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

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

10 June 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Tales of horror based on the gloriously gruesome EC horror comics of the 1950's.

Plot Keywords:

Crypt | Crypt Keeper | Supernatural Power | Based On Comic Book | Cult Horror

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Primetime Emmys. Another 6 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

John Kassir

...

Crypt Keeper / ... (93 episodes, 1989-1996)

Also Known As:

HBO's Tales from the Crypt

Runtime:

USA:25 min (93 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-18 (2005) (DVD) (self applied) | Iceland:16 | 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 - 4927 Bennett Road, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Trivia:

While animatronics expert/puppetmaster Kevin Yagher was in the final stages of designing the Cryptkeeper, he tried on a few noses to see which would look best for the character - who had already shed lips, hair and most of his teeth - but none looked quite right. Director and producer Robert Zemeckis simply remarked, "You know, you don't necessarily have to have a nose."

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Spin off Ritual (2001/I)

Television's all time greatest horror series

Not only was every episode meticulously crafted into thirty minutes of ironic terror, but the forces behind it always remained credible enough to deliver star-studded episodes. Jon Kassir's Crypt Keeper remains one of the more sacred pop culture figures of recent years (when's the last time you saw someone trashing the Keeper? He's an icon for chrissakes), and while some of the stories may not have been on caliber with others (most of the "England" episodes never touched the Demi Moore/"if I can't have you, no one will" one), in the end, when the smoke had cleared and the show was over, you looked at it with a refreshing zing, as if you had embraced being had.

Bringing back the EC stories wasn't a simple task. Speilberg tried it with "Amazing Stories" and gave up after two long years. The "Vault Of Horror" got a limited run in 94, but failed. But Tales always stuck around, on its own terms, and gave up swinging.

NP: The Bobcat Goldthwait episode: only animated Tales ever: takeoff...Three Little Pigs