Just Desserts: The Making of 'Creepshow' (Michael Felsher, 2007, USA)

Just Desserts: The Making of 'Creepshow' is an extremely comprehensive doc surrounding the making of George A. Romero's 1982 film Creepshow. While the film was a modest success upon its initial release in 1982, it has since gained a cult following and is now not only regarded as one of the finest Stephen King and George Romero films but also one of the best horror films of the 1980s. As explored in the documentary, it is easy to see why.

At a time when slashers starring young adults were all the rage, Creepshow is a remarkably adult undertaking, with most of its cast in their 40s or older. Some of the actors, such as Hol Holbrook, were known more for their serious stage work than horror films. Interviews with the filmmakers, including director George Romero and producer Richard P. Rubinstein, explore their approach to the material, as well as the original EC comics that inspired the whole Creepshow project to begin with. John Harrison, George Romero's righthand man on the project, also explores his contribution to the music of the film. Tom Savini, an ubiquitous presence on horror films of the 1980s, also offers his commentary on the visual effects of the film.

Perhaps the highlight of this documentary is the segment concerning the infamous segment "They're Creeping Up on You," which featured thousands of real cockroaches imported by entomologists. Unsurprisingly, the cockroaches were very hard to wrangle on the set, and many of them escaped. Rumor has it that there are still roaches in some of the filming areas to this day. Just Desserts: The Making of 'Creepshow' is one of the better documentaries surrounding the making of a horror film. The film demonstrates how the filmmakers were able to do a great deal with a relatively small budget, illustrating their creativity.

7/10