The Creep Tapes is back for a stronger and more surprising second season that digs deeper into the fractured mind of a chameleonic killer and the nature of identity.
“I think you need to consider more carefully the brand you love and how you represent them.”
The Creep Tapes‘ first season felt like such a monkey’s paw situation of “be careful what you wish for.” After years of waiting for a Creep 3, a six-episode TV series was announced. A full season of television seemed like it would be better suited to tackle the franchise’s subject matter and cover more ground than what would be possible in a singular film. While this is technically true, The Creep Tapes largely spun its wheels and became an unfortunately repetitive experience that was already reaching diminishing returns by the end of the season. The season fell into a very formulaic rut, especially when it’s clear that Mark Duplass’ creepy serial killer will be the one who makes it away alive. It should come as no surprise that the one episode that seemed to be the most successful was the one that slightly broke from form and dug deeper into the serial killer’s family life.
There’s still plenty to enjoy in The Creep Tapes’ first season, but it did feel like it failed to realize its full potential and wasn’t the return to form that the franchise’s fans were hoping for. Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice seem to have listened to audiences, or felt the same way themselves, about season one. Season two is such a satisfying course correction, yet it still faces some of the same limitations of episodic storytelling that were faced in season one. However, this second season works much harder to create some genuinely inspired situations to put its chameleon-like killer in, so that there’s a lot more to be surprised about. Season two learns from its mistakes to deliver a tenser and more terrifying series that bodes well for the already-confirmed season three. It’s a found footage triumph that smooths out the first season’s playback issues.
The series remains a fascinating deconstruction of the found footage genre, its obsession with unreliable narrators, and the inherently artificial nature of filmmaking in general. This was some of the first season’s most rewarding material, and these new episodes dig even deeper. The Creep Tapes demonstrates these points through harrowing setpieces and a revolving door of victims that take bigger risks with its sickening serial killer story. Season two creates some really clever scenarios that subvert standard serial killer and found footage archetypes. This season even finds space for a twisted Christmas horror story.
One storyline in particular really allows Duplass and Brice to unpack the idea of hollow imitations that embrace style over substance, which can be plentiful in not just the found footage genre, but the many remakes and reboots that flood cinemas. It becomes an enlightening lesson in authenticity, which is the perfect way to kickstart the season and to prove to the audience that it’s not the very thing that it’s criticizing. It’s as if The Creep Tapes wants to get in there first and remake itself before someone else attempts to do so and risks diluting the brand. This season goes one step further and exhibits outright apathy for those who strive for less than excellence and taint horror through mediocrity.
Season two immediately leaves a stronger impression than the first season through brilliant setups that include the filming of a house-flipping TV pilot, an emergency therapy session, and even a brush with a copycat killer who steals “Joseph’s” shtick. To this point, the second season also takes advantage of the series’ non-linear nature and just how long “Joseph” has been claiming lives.
There’s an especially strong episode that features a Saw-like setup that’s full of sadistic puzzles and a very different version of “Joseph” who works through his “torture porn phase.” The series makes sure to properly unpack this serial killer’s evolution beyond his erratic mental state. Much like in the first season, the finale features a cathartic homecoming that provides illuminating details about the series‘ murderous enigma. It’s an effective approach that will likely carry over into season three as this triptych of family trauma.
There are more engaging and unique premises that are explored in season two. These new episodes also throw repeated curveballs at Duplass’ serial killer that force him to change course and go off script. This is the perfect approach for the second season of a show that was seen as too formulaic. These new episodes keep the audience guessing and unprepared for what is to come, but this also highlights “Joseph’s” improvisation skills as he continues to reinvent himself as the situation sees fit.
Every episode goes off the rails in a completely different way, which all reinforces the season’s larger themes of authenticity. People will watch The Creep Tapes for its vicious violence and frightening setups. Its character work and examination of a fractured psyche and the complicated feelings that overwhelm “Joseph” and what drives his actions become more interesting than any cutthroat chase sequence.
It becomes a tour de force showpiece for Duplass, who consistently rises to the occasion. The Creep Tapes is also a vehicle that’s designed to be a two-hander, which means that there’s just as much significance on the actors who play against Duplass’ killer. The series hasn’t reached the point where these guest actors are given award-winning material to work with, but they’re all very solid performances. Duplass has plenty of experience with anthology storytelling that celebrates these guest actors. Nobody disappoints in season two, which includes guests like David Dastmalchian, Timm Sharp, Robert Longstreet, Diego Josef, and Katie Aselton, the latter of whom is perfectly cast in a role that should be very satisfying for long-time Duplass followers. They’re all excellent foils, especially Dastmalchian, who does the perfect Duplass imitation and ostensibly remakes the first Creep.
The Creep Tapes’ second season is a solid upgrade from its freshman year. These six new episodes channel the tension and terror of the first season, but through surprising and subversive storytelling that seeks to challenge found footage and horror as a whole, in addition to The Creep Tapes property. Season two works hard to remain true to the series’ core and still manages to tell original stories that push Duplass’ serial killer — and the audience — out of their comfort zones. It includes some of the franchise’s greatest heights. These episodes leave the audience optimistic and excited for another batch of blood-soaked character studies and tone poems that are masterminded by one of modern horror’s greatest monsters.
The Creep Tapes Season 2 premieres on Shudder on November 14, 2025.
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