HBO
1989 168 Mins.
6 Episodes
Horror/Comedy
Created by Steve Dodd
Season one of Tales from the Crypt like the rest of the series is a mixed bag at best. There are of course supreme high points and than some overly mediocre ones. The series starts off a little on the weak side with "The Man who was Death" but quickly rebounds with the now iconic "All through the house". For better or worse this is a fantastic series there are lulls but that hypnotic borderline annoying laugh from the crypt keeper is always a welcome introduction.
EPISODE ONE: THE MAN WHO WAS DEATH
William Sadler stars. Directed by Walter Hill N/R contains language, violence, gore, nudity and sexuality.
A prison executioner is laid off from work and takes up vigilante justice as his new hobby. The proceedings play out expectedly with a little charm from Sadler in the lead. In the end it plays a little drawn out even at 30 Mins. **.75/5
EPISODE TWO: AND ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE
Mary Ellen Trainor and Larry Drake star. Directed by Robert Zemeckis N/R contains language, violence and gore.
A remake of the original Movie segment with Joan Crawford "House" is a perfect episode of "Tales". A greedy wife kills her husband on Christmas eve and finds herself in a predicament when an escaped serial killer dressed as Santa Clause gets in on the action. Trainor is wonderfully over the top in the lead and Drake is terrifying as the villain. The episode is edge of your seat with a tone of seductive dark humor and executed with pizazz by Zemeckis. *****/5
EPISODE 3: DIG THAT CAT, HE'S REAL GONE
Joe Pantoliano stars. Directed by Richard Donner N/R contains language, violence and gore.
Although not wholly successful the third entry in the series possesses a intriguing style about it. It centers on a man who undergoes a experiment to transfer a cat's nine lives to him. It works and he sets himself us a high profile carnival act when he is killed over and over again. The outcome is a bit predictable as are all the twists but it's all executed with a winking eye that works most of the time. ***.25/5
EPISODE 4: ONLY SIN DEEP
Lea Thompson stars. Directed by Howard Deutch N/R contains language, violence and sexuality.
One of my favorite episodes. Deutch directs this trashtastic take on a young, cocky prostitue who sells her good looks to a voodoo broker to entrap a rich bachelor. Things of course go horribly wrong. This episode is so fun and although I don't feel as though it reigns as a perfect example of the best of "crypt" excels at it remains one of the best entries regardless. ****.25/5
EPISODE 5: LOVER COME HACK TO ME
Amanda Plummer stars. Directed by Tom Holland N/R contains language, violence, gore, sexuality and nudity.
Another prime example of a great "Crypt" episode. A newlywed couple retreats to the wife's mansion where her new husband plans to murder her for her money but things go awry when a dar past is rvealed with more going on than he would think. The culmination of events is cool and shocking and Plummer has a blast in the multi faceted role. ****.5/5
EPISODE 6: COLLECTION COMPLETED
M. Emmett Walsh stars. Directed by Mary Lambert N/R contains language, violence and gore.
This one has a darkly comic, classic feel to the proceedings. It centers on a cranky newly retired man who gets quickly annoyed by his wife's pets and it explores his new hobby of taxidermy. The culmination is morbidly delightful and ambert's direction is playful and kinetic. "Collection" is another fine example of the series. ****/5
Overall the first season of Tales is one of the best sure it's only limited to six episodes and that may be the reason it works as well as it does.
Overall Rating: 4.25
and now for the season's Crypt keeper's best look!
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