Creepshow Review: All Hallows Eve/The Man in the Suitcase (Season 1 Episode 3)
Going with more an absurdist angle with its second segment makes for a more successful hour on Creepshow Season 1 Episode 3, “All Hallows Eve/The Man in the Suitcase.”
There have been instances where the production has been a little let down by weaker elements, mostly from these short stories not being given the time they need, or not holding their own weight during their segment. Here, though, the episode finds a nice groove that helps center its main intentions that make for a far more entertaining double feature of segments.
“All Hallows Eve” makes for a solid revenge tale, using its brief time to make us like, then dislike, and then understand our main players. It’s a commendable feat, to do this in short order and still make it work. Halloween is a perfect staple for the darker events, the five with vengeance in their hearts coming back yearly to take down those who murdered them.
The way the segment frames them as hellish troublemakers that none of the town wants anyone to do with makes the reveal more impactful, as we start to sympathize with the terrorized people rather than those who have been killed. The switch happens a little later than needed, as by the time it’s revealed, watching them burn someone alive is a little too soon after realizing what’s happened.
The segment does use frame of reference as a weapon against us, though, which makes “All Hallows Eve” a clever way for Creepshow to turn expectations around. To take the notion of these kids perhaps being too old to trick or treat, and to make it about them avenging their deaths, is the kind of thing the show should engage in more, as it works to its benefit.
“The Man in the Suitcase,” though, is far and away the highlight of the episode. The surreal nature and stoner tone manage to blend together for an offbeat story of morality and greed, how far someone is willing to go to make someone else suffer for their own gain.
Someone down on his luck and in dire straits still turning to kindness rather than personal gain is an smart direction to take the episode. That he ends up betrayed by the two he’s closest to is a dark angle, but with a man in a suitcase spitting out literal gold, it’s a dark affair.
There’s an excitement to the filmmaking here, combining it with the darker tone and a hint of pitch black humor. The montage of torturing the man in the suitcase to produce more gold is such a strange moment, but it works from how dedicated to the bit the segment is, and how it’s so tongue-in-cheek.
That the main character is rewarded for his kindness (but still fairly injured) and his roommate and semi-girlfriend are punished is a hard lesson, wondering what will possibly become of them with both of them in suitcases of their own. The man in the suitcase mentions that he deserved to be punished, so the insinuation is that he susses out those who deserve to be punished and places them in their own bags.
It’s a segment full of listless people, but “The Man in the Suitcase” manages to be this oddly compelling look into how far someone’s willing to go to profit off of someone else.
Creepshow Season 1 Episode 3, “All Hallows Eve/The Man in the Suitcase,” makes the most solid case for Creepshow’s return yet. Much like Creepshow Season 1 Episode 1, “Gray Matter/The House of the Head,” specifically “Gray Matter,” the more human psyche, mistakes-driven narratives stand out more, as it becomes about hard choices and doing right by the circumstances. More of that could go a long way.
A few stray thoughts on the episode:
- During “The Man in the Suitcase,” there are a few fun stickers and posters in the background, but the one that sticks out the most is a Fandango sticker placed in a prominent place in Justin’s bedroom.
What did you think of this episode of Creepshow? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Creepshow airs Thursdays on Shudder.
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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.