about. When I heard back then that CREEPSHOW 2 was being made I was ecstatic. The end result left much to be desired though.Once more we're presented with tales to frighten straight from the comic book pages of Creepshow, a homage to the horror fueled comics of the fifties. A wrap around story involving a young boy who loves the comic and is tormented by bullies keeps the film moving. Add to that the Creep in the film, this time portrayed by effects artists Tom Savini rather than an animated dummy.The first story has us in a small town out west gasping its last dying breath. General store owners Ray and Martha Spruce (George Kennedy and Dorothy Lamour) provide a helping hand to those in need in the way of store credit even though they could easily retire and live comfortable on their own. When a criminal Indian from the nearby reservation and his gang rob the store killing the pair it seems justice will not be served. But then they never counted on the wooden Indian standing out front.The second story is perhaps the best here, based on Stephen King's novella THE RAFT. Two young couples are headed out to the local lake with the intent of swimming out one last time to the floating raft in the middle despite the chilly temps of the water. Fueled by beer and false bravado they swim out completely ignorant of the large patch of something floating on top of the water. That is until they see it engulf a bird floating on top. When one of the girls is taken from the raft and eaten by this glob a standoff follows. The only way to get help is for one of them to reach the shore. But how will they avoid the creature? The final story here is about a woman having an affair who plows down a hitch-hiker on her way home. If she reports it or takes the man to the hospital she'll have to explain why she was driving where the accident occurred. Rather than do so she drives off hoping someone else will find him. Except that he continues to pop up, more battered and bloody with each appearance, always saying "Thanks for the ride, lady." Will she ever be free of this damaged image? The film ends with an animated piece featuring the aforementioned story of the young boy pursued by bullies on his bicycle. So how does the film hold up? It doesn't come close to the original. That could be in large part because the film went from a high profile studio like Warner Brothers to the low budget line New Horizons, Roger Corman's company. It could be because Romero was no longer directing or that King and Romero weren't on set daily to discuss the script they had written. In any case while a decent movie it placed side by side with the original leaves it lacking.And yet there is a legion of fans out there who love this one as well. For them the news that the film was being released on blu-ray by Arrow Video was a Godsend. Now they could have it in a pristine format to enjoy over and over again. And, being an Arrow release, you knew that the extras would be better than most and that the version offered would indeed be the best ever found. The film is presented here in a 2k digital restoration with original stereo audio. Other extras include audio commentary from director Michael Gornick moderated by Perry Martin, a new interview with Daniel Beer, a new interview with Tom Wright, and interview with Romero, and interview with Savini, a featurette with make-up effects artists Howard Berger and Greg Nicotero, a featurette on Rick Baker, behind the scenes footage, trailers and TV spots and a reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Mike Saputo.Fans have already been buying this one up like crazy with special editions that include a collector's booklet fetching top dollar. I'm glad that this version now exists but I doubt I'll watch it over and over again. It is worth watching once and fans will delight that they can have this version on their shelves now.

Finfrosk86 When I was little, I used to get up super early and watch television. Back in the day there was a channel in Norway that only sent movies. And the good thing was that they often sent R-rated goodness in the mornings. (don't ask me how this could be) Anyway, one time I remember there was a movie that really scared me. I was a tiny little kid at the time, and I actually turned the TV off. (this is probably the only time I have done that, for that reason)Years and years I wondered what kind of movie this could have been. For all I knew, it could have been a television show, a short, anything. A dream? Endless possibilities.Then some time in the future (seen from my younger self) I would get the answer. It was Creepshow 2, and the segment in question was "The Hitchhiker".Plus, I think I must have seen The Raft at some point in my life too, because I get that nostalgic, strange feeling you get when you see something again, that fascinated you a long time ago.So, the movie. I can't anything but love it, because of the reasons I just mentioned. But the real winner here, for me, is The Raft. It has this incredible eerie Stephen King feel to it, that I just absolutely love. It is such an awesome little tale, and this atmosphere, I can't really explain it, it gets under my skin.Yes, it can be argued that Creepshow 2 is weaker than Creepshow, and yes, the first two segments aren't super great, but something about it just appeals to me, nonetheless.

poe426 Michael Gornick shows a lot of promise with CREEPSHOW 2; unfortunately, it's not enough to overcome a very bad script. The first episode in this three-part anthology, "OL' WOODEN HEAD," is the best written, but that's not really saying a whole lot. The second episode, "THE RAFT," seems rushed: very little time is spent building anything even remotely resembling suspense. This may well have had something to do with the weather where this one was shot: everybody in this segment seems to be on the verge of freezing to death. At any rate, Today's audience(s) can ascribe it all to the BP oil spill... The final episode, "THE HITCH-HIKER," is the least interesting because it's been done to death (most notably as an episode of the original TWILIGHT ZONE); Stephen King simply has nothing to add. Like Tom Savini with the 1990 remake of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, Gornick rose to the occasion when he got a chance to direct; unfortunately, like Savini, it didn't pan out. More's the pity: both the 1990 NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and CREEPSHOW 2 have one thing in common: both are very well directed.