Nerdly » ‘Creepozoids’ Blu-Ray Review (101 Films)

14th Apr2025

‘Creepozoids’ Blu-Ray Review (101 Films)

by Phil Wheat

Stars: Linnea Quigley, Ken Abraham, Michael Aranda, Richard L. Hawkins, Kim McKamy (aka Ashlyn Gere) | Written by David DeCoteau, Buford Hauser | Directed by David DeCoteau

Creepozoids is one of those cult science fiction horror films that lingered on the fringes of my childhood memory, largely due to its frequent appearances on Stephen King’s This Is Horror – a late-night TV show that aired on ITV in the early 1990s. The program often featured extended clips and behind-the-scenes snippets, which meant that although I felt intimately familiar with Creepozoids, I had never actually watched the film in its entirety until the film’s DVD release back in 2014. And now it’s time to revisit it on the brand new Blu-ray for 101 Films.

Set in the dystopian future of 1998, six years after a devastating nuclear conflict, Creepozoids tells the tale of five Army deserters – Bianca (Linnea Quigley), Kate (Ashlyn Gere, credited as Kim McKamy), Butch (Ken Abraham), Jesse (Michael Aranda), and Jake (Richard L. Hawkins) – who wander the post-apocalyptic, post-industrial LA landscape seeking shelter from an increasingly toxic environment and poisonous rain. They stumble upon what appears to be a long-abandoned scientific research facility, a relic of pre-war experimentation. However, their temporary refuge soon turns into a death trap as they uncover the facility’s dark history: it was once a covert government lab dedicated to genetic experimentation.

Lurking within the labyrinthine corridors of the complex is a grotesque bioengineered monster, the result of these failed experiments. The situation escalates when a mysterious black substance begins to alter the biology of one of the group, creating an entirely new and equally deadly threat from within. Trapped and hunted, the remaining survivors must confront both external and internal horrors if they hope to escape alive.

Directed by prolific low-budget filmmaker David DeCoteau, Creepozoids exemplifies the ingenuity, and chaotic charm, of 1980s B-movie cinema. Shot primarily in dim lighting with heavy use of soft-focus lenses, the production makes the most of its minimal resources, reportedly filming in what appears to be a converted Los Angeles storage facility. DeCoteau embraces a “kitchen sink” approach to storytelling, throwing in an eclectic mix of genre elements in hopes something sticks. The result is a quirky blend of creature-feature tropes, post-apocalyptic paranoia, and body horror.

From oversized mutant rats to a central monster that looks like a surreal cross between H.R. Giger’s Alien, a wild boar, and a particularly hairy Bigfoot, the creature design is gleefully outlandish. But perhaps the film’s most notorious moment comes in the form of a grotesque mutant baby – an absurd and memorable addition that culminates in a bizarrely elaborate death scene.

Of course, no 80s horror flick would be complete without a gratuitous shower scene, and Creepozoids delivers in true exploitation fashion, featuring a now-iconic moment with scream queen Linnea Quigley. Add to that a generous helping of low-budget gore, complete with oozing, melting bodies, and it’s clear the film wears its influences proudly on its sleeve.

For fans of Italian post-apocalyptic cinema, Creepozoids offers an American spin on the genre, capturing the spirit of films like Rats: Night of Terror and After the Fall of New York, albeit with a smaller budget and an extra dash of creature-feature madness. While undeniably rough around the edges, the film remains an endearing piece of VHS-era nostalgia, offering plenty of entertainment for viewers willing to embrace its schlocky, DIY aesthetic.