Capitalizing on the genre’s popularity, the 1980s had a saturation of Horror films flooding theaters and local video stores. With so many large and smaller production companies putting out one film after another, there is little exaggeration in saying you could spend your entire lifetime seeking out ‘80s Horror films and still not have seen them all.
An endless pursuit that some might find worthwhile, it is also evident that the quality of Horror films during the 1980s also varied greatly. Yes, you have your hits, such as 1980’s The Shining, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, and the Friday the 13th franchise, to name a few. Still, you also had some not as easily recognized by name alone by mainstream audiences, like 1986’s Night of the Creeps, which is arguably one of the best of the entire decade.
The directorial debut of Fred Dekker, Night of the Creeps, is one of those films that should be more widely praised, but unfortunately is not. Similar to Dekker’s 1987 film Monster Squad (which was also overlooked but has developed a massive cult following), Night of the Creeps had the power of big distribution behind it from Tri-Star Pictures, but it just did not become a box office hit. Released on August 22, 1986, in only seventy theaters across the USA, there is a case to be made that Night of the Creeps did not receive proper exposure.
Nonetheless, the film found a second life on the shelves of local video rental stores in the late ’80s, and why not with a box cover art featuring a zombified guy in a tuxedo behind a window, smashing flowers through a glass panel. A piece of cover art no one could ignore, Night of the Creeps rapidly became the talk of many who saw it thanks to its fast-paced storyline, tension-building moments, exceptional special effects, and unforgettable dialogue lines.
Featuring a cast of relatively unknowns, you had Jason Lively (who had become a recognizable face after starring as Rusty Griswold in 1985’s National Lampoon’s European Vacation) as Chris Romero, Steve Marshall (who did some work in television) as James Carpenter “J.C.” Hooper, Jill Whitlow (who had minor roles in films like 1985’s Weird Science) as Cynthia Cronenberg, Allan Kayser (who had success on the TV series Mama’s House) as Brad, with one big heavy weight name in Tom Atkins (who had starred in 1980’s The Fog and 1982’s Halloween III: Season of the Witch, among others) as the Detective Ray Cameron. Together, this cast delivers sensational performances, creating a group of characters that are memorable in every way.
Developing the story (which was also penned by Dekker), there is a unique world within Night of the Creeps that you cannot help but become enthralled with. Utilizing the charm of 1950s Science Fiction, combined with 1950s Horror films and a modern 1980s sensibility, Night of the Creeps truly separates itself from what others were doing at the time.
Briefly breaking it all down, you have an alien experiment released into space, which crashes down on Earth. A slug-like creature, this invader from outer space feeds on the brains of its victims, reproduces, and reanimates their bodies until it is done and moves on to the next host. Finding their way onto a college campus, best friends Chris and J.C. hope to catch the attention of a lovely girl named Cynthia, so they seek to pledge a fraternity led by the obnoxious Brad. Unfortunately, they get more than they bargain for, potentially unleashing a menacing force that threatens to wipe out everyone. Stepping in is the sarcastic, yet take-no-nonsense Detective Ray Cameron, who sets us off on the wild journey that is Night of the Creeps.
A true Horror film fan’s dream come true, with a great story, sense of humor, resonating soundtrack, and distinctive style, it is no wonder Night of the Creeps remains a cult classic nearly forty years later. Also giving a nod with a wink to the others in the Horror/Sci-Fi creative field, many of the characters’ last names in Night of the Creeps are of greats like George Romero, David Cronenberg, John Carpenter, Tobe Hooper, Mario Bava, Sam Raimi, James Cameron, Steve Miner, and John Landis. Offering something new to explore with each passing view, it is exciting to find Night of the Creeps receiving a 4K Ultra HD release in 2025.
Put out on through Shout! Factory’s imprint label Scream Factory on March 25, 2025, marks the first release of Night of the Creeps in 4K Ultra HD, but also with a ton of goodies in tow. For fans, it is worth noting that Shout! Factory put out the film as a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray in 2019, but this new Collector’s Edition in 4K Ultra HD goes the extra mile. Offering you a simply stunning 4K restorated edition from the original camera negatives, Night of the Creeps is as crisp, colorful, and bold as you have ever seen it.
The director’s cut of the film (which features a different ending than the theatrical cut), this 4K set comes on three discs, complete with a nice slipcover and artwork featuring original theater artwork. With a whole lot to take in, Disc One is the 4K edition, which includes commentary, along with the new addition of Suzanne Snyder speaking. Disc Two features the film in 4K on Blu-ray, mirroring the content of Disc One. Then, Disc Three is a Blu-ray disc with every special feature you could ever want for Night of the Creeps, including older interviews with the cast and crew, as well as a great new interview with Fred Dekker, titled A New Breed of Terror: The Films of Fred Dekker. Additionally, you are also gifted the original theatrical ending on Disc Three, which should bring joy to many.
Overall, Scream Factory has really paid a fantastic homage to the unsung gem of Horror that Night of the Creeps is with this new release. If this was not enough, the real dedicated fan can also pick up the release as a special package via Shout! Factory’s online store, which includes two posters, an alternative slipcase, and an exclusive, articulated NECA figure of Tom Atkins’ Detective Ray Cameron holding a tropical drink depicted in a scene in the film where he is having a lovely dream that swiftly turns into a nightmare. All worth looking into, it is recommended to pick the 4K Ultra HD Collector’s Edition set, or the exclusive set (before it sells out), because Cryptic Rock gives it 5 out of 5 stars.
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