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

User Rating:

8.1/10   

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:

Macabre | Cult TV | Murder | Black Comedy | Dark Comedy

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:

Netherlands:30 min | USA:30 min (93 episodes) | Argentina:30 min

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:

John Kassir came up with the trademark voice of the Cryptkeeper himself. When Kassir auditioned for the part, the producers loved it so much they almost immediately chose him.

Quotes:

Crypt Keeper: Heads, I win. Tails, you *ooze*!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Hercules Against the Moon Men (#5.10)" (1992)

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