Peachfuzz is back, and he hasn’t mellowed.

Mark Duplass returns as the wolf-masked killer for six new episodes, each featuring an unsuspecting victim who falls into his orbit. He and director Patrick Brice have been building this character since the original Creep in 2014, and the ease they have with the material is evident. The premise remains deceptively simple; a new tape, a new target, roll camera. However, what the show understands is that the setup is nearly irrelevant as what truly matters is Duplass and the deeply uncomfortable space he occupies between humour and menace, often at the same time.

It is worth noting that this kind of transition, horror film franchise finding a second life on television rarely works. Ash vs Evil Dead is perhaps the last example of it being done with genuine affection for the source material and real creative momentum behind it. The Creep Tapes belongs in that company. It hasn’t diluted what made the films work; if anything, the episodic structure has given Brice and Duplass more room to experiment, and season two is evidence that they’re using it well.

Season two feels like a slightly more confident version of itself. The scenarios are more varied this time around, with victims coming from different walks of life, and Peachfuzz operating in settings that shouldn’t work as horror backdrops but absolutely do. One episode takes place in the world of home renovation television, which sounds ridiculous, yet somehow lands perfectly. Another leans harder into the psychological discomfort, letting scenes breathe long past the point where most shows would cut away. The range across the six episodes is broader than in season one, and the show benefits from it; each tape has its own unique texture and specific dread.

The guest cast is strong throughout. David Dastmalchian, who is no stranger to unsettling material after his role in Late Night with the Devil, stands out as a particular highlight. His episode is one of the best of the season, with two genuinely odd energies bouncing off each other in unpredictable ways. There is a scene midway through that manages to be simultaneously the funniest and most tense moment of the series. The Haunting of Hill House, and Midnight Mass secret weapon Robert Longstreet also joins the cast in the third episode and fits seamlessly into the world.

What continues to set the show apart is its willingness to sit in silence. Lesser horror relies on the cut, the score, the jump. The Creep Tapes relies on Duplass holding eye contact for just a beat too long. It’s a harder trick to pull off and the show never seems to break a sweat doing it. Patrick Brice and Duplass know exactly what they’re making and don’t overcomplicate it. Audiences agree as season three is currently in production and should be stalking its way to Shudder later this year.

The Creep Tapes season 2 is out now.