Movie 'Jeepers Creepers' stole opening plot from episode on Unsolved Mysteries?!?

[voncroy]

About a month ago I had seen the movie ‘Jeepers Creepers’ on pay-per-view. I was AMAZED and SHOCKED at how similar the opening scene plot was to an episode I had seen on Unsolved Mysteries a month earlier. Maybe someone reading this has seen that episode and the Jeepers Creepers movie and can shed some light on this. Or maybe I can get a few people who have seen this Unsolved Mysteries episode to comment and fill in on my recollections of the episode I am referring to.

The episode on Unsolved Mysteries goes like this. A family was in turmoil and a husband kills his wife. He uses his Van to dispose of the body. A couple traveling down the highway were playing a license plate game where they try and make words out of license plate letters. They came behind a van on the highway which happens to be the van the husband who murdered his wife was using to dispose of the body.

Later they pass what I believe to be a church and the wife in the car noticed that same van they had seen earlier was parked there and a man was removing something from the van that was wrapped in sheets with red stains on it which we later find out is the mans dead wife. She sees him dispose of the body behind the church.

Later I believe they get a flat tire and notice the man they had seen earlier stop the van, get out and change the license plate. Later the wife gets suspicious and has her husband go back to the church where they discover the body and call the police.

Now please keep in mind that I seen the Unsolved Mysteries episode before I seen the movie and because of the fact that I see lots of Unsolved Mysteries episodes I didn’t pay any more attention to that particular episode until I noticed the consistencies between it and the movie I seen a month later. Therefore, there are details I haven’t listed and hopefully someone who has seen the Unsolved Mysteries episode can comment.

People reading this who haven’t seen the movie and that episode may think that it is just coincidence. But believe me – I know there is something to this! I believe that a writer for the Jeepers Creepers movie had seen that episode on Unsolved Mysteries and used it to write the opening scene for the movie. The commonalities between the 2 are so close that this is either the biggest coincidence I have ever seen or they stole the plot from that story.

Please comment on this if you can add anything to my theory.

Thank you

[Kane]

Originally posted by voncroy


Now please keep in mind that I seen the Unsolved Mysteries episode before I seen the movie and because of the fact that I see lots of Unsolved Mysteries episodes I didn’t pay any more attention to that particular episode until I noticed the consistencies between it and the movie I seen a month later. Therefore, there are details I haven’t listed and hopefully someone who has seen the Unsolved Mysteries episode can comment.

The murderer in question was Dennis DePugh (this may or may not be the correct spelling of his last name, but I know it was pronounced, "de-pyoo"). His marriage was falling apart, and his wife decided to divorce him. An argument concering their children ensued, and he killed his wife in April of 1990.

Unsolved Mysteries first aired the segment in the spring of 1991, and soon afterwards his girlfriend at the time found out who he was. This explained to her as to why he was in a rush to leave town. She notified the authorities, and it wasn't long until he was chased by the cops. After the cops tried in vain to stop Dennis' van, Dennis committed suicide.

[mamamiasweetpeaches]

I havent seen either of em,but something about the liscence plates reminds me of a show on vh1s Strange Frequency that my friend was telling me about.

[dynoguy88]

Oh! I remember that case very well. I especially remember it because it happened in Cold Water, Michigan... about 60 miles from where I live!

Yes, that UM case was about Dennis Depue (don't know about the spelling of the last name) He got in the argument with his ex-wife Marylin on Eastern Sunday (in 1990 I think) pushing her down the stairs, telling his kids he was taking her to the hospital and went out and killed her.

One small correction though, Ray and Marie Thorton (the couple that was driving and took the licence plate number of Dennis' van) returned to the abandoned school yard to see what Dennis was trying to hide in the hole. It wasn't Marylin's body, it was a sheet that was spattered with blood. Marylin's body was later found off to the side of the road a couple miles away, she had been shot in the back of the head.

The update was quite clear and interesting with Dennis fleeing trying to keep his girlfriend from seeing the UM case on TV. When police found him, he shot himself. I remember reading that story in the newspaper too.

I've passed Cold Water several times driving to visit my friends at school. Call me crazy, but sometimes I feel like driving into that city and looking for the old abandoned school house where the sheet was buried. If I ever need a good scare, I could easily do that.

[connieallbright]

I'm from Coldwater Michigan. Marilyn DePue was one of the guidence councelors at Coldwater High School.

The episode creeps me out on many levels. Between the time Dennis DePue disappeared and when he shot himself, he was sending people in town very strange packages. I never saw any of the packages but there was a sense of haunting when the weeks went by and he wasn't caught.

Marilyn was was of the most gentle people on the planet. Everyone was so shocked at her murder.

[EyesoftheNile]

I used to watch horror films, but now, I have elected to avoid them because of my faith in God.

In any event, I haven't got anything enlightening to say. I only saw the preview of JEEPERS CREEPERS, both on Television when it first came out, and also on my video of the film HANNIBAL.

I am in agreement with you that there are stark similarities between the scenes in JEEPERS and the case of Dennis Depue (sp?). I remember seeing the segment on Depue, and I was enraged that he had gratuitously killed his wife in such a deplorable manner.

[fearthesmiley]

Not only is the plot similar to the Unsolved Mystery Plot where the opening scenes of the brother and sister in the car witnesses the Creep dropping off the body, then going back to investigate it and being chased my the Creep in his vehicle-- it is stolen almost scene by scene! Even the camera shots are identicle. After the scenes that Jeepers Creepers stole from Unsolved Mysteries the movie goes tragically downhill. It has confusing and non consistant plots. Its almost like whoever wrote the movie, made it up as they shot it. It had the potential to be a good horror film but just ended up being laughable.

