The Creep Tapes, based on the serial killer/uncomfortable situation film duology, continues into the much better second season, now fully streaming on Shudder.
The Mark Duplass-led film and TV series, Creep 1 & 2, and the Creep Tapes have been incredible in pulling so much from a simple setup. Serial killer known both as Josef and Peachfuzz (which I use as his name throughout this review because it’s more fun), hires a cameraperson, or uses cameras for foundfootage in some way, puts on a character and situation, and pushes the subject to a breaking point various ways, mostly involved in a Speak No Evil sort of way of testing boundaries. Before MURDER!
The Creep Tapes, all episodes written by Duplass and Patrick Brice and directed by Brice, is a fantastic way to approach the series in a new way. Instead of stretching for a full-length feature, as strong as the two were, a 25-minute (give or take, depending on the episode) speed run has had amazing rezealinacy, twisting and turning the concept in many surprising manners. I’m impressed. Though I felt Season 1 lost a little steam and didn’t quite live up to the concept, Season 2 is stronger with fantastic scenarios and twists, with more to Peachfuzz and forcing him out of his scripts and expectations (thus pushing the audience into new approaches). The Catfish But More Murder Show has a little of the opposite problem from the first season: it’s not enough. The constraints of the 25 minutes don’t allow a few of the ideas to come fully developed, leaving what seems like more to explore. But for others, it’s just enough. Perhaps next season, it could be allowed to extend a few to 40 minutes if needed to get that extra oomph that it begs for.
On the whole, the season is strong, with a continued just right in the off-kilter performance by Mark Duplass as the killer. It’s fun to see the layers, the character the character is putting on, and watching the cracks appear in his persona, and to mess with this week’s victim, especially when things don’t go his way. Duplass, an indie darling from mumblecore, revels in playing this character, and he’s utterly fantastic. I highly recommend his The One I Love, co-starring with Elizabeth Moss, in a twisty sci-fi relationship flick that really goes in odd ways.
Let’s take a look at each of the episodes individually. Be warned, we go a little mid-level spoil. The level that trailers give, you know the type for most people, but I don’t want to know, usually. It’s necessary to properly discuss the setups. Of course, I don’t give up the payoffs. 
1 – “Joseph” David Frakin’ Dastmalchian! Fuck yes. One of my favorite actors, as the two previous reviews from this month with him attest: Dust Bunny and Boulet Brothers’ Holiday of Horrors. He has shown himself as a great in the genre and a true fan outside of what he’s appeared in, leading a wonderful idea: trying to remake the first film/copy-cat. Of course, he makes Peachfuzz upset not only in stealing the idea but doing it wrong. This is what I wish had gone on longer. It’s clear from the set that this is where it’s going, but it falls apart too soon. I’d love more of Duplass messing with Daschlamn to mold him, see the pattern, and disrupt. Honestly, this idea could probably have filled a full film.
2- “Wes”
I love the turn for this. The setup: Wes is hired for Peachfuzz’s house flipping show. In a great switch, Wes immediately smells the bull, but where does it go from here? Of course, I won’t spoil, but it has a wonderful, prolonged sequence of delicious awkward, what’s gonna happen freak out. The flailing of the various parties is a blast. Out of all of them, it holds the most straight-up tension.
3- “Mark” – I LOVE the basis. Peachfuzz tries to force a remake himself, jumping off “Joseph” but instead of Creep: it’s Saw. But far more complicated. This is hilarious as Mark, played by Mike Flanagan mainstay Robert Longstreet, is too dumb to play the game and confused, causing trouble for the attempted gamemaster. A hilarious turn of playing the game wrong and how that happens. Dupass is at his best with the multiple plays, characters, and levels, in frustrating and trying to pull it off. This might be my favorite episode of the show, easily the funniest.
4 – “Ava”
Perhaps the weakest, as it’s stretched and repetitive. Ava is hired to film a “sanctuary” only to find the subject is an oddball with toys instead of real animals. The fun here is Ava trying to force a weird documentary, pushing her subject, and how Duplass handles the shifts and set-ups. How far will he play along with Ava, seizing the opportunity and using him to make her own Tiger King? It falls off towards the end after going around in circles, but it’s still a good go.
5 – “Nick”
A fitting name, as this is what might be considered The Creep Tapes’ Christmas episode. Here, Peachfuzz breaks into the home of a psychologist on Christmas Eve to take on his new, emergency client, played by TV character actor Timm Sharp. Peachfuzz pushes and prods at the man. It’s a little uncomfortable, more so than normal, since this isn’t something Nick’s signed up for in any way, and he’s looking for legit help. Sharp is fantastic, and there is a whole interesting dig further into Peachfuzz in a strange new way. Maybe some real lore and background? But as we never quite really know the truth about him, who knows? It’s probably the most psychologically fucked up one, truly disturbing.
6 – “Angela”
A great close to the season takes another shift, with a new dynamic. Mid kill, Peacefuzz receives a phone call and heads to a woman’s house. A deranged woman, who quickly shows she has a sort of control over him; is she his wife, his sister, both? Neither? Like “Joseph,” “Angela” reverses and speaks to the formula and expands it, looking in a new way. I loved it. Kate Aselton is awesome as the guest. She’s Mark Duplass’s real-life wife, so the chemistry is off the charts, playing well against one another. (Did we just watch their home video? I kid)
The Creep Tapes, Season 2, is a stronger season than the first, which started strongly but fell short with issues in how to come to conclusions. Season 2 was a string of strong episodes that mostly paid off. The concepts were clever and interestingly explored. Mark Duplass is awesome and plays Peachfuzz and disguises himself perfectly. Check out the films and both series on Shudder.
Season 3 is already greenlit. Can’t wait.