Ask any horror fan of a certain age their favorite scary anthology series and odds are they are going to reference Tales from the Crypt. Because the show originally ran on HBO, no content was off the table which meant that gore, nudity, and profanity was in ample supply. This led to varied storytelling that incorporated all the major subgenres of horror while also providing a running through line of satire, largely courtesy of the show’s sarcastic mascot Cryptkeeper (voiced brilliantly by John Kassir).
Awhile back, I started a rewatch of the series in anticipation of M. Night Shyamalan’s expected reboot for TNT. And while, sadly, that revival never got off the ground, it did provide me a perfect excuse to revisit a childhood favorite. All seasons of Tales from the Crypt are now streaming on Amazon – and specific links are below.
These are my picks for the ten essential Tales from the Crypt episodes every horror fan should watch. Pulling this list together was no easy feat and meant scrapping fan favorite episodes such as “Korman’s Kalamity,” “Split Personality,” and “Dead Right.” But I think it gives a good overview of why the series has endeared itself to so many horror fans and continues to set the standard for anthology horror.
10. Death of Some Salesmen (1993)
What’s better than getting Tim Curry to agree to appear in your television show? Getting Tim Curry to agree to play three, equally manic and delicious roles in the same episode! Walking a somewhat swerving line between camp horror and outright ridiculousness, this Tales from the Crypt episode centers on a calculating and morally bankrupt salesman, Judd Campbell (played with aplomb by Ed Begley Jr.), who thinks he has found an easy target in the Brackett family. His scheme to bilk the unsuspecting trio of hillbillies out of their savings takes an unexpected turn when Campbell discovers the family’s unusual way of dealing with salesmen who come to their doorstep uninvited. With a cameo by the always excellent Yvonne DeCarlo, this episode is perfect viewing for horror fans who appreciate comedy and carnage in equal measure.
Stream “Death of Some Salesmen” here:
9. You, Murderer (1995)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis, bubbling over with an all-star cast including John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini, and Humphrey Bogart(?!), and offering up a distinctly film noir tale of love and revenge, this episode was almost destined to be fail proof. We first meet Lou Spinelli (Robert Sacchi) as he attempts to leave his life of crime and become an upstanding citizen. Part of his reinvention includes a face transplant and, in a bit of technological wizardry for which Zemeckis had just garnered acclaim for employing to great effect in Forrest Gump, the new face of our antihero is that of classic film start Humphrey Bogart. When Spinelli’s wife and doctor decide to murder the man in order to be together, the fun really begins. Horror fans who enjoy experimental storytelling set to film noir conventions will get a big kick out of this quirky episode.
Stream “You, Murderer” here:
8. Yellow (1991)
One of the more divisive episodes in the Tales from the Crypt run, “Yellow” is a surprisingly moving exploration of father/son dynamics set against the backdrop of WWI. When Lt. Kalthrob (Eric Douglas) is labeled a coward for ordering a retreat in battle, General Kalthrob (a well-cast Kirk Douglas), the Lieutenant’s superior and also his father, must dole out the appropriate punishment. Eschewing the humor for which the series is know, this episode instead is a well-crafted, serious look at the horrific impact toxic masculinity has upon men, no matter their age. Horror tends to give mothers a bad rap and it’s gratifying to see the tables turned toward fathers in such a poignant way.
You can stream “Yellow” here:
7. The Ventriloquist’s Dummy (1990)
Any time you see Don Rickles and Bobcat Goldthwait listed as the leads of an episode revolving around two ventriloquists, you know you’re about to witness either dark comedy at its finest or a straight mess that’s about to go off the rails. I’m very happy to say that this is the latter. Penned by Frank Darabont, aka the best thing to ever happen to The Walking Dead, the season 2 episode The Ventriloquist’s Dummy makes perfect use of the acerbic wit of its leads while also offering up a wholly satisfying ending that will make you question whether it’s ever worth being a fan of someone’s work.
