Retrospect Review: Jeepers Creepers II (2003)

Here is another retrospect review. Which means that not having seen this film recently, I am sharing my critique of the movie now that I have had time to think on the film in depth.

I love this movie. This movie really just has a lot of entertainment value. I have seen both films in this franchise many times each and although the first never grew on me, this one always offered a fun experience. This movie is by no means an amazing movie. Far from it. But this is a movie that is self aware enough to really play off the humor of the situation our characters find themselves in. Unlike in the first movie where the main characters being stalked by the creature, in this film they went the cheap way and had all the characters get trapped in a bus on the road where they are picked off one by one.

This is one of those movies that really just kicks up the action and utilization of the monster. I love this because this is what I want to see from a budget sequel of an okay horror movie. The monster really seems to have a personality and this makes him very likeable. The plot also is very stable and simple. An old farmland has his kid taken away by the creature many years before the events in this movie and seeks revenge so he comes to the aide of the main characters. And even he is kinda badass. The whole movie is easy to watch and asks very little of the watcher. And while that may not be for everyone, it makes the movie very easy to pick up.

I would not say that this movie follows the original in anyway other than making some references that have little to do with the first films plot. I would actually go as far to say you can go without the first one altogether. You can. But I saw the original as well and I would recommend both of them as a set even though I like the second one more. But that's more to learn the fun lore behind the creature.

This is a bit short but it's because I'm choosing to pump this review out quickly. I recommend this film to anyone who generally enjoys monster movies. Though this film is a horror flick, it is not terribly scary. It's really more of a fun film. The only gripe I have towards this film is that I'm still waiting for the third installment.