Uncover the Top 10 Spine-Chilling Episodes of Tales from the Crypt

For nearly seven seasons, the horror anthology series “Tales from the Crypt” proved to be a significant success for HBO prior to the introduction of “The Sopranos”. Although the quality of episodes could fluctuate significantly within this genre, during its initial seasons at least, the strong episodes outnumbered the weak ones. To pinpoint the ten best episodes is quite challenging due to the many commendable episodes that didn’t make the list. Many notable contenders emerged from Season 3, such as the jealous lumberjack story “Split Second”, Jon Lovitz-led horror extravaganza “Top Billing”, and the thrilling tale of a fugitive criminal “Carrion Death”. Season 5’s eerie “Creep Course” was also a close competitor.

The emotionally powerful war story “Yellow,” starring Kirk Douglas and often cited as one of the series’ top episodes, was omitted because it was initially designed to be part of a three-story introduction for another comic adaptation: “Two-Fisted Tales.” Despite being an exceptional 30 minutes of television, it didn’t quite fit the mold of “Tales from the Crypt.” Even though it was significantly superior to the other segments of the pilot, such as “King of the Road” with Brad Pitt and the Western tale “Showdown,” both of which were later aired as episodes within “Crypt.

“And All Through the House” (Season 1, Episode 2)

Just as the HBO series is derived from it, the 1972 British movie “Tales from the Crypt” was inspired by the classic 1950s EC Comics series. Similarly, much like the HBO show, there was a segment within the film entitled “And All Through the House,” featuring Joan Collins in the lead role.

If an episode of the series closely resembles one of the movie’s scenes, then this particular episode is likely it, and it refines what was already successful. The second episode of the series, titled “And All Through the House,” stands out as a remarkable piece from its inaugural year. Larry Drake delivers an exceptional performance as a sinister Santa Claus, while Mary Ellen Trainor from “Lethal Weapon” portrays the woman he torments, having herself just murdered her husband. This episode is widely regarded as one of the series’ best during its first season.

“Cutting Cards” (Season 2, Episode 3)

Numerous impressive movies and TV shows are built around a straightforward idea: escalation. And when it comes to “Tales from the Crypt”, there’s no clearer demonstration of its skill in escalating tension than the episode titled “Cutting Cards” featuring Lance Henriksen (from “Aliens”) and Kevin Tighe (from “Road House”).

The duo are hardcore gambling addicts with an intense dislike for each other, yet they share a mutual passion for games of luck. One proposes to the other that this round of poker will be their final one, and whoever loses must depart forever. However, the stakes escalate dramatically as they shift to Russian Roulette, and eventually, they wager not money but their very bodily parts in the game.

“Television Terror” (Season 2, Episode 16)

As a seasoned movie critic, let me share my chilling take on one of the most terrifying episodes from “Tales from the Crypt” – Season 2’s “Television Terror.” The late Morton Downey Jr., unrelated to Robert, brilliantly portrays his real-life persona as a talk show host, albeit one who revels in the sensational and trashy. In this gripping story, he delves into the haunted house saga of Horton Rivers, a caretaker with a sinister past. She was rumored to have been murdering the elderly patients under her care. A spine-tingling tale indeed!

Indeed, Rivers believes there are two possibilities: first, he finds it all meaningless; second, it will be a massive ratings success. By the end of the episodes, he’ll realize the second idea was spot-on, but regrettably, he won’t stick around to savor the viewership numbers.

“Abra Cadaver” (Season 3, Episode 4)

In the third season’s episode “Abra Cadaver,” Beau Bridges delivers an act as Martin Fairbanks that is partly compassionate and partly deranged. Tony Goldwyn, known from Scandal, portrays his younger brother Carl, who had once pulled a trick on Martin long ago which hindered his rise as a prominent surgeon.

After Carl achieved success on the path initially paved by Martin, Martin is now planning his retaliation. Martin has developed a serum that keeps its recipient conscious but completely immobile, effectively rendering them unconscious yet aware of their surroundings. This could spell trouble for Carl, as Martin possesses a variety of sharp surgical tools, which he may use against Carl.

“What’s Cookin’?” (Season 4, Episode 6)

Without a doubt, one of the most chilling and tantalizing episodes on IMDb is “What’s Cookin’?” from Season 4. This episode stands out so much that it’s unfortunate how difficult it has become for fans to watch Tales from the Crypt nowadays. Unfortunately, due to rights issues, it’s not available to stream, not even on Max.

In a unique twist, Christopher Reeve, who was famously Superman, and Bess Armstrong from ‘Jaws 3’, gracefully portray Fred and Erma, the owners of an unconventional eatery specializing in squid dishes. As expected, their business is experiencing a lull. However, when they take on a vagabond named Gaston, played by Judd Nelson, to tidy up the establishment, he proposes a novel idea: serving customers steak, an alleged family tradition. Unfortunately, it’s not steak; it’s human meat, and given time, Gaston could potentially find himself in a very different role.

