"Tales from the Crypt" (1989) TV series 1989-1996

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

10 June 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Tales of horror based on the gloriously gruesome EC horror comics of the 1950's.

Plot Keywords:

Macabre | Cult TV | Murder | Black Comedy | Dark Comedy

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Primetime Emmys. Another 6 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

John Kassir

...

Crypt Keeper / ... (93 episodes, 1989-1996)

Also Known As:

"HBO's Tales from the Crypt"

Runtime:

Netherlands:30 min | USA:30 min (93 episodes) | Argentina:30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-18 (2005) (DVD) (self applied) | Iceland:16 | UK:12 (one episode) | UK:15 (some episodes) | UK:18 (some episodes) | Germany:18 | Australia:MA | Australia:M (some episodes) | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Big Sky Ranch - 4927 Bennett Road, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Trivia:

The concept for the movie The Frighteners (1996) was originally going to be a TFTC film, but Robert Zemeckis loved the script so much that he had it spun off with Peter Jackson directing.

Quotes:

Crypt Keeper: Heads, I win. Tails, you *ooze*!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bordello of Blood (1996)

Season 1

OK, the Cryptkeeper, I remember him fondly, as I knew whenever I say him I knew he'd be preceded by a great tale of horror. OK maybe in the first short season, it wasn't as apparent as the superb later seasons would be, but this did lay the groundwork (side note: none of the tales in the first 6 episodes of this series actually came from the "Tales From the Crypt" comic series technically). Not to say this season wasn't good, quite the opposite as the maniac Santa story of "And all through the House" and the black comedic "Collection Completed" are classic episodes, even if the other 4 are not really up to snuff. Even the second season would get so much better by leaps and bounds.

My Season one grade: B

Season 1 Extras: New introduction from a now heavily bandaged Cryptkeeper; the cool "Tales from the Crypt: From Comic Books to Television" documentary and the not nearly as cool 5 and a half minute "Crypt Keeper's History Of Season 1"