Tales from the Crypt (1972)

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

I'm a fan of the E.C. comics series "Tales from the Crypt" along with the TV show that got me into the comics and anthology horror in general. This film is one of my favorite anthology horror films that I've seen, let alone comic book adaptation films that are actually good and I personally feel is a bit under the radar.It's true that the only think this anthology lacks is the humor and more of the gore element which were some of the things that made the E.C. Horror comic series, due to the fact this film was going for a more serious approach. But it still retains the scares, morality and the anthology format like in the comics.The production value is solid, the effects were on par we actually got to see a bit of blood in a place or two. I like the music score which is solid as they use the old "Phantom of the Opera" organ theme for the theme of this film which felt right. And also liked certain suspenseful tunes in a place or two.I like Ralph Richerson as the Cryptkeeper, really like that Skull Throne I thought that was cool but also added to his dark presence. He's a really solid horror host, he has a dark and mysterious arroa about him as he seems like a person that is letting on more than he is telling. And each of the main characters in the tales are antagonists that you dislike and hate, and like in all of the E.C. tales you know their going to pay the price.Each of the tales I think are really great in their own way, which ones you love the most are up to you but that's always how it goes with anthologies letting you be the judge, let alone providing you with a wide selection of stories.One of them is of course "And All though the House" this was of course retold in the TV show. But I really love this tale because it was the first or one of the first horror stories that decided to actually have a horror story take place on a holiday, Christmas out of all of them which was a risk move but a good one. I really like the sense of dread as you never know where the killer Santa is going to pop out, the look of the serial killer Santa I thought was creepy as he really dirty looking and has sort of a crazy looking eye; there is always something about evil in the guise of a symbol of innocence that makes the antagonist all the more scary because it really gives a disarming feel.Another of course stared one of my favorite actors Peter Cushing and this film was literally one of his last horror films. In this film he plays a protagonist that you really like, even though he doesn't look like much he's a guy you can be friends with as he is unselfish and always kind, fixing things mainly toys for the kids and takes care of lots of dogs. He's also a widower which makes you feel some pathos for him, Peter Cussing actually put a little of himself on those scenes since his own wife passed on closely before this film. In a way it makes it all the more hard to watch this character go down as some rich frak butt wipe wants to destroy that man's life because he's not upper class like them which in a way makes the perpetrator's scheme a hate crime. You just completely hate the antagonist from beginning to end as he just doesn't let up on his cruel jokes, I guess he never learned the old saying, "joke's over by now." Seeing this you honestly are waiting for the perpetrator to let's just say receive his Hallmark card from Hell.The final tale is my favorite, I really like the blind man protagonist whom you really feel bad for as he and his companion in the home are getting less of what they need. While the former Major whom of course is a Major butt head that runs the joint is practically robbing the home blind (no pun intended) he is using the funds of the home for himself, which isn't right. But also he doesn't give a crap about the blind, the fact that their even disabled, to him disability is complete weakness that gets nothing.And of course something happens which of course means war, and it was great seeing the Blind man protagonist along with his friends, despite the loss of sight there wits are razor sharp. The final part is great as it is to me one of the most suspenseful sequences ever as we see the Major go thought a strange gauntlet, and one of the sections is a wall of razor blades. I'll admit I couldn't help but wince every time the major cut himself it looked and sounded painful.So enter the Crypt, if you dare.Rating: 4 stars

This 1972 Amicus film is a portmanteau film made in the early seventies that is way better than the sum of its parts. The linking story in which the five main characters are revealed to be already dead and are about to be consigned to Hell is hardly in the Dead of Night class and although he was a great actor Sir Ralph Richardson isn't particularly good as the Crypt Keeper either. All five of the dramas have flaws such as unconvincing blood, poor special effects and all except perhaps the last, Blind Alleys, are underdone in terms of plot with the second,Reflection of Death, featuring the ever reliable Ian Hendry being particularly flimsy. But this is a smashing horror compendium that is directed with real flair by master cinematographer Freddie Francis with at least one great scary moment in each tale. Joan Collins features in the first story- ...And All Through The House- and fortunately she isn't given many words to speak as the scheming killer hoist by her own petard and the lack of dialogue throughout her vignette sets the tone for the film as Francis lets the pictures tell the stories. The two best tales are the third , Poetic Justice, starring the great Peter Cushing as a kindly dustman bullied by a grasping neighbour (the finale to this tale is one that made me smile as I watched it through the cracks in my fingers) and the final segment, Blind Alleys in which a cruel, complacent Nigel Patrick gets his comeuppance in as gruesome a way as you can imagine. This final tale features the brilliant Patrick Magee- always a reassuringly malevolent presence-at his most menacing. The weakest tale is probably the fourth, Wish You Were Here, but even it is all carried off with great panache. And I have always had a soft spot for Barbara Murray. The acting is mostly pretty good in this film and the scary moments are authentically scary. Of course it is cheap -at times the exterior shots look like something out of a public information film - and Tales From The Crypt is not exactly Citizen Kane or even The Shining. But if you want to while a way 100 minutes on a gloomy Friday evening you can do worse than going down into this crypt.

