Max Gaines struck a chord with readers back in the 1950s with EC Comics' publication of Tales From The Crypt. As groundbreaking as the comics were, the U.S. Senate thought differently. Senate hearings stating that the comics led to juvenile delinquency caused the cancellation of EC Comics' horror titles. In time, society realized the Senate was "dead" wrong.
Fast forward to the late 1980s, successful film producers and directors (such as Richard Donner, Walter Hill, Joel Silver, and Robert Zemeckis) sought to bring Tales From The Crypt from comic book pages to television screens. With HBO as a platform, the series was greenlit with creative freedom. The horrific chills and innovative thrills remained intact from the source material. Here are the Top Ten Spookiest Moments From Tales From The Crypt.
10 Maniac At Large
Foreboding doom and its gradual progression cause suspense. Episode ten of season four hammers that notion into the coffin. Margaret, a mousy librarian played by Blythe Danner, constantly hears the legend of a murderous madman within the town. As Margaret's night shift ticks away, so does her sanity.
Paranoia seeps into her psyche. Startling false alarms continue to shake Margaret while the night grows darker. The quiet atmosphere of the library breeds too much imagination as to what can happen to her. She takes charge against the madman at the doorstep of her library. Unless the madman is already in the library.
9 Television Terror
Ratings are what make a "killing" in the television industry. Who knew that a killing would make ratings? Morton Downey Jr. stars as Horton Rivers, a television host touring a haunted house. His natural vulgar demeanor is hidden well when the cameras are rolling. However, it caustically chews at the rest of his crew while he fabricates the hauntings he's encountering.
This shock charlatan soon comes under fire from true trembling terrors that run rampant within the house. As the hair on Horton's neck rises, so do his ratings. Unfortunately, the soul-stirring shivers become all too real for Horton as he is now televising his own demise.
8 Only Skin Deep
Looks can be deceiving. Sometimes they can be the stone-cold truth. That's what Carl Schlag learns in episode two of season six from Tales From The Crypt. After a thunderous argument with his ex-wife, Carl is booted out of a Halloween party. On the way out, he runs into Molly, a doll-faced guest dressed in a bodybag.
The two seem smitten with each other. So smitten Molly invites Carl to her place for a rumpus rendezvous. After that passionate hour, Carl becomes curious as to who is behind that doll-faced mask. However, Molly is hiding a secret in plain sight. Carl should really accept people at their "face" value.
7 Top Billing
One of the pillars of storytelling can be attributed to Shakespeare. In episode five of season three, Jon Lovitz's character of Barry Blye takes that notion to heart...and head. Barry's career as an actor has been lackluster and stalling. This is due to not having "the look" for stage and film. His rival, Winton Robbins, has the look along with the ego. Both men compete for the role of Hamlet in the titular Shakespeare play at a local theater.
The theatre clan led by Nelson Halliwell, played by Jon Astin, brings a very strange vibe to Barry and Winton. Nonetheless, Winton is cast and Barry is left heartbroken. The rejection drives Barry to the mad murder of Winton. He'll do anything to stay "a head" of the game for this role of a "life" time.
6 Carrion Death
If the law doesn't get this Arizona convict, the desert heat will. Episode two of season three follows a murderous bank thief, Diggs, as he drives towards the Mexican border in search of freedom. However, a police officer is hot on his trail which leads to a deadly skirmish.
Diggs finds himself handcuffed to the deceased police officer. He now has a co-pilot on his tequila dream escape to Mexico. All that stands in his way are miles of desert and a nosey vulture. Fatigue settles into Diggs which leads him to take a disabling tumble off a cliff. This newfound paralysis makes him easy prey for a certain eavesdropping buzzard. Birds of a feather croak together.
5 Forever Ambergris
Catching a cold from somebody is usually unfortunate. Catching a flesh-eating virus from somebody is a perfect Tales From The Crypt episode. The lead singer from The Who, Roger Daltrey plays Dalton, an aging war photographer who has lost his creative touch. He is rivaled by a young, up and coming photographer, Ike, played by Steve Buscemi.
Dalton envies Ike's youth, talent, and wife. Ever the opportunist, Dalton convinces Ike to travel to a virus-infested village to take photographs. Ike returns with more than just photographs. He returns with a flesh-eating virus that leaves him a puddle of ooze. Dalton's scheme comes to fruition, however, so will his comeuppance.
4 None But The Lonely Heart
Episode one of season four was one to have in sickness and in death. This Tom Hanks directed episode follows Howard Prince, a Bluebeard who poaches on wealthy elderly women's affections. As Howard's bank account swells so do the cemeteries with his dead wives. His ploys continue as usual until he begins receiving mysterious notices regarding his ferociously fervid actions.
Paranoia begins to dawn upon him as he severs any tie that can lead him to prosecution. He soon realizes that his brides are rising from their graves to accompany their loving husband. In Howard's case, his marriages must have been "'Til death do you start".
3 The New Arrival
David Warner stars as Dr. Alan Goetz, a pompous child psychologist, in season four's episode seven. He hosts a radio show that is dwindling in its ratings and may just get canceled by Rona, his radio producer. Nonetheless, hope for his show presents itself in Nora, a woman with a problem child.
Zelda Rubinstein of Poltergeist fame plays Nora as a burnt nerve mother at the end of her rope. Her only aim is to have Dr. Goetz calm her daughter, Felicity. Dr. Goetz's thirst for rating salvation lures him into making a house call to Nora. That's a decision he'll soon regret.
2 Three's A Crowd
Infidelity is something Tales From The Crypt has often utilized as a catalyst for a story. Episode five of season two solidified the horror that can be showcased through adultery. Gavan O'Herlihy stars as Richard, an alcoholic husband with suspicions. Richard suspects his wife, Della, is having an affair with his friend, Alan. The tension bubbles to the surface as Richard and Della embark on their anniversary celebration.
Alan looms into the picture which draws violent attention from Richard. Once Alan is disposed of, Richard sets his sights on Della. His alcohol-induced rage leads to his murder of Della. However, what awaits him is much more of a surprise than double homicide.
1 What's Cookin'
Beef is usually what's for dinner, lunch, and breakfast at Fred's restaurant. It wasn't always that way before Gaston, played by Judd Nelson, entered his business in episode six of season four. A squid restaurant is what Fred, played by Christopher Reeve of Superman fame, had in mind originally. It proves to be an erratic endeavor as his business plummets and attracts an angry landlord, Mr. Chumley, played by Meatloaf.
Gaston manages to solve Fred's problems by murdering and serving up Mr. Chumley to restaurant patrons. As business booms, Gaston's true agenda comes to light. Unfortunately for Gaston, the entire town has grown accustomed to Fred's cuisine and now he's on the menu. Gaston must have ordered himself "to-go".
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