The Creep Tapes Recap #2: Elliot

Any serial binger knows that a TV show has to shake up the format occasionally to keep the viewers on their toes. So, many of us expected The Creep Tapes to do something surprising during this first season. However, few of us expected them to take the second episode outside and possibly to the earliest point of our favorite serial killer’s journey we have seen so far. This episode made me so giddy, and we have so much to unpack. Let us dive into ‘Elliot‘ because we have plenty to discuss.

The Creep Tapes – Season 1, Episode 2: ’Elliot’

Elliot (David Nordstrom) is a birdwatcher who was told that a special bird has been spotted in a specific area. When he arrives with his camera to see this bird, he finds a fallen skydiver instead. This is when Mark Duplass pops onto the scene as a flustered man who claims he nearly died. This is delicious because the victims are always too trusting. So, it scans Elliot would not register that he never shared his name. He does not even bother with an alias as he launches into the role of a bumbling man who is happy to be alive. His story is that Cloudaholics nearly killed him by letting him jump out of a plane underprepared. Nevermind that feels like the most made up name for any company. While building the lie he notices Elliot’s camera and offers to pay him if he will help him make a video about what just happened. This immediately turns into him turning the camera around and getting to know Elliott as he does all his victims.

Flirting 101

What follows is a meet cute that could easily be a thirty-minute romcom if we did not know where this was going. Josef (?) is at his most charming, and this feels like a masterclass in flirting. If you are like me and always trying to figure out when this character thinks he is sincere or when he is just fucking with people, this is going to hurt your brain. I obviously noted the mustache on Duplass is violence. However, it helps his character sell this idea of a helpless man looking for help. The Creep Tapes also uses this look, and Elliot, as a reminder that we do not know the timeline of these tapes. At one point, it seems like Elliot might be giving our killer the idea to record his kills and put them in a closet. However, we could all be misreading that moment because who truly knows the mind of a serial killer.

They Let Him Outside!

I love the sheer audacity that creators Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass exhibit by completely removing our comfort zone. We know that our favorite sociopath set this meeting up, so this is one of his traps. However, we completely dropped the house, the Peachfuzz mask, and even the ax. They strip it down to their murderous Ted Lasso (Creep came first, and I want to see that show’s pitch deck) and let him play. However, while they are outside in the open field, it still feels claustrophobic. This reminds us our Peachfuzz/Josef is where the heart is and can strike at any time. We literally watch him end Elliot with a plastic bag at the end of the episode, which supports that thesis. He  does not just kill Elliot in broad daylight in an open field, but he also laughs and chases him before suffocating him. Again, The Creep Tapes reminds us our favorite killer thinks this murder business is a game, and he likes to win.

The second episode of The Creep Tapes was a delightful way to break from the usual routine. However, it also made me wonder what else was coming if they already strayed away from the proven formula. This episode was fun and full of deadly double meanings, so I am a happy little Peachfuzz fan. Our murder king and Elliot had much more in common than most of the pairings we have seen thus far. While I think a part of him is attracted to all of his victims, this scenario feels the most like a date. I am putting a pin in that because who knows where Brice and Duplass will take us in the future.

The Peachfuzz Rundown: 

Peachfuzz Alias: He never even gave us a name this time. 

Deadly Double Meaning: “You have to see this bird before you die.”

Passing Strays: 

• Elliot seems to accidentally give him the idea to record these kills and keep the tapes in a closet. Unless I misread the situation and Josef (?) is just noting their similarities. 
  • If this is where he gets the idea, we are doing these tapes out of order, and I love it!
• Our serial killer is definitely flirting the hardest with Elliot than he has with anyone else we have met so far. Fight with your mothers because I saw what I saw.
• This mustache was violence, but it makes me wonder what other looks we will get before this story is done.
• I need the script pages with the obsession conversation on them.  I need to highlight the entire scene and add it to my Peachfuzz conspiracy theory board.
• Duplass’ character hyperventilating into a plastic bag up top and then using it to kill Elliot at the end is priceless.

New episodes of The Creep Tapes hit Shudder on Fridays.

Did you miss our first recap of the season? Then read it here!