Scott Watches TALES FROM THE CRYPT and TALES OF TERROR back to back!

While doing some shopping at a local wal-mart, I hit the video section and began to sift through the five dollar bin. Much to my surprise, I came across the Amicus production of TALES FROM THE CRYPT from 1972. The irony was not lost on me as I had mentioned this film in my last post. I had to change my plans and make this film part of my next double feature!

I had seen this film before. The movie had been given to me as a gift by my pal Val back in the days of VHS. I remember being surprised at how good the film actually was. But tastes change and I wondered if the film would hold up after all these years.

I’m happy to say that this film holds up remarkably well! I thought that overall this was a better film than THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD. TALES FROM THE CRYPT is helmed by director Freddie Francis who also directed THE EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN, NIGHTMARE and DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE for Hammer films. He also directed THE SKULL for Amicus. I think that TALES FROM THE CRYPT is his best overall film.

The film begins with five strangers who find themselves in a cavernous room with a mysterious crypt keeper, played by Sir Ralph Richardson. One by one, he reveals their destinies. Also in the cast are Joan Collins, Peter Cushing, Ian Hendry, Patrick Magee (fresh from his appearance in A CLOCKWORK ORANGE.) and Nigel Patrick.

TALES FROM THE CRYPT looks fine on the region 1 DVD and is a vast improvement from what I remember of my VHS copy. The print looks to be in decent shape and is enhanced for widescreen televisions. Also included with the DVD is the films follow up THE VAULT OF HORROR. A perfect double feature you say? Nonsense! Gary would not stand for it! We here at Reel Cinema like to do things the hard way! So I followed this film with a screening of…

TALES OF TERROR. I was trying to rack my brain on what I could do for a double feature. Being that THE VAULT OF HORROR was out, I was thinking that CREEPSHOW 2 might be a good candidate. I hadn’t seen that film in years and even though it’s no way near as good a film as the original CREEPSHOW, it seemed like a good match. But my heart was just not into it. Then a chance visit to my local Movie stop provided me with a better answer. Sitting on a shelf marked down to $1.99, Roger Corman’s TALES OF TERROR!


I had never seen TALES OF TERROR before, so I was looking forward to it. I was not disappointed. The film is based on four Edgar Allan Poe tales adapted into three tales for the film by Richard Matheson, one of my favorite writers. Each sequence is introduced by Vincent Price who also appears in all three tales. The film also stars Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone. It was released in 1962.

Given that TALES OF TERROR was released on DVD in 2000, I was surprised as how good the 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer is! While I picked up the solo version DVD, this film was later released on DVD with another Vincent Price flick TWICE TOLD TALES from 1963

Another fun night of movie viewing!!

Scott takes in a double feature of CREEPSHOW and THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD!

I can’t think of a more appropriate film to kick off our month long tribute to horror films then CREEPSHOW. I was 14 when CREEPSHOW first crept into theatres in 1982. I didn’t realize it at the time but this film was a perfect transition for someone whose primary horror film diet had been Universal Horror films with the occasional Hammer horror flick thrown in. Up to that point in 1982 the only other George Romero film I had seen was NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. That film got under my adolescent skin like few others. So going to see a film directed by Romero and penned by Stephen King was a brave move for a teenage kid in 1982. I also must admit that the comic book angle the film employs was very appealing to me. It became one of my favorite films and I watched it countless times throughout the eighties.


CREEPSHOW is a film done in the style of a 50’s comic book but with very adult themes and language. Five stories are presented within the film as well as a prologue and epilogue.

I was looking forward to watching CREEPSHOW after not seeing the film in quite some time. Adding to the excitement was the recently purchased Blu-ray of CREEPSHOW that I’ve been dying to take for a spin. I had forgotten just how much fun this movie really is! Yes, this flick contains ghouls and monsters that might get some 21 century eyes rolling but this film also still has some genuine scares that still work in 2009. The film has a great cast of character actors that includes Hal Holbrook, Adrienne Barbeau, Fritz Weaver, Leslie Nielsen and E.G. Marshall.


Throw away that old snapper case DVD! Newly released on Blu-ray, the film has never looked better on home video. Considering that the DVD is almost 10 years old and that the widescreen version was cropped from the full screen version (!) the upgrade is well worth it. More extras would have been sublime. Alas, the blu-ray, like the region 1 DVD before it, contains only the films theatrical trailer. The region 2 DVD, released in the United Kingdom is 2007, is reportedly jam packed with extras. Alas, the Blu-ray is the best way to go transfer wise here in the states.

I followed my screening of CREEPSHOW with a film that might have helped inspire it.

During the 60’s and 70’s, a small British studio tried to give Hammer studios a run for its money. This studio, Amicus, specialized in horror anthologies. One of these was THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD.

The film contains four segments that all center on one house. An inspector from Scotland Yard is investigating the disappearance of a film star who had recently rented the house. As he investigates, he is told of the house’s history and that’s how we are introduced to each tale. The film is more psychological than CREEPSHOW, with twist endings to each story that’s not far removed from TWILIGHT ZONE or better yet NIGHT GALLERY. The film has some genuinely creepy moments. It’s also drips with satire. More than once, the filmmakers wink at you, letting you know that this is only a movie. (At one point a character reminisces about how he misses the "old, great" horror movies, and mentions Dracula. He then adds: "the one with Bela Lugosi of course, not this new fellow," obviously referring to Christopher Lee, who is also in the film. Also, a wax figure of Christopher Lee as Dracula menacing a young lady is briefly seen.)

This film has a great cast that includes Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Denholm Elliott, Jon Pertwee and Ingrid Pitt. The screenplay is by Robert Bloch, who also wrote the original PSYCHO novel.

The DVD released via Lions Gate looks great for a film of this vintage. It's anamorphic for proper display on 16 x 9 widescreen televisions. Curiously, there is no mention on the DVD case that this is an Amicus release.

This is a double feature that was really a lot of fun. Amicus also did a film a few years later called TALES FROM THE CRYPT. Come to think of it, that film might be a better match with CREEPSHOW. Whatever you decide, remember to turn the lights out…

Suggested Viewings

A new section of Reel Cinema where we try and pair up two or more movies that can be watched back to back as a double feature or on consecutive nights that either compares or contrasts a theme or a vibe or something that links these movies together and we think would be a great watch. Hope you enjoy

October is Horror Movie Month at Reel Cinema!

Starting October 1, Reel Cinema celebrates Halloween with a whole month long tribute to horror films! Reel Cinema rises from the dead in a big way! Each week we will have a particular theme as Gary and I celebrate one of the most fun genres in cinema! Reel Cinema is the place to be in October!!

Rising back from the dead...SOON!!

Watch this site for a very important announcement!