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18 out of 18 people found the following review useful: Ghoulish Fun, 10 July 2000 Author: BaronBl00d (baronbl00d@aol.com) from NC
Five people wander off on a tour and come upon the crypt-keeper. Each tells his or her last memory. Each one confesses to doing something wrong. The crypt-keeper listens to each before telling the five what has happened to them and where they are. Easily this is one of the best Amicus horror anthologies. It is well-crafted, well-acted, and suitably directed by genre stalwart Freddie Francis. All of the stories are pretty good, with three standing out. The first story about Christmas and a loose killer is well-done and shocking for its day. The best story stars Peter Cushing as a genial old man suffering desolation and humiliation from a heart-less(no pun intended) neighbor. Cushing does a wonderful job here, and in a way it is a sad performance as it was made shortly after the death of his long-time wife Helen. The last story is almost as good about a group of blind residents who stop taking being treated poorly and give out punishment to a military man with razor-sharp justice. Patrick Magee and Nigel Patrick both excel in this little vignette. The frame story is also well-executed and Sir Ralph Richardson hams it up amicably as the keeper of the crypt. A great group of frightening stories...each with a moral of sorts.
20 out of 22 people found the following review useful: "A classic Freddie Francis directed horror film.", 20 September 2003 Author: jamesraeburn2003 from Poole, Dorset
*CAUTION - HUGE SPOILERS* Five strangers are separated from their tour party while touring ancient catacombs. In attempt to find the others, they end up trapped in an eerie crypt where they meet the Cryptkeeper (SIR RALPH RICHARDSON), a sinister monk who shows them their grisly fortunes.AND ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE: Joanne Clayton (JOAN COLLINS) murders her husband on Christmas Eve for his life insurance but ends up being attacked by a psychopathic killer dressed as Father Christmas.REFLECTION OF DEATH: Carl Maitland (IAN HENDRY) leaves his family for his young mistress Susan (ANGIE GRANT). As they drive off into the night, their car crashes into a ravine. Carl manages to struggle out of the wreckage but Susan is nowhere to be found. Everyone he approaches runs off in fear at the sight of him and when he manages to get to Susan's flat, he discovers that she was blinded by the accident and that he had died two years previously. Bewildered, Carl looks into a mirror and discovers that he is a walking corpse. Suddenly Carl awakens and it was all a nightmare, but then the car crashes exactly as it did in his dream and the horror begins for real! POETIC JUSTICE: Ruthless property developer James Elliot (ROBIN PHILIPS) feels that his neighbour, the kindly dustman Arthur Grimsdyke (PETER CUSHING) is an eyesore. However, his property has considerable land value and Elliot launches a smear campaign in the hope that he will sell up and leave. Instead Grimsdyke commits suicide after he sent him a number of poison Valentine cards, but a year on Grimsdyke returns from the grave to deliver a particularly grisly St Valentine's Day present! WISH YOU WERE HERE: Ruthless business tycoon Ralph Jason (RICHARD GREENE) is declared bankrupt by his lawyer Charles Gregory (ROY DOTRICE). But Jason's wife Enid (BARBARA MURRAY) has discovered a statuette, which can grant three wishes. After Ralph is killed in a car crash, Enid wishes her husband alive forever and as a result Jason returns from the dead. However, his body has been embalmed and this means that he must live in eternal agony forever. Enid attempts to end is suffering by chopping him up with a sword, but this means that his suffering is only increased.BLIND ALLEYS: Selfish Major William Rogers (NIGEL PATRICK) takes over the running of a home for the blind. However, Rogers uses funds allocated to the needs of his patients for his own comfort. When his negligence results in the death of one of them, the other patients exact a nasty revenge, in which Rogers is trapped in a corridor lined with razor blades and is set upon by his vicious starved dog.After Rogers' fortunes are told, the Cryptkeeper informs them that he wasn't showing them the future, but telling them why they ended up in the crypt. The only exit leads into a fiery pit and they realize that they are all dead and are in hell as a result of their sins.TALES FROM THE CRYPT was Amicus's fourth portmanteau horror film and is based on stories from the EC horror comics of the fifties by William Gaines. Freddie Francis' direction is first rate as is Norman Warwick's camera-work, which ideally suits the comic strip style of the film. A star-studded cast does fine work especially Peter Cushing as Arthur Grimsdyke in POETIC JUSTICE, a touching performance which won him the Best Actor Of The Year Award in France. REFLECTION OF DEATH is well staged and shot in dark uncompromising colors. WISH YOU WERE HERE is a variation on THE MONKEY'S PAW, while BLIND ALLEYS is neat and suspenseful thanks to imaginative camera-work and good performances from Nigel Patrick and Patrick Magee as the victimised blind man. AND ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE carries a touch of sly black humor as Joanne Clayton's little daughter played by Chloe Franks gleefully lets in the psychotic Santa Claus not realizing the real horror of what's going on. All in all, TALES FROM THE CRYPT is unmissable for both addicts of the genre and for those who appreciate fine acting.Also of interest is the collectable novelized version of the film by Jack Oleck, which is well presented and good to read. Genre addicts will have a good laugh when they see the follow up, VAULT OF HORROR (1973), in which that very book is used as a prop by actor Michael Craig in the buried alive segment. In the 1990's, the EC horror comics were developed into an American TV series entitled Tales From The Crypt only the crypt keeper was a horrific skull like puppet and a 1996 episode called Last Respects was directed by Francis.
