Before there ever was a Creepshow series, there were only eight tales of suspense and horror within the Creepshow universe, delivered by the 80s horror-comedy films Creepshow and Creepshow 2. After bringing us fantastically horrific tales of a man with an apartment filled with roaches, a space fungus that spreads on contact, and a blob ensnaring victims trapped on a raft, more than thirty years passed before Creepshow was finally revived. In 2019, horror mastermind Greg Nicotero took up the director’s chair for Shudder, and to date, there have been twenty-three episodes and two Creepshow specials, all amounting to 48 new tales of terror. This count includes Creepshow season 4’s recent additions to the series, as it recently premiered six new episodes on October 13th.
After receiving seasons two and three so close together (they launched only five months apart), it felt as though the wait for the new season was exceptionally long. Now that these new additions to the Creepshow anthology are finally here, I’m happy to say that the season did not disappoint. It kept the same energy we’ve come to expect from the Creepshow series. Some tales of woe while other fun, campy accounts are displayed on twisted storylines filled with monsters and money-hungry people receiving their dues.
In celebration of the newcomer stories, it’s time to reflect on some of the most memorable tales that stand out from the Creepshow series.
The Ten Best Episodes of Creepshow
The Man in the Suitcase
Creepshow Season 1, Episode 3
The unique premise of this episode is nothing short of unforgettably dark. One man happens upon another man stuffed into a suitcase at an impossible angle. While attempting to rescue the man, he discovers something unique about this person that changes everything. Whenever the man in the suitcase is injured, his body involuntarily creates gold. The dreams of wealth ultimately lead to corruption as pain is inflicted on him ruthlessly.
Skeletons in The Closet
Creepshow Season 3, Episode 2
Featuring a house of horror movie props and its purveyors, this episode is a treat for horror fans as it discusses the objects used in real horror movies. I’m a sucker for fun facts about horror movies (see: Horror Trivia Tuesday), and in the spirit of behind-the-scenes info, I’ll share a fun fact with you about this episode. Around the beginning, you see our main character get outbid on the decapitated head from The Omen. In real life, Creepshow series creator Greg Nicotero is the proud owner of that prop head.
Mums
Creepshow Season 3, Episode 1
This episode is hands down one of the more depressing that Creepshow offers. It features an all too realistic tale of a boy whose mother is a victim of domestic violence. Of course, “Mums” sees that the perpetrators get their comeuppance in pure Creepshow fashion, but it still hurts my heart every time I watch it. Its memorability and the final monster make it a favorite, but boy, is it a bummer before we get there.
Pipe Screams
Creepshow Season 2, Episode 4
Nobody does tales of revenge better than Creepshow, baby. A plumber discovers that a hairball sort of murderous monster is lurking within the plumbing of an apartment building run by a slumlord. The slumlord, by the way, is played by Barbara Crampton in a way that makes me wish that Ms. Carrigan from Casper was a more prominent icon than she is.
Anyway, it turns out that in addition to the scary pipe monster, this building has lead pipes, which are incredibly hazardous to its tenants. Slumlord Barbie Carrigan doesn’t want to do anything about it, so the show ends the only way a Creepshow tale could.
The House of the Head
Creepshow Season 1, Episode 1
You may remember the starlet of Creepshow’s pilot episode, Cailey Fleming, from her role as Judith Grimes in another Greg Nicotero series, The Walking Dead. Here, she plays the role of Evie, a young girl who owns a strange dollhouse. While not immediately apparent, its strangeness becomes known when a mysterious and terrifying-looking head appears in the rooms. As it begins overtaking the dolls, I never cease to be amazed by Evie’s balls of pure steel. I remember running screaming to my parents’ room as a kid because a doll’s face got smooshed in, and I got scared looking at it. Kudos to Evie.
Smile
Creepshow Season 4, Episode 1
I didn’t want this episode to be on the best episodes of Creepshow list. Its ending is bleak, and the reality behind it all is too depressing. But try as I might, I can’t stop thinking about it. Since I’ve always maintained that the earmark of well-done horror is its ability to stick with you long after it’s over, I have no choice but to include “Smile” in this list. Creepshow episodes tend to have a lighthearted, campy, comedic element; even the aforementioned “Mums” had this. However, this season four episode of Creepshow is just grim. When polaroid photographs begin appearing, showing a married couple snapshots of their lives moments before they happen, one of the pair sees their hideous past reemerging.
Night of the Living Late Show
Creepshow Season 2, Episode 5
This special episode is the only feature in the season two finale. It follows a man who has discovered how to place a person into classic horror films via a virtual reality headset, where everything is entirely interactive by way of some super-computer technology. Recreating those classic horror movies must have been a blast behind the scenes, and it makes me slightly wish the technology was real. By the way, the inventor of this technology is played by Justin Long, and if you can recount this man’s luck in horror movies, you can figure out what sort of ending he will have.
To Grandmother’s House We Go
Creepshow Season 4, Episode 3
This episode contains two different stories we already know well in a new way. The first is that of the shallow, materialistic woman who marries for riches. However, this episode adds nuance to this stereotypical character, leaving you wanting to root for her to get the money. You might be able to ascertain the second story from the episode’s title. From beginning to end, it’s a great time to watch, leaving you wanting to see where it’s headed.
Queen Bee
Creepshow Season 3, Episode 1
I’m going heavy spoiler for this one, so if you have yet to see it and want to be surprised, scroll on. This episode sees a group of teens find out which hospital their favorite celebrity is giving birth at and go on a mission to be there. Things are immediately strange with silent candlelit halls, and then turn dangerous when people with glowing eyes begin showing up to fight them off. All of this is because, naturally, their celebrity idol turns out to be a giant lobster person who controls everyone nearby with mind control.
The best part of the episode happens when one of the friends threatens to go public; her friend is disappointed in her for not being Queen Bee’s “number one fan,” as she had claimed. It calls into question our culture of celebrity obsession, and I love it for it. The giant killer lobster effects are just a bonus.
Public Television of the Dead
Creepshow Season 2, Episode 1
I’m generally terrible at picking a favorite anything; however, this episode is by far my favorite episode of Creepshow. Everything takes place on a set filmed live for public broadcast television. When the host of an appraiser roadshow accidentally reads from the Necronomicon, all hell breaks loose on set. Luckily, a knock-off Bob Ross is there, and he knows some kick-ass fighting moves. The episode is an absolute blast to watch and gets bonus credit for giving us a little slice of Evil Dead.
I’m thrilled about the new episodes of Creepshow, and I hope they keep coming. People tend to have mixed feelings about the show. After all, as exhibited by this list, the mood of Creepshow can jump from one extreme to the next from episode to episode. But that unpredictability is one of the things that make Creepshow great. No matter the content, from the giddy highs to the morbid lows, every episode is, in its own way, strange, eerie, and terrifying.
Do you agree with this list? What’s your favorite episode of Creepshow? Tell us in the comments below or reach out on social media!