Jeepers Creepers 4, also known as Jeepers Creepers: Reborn, is a reboot of the 2001 horror classic Jeepers Creepers. The franchise has been inconsistent in terms of critical reception, with only the original movie scoring above 25% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite its flaws, the series has maintained a cult following due to its dark humor, gruesome kills, and the eerie presence of the Creeper. The reboot attempts to rejuvenate the series with a fresh storyline and a new cast, though it faces challenges in delivering a compelling horror experience.
Unlike the original film, Jeepers Creepers: Reborn introduces a different take on the Creeper. The film follows Laine (Sydney Craven) and Chase (Imran Adams), a couple attending a horror festival in Louisiana. Chase is particularly fascinated by the legend of the Creeper, and the festival soon becomes a hunting ground for the monster.
The film departs from previous installments by removing the Creeper’s signature truck, with the vehicle only making a brief appearance in a fictional supernatural mystery show. This change signals an attempt to modernize the story while keeping the franchise’s core elements intact.
Laine’s Escape, Cultist Revelations, and the Creeper’s Inevitable Return Unfold in Chaos
In the movie’s climax, Laine, Chase, their tour guide Stu (Pete Brooke), and a camera crew are forced to confront the Creeper. After capturing Laine, the monster prepares to carve open her abdomen, adding to the tension since Laine is pregnant. A gunshot from Stu distracts the Creeper, allowing Laine to escape.
Meanwhile, the group discovers that Madame Carnage (Jodie McMullen), the festival organizer, is a cultist who lures victims to the event to feed the monster. Her ultimate goal is to use Laine’s unborn child to grant the Creeper immortality.
Jarreau Benjamin as The Creeper (Photo: Jeepers Creepers: Reborn/Screen Media)In a final confrontation, Laine cleverly distracts the Creeper by offering him her unborn child, using the opportunity to throw a shuriken at him, blinding him. Chase and Stu then drop a large weather vane on the monster, seemingly killing him.
However, in true Jeepers Creepers fashion, the ending hints at the monster’s return. As Laine sits in a car awaiting the authorities, her eyes turn black, and she envisions the Creeper being reborn. This ambiguous ending leaves viewers questioning her connection to the creature and whether it has truly been defeated.
Laine’s Psychic Link and Unexplained Connection to the Creeper Deepens the Mystery
Throughout the film, Laine exhibits a psychic link to the Creeper, experiencing disturbing visions and supernatural insights. Early on, she touches a shop owner and has an unsettling premonition. Later, she displays an inexplicable talent for throwing a shuriken, foreshadowing its role in the final battle.
These eerie moments suggest that Laine and the Creeper share a deeper connection, but the film never fully explains it. The ending further complicates matters, raising the possibility that Laine may be possessed, transforming, or simply aware of the monster’s impending return.
Sydney Craven as Laine and Jarreau Benjamin as The Creeper (Photo: Jeepers Creepers: Reborn/Screen Media)Although Jeepers Creepers 4 does not delve deeply into thematic storytelling, the film does touch on issues of motherhood and commitment. Laine is hesitant about her pregnancy and has not yet revealed it to Chase, who is planning to propose to her. Ironically, the Creeper is the only character aware of the child’s existence and desires it for sinister reasons.
Laine’s struggle culminates in her using her pregnancy as a weapon against the monster, symbolizing her acceptance of her unborn child. However, the execution of this theme is uneven, as her pregnancy is often sidelined until it becomes a plot device.
With a dismal 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Jeepers Creepers: Reborn did little to revive the franchise. While horror reboots can be hit or miss, this installment may have caused more harm than good. Additionally, legal battles further complicate the franchise’s future.
Myriad Pictures, which produced Jeepers Creepers 2 and Jeepers Creepers 3, is suing Infinity Films Holding, the producers of Jeepers Creepers 4. The lawsuit alleges that Myriad Pictures had exclusive rights to develop sequels, making the legitimacy of Jeepers Creepers: Reborn questionable. As of now, there are no confirmed plans for a Jeepers Creepers 5, leaving the franchise’s future uncertain.
