SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

Intcatinfo A Masterpiece!

Abbigail Bush what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

jadavix Amicus Productions' 1972 movie "Tales from the Crypt" is a superior example of the horror anthology film that would become most popular with '80s films like "Creepshow".It's also possibly the best movie that was associated with the "Tales from the Crypt" brand name, though only two of its stories were taken from that comic book series: the other three were from "Vault of Horror".The framing story involves a group of tourists who get lost in some catacombs and meet the Crypt Keeper, who in this movie is about as far from the wise-cracking, shrill voiced zombie puppet from the TV show as can possibly be. He is played by the splendid eccentric stage actor, Ralph Richardson, as a spooky monk.The Crypt Keeper tells the tourists stories about how they may die. A lady, played by Joan Collins, kills her husband on Christmas Eve, only to have her daughter let an escaped mental patient in the house because he's dressed like Santa Claus. A man abandons his family to be with his mistress, but then is involved in a car crash he is lucky enough to survive - or does he? An elderly man, played by Peter Cushing in an unusual, standout role for him, has a smear campaign conducted against him by snobbish neighbours, a businessman finds a Chinese figurine that grants wishes - but at deadly cost - and an incompetent manager of a home for the blind cuts cost for the men under his care, leading them to take revenge.The movie then has a final twist, which I admit I did not see coming.Some of the stories here are quite memorable, particularly the first, with Joan Collins, and the third, with Peter Cushing. The rest may not quite measure up to that standard, but they are never less than entertaining and well put together, meaning that Amicus's "Tales from the Crypt" is one of the best horror anthology films ever made.

genowhirl As most of you may know, this movie is based off the E.C. Comics. The anthology is filmed in good quality, acted wonderfully, has good effects for the time, has a wonderful music score, and contains very tasteful little jaunts through the horror that is E.C. Comics. Premise:When five people visiting a crypt suddenly find themselves face to face with the eerily gregarious crypt keeper (Ralph Richardson), they are regaled with 5 tales. The question is, what do these stories mean for our unfortunate friends? Brief Synopsis and Description of the Tales:1. "And All Through the House" (Joan Collins) - In this story, set at Christmas, a beautiful and conniving woman follows through with her plan to take her husband's insurance money when she's suddenly met with a not so holly jolly surprise. This one will have you locking your doors and windows every Christmas from now on haha. 2. "Reflection of Death" (Ian Hendry) - In this story, a man leaves his wife and kids behind as he flees town with his mistress, but there's an unfortunate accident along the way. As he attempts to find his way back home, he's met with strange reactions. I love the suspense of this one. It lends itself to one's imagination. 3. "Poetic Justice" (Peter Cushing) - When a snooty, heart-less, rich fellow sets his sights on removing the kind, caring old man across the street, he gets more than he bargained for. Valentine's Day will never be the same. The finale of this one is very much worth the ride. 4. "Wish You Were Here" - A spin-off of the old Monkey's Paw by Poe, this story focuses on a woman who loses her husband and uses her three Monkey Paw wishes for some rather shockingly unexpected results. Just goes to show that you should always think carefully, but choose even more carefully. 5. "Blind Ally" - In this story, a new director at a home for the blind begins to neglect the needs of his tenants as he redirects the home's finances toward his wallet to fulfill his own. When the tenants finally take a stand, things don't work out so well for the new director. When you watch this, you'll most likely struggle with believing that the people are blind. It's still enjoyable nonetheless. And so, we're brought back to the ending of the wrap-around segment and it's a very fitting and somewhat unexpected ending if I do say so myself.

Phil Hubbs 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

utgard14 Great horror anthology film based off of EC Comics from the 1950s. Five people who are part of a tour group to view ancient catacombs become lost and meet a mysterious hooded figure (Ralph Richardson), who tells them each about their fate. There are five stories. The first story is "All Through the Night," which stars Joan Collins as a wife who murders her husband on Christmas Eve. A homicidal maniac escaped from an asylum, dressed as Santa Claus, happens upon her home at this time and tries to force his way in. She can't call the police without exposing her own crime. The first story is one of the most famous EC stories. Collins is fun to watch and the whole thing is directed quite well. As a kid, this was my favorite segment.The second story is "Reflection of Death." It's about a man (Ian Hendry) who abandons his wife and kids to leave with his mistress, only to crash his car along the way. He pulls himself from the wreck and tries to make his way home, but everybody he meets is horrified. This is a short segment, and not particularly strong. Still, it's enjoyable enough. The third story is "Poetic Justice." A man and his son (David Markham, Robin Phillips) are a couple of snobs who hate their elderly neighbor (Peter Cushing), a garbage man who is kind to animals and children. Hoping to drive him out of the neighborhood, they begin a smear campaign against him that ends with tragic results. The best segment in the film. Peter Cushing's performance as the sympathetic Arthur Grimsdyke is excellent, as is his makeup in the final part."Wish You Were Here" is the fourth story, about a struggling businessman and his wife (Richard Greene, Barbara Murray). They use a Chinese figurine that's supposed to grant three wishes and get more than they wished for. This is a variation on the classic Monkey's Paw story. Nothing really surprising here and, despite an attempt at a gruesome finish, it's pretty slight. The final story is "Blind Alleys," about a former army major (Nigel Patrick) who becomes the new director of a home for the blind. He runs the place ruthlessly, which leads to the blind taking matters into their own hands. One has to assume that they believed when putting this movie together that the final segment was the best, but it really isn't. It's overlong and mean-spirited. It does have some nice claustrophobic moments but it's probably my least favorite segment. After the final story, the film returns to where it started with the hooded figure and the five lost people, who now know their fate. This linking story is amusing but weak, with a twist that you see coming before the movie starts.Despite its problems, this really is a good anthology film made with style by a great genre director, Freddie Francis. The cast is great and the stories are, for the most part, solid. Is it an ideal representation of EC Comics or Tales from the Crypt? Not really. It largely misses the black humor and sometimes cheesy gags that made those stories so much more than simple horror tales. These stories are more serious and straightforward. But they are fine entertainment and can be enjoyed as such.