Tales From The Crypt (1972)

This gleefully Puritanical British horror anthology relishes in the punishment delivered upon five visitors to an ominous crypt (granted, the various sins and misdeeds of this group of posh murderers and bourgeoise sociopaths are pretty egregious). Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Tales from the Crypt is how it differs, for better or worse, from standard American horror: instead of sex-crazed teens, most of these protagonists are stodgy and middle-aged, more concerned with wealth and security than getting to 3rd base. The film is based on the titular EC Comics series, though these adaptions are not as gruesomely thrilling or darkly humorous as those found in the better-known HBO series that followed years later.

Across the board, these vignettes (some of which barely clock in at 15 minutes) almost all could of benefited from more time and development. Opener “…And All Through the House” is particularly rushed, but perhaps the most satisfying segment (it gets right to the point, as it were). “Reflection of Death” and “Wish You Were Here,” both stories about middle-aged Brits having Rich People Problems, are meager but passable. The two most tedious segments, “Poetic Justice” and “Blind Alleys,” laboriously establish the most miserly of characters simply so we can eventually delight in their grisly comeuppance. Generally speaking, the performances are uneven, although production values are better than expected.