Imagine stumbling upon a series of chilling videotapes that peel back the layers of a deranged killer's mind—only to realize you're hooked on the horror. That's the terrifying allure of The Creep Tapes, and it's why fans are buzzing with excitement as Shudder greenlights season 3 before season 2 even drops. But here's where it gets controversial: Is this found-footage franchise evolving in ways that blur the line between smart storytelling and exploitative shock tactics? Let's dive in, and I'll break it down step by step to keep things clear even for newcomers to the genre.
Back in 2014, director and writer Patrick Brice joined forces with co-writer and actor Mark Duplass, teaming up with Blumhouse Productions to unleash the found-footage horror flick Creep. The movie struck such a chord that a sequel, cleverly dubbed Creep 2, hit screens in 2017. Even before that follow-up premiered, Brice spilled the beans that a third installment was cooking, envisioned as the grand finale of a trilogy. Yet, midway through, the blueprint morphed—ditching another big-screen adventure for a TV format dubbed The Creep Tapes. This six-episode saga debuted on Shudder and AMC+ last November, shattering records as 'the most watched Shudder show ever on AMC+ and the biggest November launch in the platform's history, fueling explosive subscriber sign-ups and online buzz.' Now, with season 2 set to launch on November 14th, Shudder, Brice, and Duplass are aiming to top that triumph—and they've already scooped up season 3 for 2026!
Crafted by Brice and Duplass, season 1 of The Creep Tapes delves into the psyche of an isolated murderer who reels in videographers with the bait of a paying gig to chronicle his existence. As the footage unfurls, though, his shady motives bubble up through his eccentric antics, leaving the unsuspecting victims to grasp that they've wandered into a lethal trap. Season 2 picks up the thread, unveiling more hidden recordings from the vaults of this exceptionally lethal and awkward serial fiend. And this is the part most people miss: Just like before, as the camera keeps rolling, his dubious agenda emerges via his weirder and weirder conduct, forcing the prey to confront their fatal blunder. This fresh set of six episodes brings Duplass together with a stellar lineup of guest performers, including David Dastmalchian from Late Night with the Devil, Robert Longstreet of The Haunting of Hill House, Katie Aselton in Black Rock, Diego Josef from There’s Someone Inside Your House, Desean Terry of The Morning Show, Alec Bewkes in Lo$t BoyZ, Linas Phillips of Spree, Taylor Garron from Abbott Elementary, Timm Sharp in M3GAN 2.0, Jody Lambert of Banana Split, and Jeff Man who appeared in Creep 2.
The Creep Tapes is a collaboration between Duplass Brothers Productions and Shudder. At the helm as executive producers are Duplass and Brice, who also pen the scripts, with Brice helming the direction for every episode. Additional exec producers include Mel Eslyn, Jay Duplass, and Chris Donlon, alongside co-executive producer Shuli Harel.
Brice and Duplass still plan to cap off the saga with Creep 3, but for now, they're reveling in crafting The Creep Tapes. And this is where the debate really heats up: Some argue that shifting from cinematic features to episodic TV dilutes the intensity of the original films, while others see it as a clever way to stretch the horror into more immersive, binge-worthy terror. What do you think—does this pivot from movies to series enhance the franchise or water it down? Are you thrilled about season 3, or do you prefer the tighter wrap-up of a trilogy? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and let's chat!
