Night of the Creeps (1986)
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75% of critics liked it
(12 reviews) -
69% of users liked it
(9,601 ratings)
Virtually unnoticed during its brief theatrical run, this wildly entertaining horror-comedy achieved healthy cult status following its home-video and cable TV releases. The directorial debut of Fred Dekker (writer of the successful horror parody House), this low-budget effort throws alien monsters,… More Virtually unnoticed during its brief theatrical run, this wildly entertaining horror-comedy achieved healthy cult status following its home-video and cable TV releases. The directorial debut of Fred Dekker (writer of the successful horror parody House), this low-budget effort throws alien monsters, axe-wielding killers, flesh-eating zombies, nudity, and (gasp!) drunken fraternity shenanigans into a blender, spiced with witty one-liners and references to dozens of horror classics (and anti-classics). The result is a satisfying treat that will tickle the tastebuds of horror fans. The film's nominal protagonists are a pair of randy fraternity pledges (Jason Lively, Steve Marshall) who open a literal can of worms when they steal a corpse from the campus medical facility and release a horde of space-leeches, which proceed to infest the bodies of everyone in sight. The host bodies subsequently become homicidal zombies with a penchant for popping in on unsuspecting (and undressing) sorority girls. The town's only hope (such as it is) seems to be a hard-boiled ex-cop (Tom Atkins), who has uncovered the secret link between the zombie invasion and a 30-year-old axe-murder case... and who's also several sandwiches shy of a picnic. Dekker keeps things moving at a brisk pace thanks to some outrageous set-pieces (some of which happen so quickly they'll have viewers reaching for the pause button) and clever dialogue, particularly for Atkins ("Girls, the good news is your dates are here; the bad news is, they're dead"), who dives into his crusty character with relish. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Directed By
- Fred Dekker
- Genres
- Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Aug 22, 1986 Wide
- Studio
- TriStar Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
An almost forgotten eighties gem...
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Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com
This is a terrific B-movie, full of genre love and filled with tributes to Dekker's horror movie heroes...
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Scott Weinberg, FEARnet
Scattered across the whole of Night of the Creeps is horror-nerd nirvana.
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Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
I remember sort of loving it when I was twelve, meaning only that twelve-year-olds are idiots.
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James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
virtually every frame of the film is a love letter to a bygone era as realized in the vibrant tones of the music-video-addled '80s
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Cast
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Jason Lively
as Chris Romero
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Steve Marshall
as J.C. Hooper
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Jill Whitlow
as Cynthia Cronenberg
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Tom Atkins
as Ray Cameron
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Wally Taylor
as Detective Landis
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Bruce Solomon
as Sgt. Raimi
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Vic Polizos
as Coroner
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Allan J. Kayser
as Brad
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Ken Heron
as Johnny
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Alice Cadogan
as Pam
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June Harris
as Karen
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David Paymer
as Young Scientist
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David Oliver
as Steve
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Evelyne Smith
as House Mother
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Ivan E. Roth
as Psycho Zombie
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Elizabeth Alda
as Cop in Alley
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Todd Bryant
as Informative Student
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Elizabeth Cox
as Kathy Kappa Delta
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Tex Donaldson
as Cop Outside Sorority
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Alexander Folk
as Cop in Morgue
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David Alan Johnson
as Young Roy Cameron
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Robert Kerman
as Policeman with Searchlight
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Robert Kino
as Mr. Miner
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Jack Lightsy
as Patrol Car Driver
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Lori Lively
as Lori
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Brian MacGregor
as Dormie
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Melanie Manos
as Blair
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Dick Miller
as Police Armorer
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Leslie Ryan
as Sorority Girl with Hairbrush
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Suzanne Snyder
as Lisa Kappa Delta
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John J. York
as Todd Beta
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Howard Berger
as Beta Zombie
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Earl C. Ellis Jr.
as Beta Zombie
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Jay Arlen Jones
as Cop at Police Station
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David Brian Miller
as Beta Zombie
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Ted Rae
as Beta Zombie
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Katherine Britton
as Sorority Girl on Phone
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Beal Carrotes
as Beta Zombie
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Richard DeHaven
as Dick Beta
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Chris Dekker
as Dormie #1
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Emily Fiola
as Jennifer Kappa Delta
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Joseph S. Griffo
as Alien Pursuer
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Robert Kurtzman
as Beta Zombie
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Russel Moss
as Biff Beta
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Richard Sassin
as Irksome Cop at Murder Scene
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Craig Schaefer
as Irksome Cop at Cryogenics Lab
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Dawn Schroder
as Sorority Girl at Squad Car
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Arick Stillwagon
as Beta Zombie
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Jim Townsend
as Chett Beta
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Jay Wakemann
as Judy
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Keith Werle
as Beta Zombie
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Dan Frishman
as Alien Zombie
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Kevin Thompson
as Alien Pursuer






