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

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:

Goth | Macabre | Anthology | Tales From The Crypt | Based On Comic

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 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

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-18 (2005) (DVD) (self applied) | 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, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Trivia:

The series was originally envisioned as a trilogy story feature film. This was changed to a television program because the producers feared it would bomb as a movie, as trilogy-style horror films rarely had success at the box office.

Quotes:

Crypt Keeper: [after cutting someone's ear off with a pair of scissors] Shave and a haircut, two bits!
[laughs hysterically]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Monster House (2006)

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"