18 out of 20 people found the following review useful: Very good horror anthology by specialist company Amicus, 19 April 2004 Author: Coventry from the Draconian Swamp of Unholy Souls
The early 70's were golden years for the British horror industry… Hammer produced their last goodies, while there was another company who specialized in making the so-called `horror-omnibuses'… During a reign of approximately 10 years, Amicus brought forward anthologies going from nearly brilliant (The House that Dripped Blood) to very bad (The Monster Club). Tales From the Crypt surely belongs to their greatest achievements as well and it guarantees an hour and a half of delightful horror entertainment. Five stories are presented to us, and at least four of them have an above average quality level. (Sir) Ralph Richardson appears as the host. Disguised as the Cryptkeeper, he shows the unfortunate dead of 5 people who descended into his vault… The film is based on a fifties comic book success formula, which also resulted in a popular spin-off series in the early nineties. The protagonists are always doomed and these tales show their regress into death… Each of the stories has its own, unique setting and atmosphere and, together, they cover pretty much all the favorite horror topics. Yet, 5 stories is a little exaggerated and therefore aren't fully elaborated…Especially the first story suffers from its own shortness…It involves a bitchy woman (a stunningly beautiful Joan Collins) who kills her husband, but finds herself trapped in her house while an escaped lunatic lurks through the windows. This first story is pretty bloody and tense, and I wish it had been a little longer (if it were only to look at Collins some more…). The second story by far is the worst of them all and I feel they should have left this one out. The storyline has nothing new to offer and the acting is uninspired. Tale number three stars horror-legend Peter Cushing and he's the good guy for a change! Cushing is a lonely man who offers presents to the neighborhood children and throws parties for them…I guess this wasn't an issue in the seventies yet! Or was it? Cushing character is hated by his next-door neighbor, but eventually avenges himself. The fourth story is my personal favorite since it really breathes an almost unbearable morbidity…it's a variant on the famous monkey-claw myth, which provides the owner with 3 wishes. This chapter is really chilling and the scenery is great! It also has the best make-up effects and adorable twisted humor! The final story is very ingenious and chilling as well and it entirely takes places in an institute for the blind. The new manager introduces a whole lot of economy measures, while he's living a life of luxury. At one point, the inhabitants won't take it anymore and they show him what being blind feels like…
14 out of 15 people found the following review useful: Nice collection of bitter little tales, 18 May 2004 Author: Poseidon-3 from Cincinnati, OH
Based on the old (and rather controversial) E.C. Comics of the mid-20th century, this horror anthology is an above average entry in an intriguing (and all but dead) genre. Here there is a tour group seen roaming through some ancient catacombs with five attendees obstinately staying behind, despite numerous warnings to stick close together. They find themselves severed from the group and wind up in a tomb-like room with creepy Richardson in a monk's robe doling out orders and insights. The quintet is made to sit while each one gets a glimpse into his or her recent life. Thus the five brief stories are presented in order, each one with a morbid, ironic or gory twist to it. Collins (looking svelte and attractive) is in the first one. She splits her husband's head open as he's benignly reading the newspaper while cheery Christmas music plays on the soundtrack. (Hilariously, she kicks him down the steps while "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" drones on.) Before she can properly dispose of his body, an escaped mental patient in a Santa suit starts terrorizing her! Then Hendry is shown leaving his wife and children for a younger woman. A fateful experience on the freeway changes his life forever. Next up, snooty Phillips is being driven up the wall by his neighbor - kindly, but eccentric, old man Cushing. Phillips continuously thwarts Cushing until he gives up...but does he? A fourth tale features Greene (as a greedy gunrunner) who is forced to part with his possessions, but his wife spies an inscription on an old statuette and discovers that she can use it to ask for three wishes. This doesn't work out quite as optimistically as she had hoped. Finally, Patrick is a militant, heartless administrator of a home for the blind. He pushes the male inhabitants there to their limit and winds up paying dearly for his sins. Though no story gets enough time spent on it to really flesh it out to it's greatest potential, most of them are really intriguing and usually very well acted. The spareness of the locations and effects help set a rather desolate and chilly mood. The finest acting is probably provided by Cushing in a very atypical role. The most memorable vignette is the last one which features an unforgettable comeuppance. Fans of British horror (and especially of anthologies) will rank this pretty highly, but it's interesting enough to lure other viewers as well.