Yet, I saw the Unsolved Mysteries episode yesterday 5/5/2011 and couldnt believe my eyes. It was about a man named Dennis DePuy (sp?). I actually wished I had turned on the DVR to show people the theft! It was blatant. Alot of movies are remakes of other movies without sometimes mentioning that they are indeed remakes (Million Dollar Baby/Million Dollar Mermaid, The Good Son/The Bad Seed, Scarface (w/Pacino)/Scarface w/Muni, The Last Man on Earth/I Am Legend). But this movie actually stole scene by scene from a reality murder/myster show. Not many people know this. Bummer.

[dynoguy88]

I have to laugh at my reply in this thread that I made almost a decade ago because I have since traveled to the school yard.

I was the one who uploaded a video to the forbidden site showing the comparisons between the openings of the Dennis Depue segment and Jeepers Creepers. The feedback I got was pretty funny. So many people were floored over how much alike they were. The majority of the responses were from people who liked the movie but had never heard of Unsolved Mysteries. And they said they found the UM segment to be much more scary.

This was always my favorite comment:

"In all seriousness, I was surprised at how superior the amateurish UNSOLVED MYSTERIES clip was to JEEPERS CREEPERS. When the no-name couple playing themselves went back to the school, I actually leaned in closer to savor the suspense. I didn't get a second of that enjoyment out of JEEPERS CREEPERS, which also seemed to sample from THE TERMINATOR and the made-for-TV STORM OF THE CENTURY in its genre pilferage."

[UMFaninMD]

Originally Posted by dynoguy88

I have to laugh at my reply in this thread that I made almost a decade ago because I have since traveled to the school yard.

I was the one who uploaded a video to the forbidden site showing the comparisons between the openings of the Dennis Depue segment and Jeepers Creepers. The feedback I got was pretty funny. So many people were floored over how much alike they were. The majority of the responses were from people who liked the movie but had never heard of Unsolved Mysteries. And they said they found the UM segment to be much more scary.

This was always my favorite comment:

"In all seriousness, I was surprised at how superior the amateurish UNSOLVED MYSTERIES clip was to JEEPERS CREEPERS. When the no-name couple playing themselves went back to the school, I actually leaned in closer to savor the suspense. I didn't get a second of that enjoyment out of JEEPERS CREEPERS, which also seemed to sample from THE TERMINATOR and the made-for-TV STORM OF THE CENTURY in its genre pilferage."

The video was eventually removed because of copyright by, surprise, surprise, Cosgrove/Meurer Productions. But I've noticed in recent years that the forbidden site has been more lenient with allowing old TV shows to be uploaded. I think I'll try reuploading the video tonight.

I also watched your video and the UM version is much scarier, thanks to the music and Robert Stack's narration. Imagine how much more frightening today's horror movies would be if they borrowed the music from early UM and used audio clips of Stack narrating!

[Charlie99909]

Originally Posted by UMFaninMD

I also watched your video and the UM version is much scarier, thanks to the music and Robert Stack's narration. Imagine how much more frightening today's horror movies would be if they borrowed the music from early UM and used audio clips of Stack narrating!

I watched Stack's cameo in basketbal last night and it actually started to creep me out just hearing his voice and music. Even when he is funny there is a level of creepiness.

[dynoguy88]

I reuploaded the video to a different account on the forbidden site just in case anyone wants to see it. I ended it with the UM closing theme showing the main parts that were exactly alike.

At the forbidden site, just type in "Jeepers Creepers opening inspiration," and you'll see it. AndersYdna is me.

[chacha6581]

I have always thought that Jeepers Creepers totally ripped UM off! As a matter of fact, they re-ran that episode thursday night and it was so creepy!!

[MissFit29]

I JUST had a student this week tell me how she had stayed up late to watch Jeepers Creepers. Instead of chastising her for not getting enough sleep on a school night, I found myself trying to explain the UM case to her! I don't know if she really understood all the references.

MissFit = MAJOR UM Nerd.

[chacha6581]

Originally Posted by MissFit29

I JUST had a student this week tell me how she had stayed up late to watch Jeepers Creepers. Instead of chastising her for not getting enough sleep on a school night, I found myself trying to explain the UM case to her! I don't know if she really understood all the references.

MissFit = MAJOR UM Nerd.

I wish you were my teacher, you sound too cool for school

[Big3sCompanyFan]

Originally Posted by dynoguy88

I have to laugh at my reply in this thread that I made almost a decade ago because I have since traveled to the school yard.

I was the one who uploaded a video to the forbidden site showing the comparisons between the openings of the Dennis Depue segment and Jeepers Creepers. The feedback I got was pretty funny. So many people were floored over how much alike they were. The majority of the responses were from people who liked the movie but had never heard of Unsolved Mysteries. And they said they found the UM segment to be much more scary.

This was always my favorite comment:

"In all seriousness, I was surprised at how superior the amateurish UNSOLVED MYSTERIES clip was to JEEPERS CREEPERS. When the no-name couple playing themselves went back to the school, I actually leaned in closer to savor the suspense. I didn't get a second of that enjoyment out of JEEPERS CREEPERS, which also seemed to sample from THE TERMINATOR and the made-for-TV STORM OF THE CENTURY in its genre pilferage."

What video and what forbidden site are you guys talking about?? I'd also like to see the UM segment you guys say that Jeepers Creepers copied off of.
Anyone have a link to it?

Jeepers Creepers has the best 1st half of just about any horror movie ever or at least one of the best so I find this very surprising. The 2nd half is not as good but the 1st half is still one of the best ever!