31 Days of Drafts and Darkness:

"Creepshow 2" (1987)

Movie sequels more often than not lack much of the quality of the original. Though rare exceptions exist, most consider sequelitis to befall the typical sequel, especially when budgetary and directing issues rear their ugly heads. "Creepshow 2" had both those problems. And yet, while perhaps not as iconic as the original, "Creepshow 2" manages to be that rare succeeding sequel that's still enjoyable despite its limitations.

The Plot:

Whereas "Creepshow" spun five tales of terror, budget-issues forced the sequel to cut things down to only three stories. They still retain the horror-comic vibe, however, as each story is seen through the eyes of a young reader, now trying to keep the comic away from some neighborhood bullies. Taking principles of scary-movie karma into account, you can probably deduce the ultimate fate said bullies.

Let's get to the stories:

"Old Chief Wood'n Head" centers on an old carved statue of an Indian chief that's long stood outside a small desert town's general store. Despite looking centuries old, the elderly shopkeeper work to maintain and restore the statue through the years. When a band of young criminals dare to disgrace the store, its owners, and the neighboring Indian tribe, Chief Wooden Head is none too pleased and goes hunting.

Our next tale still terrifies me. "The Raft" features a typical setup of a group of teenagers escaping into the woods for a weekend of swimming and partying. Shortly after swimming out to a floating raft in the center of the lake, the group discovers that the "No Swimming" sign on the shore was put up for good reason. I won't go into what dwells into the lake. At first glance, you'll laugh. Upon seeing what it can do, you'll scream.

Lastly, "The Hitchhiker"  features an adulterous trophy-wife leaving her lover's house after a night of passion and rushing to get home before her husband arrives to find her not there. In her haste, she accidentally hits a passing hitchhiker on the side of the highway. In a panic, she deludes herself into ignoring the accident and flees the scene, only to find that this particular hitchhiker carries a mean grudge. "Thanks for the ride, lady."

The Flavor:

Whereas "Creepshow" felt more along the lines of dark comedy at points than straight-up horror, "Creepshow 2's" atmosphere is a bit darker. A bit edgier and gory than the original. While the film is still balanced enough to be enjoyed by casual viewers and horror fans alike, I'd say it hovers more closely to the horror side of things than the camp side.

Now granted, there's still plenty of camp to be had. If you're in the mood to have fun alongside your scares, "Creepshow 2" is a solid choice of viewing. Just note that it's got a bit more grisliness to it than the first film. "The Raft" in particular features some ghoulishly nasty make-up effects that still bother me to this day. Don't get me wrong, the dark humor that the series is known for exists in "The Raft" as well, but the scares hit a more visceral level than say "Father's Day" or "The Crate".

As such, though still a ton of fun, "Creepshow 2's" got a bit more straight horror atmosphere to it than the original. Replace some of the spooky, haunted-house feel with more modern scary movie elements (gore effects, slasher film influence, etc) and you'll have a good idea what to expect.

Best Paired with:

The differences between original and sequel are there, but not enough that I can't recommend "Creepshow 2" to the same social atmosphere as the original. A big group of friends, among them everyone from horror buffs to the squeamish, can enjoy this movie. The balance of horror and humor is there, just remember that it's a bit more tilted towards the horror-side this time around. As such, folks with weak stomachs may want to avoid a scene or two, most especially in "The Raft".

As for family viewing, while the first "Creepshow" featured a few adult themes and some violence, "Creepshow 2" ups the gore and nudity factor considerably. Not so much as to take the movie off the table for family night, so long as said family's youngest viewer was 16 or so.  

Accompanying Brew:

So here we have a film mixing light and dark, but this time, a bit heavier on the darkness. Still fun, but with more of an edge. What to pair it with?

Shipyard's Smashed Pumpkin most often comes in larger, wine-sized bottles, so don't expect to see many six-packs on the store shelves. Head over to the craft section of your local liquor store to find this one. When compared to the popular Shipyard Pumpkinhead, Smashed-Pumpkin features a similar degree of spice, but ups the alcohol content and level of sweetness considerably.

While one could feasibly down Shipyard Pumpkinhead in rapid succession without too much kick, Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin will quickly get the better of you if you drink it too quickly. At 9% ABV, it's closer to a wine in alcohol level than an average beer. Bear that in mind while you drink. I've given many a ride home to folks who underestimated such beers.

Thankfully, Shipyard's Smashed Pumpkin openly communicates its stronger nature through the sweet bite that goes along with the spices. If you're a fan of cinnamon and nutmeg, you'll find it here, though I don't think you'll need the cinnamon/sugar rim. The higher alcohol content gives Smashed Pumpkin an inherent sweet flavor, but one that has a bit of bite to it. You're well aware of the brew's strength with each sip taken.

Though I'm not the biggest fan of sweet beers, often growing tired of the flavor mid-pint, if you enjoy your seasonal brews spicy and sweet, with a little bite on the side, Smashed Pumpkin makes a great choice. It pairs well with "Creepshow 2" in that the fun and seasonal elements are still there, but there's also a little something more serious for those looking for it.  Just as "Creepshow 2" shows its edge, consider Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin similar to the original, but with some added fang.