PLOT: Season three continues to expose a collection of video tapes from the secret vault of the world’s deadliest and most socially uncomfortable serial killer (Duplass). Unfortunately, as the tape rolls, the killer’s questionable intentions surface with his increasingly odd behavior and the victims will learn they may have made a deadly mistake.
REVIEW: I still remember discovering Creep on Netflix way back in 2014 and being fascinated by this character created by Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice. The idea of a man taping all of his victims and toying with them before their eventual murder is downright terrifying. Its sequel gave a slightly different flavoring, and it seemed inevitable that we’d get a third entry. Yet, I’d say that The Creep Tapes; the franchise’s foray into television, is the sandbox the character was always supposed to be playing in. Because with this episodic format, we’re able to really get a glimpse into the mind of Peachfuzz, and this third season may just be the best one yet.
Season 3 follows the same format as the prior seasons, with each episode following a new victim of Peachfuzz. The titles of the episodes are those of the victims, and they feel like little bite-sized versions of the films. I always felt that past seasons had a tough time keeping up the momentum from episode to episode. The 22-minute format makes it hard to connect with these new victims. And maybe it’s just my own reconfiguration of the series, but I’m now viewing these as layers to Duplass’ character being added through these victims versus the typical horror story where you’re rooting for the victim to escape. Because of this, I find myself even more invested in the episodes.
I’ve never been a massive fan of Found Footage, mostly because I find the gimmick difficult to stretch out for a considerable period and still keep it believable. Despite this, I can’t imagine Peachfuzz’s story being told in any other format. There’s a grittiness and a vulnerability that come into play that I can’t imagine being present otherwise. Better yet, the filmmakers never betray the concept, and we’re always seeing the world through this camera. I’m not saying I would be opposed to a traditionally filmed episode, but it’s far from a requirement. And there’s no denying that the limitations require filmmakers to get very creative, so who’s to say how much it shaped the creative vision.
“Mo” sees Duplass’ character heading to New York City and shooting on an iPhone rather than his usual camera. Obviously, this gives a very different energy, taking place in one of the most populous cities on earth. It breaks from the usual “two people in one location” setup of most episodes, and seemingly gives the victim an easy escape. So it adds to the mystique that Peachfuzz is comfortable going after someone while witnesses are all around him. It gives new tension to the scenes with no one else around, as it almost feels like an advantage for him. Plus, knowing how Brice and Duplass film, it’s fun to watch random civilians reacting to the chaos happening around them for the show.
It’s always cool to see horror royalty pop up and battle Peachfuzz, and the big standout this season is Kate Siegel. The Flanagan regular (and wife of the acclaimed filmmaker) brings her usual charisma to the part of Crystal. There’s a really interesting power dynamic on display, and she reminded me a lot of Sara from Creep 2. Duplass, who is always electric in the role, always takes it to another level when he has a talented scene partner. There’s definitely some potential to explore that further.
The worst episode is easily “Jody+Brie” which is a flashback completely weighed down by the performance of Terrifier 2‘s Elliott Fullam. Which is really too bad as Duplass’ daughter Ora is great opposite him. It’s also cool to see Mark and Ora acting across from each other as contemporaries, since he’s playing a younger version of the character. I’m usually able to get lost in these stories but Fullam brought me out of it with every line delivery. It’s too bad, as the concept of the episode is really intriguing, and it’s a great idea to show us some of the origins of the character.
This third outing of The Creep Tapes is the best one yet, giving us a little bit more insight into Duplass’ character, as well as providing stories that are always entertaining. Given the format of the show and the style episode are made in, I can’t imagine this being the end of the road as it seems like a creative geyser for Brice and Duplass. As of now, they’re riding the line between explanation and intrigue just the right amount, and I can’t wait to see how they continue to evolve the series.
THE CREEP TAPES S3 is available on Shudder and AMC+ September 15, 2026, with new episodes airing every Tuesday after.
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