Tales from the Crypt

PG

Released Mar 8, 1972

1h 32m

Horror

List

90%

20 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

When people in a tourist group get lost within ancient catacombs, they meet the sinister Crypt Keeper (Ralph Richardson), who tells them each their fate. The creepy figure's macabre stories involve Joanne Clayton (Joan Collins), a wife dabbling in murder, and Grymsdyke (Peter Cushing), a retired sanitation worker targeted by his suspicious neighbors. Among the other characters is adulterer Carl Maitland (Ian Hendry), who may face a fitting demise if the Crypt Keeper's yarns come true.

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Noel Murray

The Dissolve

The misanthropy of the Tales From The Crypt and Vault Of Horror movies is strangely enjoyable, because it comes packaged within some gleefully perverse ideas.

Rated: 3.5/5

Nov 24, 2014

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

This British production looks handsome enough under Freddie Francis's direction, and for those who say they'd watch Ralph Richardson in anything, well, here's your chance.

Jul 10, 2012

Full Review

Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

Imaginative and solidly performed ensemble horror.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 10, 2012

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The best vignette finds Peter Cushing delivering one of the finest performances of his long career.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 7, 2021

Full Review

Craig Schroeder

Battleship Pretension

It's easily forgotten, but just as easily recalled for being a lot of fun. Which seems to fall perfectly in line with Tales From the Crypt's pop-culture legacy.

Jan 7, 2021

Full Review

Tim Brayton

Alternate Ending

The lows are still pretty good, and the highs are off the charts.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 23, 2020

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Taylor L

Ralph Richardson was one of the most acclaimed English actors of stage and screen of the 20th century, but he's not the Crypt Keeper. Since 1989, that has only ever been the honor of John Kassir and his macabre puppet. The original adaptation to take the name of the classic horror comic (though not all the stories shown originate from that source), produced by Amicus Productions decades before HBO would use the same inspiration for its acclaimed series, the 1972 version of Tales of the Crypt leans towards disturbing social sensibilities rather than more gruesome horror. It's relatively tame by comparison to the body horror or tales of malevolent killers that were being introduced at about the same time, showing some of the narratives' midecentury origins, which are almost milquetoast; there aren't too many thrills or chills to be had so many years down the line. It's pretty telling that the most disturbing aspects of this anthology film are the explorations of human cruelty rather than the supernatural spooks that the film emphasizes; the story of a lonely, kind old Peter Cushing being mentally tortured by greedy neighbors is actually quite poignant, though it's the occult elements that the narrative treats as its crux. The original run of The Twilight Zone seemed to understand that the most horrific elements of a good spooky story tend to be people, and while there are still some classic horror sensibilities on display in this Fredie Francis adaptation, it's relatively vanilla by modern standards. (2.5/5)

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/10/22

Full Review

isla s

I liked Michelle Williams character in this film - Margot. I had a feeling it would be a bit saucy/raunchy as Seth Rogen is in it and indeed there is some pretty strong language/sex references and the like but it is by no means an all out sex filled film, or full of sex scenes. I liked that Margot appears to be quite introverted and the way she deals with the people she meets - how she handles things, for the most part, not that I condone cheating on people (honestly!). Its is a sort of film of two halves, one more graphic and saucy as I say and the other more sort of thoughtful, bashful. I also note that the colours/lighting were quite bright in this film - im unsure how to word it but hopefully you'll know roughly what I mean - I think it adds a sort of daydream sense to it. It has a certain feel of nostalgia about it. I suppose I did struggle a bit with the idea that Seth Rogens character is meant to be seen as (I assume anyway) a loveable, dorky guy we're to feel sorry for. Its certainly not as predictable a film as it could have been and I enjoyed it for some of the dialogue, the variety of characters and the whole daydream-y/nostalgic sense it contained, so I'd recommend it overall.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A series of morality plays concerning a group of people lost inside catacombs. Kind of like a Twilight Zone omnibus. A few chilling moments and some nice shots here and there, but overall quite mild and very of its time.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

andres s

Those catacombs look spooky as hell. The real thing. Damn that chick is foxy. Hot as fuck. That house is ugly, all the decorations and colors look very unappealing. Hah! She's trapped now in the house with her husbands dead body whom she killed. So the first story was that the woman was greedy, the second was that the man was unfaithful, the third was that the rich little prick was mean spirited (malice), the fourth was that the man was super materialistic & rich and didn't want to make sacrifices for the debt he was in, and the fifth was that the man was selfish and inconsiderate. All intolerable sins. Very interesting moral stories. Pretty twisted tales. Each one with its own interesting moral. I figured the five characters were in some sort of purgatory or entrance to hell. Great ending. I love the way the crypt keeper looked at the camera and said, "Who's next? Perhaps you?". Really great how everything was presented. Very clever and well told.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Liam D

Some wonderful and creepy Stories This horror is a fantastic anthology and you should watch it when it comes October.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/25/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Love it. So much catholic narrative behind: gives it punch👍

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

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Fred Francis

Director

Ralph Richardson

The Crypt Keeper

Joan Collins

Joanne Clayton

Peter Cushing

Arthur Edward Grimsdyke

Geoffrey Bayldon

Guide

Nigel Patrick

Maj. William Rogers

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Synopsis

When people in a tourist group get lost within ancient catacombs, they meet the sinister Crypt Keeper (Ralph Richardson), who tells them each their fate. The creepy figure's macabre stories involve Joanne Clayton (Joan Collins), a wife dabbling in murder, and Grymsdyke (Peter Cushing), a retired sanitation worker targeted by his suspicious neighbors. Among the other characters is adulterer Carl Maitland (Ian Hendry), who may face a fitting demise if the Crypt Keeper's yarns come true.

Director: Fred Francis
Screenwriter: Milton Subotsky
Production Co: Metromedia Producers Corporation (MPC), Amicus Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English (United Kingdom)
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 8, 1972, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 26, 2020
Runtime: 1h 32m
Sound Mix: Surround