The horror anthology is a tried-and-true format when it comes to television. Since the age of The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, episodic storytelling has been a popular avenue for quick frights and unforgettable twists.
HBO's Tales From The Crypt stands as one of the most iconic horror anthology TV series. Ever since its premiere in 1989, the show still has delivered some genuinely creepy episodes that withstand the test of time.
10 What's Cookin' (1992)
Season 4 Episode 6, "What's Cookin'" is regarded as one of the scariest and most entertaining episodes of Tales From The Crypt. It's a healthy blend of humor, horror, and a-grade entertainment. The episode features the original Superman, Christopher Reeve, rock & roll star Meatloaf, and Judd Nelson.
The episode tells the tale of Fred and Erma, a down on their luck couple who are struggling to run a failing restaurant, with a daily special known as "Squid on a Stick". Enter the appearance of a mysterious customer, played by Judd Nelson, who promises the couple that he can rejuvenate their menu with a new, mysterious recipe for steak. It's evident from Nelson's performance that he had bucket loads of fun playing the diabolical stranger.
9 You, Murderer (1995)
"You, Murderer" is the fifteenth episode of season 6 of Tales From The Crypt. Directed by Robert Zemeckis of Back To The Future fame, this episode features some stellar cameos including Humphrey Bogart, John Lithgow (Third Rock From The Sun), and Isabella Rossellini.
The episode is an homage to film noir tales of love and revenge. Loy Spinelli (Robert Sacchi), who is seeking to leave his life of crime behind to become an upstanding citizen, undergoes face transplant surgery. The end result is him looking like Humphrey Bogart. The fun really begins when Spinelli's wife and doctor then decide to murder him.
8 The Ventriloquist’s Dummy (1990)
"The Ventriloquist's Dummy" is yet another Tales From The Crypt episode with several household names attached to it, including Bobcat Goldthwait, Don Rickles, and Frank Darabont as director. The episode revolves around two ventriloquists and is dark comedy at its finest.
The episode and the director make perfect use of the wit of its leads and also has one of the most satisfying endings in all of Tales From The Crypt history.
7 Death of Some Salesmen (1993)
"Death of Some Salesmen" stars Hollywood star at the time, Tim Curry, who at the time was lauded for his performances in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the IT miniseries. Curry gets to shine as he plays three equally delightfully disturbing roles.
The episode treads the line between camp horror and over-the-top ridiculousness. It follows a morally bankrupt salesman, Judd Campbell (Ed Begley Jr.), who believes he has found the perfect soft target in the form of the Brackett family. His plan is to rip off a trio of hillbillies but is soon horrified to discover how this family deals with uninvited salesmen.
6 Television Terror (1990)
What happens when a well-known TV personality known for covering the most shocking stories decides to visit a haunted house? It becomes one of the most bone-chilling episodes of his career. He takes on the assignment of visiting a house that was in the past occupied by a woman who murdered all her elderly guests for their social security checks.
While the episode does have a predictable story, it doesn't skimp on atmosphere, as it follows the TV host as he visits each gloomy room. The claustrophobia and fear set in with each creaking floorboard and shifting shadow.
5 And All Through The House (1989)
"And All Through The House" is the perfect episode for those who enjoy chasing their holiday spirits with a little bit of horror. It revolves around a mother, who after putting her daughter to bed, decides to act on her plan to murder her husband in the living room, using a hot poker from their Christmas fire.
As she attempts to hide her husband's body in the backyard, she is thwarted by the appearance of an escaped homicidal patient who is aptly dressed up as Santa. The horror, for her and viewers, begins when she realizes that she's trapped in an unfortunate predicament: she can't call the cops as they're likely to find her husband's body, but if she doesn't seek help, the deranged patient might kill her and her daughter.
4 Split Second (1991)
"Split Second" tells the story of a tyrannical boss, Steve Dixon (Brion James) who recently married Liz, a beautiful waitress. When she starts attracting the attention of his salt-of-the-earth employees, things quickly turn sour for them and her. The episode uses gallows humor effectively in this gory tale. Fans of this style of horror are in for a notably satisfying experience in this episode.
3 Carrion Death (1991)
"Carrion Death" is a classic tale of terror in the best Tales From The Crypt fashion. It centers around a petty criminal who robs a bank and then attempts to flee across the desert and border to Mexico. However, the criminal is pursued relentlessly by a police officer until both of their vehicles are wrecked in a car crash.
However, the crash doesn't stop the police officer, who emerges from the wreckage unscathed to continue his pursuit. Eventually, the criminal, played by Dune's Kyle MacLachlan, kills the police officer, but only after he is handcuffed to the officer who swallows the key before his demise. Suddenly, the suspense-driven pursuit makes way for a slow, dogmatic journey as the criminal drags the officer's body across the Arizona desert, with his only company coming in the form of a mysterious vulture that seems to be watching his every move, with bated breath.
2 Came the Dawn (1993)
For fans of Psycho homages, "Came The Dawn" is the perfect Tales From The Crypt episode. When a single, lonely woman, played by Brooke Shields is picked up by a suspicious businessman (Perry King), it quickly becomes apparent that both characters are hiding some pretty dark and deadly secrets. The episode is still scary today, perhaps thanks to its gothic horror elements, i.e. being stranded in a cabin in a rainstorm, plus plenty of narrative misdirection on the writer's and director's parts.
There are several nods to classic '80s horror and fans who opt for more psychological thrills over gore will enjoy the slow burn of this episode, which also features an oh-so-satisfying ending.
1 Four-Sided Triangle (1990)
In this episode, starring Susan Blommaert (Pet Sematary), a put-upon young woman named Mary Jo (Patricia Arquette) is being held against her will on a farm by a married couple, George (Chelchie Ross) and Luisa (Blommaert).
One fateful evening, after avoiding George's advances for the thousandth time, she takes a bottle to her head and soon after believes that the farm scarecrow is her secret lover who's unhappy with the way she's been treated by the couple. Throw in the fact that the scarecrow has a clown face and this here is a genuinely terrifying episode of Tales From The Crypt.
from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/38PszK7
0 Comments
Please don't use vulgar comments and avoid discussion on Religious matters