Jeepers Creepers Reborn (2022) review: an unbelievably bad horror reboot

For over 20 years now Jeepers Creepers and to lesser degree its sequel (forget the terrible third film) have found a place in the hearts of many horror fans but the cruel realities of life have slightly impacted its legacy sadly. However, hope sprung eternal that with Jeepers Creepers Reborn, an opportunity could be capitalised upon. Acting as a reboot of the series, in an attempt to distance the franchise from the controversial (read: vile) creator, it is saddening to see that nothing has been done with this fresh start other than make people want to watch the infinitely superior 2001 original.

Reborn focuses on a horror enthusiast and his girlfriend as they venture to the Horror Hound Festival, which is being held for the first time in Louisiana. But this festival of frights and fun, soon becomes a fight for survival, as The Creeper rises again, and is out for flesh.

Let’s not dance around the issue, it brings me no joy to report that Jeepers Creepers: Reborn is utterly abysmal. On pretty much every conceivable level. I respect the decision to use make-up and sets but everything lacks the authenticity, the gooey charm and the priced together grisly macabre of what came before. Instead Reborn feels like a cosplay-filled fan film, and the early and often overexposure of The Creeper monster only exacerbates this issue further. Yikes. The CG effects that are used though, make everything even worse again, as the green screen looks jarringly absurd and come the finale things veer dangerously near to Birdemic. 

Even the film’s basics are a mess. The editing is mind bogglingly random to the point you can’t even laugh with it’s falling apart at the seams mis-construction. While some of the acting and most of the script leave you flagging not long at all into the brief (but far longer feeling) running time. Even the simple but effective franchise mythos has been needlessly overcomplicated and badly delivered in what is supposedly part one of a new trilogy (oh crikey!). 

Barring a Dee Wallace cameo in the brief promising opening sequence, there is little here to recommend or to love. And many fans may even feel a little hurt by the film and the inexcusably low quality on display. In an era where legacy sequels or fresh takes are spellbinding us and bringing back horror icons like the Candyman, Michael Myers and Ghostface in style, this is one that is just a joke. It all feels so artificial, overdone (the references are desperate at best) and I’d say with a reach beyond its grasp but the reach was not exactly far to begin, with such a predictable voodoo plot line, that makes The Curse of Michael Myers‘ satanic twists Spielbergian by comparison. 

Sorry folks but this reboot is a barely held together disappointment all round. Utterly dreadful and a mighty missed opportunity.