The Creep Behind the Camera

Being an admirer of the film "Ed Wood", I came across another movie that was supposed to be as bad, if not worse, than "Plan Nine from Outer Space".

Thus I was led to "The Creeping Terror". Saw some snippets of "The Creep Behind the Camera", so I purchased the blu-ray to try and learn more about the back-story behind the film.

While the "docu-drama" was mildly interesting, in the end I was left dissatisfied by the experience.

The main reason for this, is the tendency of modern documentaries to go in for rather cheesy "re-enactments" of events. Which usually involves mediocre actors doing bad soap opera, that has little to do with how the people were and what actually happened. It also gives directors an opportunity muddle actual events, for the sake of drama and helping viewers to "relate".

I found the best part of the film to be recollections from persons who were actually involved in the events in question. However this was relegated to definite second-place, as this "docu-movie" seemed to focus more on rather over-the-top dramatizations, that I suspect were highly embellished over actual events.

Please--documentary makers---just give us the well researched facts. And especially recollections from folks who actually were witnesses to events. Yes, I know there is a dread of "talking heads" being boring. But you are NOT making a drama intended to win an Oscar for acting. Just the facts and some explanation of what happened and why.

I caught this movie at a local screening in Colorado Springs when out with the wife. It was a spur of the moment decision that we were very happy to have made. The Creep Behind the Camera details the story of a low-life film director that essentially conned a small town into making one of the worst horror films ever made, "The Creeping Terror". What caught us by surprise was the way the narrative was told. It wasn't a typical documentary as it was filmed almost entirely as a re- telling/remake/reenacting/documentary hybrid that was extremely effective in absorbing us into the story. The character arc for Mr. Nelson was extremely captivating and very intense. The actors' performances were also spectacular. All around, The Creep Behind The Camera was a fantastic dark comedy, high in production quality, thoroughly captivating, and left us with a huge impression on Colorado Springs' local filmmaking scene.

I wanted to like this, I really did. But I feel a bit like a chump for having shelled out for the Blu-ray only to be thwarted not even halfway through it when it introduces perhaps cinema's least convincing Charles Manson to date. But beyond poor casting, it's bulls-t. Once you start introducing stuff like that into a so-called true story it casts everything in doubt, so I abandoned it. A little creative leeway is fine for something like this (like the Orson Welles encounter in Ed Wood), but some fabrications are a bridge too far. Manson was not at Spahn Ranch in 1963/64, so what am I to believe? It's a shame. This would have been an interesting story had they kept to the real story, whatever that might be.

Stylistically dynamic. Unique narrative combining true doc (1/3) and re-enactment (2/3). A very compelling storyline. Solid acting, sometimes breakaway good. Fantastic set design and costuming. Self- aware and darkly comedic. Better effects than the original Creeping Terror, which is ironic. A brave overall effort that entertains throughout. All the while, the theme shines through so wonderfully. And visually, the DP and Director create a seamless creation. Intriguing and forward moving, it is rare to see a movie that does all this. For those who love classic sci-fi, this will be a wonderful experience. For those who don't, this is still a fun movie. You will walk out with a smile, a smirk and head-shaking disbelief all at the same time.

I saw the Creeping Terror years ago... who knew all this crazy stuff went on behind the scenes?! Josh Phillips as Vic Savage makes on of the all time great despicable characters of all time. It's quite a roller-coaster ride! I got to see it in Montreal as part of Fantasia Fest and the audience loved it. I'm pretty sure it went on to LA too. Great music score and photography. The story, which kind of goes all over the place, follows this scumbag AJ Nelson from some goofy bingo hall all the way to Hollywood. When there he abuses his sweet wife (wonderfully played by Jodi Lynn Thomas) in all manner imaginable. Then he makes the Creeping Terror. The whole thing is a great look at how the Hollywood system attracts the worst sort, and how they can convince people they know what they are doing even though the writing is clearly on the wall. I really, really recommend this film!