Creep 2 (2017) - The Mask Under The Mask

Personal identity is an integral part of the human psyche. Our genetic makeup partly lays the foundation for the composite of all our personality traits, but to tap into the core of what we inevitably become, we need to look at the experiences that have shaped us.

A down on her luck YouTuber, desperate for views, answers an online ad in hopes of growing her audience. When she finally meets her new subject, a fascinating project is proposed, too good to resist.

If you've seen Creep (2014), the plot may sound familiar. In fact, the plot is fundamentally identical, but some minor differences make for major discoveries and the theme that emerges is one of identity and origin.

Just as charming and persuasive as he was in the first picture, our antagonist, now known as Aaron, seems like he's on a new path of peace and openness.

Still played by Duplass, our main character takes us on another round of guess who, while forever changing emotional gears and leaving us in his dust.

The manipulation is apparently replaced by the real-life babushka that he represents,  with the story helping to peel another layer of this complex figure we find so elusive.

By the end, we suspect we're closer to Aaron's true self but in truth, we've fallen for the oldest trick in the book. Although not as strong as the first entry, Creep 2 still manages to get the scare factor in with its deeper dive into the mind of our antagonist.