Director: Victor Salva
Starring: Gina Phillips, Justin Long, Patricia Belcher, Jonathan Breck
Story rating: 3 discs (out of 4)
Story review: Bickering sibs Trish (Phillips) and Darry (Long), make the regrettable mistake of choosing the scenic route through the country on their drive home. When they pass an abandoned church, Darry catches sight of someone, or something, throwing what looks like a bloody bag down a drainpipe. In true horror flick style, the kids backtrack to check it out (and they’re smart enough to attend college?) when instead they should be hitting the fast track outta there. Then again, we wouldn’t have a movie if they didn’t, so naturally they investigate and make some nasty discoveries in that thar church that the stranger would rather they not know about. What ensues is a terrifying chase across backwoods country where the residents are unhelpful, the police are helpless and the kids just need a helping hand. In steps a psychic (Belcher), who enlightens them on what exactly the monster, whom the psychic calls the Creeper, is after–it wants something from one of them, but what, and from whom? The Creeper can stomach it…but can you?–Stacie Hougland, Hollywood.com
Features rating: 3 1/2 discs (out of 4)
Features review: Director Salva‘s screen-specific commentary is nothing short of excellent. He is prepared, eloquent, gracious (if immodest), and congenial. And in a rare show of hands-on involvement, the stout Salva also participated in the disc’s 6-part documentary to the extent that he narrates portions of it and received a co-“created by” credit with Tom Tarantini.
The section of ten deleted/extended scenes includes a superior alternate opening, welcome shards of character development, and an inferior alternate ending–without spoiling anything.
Casting, the development of The Creeper’s look (courtesy of illustrator Brad Parker) and various production challenges are discussed at length. If you’ve always wondered how car-driving shots are accomplished, you’ll learn here. Behind the Peepers‘ final segment, Composed by: Bennett Salvay, offers a split-screen view of the orchestra and the sequence they’re scoring.
Bottom line: Another splendid addition to MGM’s series of Special Edition DVDs, Jeepers Creepers is a must purchase for fright film fans.
Special features list:
• Languages: English, French, Spanish
• Deleted and extended scenes, including alternate opening and ending sequences
• Director’s audio commentary
• Behind the Peepers–A collection of 6 mini-featurettes
• Photo gallery
• Original theatrical trailer
• And more!
