Haeckel's Tale (27 Jan. 2006)

While on his way to see his sick father, a man takes shelter with an elderly man and his young wife but soon discovers their horrible secret.

Director:

John McNaughton

Writers:

Mick Garris (creator), Mick Garris (teleplay),

Stars:

Steve Bacic, Micki Maunsell, Gerard Plunkett

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Steve Bacic	...	John Ralston
Micki Maunsell	...	Miz Carnation
Gerard Plunkett	...	Dr. Hauser (as Gerrard Plunkett)
Derek Cecil	...	Ernst Haeckel
Pablo Coffey	...	Chester
Jon Polito	...	Montesquino
Warren Kimmel	...	Faron
Jill Morrison	...	Rachel
Elizabeth McQuade	...	Young Woman
Tom McBeath	...	Wolfram
Leela Savasta	...	Elise Wolfram
Christopher DeLisle	...	Elise's Dead Husband

Storyline

In the nineteen century, a man seeks help with a necromancer, asking her to revive his beloved wife. The woman advises him that the process could be dangerous, since she can bring the body back, but not necessarily the spirit and proposes him to listen to Haeckel's story to help in his decision. Ernst Haeckel is a cocky medical student fascinated with resuscitation. When the illness of his father becomes terminal, he travels to visit him and in his journey he meets the necromancer Montesquino, who claims to have the ability to bring the dead back to life. While preparing to spend the night nearby a cemetery, the old man Wolfram offers him shelter in his home, telling him that it would be very dangerous to stay near the necropolis. Haeckel accepts the invitation and meets his young wife Elise Wolfram. He feels seduced by the sexy woman, and sooner he finds her eternal love for her deceased husband.

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Plot Keywords:

necromancer | cemetery | medical student | topless female nudity | intestines | 

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 January 2006 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Columbia Production Tax Credit, IDT Entertainment, Industry Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

59 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

George A. Romero was originally going to direct, but couldn't fit it in his schedule. Then Roger Corman was approached to helm the episode, but health issues came up and he was then replaced by John McNaughton.

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Goofs

When Wolfram brings Haeckel to the cabin for the first time, it's clear that there are no other cabins next to it. However, when Haeckel walks to the cabin in the morning after waking up in the graveyard, there is now a big rustic cabin next to Wolfram and Elisa's cabin in the background.

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Soundtracks

"Hush, Little Baby"
(traditional)(uncredited)
Performed by Leela Savasta

User Reviews

Necromance in the Necropolis

'Haeckel's Tale,' one of the last "Masters of Horror" episodes to be released on DVD, is a strange concoction of contradiction. Plot-wise, the film begins on a serious note but dives further and further into B-level silliness; visually, the costumes and sets run the gamut from impressive accuracy to jaw-dropping cheapness; the FX have a slapdash obviousness (the puppet-dog in the basket to the 'budget zombies'); and finally, it doesn't seem typical of any party involved (which, in this case, really isn't a good thing). John McNaughton, pinch-hitting for George Romero, directs a script by Mick Garris, based on a short story by Clive Barker...it's hard to imagine where such a fine teaming would go wrong, but it does. After the introduction of a poorly conceived (and unnecessary) framing device, we focus on Ernest Haeckel, a young upstart med student with delusions of Frankenstein-ian grandeur; on the way to see his ailing father, he comes across an old man and his attractive bride, who has a strange fixation with the residents of the local cemetery. Even for a 60-minute episode, the plot feels stretched, and the twists and revelations run the gamut from dumb to simply insulting (the ending being the worst offense). While the faux-Hammer period setting and costumes would have made this one of MOH's more ambitious episodes, McNaughton and Garris ultimately transform a promising premise into the type of Saturday-afternoon cheese-fest Vampira would be right at home hosting.