Reviews: Creepshow 2 (1987) Movie Review / Ending Explained
Genres: Horror, Thriller, Fantasy, Comedy, Monsters, Anthology
Subgenres: Anthology, Supernatural, Campy
Horror fans will enjoy our review of Creepshow 2 (1987), where we cover its story, scares, and how it ranks among modern horror classics.
Creepshow 2 (1987) – A Bloody Blend of Campfire Chills and Cartoonish Horror
Creepshow 2 (1987) follows in the footsteps of its cult-classic predecessor by delivering a trio of horror shorts wrapped in a colorful comic book framing device. Directed by Michael Gornick and based on stories by a certain master of macabre fiction, this anthology leans into its pulp inspiration, blending eerie morality tales with gory punchlines and an over-the-top tone that embraces its comic roots.
Three Tales of Terror Brought to Life in Comic Book Carnage
The film opens with a live-action delivery boy encountering a sinister hitchhiker and a mysterious crate, before transforming into animated sequences that guide viewers into the stories. Each segment is self-contained, focusing on punishment, payback, and the unexpected consequences of bad decisions. While the effects may feel dated and the tone lighter than many modern horror offerings, Creepshow 2 still delivers on its promise of twisted fun and gruesome irony.
Segment Breakdown and Highlights
“Old Chief Wood’nhead”
In the first tale, an elderly couple runs a dusty general store in a small desert town. When they’re targeted in a robbery by a group of reckless thugs, the store’s wooden statue—a towering, stoic Native American figure—comes to life to avenge them. The story builds slowly but pays off with a satisfyingly grim sense of justice. The atmosphere is quiet and eerie, and the segment taps into themes of honor and retribution.
“The Raft”
The second and most iconic segment centers on four college students who swim out to a floating platform in a secluded lake. Trapped by a mysterious black ooze that dissolves anything it touches, their sunny day turns into a nightmare. This story stands out for its isolated setting, practical effects, and the creeping dread that grows as the creature outsmarts its victims one by one.
“The Hitchhiker”
The final tale delivers the most manic energy. A woman speeding home after a secret affair hits a drifter on the highway and flees the scene. But her victim won’t stay dead. He keeps returning, mangled and persistent, repeating the phrase “Thanks for the ride, lady!” in an escalating loop of undead torment. This short is a gory, chaotic chase laced with guilt and supernatural revenge.
Directing Style, Strengths, and Weaknesses
Director Michael Gornick, stepping in after working as cinematographer on the first Creepshow, maintains the comic-inspired style with animated transitions, bold color palettes, and visual effects that mimic page panels and speech bubbles. The film doesn’t take itself too seriously and that’s part of the charm. It plays like a late-night fright fest meant to entertain more than terrify.
Strengths:
Distinct comic book style with animated transitions
“The Raft” delivers standout suspense and creativity
Morality-driven storytelling adds thematic consistency
Practical effects and makeup hold nostalgic charm
Weaknesses:
Pacing is uneven between segments
Some characters feel underdeveloped
Not all shorts hit the same emotional or fear-driven high point
Final Verdict & Score: 6/10
Creepshow 2 earns a 6 out of 10, a fitting score that reflects its balance of nostalgic appeal and uneven execution. While it may not reach the same heights as the original, it still entertains with memorable monsters, twisted fates, and a playful sense of horror that embraces its comic book roots. It’s a popcorn-ready anthology with bite-sized horror stories that continue to attract fans looking for light scares and dark laughs.
Who Will Enjoy It
Fans of horror anthologies and comic book-inspired storytelling
Viewers nostalgic for 1980s practical effects and campy fun
Audiences who enjoy morality tales with supernatural twists
Horror fans looking for short-form thrills with quick payoffs
Who Might Be Disappointed
Viewers expecting deep or emotionally heavy horror
Fans looking for modern pacing or effects
Those who prefer grounded, psychological scares over camp
Most Asked Questions About Creepshow 2 (1987)
How many stories are in Creepshow 2?
Creepshow 2 features three main horror stories: “Old Chief Wood’nhead,” “The Raft,” and “The Hitchhiker.” Each tale is self-contained but tied together with a comic book framing device, staying true to the anthology format that made the original Creepshow a cult classic.
Is Creepshow 2 connected to the first Creepshow movie?
Yes. While the stories are new, the sequel keeps the same horror-comic theme and moral twist endings. The iconic Creep character, now animated in this installment, still introduces each segment, maintaining the darkly playful tone established in the first film.
Which story is the most popular from Creepshow 2?
“The Raft” is widely considered the most memorable and frightening segment. It tells the tale of four college students trapped on a wooden platform surrounded by a mysterious black sludge that devours anything it touches. Its isolated setting and creative creature design have made it a fan favorite.
What is the creature in “The Raft”?
The creature appears as a floating, sentient oil slick. It’s never fully explained, but it behaves like a predator—moving silently and consuming its victims with acidic force. Its ambiguity makes it even more terrifying, as viewers are left to imagine its origin.
Is “The Hitchhiker” meant to be scary or comedic?
This segment walks the line between horror and dark humor. It features a woman haunted by the man she accidentally hits with her car, who keeps returning no matter how much she tries to escape. His repeated line, “Thanks for the ride, lady!” becomes increasingly disturbing as he appears more mangled with each encounter.
Is there a wraparound story in Creepshow 2?
Yes. The wraparound involves a young boy named Billy who’s an avid fan of Creepshow comics. He orders a strange Venus flytrap kit through the mail and is bullied by local thugs. These animated segments frame the stories and build to a satisfying conclusion.
What happens in “Old Chief Wood’nhead”?
After a group of thieves murder a kind elderly couple running a general store, the store’s wooden Native American statue comes to life. The statue, Old Chief Wood’nhead, hunts down each of the assailants and delivers poetic justice in brutal fashion.
Is Creepshow 2 suitable for all ages?
Creepshow 2 is intended for mature audiences due to its horror themes, graphic imagery, and violent content. It’s best enjoyed by teens and adults who appreciate vintage anthology horror with campy flair and dark morality tales.
Creepshow 2 (1987) – Ending Explained
The film’s wraparound story ends with a satisfying reversal of power. Billy, who was shown throughout the film being bullied and mocked, finally gets his revenge. After being chased into a remote area by the local bullies, he lures them into a trap—unleashing the very Venus flytraps he ordered from the back of the Creepshow comic.
The animated plants devour the bullies one by one, as Billy watches with a smile. This finale blends cartoonish horror with a sense of triumphant justice. It mirrors the theme of all the film’s stories: those who do wrong eventually pay the price.
Each of the three segments in the anthology also ends with poetic justice:
In “Old Chief Wood’nhead,” the killers are hunted and eliminated by the wooden avenger, restoring balance to the small town.
In “The Raft,” the last survivor tries to outsmart the creature but is quickly dragged under, reinforcing that arrogance and delay can be deadly.
In “The Hitchhiker,” the cheating woman’s guilt—and the vengeful spirit of the man she hit—literally drive her to her doom.
Together, these endings wrap Creepshow 2 into a tight, twisted package of horror morality tales—where every bad deed has its reckoning, and the Creep laughs from the shadows as justice is served with a grin.
Similar films like Creepshow 2 can be found in monster movies, monster movies, horror anthologies, and horror anthologies sub-genre(s), check them out for more movies like Creepshow 2.
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- Creepshow 2 Rating Scores
- Our Score: 6/10
- Overall Score: 4.87/10
- IMDB: 6.0/10
- MetaCritic: 3.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 2.9/10
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