You can stream “The Ventriloquist’s Dummy” here:
6. Split Second (1991)
Up until now, there haven’t been any episodes of Tales from the Crypt revolving around blood splatter and chainsaws, but that’s all about to change. Tyrant boss Steve Dixon (Brion James) takes his constantly put upon employees to task for making lewd comments about his young and sexually promiscuous bride, Liz (Michelle Johnson). But when Liz decides to proposition Ted (Billy Wirth), a super hot lumber camp worker, Dixon’s jealousy results in the young man’s blindness and unexpectedly, creates the perfect opportunity for the workers to exact their revenge. Fans of quintessential 80s gore meets gallows humor horror are in for a particularly satisfying experience with this dark tale of workplace group think.
You can stream “Split Second” here:
5. Four Sided Triangle (1990)
Okay, so I‘m not sure this would make anyone else’s Tales from the Crypt top ten list but as a huge fan of Susan Blommaert (Pet Sematary, The Blacklist) there was no way I was leaving this season 2 episode off of mine. Mary Jo (Patricia Arquette) is a young woman being held captive on a farm by husband and wife duo, George (Chelcie Ross) and Luisa (Blommaert). One evening, after escaping a leering George’s advances for the umpeenth time, Mary Jo takes a bottle to the head. She soon starts insisting that the farm scarecrow is her secret lover and that he isn’t at all pleased with her treatment by the couple. Did I mention that the scarecrow wears a clown mask because why not? At times both preposterous and tension laden, the way the closing minutes of the episode upend the classic heroine in distress trope makes it mandatory viewing for horror fanatics.
You can stream “Four-Sided Triangle” here:
4. Came the Dawn (1993)
If you’re into Psycho homages, look no further than this twisty tale of secrets and murder. When a lone woman (Brooke Shields) is picked up by a suspect businessman (Perry King), it soon becomes clear that each are hiding their own set of deadly secrets. What really works in “Came the Dawn” is how gothic horror elements such as being stranded in a cabin during a rainstorm and narrative misdirection are pitted against nods to 80s horror excess (yes, there’s an ax involved). Viewers who prefer their thrills with more psychological gameplay and less overt gore will especially enjoy the slow burn quality of the episode and the way it leverages suspense, building to deliver a wholly unexpected but satisfying ending.
You can stream “Came the Dawn” here:
3. And All through the House (1989)
This episode blew my young mind when it first aired and I’m delighted its perverse carnage holds up today. In another Robert Zemeckis helmed production, horror meets revered holiday tradition in the form of a homicidal Santa Claus (a stellar Larry Drake) who wields an ax and has zero redeeming qualities. Killer Santa breaks into the home of an unsuspecting woman (no name is ever given) via her daughter’s open window. Why a window is open during the dead of winter is anyone’s guess, but folks, we’re not here for the realism. Did I also mention that the woman in question has just murdered her husband in order to be with her lover? And that all this exposition is delivered in the first five minutes? There’s really no reason why this episode should work. It’s essentially a non-stop chase sequence but Drake’s unhinged performance ratchets up the tension and makes it impossible to look away. He’s easily the scariest Santa since Silent Night, Deadly Night.
You can stream “And All through the House” here:
2. Two for the Show (1993)
Emma (a perfectly cast Traci Lords), the bored and adulterous wife of Andy (David Paymer), meets a particularly brutal end when she attempts one evening to leave her marriage. What then follows is a classic game of cat and mouse in which Andy attempts to flee the ever increasing presence of a wary police officer (Vincent Spano). With elements of Strangers on a Train and Rear Window, this episode will appeal to those horror fans who don’t feel a need for narrative justice but do appreciate a close-up shot of a severed head.
You can stream “Two for the Show” here:
1. Television Terror (1990)
Any way you slice it, murder houses are creepy. And it’s that central premise that fuels most of the action in this Tale from the Crypt‘s gem of an episode. In a pitch perfect sendup of his television personae at the time, Morton Downey Jr. is at his smarmy best as a talk show host who will do anything for ratings, even if that includes streaming live to his audience via a decrepit house in which all occupants met a grisly end. Old school horror fans will appreciate how the episode leverages tropes of the genre (ghosts, haunted houses, bleak endings) but the real treat here is Downey and the way he double downs on his character’s unlikeability even in the face of harrowing events.
You can stream “Television Terror” here:
Disagree with these picks? Hit us up on Twitter and let us know what YOU think should have made the list!
Excellent list I would replace Two for the show with Lover Come Back to Me and Add Fitting Punishment