What was then the latest in a fairly consistent line of Horror offerings from, Amicus Studio's who during the sixties and seventies proving to be their only major rival, Tales From the Crypt proved to be one of their more critically and commercial successful films, raking in $3million at the U.S. box office on a £140 thousand budget. The anthology concept by this time wasn't the most innovative having been done countless times before. Going as far back as 1945's Dead of Night. Looking to, the Tales from the Crypt publications for the source of their material and utilising the oft-used wrap around motif to set up the procession of stories. Having five unconnected strangers who are exploring old catacombs with a party of tourists separate from the rest of the main group, and happen across the shrouded Crypt Keeper (Ralph Richardson) who one by one imparts how each one of them is going to meet a horrible fate. Fairly standard stuff but it sets up the rest of the movie rather neatly as we are introduced to the first which is:
All the Through the House, and stars Joan Collins as Joanne Clayton, the much younger wife of her sixty something year old husband who live with their young daughter. It's Christmas Eve and while their little girl is tucked up in bed, the wife murders her husband. No motive as to why is ever given but I suppose it's not of too much consequence to the story. As as events unfold she hears over the radio that an escaped maniac disguised as Santa Claus is wandering the streets. Of course we all know where this is going to go don't we. Incidentally this story was remade, or should I say re-adapted for the 1989 HBO TV series, and to be quite frank was pulled off better than what it is here. I think the fact that it benefited from a more ominous and imposing looking Santa Claus in actor Larry Drake helped. It's not the cleverest of stories but at only around twelve minutes in length it's diverting enough, and at least doesn't overstay it's welcome. Joan Collins, not a great actress by any means is still fairly effective although there's little in the way of dialogue but it could have benefited from having that dark, foreboding atmosphere that the TV series knocked out of the park.
Followed by Reflection of Death, this is a rather forgettable tale which concerns Carl Mailtand, (Ian Hendry) who leaves his family to be with Susan Blake, (Angela Grant) his younger lover who he is having an affair with. While driving away together, Carl who is driving feels tired and therefore Susan offers to take over. While sat in the passenger seat, Carl nods off to sleep and that's when the car accident occurs. I won't say any more than that but to suffice to say this is a rather ho-hum offering. One which has been similarly done before in the likes of the 1959 Twilight Zone episode, Perchance to Dream despite decent performances it ranks as the worst of the the collection.
Next there is Poetic Justice which provides an upturn in quality and is thanks largely in part to the inclusion of the late, great Peter Cushing. Here he portrays a kindly old gentleman, Arthur Grimsdyke, a dustman who lives in the same street as a pair of snobbish neighbours. They're father and son Edward Elliot (David Markham) and his slimy son James (Robin Phillips) who resent his existence. He owns a number of animals which include dogs, and entertains the local children. The son in a quest to rid the street of Grimsdyke sets off on a campaign of cruelty which sees the removal of Grimsdyke's dogs by the police, turning all the parents of the local children against the poor old man. So much so that they forbid them from visiting him, and on Valentines Day sending him cards with cruel poetry which pushes Grimsdyke towards the edge. This is more memorable less for it's bloody denouement which is fittingly poetic as the title would suggest, but the sympathetic portrayal of Arthur Grimsdyke. An old widower who obviously lonely, misses his late wife and communicates with her via a Ouiji Board. David Markham is so thoroughly loathsome as the underhanded James that your hatred for him intensifies until it's satisfying conclusion. It's not the smartest of conclusions but still ties up the story neatly enough.
The penultimate segment, Wish You Were Here revolves around, Ralph Jason (Richard Greene) who is teetering on the brink of financial ruin. His wife Enid, (Barbara Murray) finds an old Chinese figurine with a poetic inscription carved in which states that it will grant three wishes to whoever possesses it. Enid flippantly wishes for a fortune in cash not expecting it to come true. However in a cruel twist of fate, when Ralph is killed in a motorcar accident she inherits the insurance money. However, with two more wishes left she won't stop there and the grieving widow wants her husband back. Essentially a variation on The Old Monkey's Paw story which is actually referenced, this marks the best of the quintet. It's all silly hokum but good dark, twisted fun none the less with a wonderfully macabre pay off. It is very nasty though, and given the movies denouement at the end, Ralph's ultimate fate does seem rather unjust in context. Still, with fine performances all round and veteran actor Roy Dotrice offering some further support as the couples friend and lawyer it's rewardingly grim and adds what was then a fresh new twist on the classic tale.
Finally there's, Blind Alley which focus's on Major William Rogers, (Nigel Patrick) an incompetent and aloof director of a care home for the blind comprising of elderly and middle aged men. When the Major makes cuts to the homes budget by reducing heating and rationing food, the pleas from the homes residence whom he threatens with setting his Alsatians upon them if they don't tow the line. Inevitably enough proves to be enough for the browbeaten residents who set about exacting a chilling revenge. This as with the previous story is of course fanciful hokum, but that's what's to be expected and as it goes it's passable enough although I can't say there's any real great twist in the conclusion. Merely another case of poetic justice but it's efficiently enough handled, with some appropriately cheesy dialogue which befits the nature of the source material. Patrick is suitably unwavering in his callousness towards those he's been charged with caring, while actor Patrick MacGee is enjoyably stone-faced and stoic as the ringleader of the rebelling residence of the home.
All rounding up to a hardly shocking conclusion, which in hindsight you might have seen coming and is merely a contrived means to set up the stories. Tales from the Crypt however despite a couple of stories which stand out the best among the rest is a solid enough. An underwhelming addition to the old Horror anthology sub-genre, It's for the most part a movie that will likely be soon forgotten after it's viewing, but as a means to wile away an hour and a half of your time it it's passable fare. Just don't expect anything anything of particularly high calibre.
