For those unfamiliar with this collection of horror tales, the series puts the horror tales from the 1950's comics published by EC Comics in motion. Each story is bookended with The Crypt Keeper (a decaying muppet) making a ton of really bad puns, but generally doing a good job of introducing and closing off that episode's tale.
This show does use nudity, profanity and sexual situations fairly frequently. With the possible exception of the outright nudity, the degree to which the show goes isn't too far for most modern cable channels, but considering the series ran from 1989 to 1996, it could only really be shown on HBO.
Tales from the Crypt's Seventh Season starts off with the Crypt Keeper moving to England, so this season's stories are filled with lots of Brittish stars or future stars. One such actor is comedian Eddie Izzard who plays a screenwriter (who, funnily enough, claims to have written for the cancelled series Tales From The Crypt) that is being accused of murder in "Confession."
Like I said above, The Complete Seventh Season has quite a few gems in it that have been stuck in my head for a long time. A personal favorite, "Cold War," stars a young Ewan McGregor (Star Wars Episodes I - III) and Jane Horrocks (Corpse Bride) as zombie hoodlums that end up fighting with a vampire (Colin Salmon) after a heist. The three characters end up fighting and you get to see first hand who is better, zombies or vampires.
Another classic has Natasha Richardson as a lawyer who helps an elderly millionaire change his will just before his death, as well as the murder and subterfuge that happens after that death as the surviving sons try to get all the inheritance. This episode is called "Fatal Caper."
In "Smoke Wrings," you get to see Daniel Craig (the current 007) as a new employee to an advertising firm that uses a device to manipulate people's desires. But what Barry (Craig) hasn't quite figured out is who he is working for.
Even though I have vivid memories of all of these episodes (as well as ones like "Kidnapper" and "Report from the Grave"), I don't think any of these shows are quite as lasting as the series' finale, "The Third Pig." This animated tale is a twist on the classic Three Little Pigs story where the wolf is trying to eat Smokey Pig, Drinky Pig (voiced by Brad Garrett) and Dudley Pig. When Smokey and Drinky are driven from their home by the wolf, they go to live with Dudley in his brick home. But the two brothers basically make the kind pig their maid and servant, that is until the day Dudley has to go to the store and the other two forget to lock the door.
Tales from the Crypt has always had a special place in my heart, most likely because it was of the slightly forbidden nature considering my age when the series was on. As a final season, this show ends with the same flare and great, if not somewhat cheesy, tales that made it last as long as it did. Fans of the show shouldn't hesitate to pick up this set and, since there isn't an overarching storyline, if you haven't gotten any of the previous seasons, but are still interested, you can just jump right in with The Complete Seventh Season.