12 out of 12 people found the following review useful: An enjoyably nasty and macabre collection of terror tales., 13 October 2007 Author: Scott LeBrun from Winnipeg, Canada
Back in the 60's and 70's, a company called Amicus delivered a string of noteworthy anthology horror films. This five story collection is adapted from tales first told in the E.C. horror comics of the 1950's, and it's a good and ghoulish cinematic adaptation. An excellent British cast brings this movie to life, as well as sterling, stylish photography by Norman Warwick and fun music by Douglas Gamley; film also makes good use of Bachs' Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.The stories are all told in tight and trim running times, resulting in approximately an hour and a half of horror.As a group is taking a tour of some catacombs, five get separated from the main group and end up imprisoned in a room with a strange gentleman - none other than the Crypt Keeper (Sir Ralph Richardson). (Yes, back in the early 70's the role was played by a person and wasn't a puppet.) The sinister Keeper informs the puzzled quintet why they are there by presenting them with the five tales."And All Through the House". Joan Collins portrays a murderous wife, after her husbands' insurance policy, who knocks him off on Christmas Eve while a psychopath dressed as Santa Claus is on the loose. This story would later be adapted again as the very first episode of the 1989 - 1996 TV series. Not a bad way to kick off the movie. The combination of graphic mayhem with the sounds of a choir singing Christmas carols works well, and the gorgeous Collins is compulsively watchable here."Reflection of Death". Adulterous Carl Maitland (Ian Hendry) is about to leave his whole family for the other woman, but ends up in a horrific car accident. He walks away only to find out that things are not as they seem. The camera takes up his point of view, a nice touch in a story with a cyclical quality."Poetic Justice". Snot nosed, ruthless developer James Elliott (Robin Phillips) intensely dislikes neighbor Arthur Grimsdyke (a truly wonderful Peter Cushing), and enacts several schemes to drive the poor old man away. The last one has a tragic consequence for Grimsdyke...and an equally tragic one for Elliott. Phillips is a great villain and this portion of the picture is not only enjoyably morbid but rather affecting as well."Wish You Were Here". In this variation on the story of "The Monkey's Paw" (which is actually mentioned on screen), ruthless businessman Ralph Jason (Richard Greene) ends up forced to declare bankruptcy. As he is forced to ponder selling his belongings to pay off his debts, he and his wife realize that one of their statues bears an inscription seemingly entitling them to three wishes. In short order, wish one brings about instant wealth, and wish two brings Ralph back to life after he perishes in a car crash. However, wife Enid (Barbara Murray), for her third wish, hopes to have him live forever, but he is in unbearable agony - now for eternity - because he is suffering the effects of the embalming. She tries to end his suffering, but it only makes things worse. Some good moments and nice sequences in this story with a cheerfully sadistic, nasty conclusion."Blind Alleys". The new head of a hospital for the blind, Major Rogers (Nigel Patrick) seems to care not at all for his patients, forsaking all of their comfort for his own gratification. But prominent patient Mr. Carter (Patrick Magee) has plans for revenge, involving razor blades and Rogers's own dog. This segment is as nicely twisted and memorably gruesome as the fourth entry, and is a satisfactory way of ending the picture.Then the whole movie is wrapped up when the Keeper informs his five guests of their ultimate fate.A grand old time for horror fans, this film is graphic enough to keep more squeamish viewers at bay, but the cast makes it a must see and the highly capable veteran director and cinematographer Freddie Francis once again shows an assured facility for the genre. The picture has no dull moments, and moves steadily and surely towards its dark conclusion.This was a pleasure for me to watch.8/10
10 out of 10 people found the following review useful: Not Your Typical Bedtime Story!, 26 January 2006 Author: ClassixFan from USA
Amicus Studios, best known for their anthology films nailed it with this effort from 1972. With five solid stories to chill your bones, this anthology is one of my favorite films, bar none. The film is packed with a solid cast that includes; Peter Cushing, Joan Collins, Ian Hednry and Richard Greene, just to name a few. My personal faves from this anthology would be; All Through the House, Poetic Justice and Wish You Were Here, but all five stories are really well done. The Peter Cushing story is particularly touching, Cushing does a wonderful job of playing a sad man, mourning the death of his wife, in his story, which very much paralleled Cushing's own life, as he was still in mourning over the recent loss of his own wife. If you're a fan of the macabre, then you owe it to yourself to seek this 1972 film out, it is quite tame by today's standards as far as blood and gore go, but the chill factor is definitely there.
