10 Embarrassingly Poor Horror Movie Monsters

The first half of Jeepers Creepers is an unusually competent teen horror, with some visceral scares and a strong, bold build-up. But as soon as the villain is revealed, you see why everyone told you not to bother watching it.

It's true that this is a pretty conventional view of Jeepers Creepers. Reviewers at the time pointed out repeatedly that the second half of the film is a victim of the success of the first half, and they were right.

But it bears repeating: the opening is a very tense affair, with great pacing and restraint, and it's uncharacteristically dark for mainstream horror of the time.

Maybe it's the way that the use of scenery draws on movies like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre to indicate that there is a seedily human explanation for the carnage.

Maybe it's the strong performances, and the growing sense of mystery that comes from the revelation that whatever is hunting the protagonists can smell their fear.

Whatever it is, it sets you up for something considerably more interesting than the Creeper, a thoroughly generic and uninspiring manhunter which looks like an unimaginative collage of lazy horror tropes: bat wings, leather coat, scarred face. Yawn.

And director Victor Salva is a convicted sex offender, so it might be a blessing in disguise if his films also happen to fall flat.