With the new release of my book Office Horrors I recently began working on a new and potentially lengthy writing project. The inspiration for this project comes from none other then my favorite television show. The string of history that led to the creation of fan favorite show Tales from the Crypt is a long and interesting one. Anthology horror has been in existence for quite some time. Magazines from the 1920s such as Weird Tales compiled strange short stories of the macabre and released them in pulp printing format. During the 1930s and 40s there was a rise in horror themed radio dramas that told a new dark tale each week. Inner Sanctum Mysteries, The Creaking Door, and The Sealed Book are just a few shows that had listeners on the edge of their seats during late evening broadcasts. I am eternally grateful to these old shows because they helped inspire the horror movement in the comic industry during the 1950s. The EC horror comics such as The Vault of Horror, Crime Suspense Stories, and of course Tales form the Crypt, are some of the most well known and popular from that time. Unfortunately, the rise of the comic code censored all those horror tales into temporary obscurity. Then, during the 1980s Home Box Office picked up the rights to turn the EC horror comics into a TV show! And thus the Tales from the Crypt TV franchise was born!
This show, along with those beautiful comics, has helped to inspire my new writing project. Yesterday I began writing the first story in a series of novellas that take their inspiration from the moods and themes presented in Tales from the Crypt. My good friend Leanna Spencer (Whose father does art for Wizards of the Coast) will be doing the cover art for each novella as they are released.
So, in honor of my new project I thought I would review one episode that really captures the themes of Tales from the Crypt well.
This show, along with those beautiful comics, has helped to inspire my new writing project. Yesterday I began writing the first story in a series of novellas that take their inspiration from the moods and themes presented in Tales from the Crypt. My good friend Leanna Spencer (Whose father does art for Wizards of the Coast) will be doing the cover art for each novella as they are released.
So, in honor of my new project I thought I would review one episode that really captures the themes of Tales from the Crypt well.
"Staired in Horror" follows a man on the run from the law. The scene opens up with the convict running through a creepy southern swamp. He sees a large southern manor (which looks eerily like the house from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake). He knocks on the door and an old woman answers the door. He begs her to let him in and she does. He quickly comes into the house and hides.
The interior of the house just speaks of the atmosphere that Tales from the Crypt promises. The lighting is low and dark and the house strangely decorated in an old fashion. The sheriff comes to the door to investigate. (The sheriff is played by R. Lee Ermey who played Sheriff Hoyt in the remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Jeez, if he was chasing me through the swamp I would run and hide in an old creepy manor too. Forget the consequences there.) The old woman turns the sheriff away claiming she is alone in the house.
The convict is now looking for a way out, but it doesn't seem like the old woman wants him to leave. She tells him to stay down there while she goes up and goes to bed. The convict has no intentions of sticking around until he spies a beautiful woman at the top of the grand staircase. Instantly he is startled by her presence, instantly he wants her. But as she comes down the stairs she turns into the old woman. It turns out that the house has a curse on it and that as the woman comes downstairs she gets older and as any man goes upstairs he gets older. It seems like the best hiding place in the world to hide upstairs as an old man. Little does he know he is in for a surprise.
The interior of the house just speaks of the atmosphere that Tales from the Crypt promises. The lighting is low and dark and the house strangely decorated in an old fashion. The sheriff comes to the door to investigate. (The sheriff is played by R. Lee Ermey who played Sheriff Hoyt in the remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Jeez, if he was chasing me through the swamp I would run and hide in an old creepy manor too. Forget the consequences there.) The old woman turns the sheriff away claiming she is alone in the house.
The convict is now looking for a way out, but it doesn't seem like the old woman wants him to leave. She tells him to stay down there while she goes up and goes to bed. The convict has no intentions of sticking around until he spies a beautiful woman at the top of the grand staircase. Instantly he is startled by her presence, instantly he wants her. But as she comes down the stairs she turns into the old woman. It turns out that the house has a curse on it and that as the woman comes downstairs she gets older and as any man goes upstairs he gets older. It seems like the best hiding place in the world to hide upstairs as an old man. Little does he know he is in for a surprise.
This episode may not be my favorite in the series but it does have many elements that makes Tales from the Crypt great. You have adulterous lovers, atmospheric settings, dishonest cons, and even a strange old curse. The only thing that is missing here is the good ol' gore we get from some of the best episodes. But atmosphere and theme is key, and this one has it.
As always, the sinful get their just deserts and it is sickeningly pleasant. The pace is a bit slower than other episodes and the plot is nothing grand. I much prefer a good mutilation or classic demonic creature of lore. But this has some great nods to classic southern gothic literature. Which is why this is a great example of what I'm trying to capture in my own series. That theme of just deserts is a must, and there must always be a sickeningly fitting end.
As always, the sinful get their just deserts and it is sickeningly pleasant. The pace is a bit slower than other episodes and the plot is nothing grand. I much prefer a good mutilation or classic demonic creature of lore. But this has some great nods to classic southern gothic literature. Which is why this is a great example of what I'm trying to capture in my own series. That theme of just deserts is a must, and there must always be a sickeningly fitting end.
Summing it Up
This is a great episode with good atmosphere, fitting mood, and hits almost all the right notes that make us love classic anthology horror. The curse on the stairway of the house is interesting and creative. It makes for a fun plot line but I feel like it could have been even better. The ending is perfect for the themes of redemption and punishment. But the number one thing this episode is missing is a little blood and gore.
Deaths: 0
Language: 3
Gore Factor: 1
Sex Factor: 1
Scare Factor: 2
Fun Factor: 4
Overall Rating: 4
Deaths: 0
Language: 3
Gore Factor: 1
Sex Factor: 1
Scare Factor: 2
Fun Factor: 4
Overall Rating: 4