A couple of years after Shout! Factory delivered the highly anticipated (and widely celebrated) 4K restoration of George A. Romero and Stephen King’s Creepshow, Arrow Video has followed suit with its sequel. The boutique physical media has brought Creepshow 2 to 4K for the very first time, after having given the film a 1080p Blu-ray edition back in 2016.
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Arrow’s limited edition Creepshow 2 4K arrived this week (you can purchase your copy here) and is an instant winner as far as its presentation is concerned. The film itself may not stand up to its predecessor, and the release’s bonus features aren’t necessarily what you’d expect from Arrow, but the picture and sound quality are more than enough to give fans of the film a reason to buy.
Creepshow 2 arrived in 1987, five years after the first Creepshow, and has always been a massive step down from the original. There three segments in this anthology (as opposed to five segments in Creepshow) and really only one of them has held up over the years. “The Raft” is and has always been exceptional, pitting a couple of teenagers/young adults against a deathly goo that has taken up residence in the lake where they’re swimming. It’s a thrilling survival story with some top tier makeup and effects, in line with the best segments from the first Creepshow.
The other two segments of Creepshow 2, however, can’t hold a candle to “The Raft,” making for a frustrating experience throughout most of the film. George Kennedy gives a fantastic, touching performance in “Old Chief Wood’nhead,” but the material around him ranges from lackluster to outright problematic. “The Hitch-hiker” is better, and features a solid cameo from Stephen King, but is still largely forgettable. Then there’s the terrible animated story that weaves all of the live-action segments together. Not sure whose idea that was, but it’s a major letdown compared to the comic book transitions of the original.
I don’t love Creepshow 2, but film is subjective, and I know there are a ton of Creepshow 2 fans out there who disagree with me. For those who love the movie, you’re getting a Grade-A transfer from Arrow Video here. The picture, presented in HDR10 and Dolby Vision, is every bit as good as what Shout! did with the first Creepshow. The practical effects shine brightest throughout the disc, especially when it comes to the goo creature in “The Raft” and slowly-torn-apart face of the hitch-hiker in “The Hitch-hiker.” There’s a moment in that final segment where the undead hiker really lets loose, and it might be one of the best practical horror visuals I’ve seen in 4K in some time.
The sound on the disc — a Dolby 5.1 master — is equally as engrossing as the picture, if not a little more so. And the whole thing is presented in a gorgeous red slip box that really stands out on the shelf (though it’s a shame the Creepshow and Creepshow 2 won’t be able to match when sitting side-by-side).
The only issue I really have with this disc — and it’s honestly more of a quibble that I probably just need to get over — is its lack of new special features. Arrow rolled out a bunch of features for the Creepshow 2 Blu-ray back in 2016, many of which are fantastic and insightful. This 4K edition, despite the new packaging and upgraded presentation, just brings that same lineup of features with it. If you’re someone who already owns Arrow’s Blu-ray edition, you’re not going to find anything new on this disc, outside of the enhanced picture and sound.
Like I said, this is a minor gripe because Arrow put in a ton of work for the Blu-ray nearly a decade ago. And the Creepshow 2 4K release does come with a full physical comic book inside, bringing to life the segment “Pinfall,” which was originally planned to be part of the film but cut for budgetary reasons. That’s an awesome touch and a great way to connect with the film’s history. Arrow has just set such a high bar with its special features lineups lately that I had hoped for at least something new on the disc.
All in all, this is a great release to add to any 4K horror collection. The packaging is stellar and the transfer is aces, both of which are calling cards for Arrow by now. It really all comes down to how you feel about the film itself.
And word to the wise — if you happen to love the first two Creepshow movies are are just craving more, you can go ahead and skip Creepshow 3 altogether. Do yourself a favor and just brush past that one. Move instead to the Creepshow TV series from Shudder, which ran for four seasons and is getting its own Blu-ray box set release in November.
A copy of Arrow Video’s Creepshow 2 4K was provided for the purpose of this review.
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