11 out of 12 people found the following review useful: Beware The Keeper Of The Crypt!, 30 August 2003 Author: CitizenCaine from Las Vegas, Nevada
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This is a fantastic British Horror Anthology of five stories, linked together by Sir Ralph Richardson as the keeper of the crypt. There were several other horror anthologies from the mid 60's through the 70's. Many of them were just as good as this one. The film starts with a creepy church organ and never lets up. Sir Ralph preaches to the five guests in between each story. Each story deals out equal parts shock and horror. Some favorite British actors are on hand to lend credibility to the proceedings: Joan Collins, prior to her Dynasty days; Ian Hendry; Peter Cushing; Richard Greene; Patrick Magee and Nigel Patrick. The first two stories offer good shocks, but the second one owes a lot to the British film, Dead Of Night. The next two stories offer shocks and gore to spare, especially for the 1970's. The last one is very ironic, to say the least. This must have been a terrific drive-in movie to go to, especially in autumn when fog might roll in on your way home. *** of 4 stars.
10 out of 12 people found the following review useful: Great film. Remember watching it in the 1970's, 6 March 2006 Author: Nurse44 from United Kingdom
The story starts with five tourists visiting underground catacombs in what appears to be a crypt. They venture off into a secret room where a mysterious robed figure appears. Through the five stories, he shows them what will happen if they go ahead with the dastardly plans they are about to endeavor. Joan Collins clobbers her husband to death on Christmas Eve to the sound of 'Oh Come all Ye Faithful' playing on the radio. She is then stalked by a not so friendly Santa Claus who turns out to be a madman intent on murder.A wayward husband dies in a car crash - but isn't aware of it yet.Peter Cushing plays a lonely old man who is hounded by his cruel neighbours. He returns from his grave to take brutal revenge on his tormentors. The really scary bit was the unforgettable Valentine's Card…"You were cruel and mean from the start, now you really have no heart". Three guesses what the soft,lumpy body organ is enclosed with the card!A businessman dies in a crash, only to be brought back to life by his wife. However, he's been embalmed already. Ouch!And finally, there is a superbly frightening tale about a callous warden at a home for the blind. His inhumane behaviour leads him to a most horrifying end, involving lots of razor blades and a hungry Alsatian dog.
7 out of 8 people found the following review useful: finally on DVD, Tales from the Crpyt!, 18 September 2007 Author: TheatreX from Louisville, KY
This is one of my favorite anthology movies that I was dismayed was not on DVD when I finally got a DVD player a few years ago. Now it is, and it was a perfect antidote for having mistakenly watched the hideously bad "Creepshow 3" a couple days ago. This is based on the EC Comics of the 50's (which the original Creepshow was based on as well, but that was played more for humor than this is). A group of people are on a tour of some catacombs, it seems, but they become separated from their guide and come across a chamber with a man in a hooded robe (Ralph Richardson) who shows them how they each came to be there. Joan Collins seems to have murdered her dear husband on Christmas Eve only to become the victim of a psycho Santa Claus. Ian Hendry told his wife he was off on a business trip when he was really running away with another woman only to be the victim of a traffic accident, and so on. All of these tales are ghoulish good fun, and this is one of the best horror anthology films to come out of the UK. If for some reason you've never seen this it's well worth your time, and hey, there was even a TV show based on it, but to be honest, I've never seen it. 8 out of 10.
6 out of 7 people found the following review useful: E.C.'s most popular comic book comes to the big screen!, 27 August 2005 Author: Captain_Couth (sirjosephu@aol.com) from Sacramento, CA
Tales From the Crypt (1972) was the first (and best) adaptation of E.C.'s most popular and beloved comic book. These tales were taken straight out of the original panels. Unlike the overrated and lame cable t.v. version that made a mockery out of the original source, this film from Amicus paid tribute to TALES FROM THE CRYPT in such a way that put's the H.B.O. version to shame.These tales were baffling, scare and mystify the viewers. They work well in the omnibus format instead of stretching them to fill a half hour worth of screen time. I also liked the original crypt keeper, he was more like the comic book character as well. I wish that they release this underrated movie out on D.V.D. It could find a whole new generation of fans. Stars Peter Cushing, Joan Collins, Patrick Magee and Sir Ralph Richardson as the crypt keeper.Highly recommended.
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