Tales From The Crypt (1972) + Vault of Horror (1973)

Tales From The Crypt (1972)
Vault of Horror (1973)

Dirs. Dir. Freddie Francis (TFtC) / Roy Ward Baker (VoH)

A Double Feature put out by Scream Factory that contains both Tales From The Crypt and its sequel, Vault of Horror (also known as Tales From The Crypt II in some regions).

I have issues with Scream Factory's price-hiking and shameless lack of integrity, but they licence some damn fine feature films.

Both are typical of the Amicus anthology format, each collecting five short stories set within a larger narrative framework. The locales for each story are different but all are set in the modern era (i.e. the 1970s).

The Studio even managed to lure some big name stars to appear in the works, such as Peter Cushing, Tom Baker, Denholm Elliott, Joan Collins and Sir Ralph Richardson.

Despite its name, only two of the stories in Tales From The Crypt (1972), directed by Hammer and Amicus regular Freddie Francis, actually appeared in the Tales from the Crypt comic series, but all of them are worthy and the skeletal Crypt Keeper is at least included, so it's forgivable.

The set-up is a simple but effective one: five individuals find themselves within the titular crypt. Each one is subsequently approached by the Keeper in turn. He looks into their eyes, into their hearts and souls, uncovering and revealing to the audience the subject's true nature.

Vault of Horror (1973) is similar, with a second lot of five individuals, and even though it's more of a mixed bag it's my favourite of the two. Directed this time by Roy Ward Baker, none of the stories ever appeared in the Vault of Horror comic series. Instead, four of them are sourced from Tales from the Crypt, and one from Shock SuspenStories. (I learned that from Wikipedia.)

The fantastically-scored opening sets the scene, introducing five strangers, all men this time, who reveal to the others (and us) the sordid details of their most terrifying nightmares.

Mostly the dreamers deserve the sting in the tail that each story carries, meaning we can take pleasure in their gruesome punishments and not feel guilty; there's a sense of justice served.

The Vault Keeper is mysteriously absent in the second film, but there's a welcome black humour throughout, coming to the surface once or twice.

Poster Art - Click for FULL Size.