Of all the 2019 "Creepshow" episodes, I was most skeptical about this one, although - admittedly - that is purely based on my own personal aversion of tales involving the mythical and wish-granting monkey paws. In all my years as a horror fanatic, I only saw one reasonably decent tale with a monkey paw, and that was in the legendary 70s Amicus anthology "Tales from the Crypt". Or maybe, just maybe, my aversion isn't linked to the paw itself, but to the fact that people in these stories always and practically without exception wish for a deceased loved one to be brought back to life. Haven't they learned anything from "Pet Sematary", "Burying the Ex" and three dozen other horror movies?!? Wishing back the dead is guaranteed trouble!
Anyway, to make a long story short, "Night of the Paw" is the same old derivative guff, twice even, and there's also a long and tedious build-up. However, I'll gladly admit that the final end-shot is terrific and petrifying, and it's quite funny that one of the protagonists wastes two wishes in a ramshackle hearse.
The second story, "Times is tough in Musky Holler", shows lots of potential at the beginning. It's set in a quiet little town, where some of the most eminent citizens (including the mayor and the sheriff), sit chained in a dungeon and seemingly await either a trial or an execution. The strangeness in Musky Holler involves the living dead, corruption, love for high-school football and bloody vengeance from the "regular" townspeople. All cool, but the narration is extremely incoherent, and the segment feels overall unfinished. Many questions remain unanswered in this story, which - I think - it's shorter than any other "Creepshow" segment. The zombie make-up effects are excellent, though.
Anyway, to make a long story short, "Night of the Paw" is the same old derivative guff, twice even, and there's also a long and tedious build-up. However, I'll gladly admit that the final end-shot is terrific and petrifying, and it's quite funny that one of the protagonists wastes two wishes in a ramshackle hearse.
The second story, "Times is tough in Musky Holler", shows lots of potential at the beginning. It's set in a quiet little town, where some of the most eminent citizens (including the mayor and the sheriff), sit chained in a dungeon and seemingly await either a trial or an execution. The strangeness in Musky Holler involves the living dead, corruption, love for high-school football and bloody vengeance from the "regular" townspeople. All cool, but the narration is extremely incoherent, and the segment feels overall unfinished. Many questions remain unanswered in this story, which - I think - it's shorter than any other "Creepshow" segment. The zombie make-up effects are excellent, though.