“The New Arrival” (Season 4, Episode 7)

In the realm of “Tales from the Crypt”, “The New Arrival” stands shoulder to shoulder with “Television Terror” as one of the most chilling episodes. The inimitable David Warner, who tragically passed away, brought an extraordinary touch to every role he played, and this episode is no exception. In this instance, Warner fits flawlessly into the character of Dr. Alan Goetz, a man of unrivaled arrogance who happens to be a radio psychologist. He believes he can transform any challenging child for the better through his methods.

It turns out that Nora and Felicity prove to be formidable opponents for him. Notably, Nora (Zelda Rubenstein from the movie ‘Poltergeist’) is a petite woman who asserts her daughter’s behavior has deteriorated significantly. Accompanied by his producer and superior, Goetz pays a visit to Nora’s residence. Over time, he becomes suspicious that Felicity is merely Nora disguised in a mask and different clothing. However, they soon discover this isn’t entirely accurate, and they will not be leaving this house alive.

“Death of Some Salesmen” (Season 5, Episode 1)

As a movie enthusiast, I must say that “Tales from the Crypt” showcased some remarkable acting feats. The episode “Death of Some Salesman,” in particular, boasts an impressive trio of tour-de-force performances. Each one of these stellar acts can be credited to none other than the Emmy-nominated Tim Curry.

In this adaptation, Ed Begley Jr. portrays Judd Campbell, a cunning imposter masquerading as a salesman peddling burial plots. When he encounters Ma and Pa Brackett, he believes he’s reeled in two easy catches. However, unlike the burial plots, they show more interest in him. The Bracketts have a penchant for offing salesmen, but Campbell perceives an opening to postpone his untimely demise by marrying their peculiar daughter, Winona. It appears as though he’s outsmarted them, but one cannot help but wonder if the tables might be turned instead.

“Forever Ambergris” (Season 5, Episode 3)

The series “Tales from the Crypt” really shone when it focused on themes of betrayal. In particular, the story “Forever Ambergris” is a standout example. Additionally, while “What’s Cookin’?” may be considered one of the best episodes, this Season 5 segment comes a close second.

In a different take, Roger Daltrey portrays Dalton Scott, a once-renowned wartime photographer who’s seen better days. Meanwhile, Isaac Forte (Steve Buscemi), the current sensation, is admired for his keen eye – something that Scott appears to have misplaced. To add insult to injury, Forte’s wife is strikingly beautiful. Desiring Forte’s success, Scott schemes to persuade him into taking photographs in a location he himself knows is tainted with a dangerous chemical. Unfortunately for Scott, before his untimely death, Forte warned his wife about Scott’s actions, and now she holds a secret weapon against her new paramour.

“People Who Live in Brass Hearses” (Season 5, Episode 5)

A story like “People Who Live in Brass Hearses” effectively utilizes two key aspects that were frequently beneficial to the show “Tales from the Crypt“. The first is a realistic and multifaceted (and sometimes even abusive) relationship between characters. The second lies in its ability to make us laugh at the absurdity of devious, yet dim-witted individuals.

In this rephrased version: Bill Paxton, known for his role as Brad Dourif’s character in ‘Child’s Play’, portrayed Billy and Virgil DeLuca respectively. After being released from prison due to a theft accusation by his ex-boss, an ice cream truck driver named Earl Byrd, Billy teams up with Virgil to rob their current employer – the ice cream factory where Byrd gets his supplies. However, things don’t go as planned and Billy decides to target Byrd again. When they arrive at Byrd’s house, Virgil shoots him with a shotgun before he could reveal the location of the money. In the ensuing chaos, both men search for the cash but Virgil disappears, leading Billy to believe that Byrd killed him. It’s later revealed that Byrd is actually one half of a pair of conjoined twins, which explains his ability to entertain children with a talking puppet while drinking slushies. This episode features what might be the darkest and most humorously shocking ending in the show’s history.

“Let the Punishment Fit the Crime” (Season 6, Episode 1)

The phrase ‘Let the Punishment Fit the Crime’ epitomizes the dark and gripping style typical of Tales from the Crypt. Despite the series having passed its prime, the later seasons still hold a certain charm. Compared to the earlier episodes, Seasons 7 and 8 may not be as strong, but they steer clear of the catastrophic fate that befell the British final season, which almost sunk the show.

In the movie titled “Let the Punishment Match the Crime,” Catherine O’Hara takes on the role of a bold attorney who gets pulled over for an unconventional license plate in the quaint town of Stueksville. This antiquated town has consistently thwarted development. With a seemingly incompetent public defense lawyer (Peter MacNicol, known from Ghostbusters II), she stands against a merciless trio of identical judges, embodying a twisted interpretation of justice.

2025-04-06 15:12