![]() Instead, they are greeted by an amorphous blob that is seen devouring everything that comes in its path. A group of four college kids freewheel it out to a deserted swimming hole, hoping for an afternoon of getting loaded and (hopefully) getting laid. Next up, “The Raft”, which is my personal favorite from the film. And even though he’s a grade-A asshole, Sam does have one damn fine head of hair. A modicum of the comic book style that made the first film such a visual success appears here, too, though in fleeting glimpses. Highlights from this story are George Kennedy being George Kennedy and the realization of Old Chief Wood’nhead, whose makeup is impressively done to the point that it genuinely looks like a moving wooden figure… at times. But Old Chief Wood’nhead, the store’s Indian mascot kept out front to greet customers, has other plans for the trio. As expected, Sam kills the couple and the boys split, intending to grab a few things from home before hitting the road. ![]() Sam, who is exceedingly vain, has plans to be a movie star. Later that night, Benjamin’s hotshot nephew Sam (Holt McCallany) stops by the store with his two cronies, Andy and Fatstuff, looking to score some loot before they head to Los Angeles. The town elder, Benjamin Whitemoon (Frank Salsedo), pays them a visit one afternoon to give Ray a satchel containing prized jewelry from the families he has helped as collateral for all the debt they have acquired. The store makes almost no money and they live on very little, but Ray feels good about helping the residents. The first story, “Old Chief Wood’nhead”, focuses on an elderly couple, Ray and Martha Spruce (played by George Kennedy and Dorothy Lamour), who own a general store in a dusty Indian town. Fans can debate which stories are deserving of which title but, all in all, Creepshow 2 makes for a fun follow-up to a cult classic… and it is light years ahead of the eternal turd known as Creepshow 3 (2006). Of the four-ish stories told here (I know the intercut animated stuff with Billy is technically a fourth tale but it doesn’t gel with the rest) we get one outright classic, one solid entry, one so-so, and one dud. That isn’t to suggest I am unable to overlook the flaws – which become more apparent with the passage of time – but it does mean I’m not likely to be as harsh toward this maligned sequel as so many others seem to be. So, be forewarned, this review is being written with a faded pair of rose-tinted glasses firmly in place. And years before seeing Creepshow (1982) I was fully in love with Creepshow 2 (1987). I saw Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994) long before I finally watched the original. My first Friday the 13th movie was The Final Chapter (1984… and still the best). There are likely to be many horror fans out there who, depending on when they were born, wound up watching sequels to celebrated films before ever seeing the original. Starring George Kennedy, Dorothy Lamour, Lois Chiles, Tom Savini
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