Creepshow 2
"Creepshow 2" is divided into three stories, conducted by a leading segment where a boy that loves the horror comic book Creepshow buys seeds of carnivorous plant and is bullied by four teenagers. Meanwhile the Creep tells the tales of Creepshow: (1) "Old Chief Wood'nhead" - The elders Ray (George Kennedy) and Martha Spruce (Dorothy Lamour) have lived their whole life and raised their family with their small store in an Arizona town. Now the town is economically decadent and Ray gives credit to his customers; including the Indians of Ben Whitemoon's tribe. When Ray is repairing the wooden statue of an old chief in the front door, Ben (Frank Salsedo) arrives and asks him to keep the jewels of his tribe as a guarantee for their debts. However, Ben's nephew Sam (Holt McCallany) unexpectedly arrives with two other punks to steal Ray, and he kills the elders. They expect to travel to Hollywood, but the Old Chief Wood'nhead will not let them go. (2) "The Raft" - The teenagers Deke (Paul Satterfield) and Randy (Daniel Beer) travel with Laverne (Jeremy Green) and Rachel (Page Hannah) to a lake expecting to smoke weed, swim and get laid. They swim to a raft that is floating in the middle of the lake, but they discover a carnivorous blob in the lake that is hungry. (3) "The Hitchhiker" - In Maine, the unfaithful Annie Lansing (Lois Chiles) stays too long having sex with her escort and is late to meet her husband in the airport. She drives her Mercedes Benz in a hurry and loses control on the road. Annie runs over a hitchhiker, but she does not help the man and hit-and-run, questioning whether she can live with the situation. She discovers that the hitchhiker will not leave her.
Despite its tight budget of $3.5M, Creepshow 2 became a commercial success, earning $14.0M worldwide—a 300% return. The film's unconventional structure attracted moviegoers, demonstrating that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Creepshow 2 (1987) showcases strategically placed narrative architecture, characteristic of Michael Gornick's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 13-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 29 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Billy waits for the Creepshow comic delivery in his ordinary suburban neighborhood, establishing the frame story world of innocent horror fandom.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Three young criminals led by Sam Whitemoon brutally murder the elderly store owners Ray and Martha Spruce during a robbery, shattering the peaceful status quo.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 21 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to The wooden chief actively begins hunting the killers, crossing from static guardian to avenging spirit. The second story "The Raft" begins with four teenagers choosing to swim to a remote raft despite the late season., moving from reaction to action.
At 44 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Annie realizes the hitchhiker she killed is pursuing her relentlessly, chanting "Thanks for the ride, lady!" The stakes escalate from hit-and-run guilt to supernatural persecution., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 65 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Annie crashes her car in her final panic, becoming fatally injured. The hitchhiker closes in for the kill, representing the inescapable nature of guilt and consequence., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 71 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. The bullies suffer the consequences of the voodoo curse. Billy's revenge completes the film's thematic cycle. The Creep appears in live-action, blurring fiction and reality as the ultimate synthesis., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Creepshow 2's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 13 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Creepshow 2 against these established plot points, we can identify how Michael Gornick utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Creepshow 2 within the fantasy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional fantasy films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Conan the Barbarian and Batman Forever.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Billy waits for the Creepshow comic delivery in his ordinary suburban neighborhood, establishing the frame story world of innocent horror fandom.
Theme
The bullies mock Billy about his horror comics, stating that "you get what you deserve" - the thematic spine about karmic justice that runs through all three tales.
Worldbuilding
Animated sequences introduce Billy receiving his Creepshow comic, the bullies tormenting him, and the Creep as horror host. First story "Old Chief Wood'nhead" begins, establishing the kind store owners in a dying desert town.
Disruption
Three young criminals led by Sam Whitemoon brutally murder the elderly store owners Ray and Martha Spruce during a robbery, shattering the peaceful status quo.
Resistance
Old Chief Wood'nhead, the wooden cigar store Indian, comes to life to avenge the murders. The criminals debate whether to flee or stay, unaware of the supernatural vengeance stalking them.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The wooden chief actively begins hunting the killers, crossing from static guardian to avenging spirit. The second story "The Raft" begins with four teenagers choosing to swim to a remote raft despite the late season.
Mirror World
The teens discover the oil slick creature in the lake - a manifestation of nature's indifferent malevolence that mirrors the human cruelty in the first story.
Premise
The anthology delivers on its promise: "The Raft" shows the teens being killed one by one by the creature, then transitions to "The Hitchhiker" where Annie Lansing hits a hitchhiker and attempts to flee.
Midpoint
Annie realizes the hitchhiker she killed is pursuing her relentlessly, chanting "Thanks for the ride, lady!" The stakes escalate from hit-and-run guilt to supernatural persecution.
Opposition
The undead hitchhiker appears repeatedly, becoming more mangled each time. Annie's desperation grows as she cannot escape her guilt. The pressure intensifies with each impossible reappearance.
Collapse
Annie crashes her car in her final panic, becoming fatally injured. The hitchhiker closes in for the kill, representing the inescapable nature of guilt and consequence.
Crisis
Annie's death completes the third tale's karmic punishment. The narrative returns to the framing story where Billy processes these morality tales of justice and revenge.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The bullies suffer the consequences of the voodoo curse. Billy's revenge completes the film's thematic cycle. The Creep appears in live-action, blurring fiction and reality as the ultimate synthesis.