The 2001 horror hit Jeepers Creepers introduced fans to The Creeper, a terrifying monster that harvests and eats the organs of human beings. While the Jeepers Creepers franchise has never managed to hit the heights of the first film again, it’s important to remember just how popular that movie was once upon a time. Upon its 2001 release, Jeepers Creepers earned nearly $60 million on a budget of $10 million, making for quite the return on investment, despite middling reviews from critics.
Jeepers Creepers 2 was also a box office success, although it’s never been quite as appreciated by horror fans. The most recent sequel, Jeepers Creepers 3, only got a limited theatrical release, but still managed to haul in a healthy $4 million in ticket sales. It would seem there’s still hunger for more of the horrifying creation from some, and there’s a reboot on the way in the form of Jeepers Creepers: Reborn.
It’s absolutely fine (and, for some, preferable) to enjoy the Jeepers Creepers movies solely for what they are: films meant to thrill and scare. Tasked with carrying out said thrilling and scaring is antagonist The Creeper, played by Jonathan Breck in all three installments, and Jarreau Benjamin in the upcoming movie. However, Jeepers Creepers’ monster isn’t just a rampaging beast – he actually has some rules to follow and a method to his murder.
Jeepers Creepers Monster Backstory & 23-Year Rule Explained
The Creeper is an ancient monster, and from far away it can sometimes be mistaken for a person, thanks to the coat, hat, pants — and sometimes — boots ensemble it wears to blend in when hunting. Once up close though, it’s clear Jeepers Creepers’ monster is far from human, although it does have some humanoid qualities, and would appear to be the male of its species, assuming there are any more like it. Exactly when The Creeper was born, or exactly what it is (many believe it to be a demon of some kind) remains unclear, but a deleted scene from Jeepers Creepers 2 confirms that the monster has at least been around and claiming victims since medieval times.
Taking that idea further, licensed Jeepers Creepers comic books reveal that The Creeper participated in a human sacrifice during the time of the Aztecs, and that it was actually responsible for the infamous disappearance of settlers from America’s Roanoke colony in the late 1500s. As for how he operates, it thankfully mostly lives in hibernation, coming out only every 23rd spring, and hunting for 23 days.
To sustain itself, The Creeper needs to harvest organs from humans, and use them to replace whatever happens to be failing inside its own body. This cycle has clearly been going on for centuries, and while he has been challenged many times, he seems to be nearly impossible to kill. He’s also quite intelligent, as revealed when he’s shown to be able to speak English in a deleted scene from the first Jeepers Creepers. It remains to be seen if The Creeper will ever be truly defeated, but the odds don’t seem good.
Jeepers Creepers: Reborn Should Expand The Creeper’s Backstory
For anyone interested in catching up with The Creeper, Jeepers Creepers: Reborn is coming out sometime in 2022 – and if it does its job, it should explain more about The Creeper’s backstory and MO. The horror sequel/reboot was announced in February 2021 and will follow Chase (Imran Adams) and his girlfriend Laine (Sydney Craven), who go to the Horror Hound Festival in Louisiana. In the movie, both Chase and Laine start experiencing strange dreams and visions that involve the town’s past and The Creeper – which doesn’t seem like a foolproof recipe for hanging onto all of their organs. Horror reboots are hot right now (as ever), and it’s high time that more underrated horror franchises like Jeepers Creepers are getting a second chance alongside the Screams and Halloweens of this world.
One of the exciting possibilities that come with a reboot is the potential for exploring (or even retconning) a villain’s backstory in greater detail. Little is actually known about The Creeper, and it’s hard to research or explain his origins while dealing with his atrocities. With Jeepers Creepers: Reborn focusing on premonitions about the town, it’s probable that The Creeper’s origins will finally be explored. The 23-year rule needs to be explained in greater detail, and people will start to feel detached from the character if his origins are never revealed. The upcoming horror movie Jeepers Creepers: Reborn should further explain The Creeper’s backstory, in order to keep horror watchers invested in the franchise and prevent the kills from descending into complete mindlessness.