Yet another anthology film from the seventies! This one has Ralph Richardson and Peter Cushing in it, plus a rather young Joan Collins. Just like Vault of Horror, a random assortment of people find themselves trapped in a sinister location, only this time they've got the creepy Ralph Richardson holding them captive and making them flashback to their respective stories. Much Englishness ensues from a time seemingly where most men knocked back a brandy or sherry while read the FT in front of the fire.Joan finds herself trapped in her house at Christmas with the body of her husband, whom she's murdered, and an escaped lunatic dressed as Santa trying to get in. Another guy recalls what happened when he left his wife (er, this doesn't have too much substance to it). There's a 'monkey's paw' type tale with a gory ending, Peter Cushing (as a good guy) gets to become a zombie in one story and Patrick Magee simmers with rage as a blind guy going head to head with a military administrator which ends on a Saw-like note.At first I thought things were moving rather slow, but the stories get better as the film progresses, with people being chopped up while remaining alive, people having their hearts removed and Patrick Magee's excellent performance as the raging blind guy. It's no classic, but the acting talent on display is rather groovy, as well as the cheeseball ending speech, delivered indeed by a Knight of the Realm.Definitely worth a watch, but maybe next time it could be you (raises sinister eyebrow).

Original British horror anthology based on EC's 'Tales from the Crypt' which would eventually lead to the more well known US TV series and films. As usual Amicus are behind the tales of terror.Being a British version of the old comic its naturally slightly reserved and a little more serious or gloomy. The cast is made up of some classy stalwartly Brits such as Peter Cushing and Ralph Richardson and many well known characters actors of British film, TV and theatre.The five short stories are interesting but not wild effects packed thrillers as the later movies. The first has Joan Collins murdering her husband at Xmas but being strangled herself by an escaped loony dressed up as Santa who was let in the house by her little girl. Second has a cheating husband seeing his own death and coming back as the undead. Third shows Peter Cushing as an old man being hounded by his snobby neighbours to move as they dislike his scruffy presence next door. The old man commits suicide then comes back from the dead to exact revenge.Fourth story is a variation on the famous short 'The Monkey's Paw' (also spoofed by 'The Simpsons' so well in their Halloween episodes). A recently widowed woman makes bad choices or wishes with a small Oriental statue causing herself much grief. The last story shows what happens to a mean money pinching man who runs a home for blind men very badly. The residents get their revenge on the Scrooge-like director of the so called care home.The stories are told as predictions of the future by the crypt keeper to a group of people visiting some old catacombs, the frame/wrap plot. The keeper is a much more serious take on what you may be used to these days, very monk like, a normal human face, well spoken, almost like the Grim Reaper. The stories are also quite tame and not overly exciting by today's standards. Some blood on show but its pretty clearly red paint and the odd good bit of makeup/prosthetics on the undead. Peter Cushing's small performance as a zombie is actually extremely unnerving down to the quite ghastly makeup applied to his gaunt face, kudos there.The film isn't as fun I thought, its kinda dull and takes itself too seriously. The stories are fair but lean more towards simple revenge without much visual gore or goo, that's perfectly fine but I always thought these anthologies need at least one or two good monster/creature features. The finale vignette for example, about the care home for the blind, is very strange. At first you feel sorry for the elderly men being pushed around by the new director, but when they take their revenge it seems way too extreme and nasty frankly, you end up feeling sorry for the director and his dog.The same can be said for the woman and her Chinese figurine. She's not a bad person, she merely makes wishes that turn sour on her so again you're not too sure how to feel towards that character, you feel for her in the end. As for the Joan Collins short story...that's just unscary and bloody obvious right from the start (no pun intended), just a dull murder tale. The best and most inventive tale must be 'Refection of Death' with the man seeing his own death, brilliant twist at the very end there.In the end the bookend plot involving all the people in the catacombs has a nice eerie twist which isn't overly original as this twist does pop up in other anthology movies. Never the less it works really well despite the dodgy sets and effects of the time, rather predictable though methinks. An Interesting set of horror stories, not a thrilling set but fun to watch all the over acting and reactions. Certainly one of the better made horror anthologies if a bit bland in places.5/10