The film was shot primarily in several small towns in central Florida, which gave it an isolated, rural atmosphere that makes the horror feel especially immediate and realistic. The story follows siblings Trish and Darry, who, on their way home from college, encounter a mysterious figure dumping body-like bundles into a pipe near an abandoned church. Their curiosity gets the better of them, and they soon become the prey of an ancient creature called the Creeper, which feeds on human body parts every 23rd spring for 23 days. The production effectively used Florida's long empty roads and real abandoned buildings to create a sense of dread and vulnerability. The soundtrack features classic compositions such as Paul Whiteman's 1938 "Jeepers Creepers" and Henry Hall's 1932 "Hush, Hush, Hush, Here Comes the Bogeyman," creating an unsettling contrast with the on-screen horror. Gina Philips and Justin Long convincingly play the frightened siblings, and Jonathan Breck's portrayal of the Creeper introduced a truly new horror villain to the genre. The film stood out for its originality in an era dominated by slasher remakes and self-referential horror comedies.

Filming Locations:

SW 180th Avenue Road

In the Movie

Scene where it opens the film and serves as the backdrop for most of the driving scenes, where Trish and Darry travel along a long, empty rural highway. Darry is also shown near a distinctive tree by this road, which appears several times in the film. The desolate landscape immediately sets a feeling of isolation and vulnerability in their journey.

In Reality

The scene was filmed on a long two-lane stretch of rural road in Dunnellon, Florida, which runs through flat fields and sparse trees. This road gave the crew the needed deserted highway look. Director Victor Salva actively used this route, filming movements both northbound and southbound. The distinctive tree on this road became a recurring visual motif in the film.

St. James Church (former)

In the Movie

Scene where it serves as the creepy abandoned church where the Creeper dumps bodies wrapped in sheets into a large pipe. Trish and Darry witness this disturbing sight from the road, and later Darry returns to investigate, climbs down the pipe, and enters the Creeper's underground lair filled with preserved human bodies sewn to the walls and ceiling.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at a real abandoned St. James Church, which had been closed and vacant for a long time before filming. It was located on SW 110th Ave in Ocala. A few years after the film's release, the church burned down. According to local accounts, former New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who owned a nearby horse farm, may have been involved, as he was annoyed by fans visiting the filming location. Many surrounding trees also burned. Only the rusty pipe may remain from the original building.