The Creep Tapes – Blu-ray Review

This series picks up nicely where the Creep movies left off, giving us more of that unnerving Peachfuzz charm. A twisted treat if you’re into your horror with that unsettling, slow-burn vibe.

Each episode, a new videotape unearthed from Peachfuzz’s creepy collection. We see different interactions with victims or potential victims, each encounter ramping up the psychological tension. There’s that blend of awkward humour, faux innocence, and downright sinister undertones that made the film so disturbing.

It’s less about jump scares (although there’s a couple of doozies) and more about making your skin crawl.

Found-footage horror can be a mixed bag, but here it’s done properly. The format isn’t just a gimmick it’s integral to the storytelling. You’re watching the actual tapes this nutter made. It gives the whole thing a voyeuristic, “I shouldn’t be watching this” feel.

Mark Duplass’s unnerving serial killer returns in this chilling six-part anthology, digging deeper into the disturbed, disarming psyche of one of modern horror’s most quietly terrifying characters. The Creep Tapes serves as both an extension and a reflection of the original Creep films, offering a voyeuristic window into a mind that’s equal parts tragic, charismatic, and utterly deranged.

First introduced to audiences in 2014’s Creep, Duplass’s multiple named character, occasionally donning the disturbingly cheerful “Peachfuzz” wolf mask – has always thrived in the intimate horror of the one-on-one. The found-footage format isn’t just a stylistic choice here; it’s the very fabric of the horror itself. With The Creep Tapes, creators Patrick Brice and Duplass double down on this approach, unspooling six standalone “tapes” that act as a cross between character studies and murder confessions.

Each episode captures a different encounter – a hopeful videographer, an unsuspecting friend, a dating app match – all gradually drawn into Peachfuzz’s world. The tension doesn’t come from what he does, but from what he might do. You’re not watching a killer stalk his prey; you’re watching him talk, disarm, and manipulate, with sincerity that feels real enough to make you squirm.

Mark Duplass’s turn as Josef, Father Tom, Jeff, Kyle, Peachfuzz, whatever his name is, is a study in charm-turned-menace. He isn’t loud. He doesn’t scream or rage (well, not much). He simply is, and that’s what makes him terrifying. There’s a boyish warmth to him that slowly rots on screen, revealing something hollow underneath.

Duplass builds on the foundations laid in the first two films, fleshing out his character’s motivations, the decision to keep things ambiguous – to show, not tell keeps the series grounded. It respects the audience’s intelligence. Horror, after all, is most effective when it’s left to fester in your head after the credits roll.

Not every tape hits the same high notes. Some episodes are more conceptually intriguing than emotionally gripping, while others linger too long on setup. But the cumulative effect is undeniable. Like piecing together a jigsaw puzzle soaked in something unpleasant, each tape adds dimension to a man who defies easy explanation.

Visually, the series remains faithful to the lo-fi aesthetic of the films, grainy digital, awkward cuts, handheld unease. It’s not pretty, but it’s right. The rawness is part of the horror. Sound design is minimalist, letting the silences hang uncomfortably, the kind where you’re straining to hear if someone else is breathing just off camera.

This Blu-ray release comes with a couple of extras

Shudder Social Q&A with Mark Duplass & Patrick Brice – This seems like a bit of a joke at our expense. A single, minute ish long portrait phone video basically. Has to be one of the most pointless extra features I’ve ever seen on a Bluray. I’d almost rather have nothing, almost…

Film-maker commentaries – These are Mark Duplass, Patrick Brice and Chris Donlon talking over the episodes with a pretty decent, high energy commentary. Covers the making of nicely, and you get the love they have for this project coming through loud and clear. Great insight.

The Creep Tapes won’t be for everyone. There’s no monster in the closet, no final girl, no neat resolution. What it offers instead is a masterclass in discomfort. A look at the horror of trusting the wrong person and realising it too late. It’s all about atmosphere. It’s about the feeling you get when someone’s smile doesn’t reach their eyes.

And if I can give you a little tip. This isn’t a series to binge. It loses some of its power if you watch all 6 episodes one after the other and the weaker ones really stand out. If you give yourself a treat of one at a time, like an old fashioned T.V. series, all episodes will benefit. Then once you’ve seen them all, binge away!

With the announcement that season 2’s coming, it’s the perfect time to catch up with The Creep Tapes, available now from Acorn Media International.