Jeepers Creepers 3 is a mystery wrapped in a riddle nestled inside a piece of human skin an enigma.
Much of that confusion comes down to the prolonged time gap between the long-brewing horror threequel and its predecessor – Jeepers Creepers 2, for instance, first took flight in 2003 – not to mention the heinous controversy involving franchise creator and director, Victor Salva. In short: the filmmaker was accused of sexual misconduct with a minor almost two decades ago, and served 15 months in state prison.
It’s a controversial saga that has resulted in many horror fans distancing themselves from the Jeepers Creepers franchise altogether, and whether Salva deserves another shot behind the lens or not is something we’ll leave to you. But even after Wednesday’s high-profile cancellation of the film’s premiere, Jeepers Creepers 3 is still prepped and ready to take flight. And that’s something which the director’s victim completely understands.
In a statement released earlier today, Nathan Forrest Winters cleared the air on those recent protests over the premiere, saying that he had nothing to with them and it’s totally up to the viewers if they want to watch the threequel.
We would like to first express our sincerest gratitude for the outpouring of love and support we have received these past few weeks. It is beyond words. Thank you all. Due to the nature of the controversy which led to the cancellation of the premiere of Jeepers Creepers 3, we would like to make it known that we had no part in the events which took place. While we are humbled, it should be made clear that we believe that it is the viewers’ choice whether to watch a Victor Salva film. We want Jeepers Creepers fans to know that we understand their frustration. Our purpose in this isn’t to stop Victor from working, only to let the truth be brought to light. No one is out for vengeance. We look forward to sharing the truth with you through our documentary The Babysitter, which will be out in 2019.
Once scheduled for a back-to-back screening at LA’s TCL theater before a vocal minority said otherwise, Jeepers Creepers 3 is now expected to light up Regal Cinemas in three weeks’ time. However, whether fans choose to support the unnerving horror flick given Salva’s criminal record is another question entirely.