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‘Scream’:Slasher Series Begins To Slide In ‘Jeepers Creepers’

By Joey Click

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Now six episodes into its sophomore season, MTV’s ‘Scream’ unsheathes an ultimately uneven episode, ‘Jeepers Creepers’, that’s focused in some areas but silly in others.

The following review of Jeepers Creepers contains spoilers for Scream’s latest outing. You’d be best to watch the episode before dialing up 1428 for the review. Enjoy Screamers.

THE REVIEW:

The idea of a season of television is quite an interesting endeavor. Told over many hours, both directed and written by many different people, the journey of the TV season can see many different twist and turns, both in quality and narrative. Often a show can be on solid foundation with a story thread, only to destroy it all with an ill advised plot turn.

cause when everyone’s a suspect. There is no innocence-Noah Foster

With Jeepers Creepers, the sixth episode of Scream’s sophomore season and whose title is an awesome reference to the underrated 2001 Victor Salva winged creature feature, we get some some good, and I’m sad to report, some bad.

Let’s start with the good, shall we Screamers. First off, the killer continues to dictate the plot, and more specifically does so, by calling Emma. After having Emma basically, and ultimately unnecessarily so, be solely involved in the character exposition with of her Dad for episodes, it was nice to see her be the focus of the killer again. She’s the protagonist of Scream and should be treated as such by the writers and show running staff.

Also, Jeepers Creepers is a mostly plot-heavy outing from the MTV teen show. While the threads get a little murky-something I’ll go into more in a few paragraphs – Creepers is still mostly about the fallout from Noah’s revelation at the end of last week’s Dawn of the Dead. Shows are always better when they are plot-driven and not character-driven. Not to mention, Jeepers Creepers is bringing the red stuff (something some of the early Season 2 episodes lacked).

Moreover, Jeepers Creepers begins to use new Season 2 characters in full effect. Much like Happy Birthday to Me did with Eli Hudson, Jeepers Creepers begins to flesh out players. These characters get more time as actual people and less time as dumbed down plot devices. Sheriff Miguel Acosta, who also got a lot of screen time and came into his own right in Birthday, really is fleshed out a bit more here. But most importantly, the sheriff’s son, Gustavo Acosta comes into his own and finally makes an impact in the narrative instead of being that creepy guy that’s supposedly a potential killer.

Carlson Young as Brooke Maddox in ‘Scream: The TV Series’- Courtesy of MTV

Conversely, Jeepers Creepers does a two things mainly wrong. To begin, there’re too many plot threads going on at once. Brooke is trying to avenge Jake’s death (and Mr. Branson getting the crap end of that stick), the situation between the Mayor and the Sheriff, Noah finding out about Audrey and his subsequent involvement of Emma, and a few more make up Jeepers Creepers. While some of the lesser important threads can be argued to be tied to the main plot, It’s just a little over stuffed.

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Then there’s the Audrey situation. I’m more on the fence than Humpty Dumpty about it. While there’re parts that work, such as making Audrey likable again as she’s not a killer, there’s so much about the situation that’s downright insulting. The situation’s harm includes: wasting our time in the beginning of Season with unneeded thread inflation, possibly loose the audience’s trust on a flimsy story, making Noah look like an idiot who is beyond not self aware. These’re just a few of the damaging effects…yeah this is really bothering me.

As for the acting, everyone is decent with John Karna standing out. Playing Noah Foster, his scene with Emma at the beginning of the episode is probably the best acting the series has ever seen. The horrible news that Noah is trying to digest, while dealing with others and other real life affairs, is quite amazing to watch. I can’t wait to see more from the young actor.

Then there’s the film making. Directed by E.L. Katz, Jeepers Creepers is a decently directed time. That decent direction includes, but isn’t limited too: an amazingly composed shot with Emma in the foreground and Noah in the background (it’s especially effective due to seeing Noah’s reaction to what Emma is seeing), another foreground/background shot involving Sheriff and Mayor, decent camerawork with a shot starting on a shower head and panning down slowly to Eddie’s body. There’re a few more in sure but theses stood out.

Next: ‘Halloween’: Fan Mockumentary Treats Films as Factual

So, will Noah expose Audrey for the wrong she’s done? Will the killer make another play for Emma blood? Will Brooke get the revenge she seeks for the loss of Jake? You’ll have to call up MTV to find out Screamers.

THE VERDICT:
E.L. Katz‘s Jeepers Creepers is a decent time in front of the television. It’s a well directed ride, though some of the script is lacking. While the acting is great, especially from Karna, the narrative drops a bomb that deflates the story’s suspense and comes off, quite frankly, a little stupid. Huge fans of the series will be pleased, but casual fans may find the episode slightly silly. See you next time Fright Fans.

THE GRADE: B-

Check out a preview of next week’s episode,

 

, courtesy of MTV:

Love Scream? Think the series does the film franchise justice? Did or didn’t like what Jeepers Creepers had to offer? Let’s all dial that number and join the conversation in the comment section below. 

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