3 Years On, This Horror Masterpiece Has Aged Incredibly & These Are the 5 Greatest Episodes

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George A. Romero’s 1982 film, Creepshow, is considered one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s work from that decade. This collection of scary stories was highly influential in the surge of horror anthology films and TV shows. While shows like HBO’s Tales from the Crypt later gained popularity, the real inspiration came from EC Comics of the 1950s. Nevertheless, Creepshow defined the blend of horror and comedy that worked so well on screen, paving the way for Tales from the Darkside (essentially a third Creepshow movie) and, ultimately, Tales from the Crypt.

Recently, Shudder’s Creepshow came around full circle, doing the opposite of what Darkside did – starting with smaller scenes and building to bigger ones. Developed by Greg Nicotero, a veteran makeup effects artist known for his work on films like Day of the Dead, Evil Dead II, Jason Goes to Hell, and The Walking Dead, the series is a real treat for horror enthusiasts. As with most horror anthologies, some segments stand out more than others. Here are five exceptional stories that any fan of 1980s horror shouldn’t miss.

5) “Baby Teeth” (Season 4, Episode 6)

Most episodes of Creepshow are split into segments that each run around 22 minutes. “Baby Teeth” is the last segment of the show, and it’s a particularly strong ending.

Despite being made with a limited budget, Creepshow has a fun, classic ’80s feel. The show still delivered impressive practical effects, like the monster born from someone’s wisdom teeth in this particular episode. The story feels like a blend of the overprotective mother dynamic from Carrie and the intense final showdown with Chucky in the original Child’s Play.

4) “Public Television of the Dead” (Season 2, Episode 1)

The first episode of Season 2, “Model Kid,” blends a story about getting back at a cruel stepfather with a tribute to classic Universal Monsters. However, it’s definitely surpassed by the second episode, “Public Television of the Dead.”

This second part of Creepshow cleverly includes elements from the iconic horror film The Evil Dead. Fans will recognize the Necronomicon, the Deadites, and even Ted Raimi – Sam Raimi’s brother – playing one of the first Deadites. It’s a must-watch for anyone who enjoys the Evil Dead series.

3) “The Man in the Suitcase” (Season 1, Episode 3)

Horror anthologies like Creepshow, Tales from the Darkside, and Tales from the Crypt are most satisfying when they feature a truly awful character who ultimately gets what they deserve. Of all the Creepshow episodes that follow this formula – and there are several – many fans consider the second half of the third episode in the first season to be the strongest.

A college student returns home needing money, only to realize he accidentally grabbed the wrong bag at the airport. It’s strange enough to have the wrong luggage, but this bag contains a man twisted into an awkward pose. He turns out to be a djinn who spits out coins whenever he’s injured. The student’s friends quickly join the situation and, unlike him, happily attack the djinn to collect the coins. However, their greed will end up costing them far more than a thousand gold coins.

2) “Night of the Living Late Show” (Season 2, Episode 5)

The “Night of the Living Late Show” segment is similar to the “You, Murderer” episode of Tales from the Crypt, which famously used footage of Humphrey Bogart after his death. But this Creepshow installment takes things further: we’re dropped directly into the 1972 film Horror Express, alongside the character Simon Sherman, played by Justin Long, and alongside stars Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.

“Night of the Living Late Show” is unique in that it’s longer than any other episode, with the exception of the special “Shapeshifters Anonymous.” The extra length works because the main character becomes just as immersed in the virtual world as the audience does. However, he probably made a mistake getting involved with Countess Petrovski, as his wife (played brilliantly by D’Arcy Carden, who delivers the episode’s best performance) is unlikely to be pleased.

1) “The House of the Head” (Season 1, Episode 1)

Overall, the Creepshow pilot is one of the show’s strongest episodes. The first segment, “Gray Matter,” is a delightfully creepy story set in a small town, written by Stephen King and featuring great performances from Tobin Bell (known from Saw), Giancarlo Esposito, and Adrienne Barbeau, a frequent collaborator with John Carpenter.

The second part of the series, “The House of the Head,” is truly the scariest and most captivating. It centers on Evie, a young girl who plays with her dollhouse, but she starts noticing the dolls are being moved into different positions on their own. Things escalate when a severed head appears inside, and when Evie isn’t around, it begins to decapitate the other dolls. Determined to stop it, Evie bravely throws the head across the room, causing it to grow to full human size. She then convinces her parents to sell the dollhouse at a yard sale, where it waits to frighten another child. The story relies heavily on the performance of Cailey Fleming, and she delivers brilliantly, having previously appeared in IF, The Walking Dead, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Seen Creepshow? Share your thoughts in the comments and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-03-22 20:25