Some of you may remember classic Tales from the Crypt series. Based on the eponymous comic books series, Tales from the Crypt is something that you simply don't see on TV anymore - thanks to our PG-13 media, whenever there are re-runs of the series now, it's heavily edited. Why? Because 20 something years ago you could show sex, boobs, gore and say 'fuck!' without people throwing a bible at you and TV executives taking sedatives.Anyways, this is one hell of a series. It's super fun, clever, gory, sexy and macabre. Sure, the production values are low and the make up effects are hilariously bad, but it's one of those rare series where it's the STORY that makes it worth seeing. Tales from the Crypt is filled with all those stories you could tell people as urban legends during Halloween parties - scary, ironic, often with wonderful and unforgettably creepy twist in the end.
Another thing that makes the show fun is the amount of famous actors that appeared in it over the years. The list includes - among many others - Steve Buscemi, Daniel Craig, Timothy Dalton, Benicio del Toro, Teri Hatcher, Ewan McGregor,, Demi Moore, Bill Paxton, Joe Pesci, Brad Pitt, Iggy Pop, Christopher Reeve and Tim Roth.
Below you can check out some of my favorite episodes. The whole 7 seasons of the series are available on youtube. Remember, those have gore in them, so it may be better not to eat while watching those.
7. Beauty Rest
Plot: An aging model (Mimi Rogers) resorts to murdering her younger rivals (Kathy Ireland and Jennifer Rubin) in order to jumpstart her career. She gets her big break as a contestant in a rather macabre beauty pageant.
6. Horror in the Night
Plot: A jewel thief (James Wilby) hides out in a hotel after being shot and meets a beautiful woman (Elizabeth McGovern) that only he can see.
5. Came the Dawn
Plot: A female hitchhiker (Brooke Shields) catches a ride with a seemingly timid man (Perry King) who reveals a dark secret to her while they spend the night together at his cabin.
4. Three's a Crowd
Plot: A down-on-their-luck couple (Gavan O'Herlihy and Ruth de Sosa) are invited to a cabin owned by their wealthy former best man (Paul Lieber), but the unstable husband is convinced that his wife is having an affair.
3. Top Billing
Plot: A struggling actor (Jon Lovitz) kills off his competition (Bruce Boxleitner) in order to secure a part in a strange production of Hamlet.
2. Two for the Show
Plot: A murderous husband (David Paymer) and a cop with his own marital issues (Vincent Spano) get caught up in a deadly game of cat and mouse aboard a train.
1. Split Personality
Plot: A con man (Joe Pesci) tricks a pair of reclusive twin sisters into dating him, so that he can steal their inheritance. However, he gets a nasty surprise when he discovers the twins harbor a dark secret.
This is awesome thank you so much for posting these. I have been watching a few episodes here and there, but I will be watching all of the ones you picked here. Great Job.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, hope you'll like them!
DeleteOh man, this show used to freak me out when I was a kid. There were so many times episodes would totally go over my head. Now I'm feeling all nostalgic. Awesome post!
ReplyDeleteI remember it scaring me when I was younger too :) In Europe they show scary shit like that on TV all the time, day and night :)
DeleteI love the "Split Personality" episode. I miss that show. One of my favorite episodes involved a cameo from Iggy Pop where a guy hears the voice of Sam Kinison in his head. Another episode I love has Christopher Reeve and Bess Armstrong as diner cooks who learns that the meat they're making is from people Judd Nelson had killed. That one was great.
ReplyDeleteOh, Christopher Reeve one was so good and so creepy! I love the episodes with crazy twists the most.
DeleteI've never seen a full episode of this show. Maybe I'll check some of these out! :)
ReplyDeleteYou definitely should, they are so much fun :)
DeleteHo.Ly. Shit. This post took me waaaay back, and I love it. I used to watch this show every Saturday at midnight when I was a kid. My friends and I looked so forward to it.
ReplyDelete"Split Personality" is incredible. That was always one of my favorites too.
GREAT list.
Thank you! I had a feeling you like Pesci episode :)
DeleteExcellent post Sati! I haven't watched too many episodes of Tales from the Crypt but I did see the Werewolf Concerto ep. w/ Timothy Dalton (surprise, surprise) as he's so darn sexy in it. Here's the vid for those who are interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw6yg4wPp2k
ReplyDeleteThank you! That was a great episode!
DeleteI may be very wrong but I don't think this show was as much of a big deal here in the UK. Seeing as the episodes appear to be online I may give some of them a watch :)
ReplyDeleteReally? They shot the last season in UK :) It's a fun show, you should check it out! :)
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