Tales from the Crypt: The Complete Third Season

The Tales From the Crypt series was some of the best television airing back in the final year of the 80s and into the early 90s. Deliberately over the top. Deliberately funny. Deliberately campy at times. Deliberately scary. Deliberately gory. Deliberately one of HBO's finest creations.

The episodes are all based on EC Comics of old...mostly from the self titled Tales From the Crypt, Haunt of Fear and Vault of Horror comic books. But I'd guess that 90% of you reading this already know that, and you're here as I am delighted that it is finally out on DVD.

For those that have not seen these wonderfully entertaining episodes of dark humor and horror...if you're into the genre this collection and any of the other HBO seasonal Tales From the Crypt releases are for you.

Season 3 contains one of the most memorable episodes with Abra Cadaver: Carl (Tony Goldwyn) and Marty (Beau Bridges) are brothers who work at a hospital. When Carl plays a prank on Marty pretending to have a new way of proving that the brain lives after the body dies, the scare delivered in the prank literally gives Marty a heart attack. Years later Marty hasn't forgiven Carl and Marty "executes" a prank of his own. Deadly fun!!!

You'll also get:
-"Deadline": Never commit murder with a CSI in the cast (Marg Helgenberger).
-"The Trap": Michael J Fox directed tale of a guy that fakes his own death...to die for!
-"Loved To Death": Love potion #9!
-"Carrion Death": More like Carrying Death...cuffed to a corpse!
-"Top Billing": Star studded episode about a frustrated hacktor who will do anything to get a part.
-"Dead Wait": Who do that voodoo? Maybe Whoopi Goldberg?
-"The Reluctant Vampire": If you're going to mess with a vampire, don't be long in the tooth!
-"Easel Kill Ya": Death defying portraits?
-"Undertaking Parlor": Video taping the undertaker...lights, camera, hacktion!
-"Mournin' Mess": Boils better watch out for the Ghouls!
-"Split Second": Lumberjack gets jealous and gives the other guy the axe!
-"Spoiled": Soap opera from hell!
-"Yellow": Another star studded episode where Kirk Douglas puts his real life cowardly son into battle and ultimately the firing squad.

Hit the Buy button. Easel kill ya!

The third season is rather special for me because it has two of my favourite episodes of the whole show - "Abra Cadaver" and "Yellow". As we all know "Tales from the Crypt" is one of the best TV-shows ever, and I personally don't ponder whether to buy it or not. Definately yes! I just can't wait till they release all other seasons as well. And here are all the directors and guest stars appearing in the third season:

THE TRAP - dir. Michael J. Fox. Starring: Michael J. Fox.

LOVED TO DEATH - dir. Tom Mankiewicz. Starring: David Hemmings, Mariel Hemingway.

CARRION DEATH - dir. Steven De Souza. Starring: Kyle Maclachlan.

ABRA CADAVER - dir. Stephen Hopkins. Starring: Tony Goldwyn, Beau Bridges.

TOP BILLING - dir. Todd Holland (Don't confuse with Tom Holland). Starring: Louise Fletcher, Sandra Bernhard, Jon Lovitz.

DEAD WAIT - dir. Tobe Hooper. Starring: Whoopi Goldberg, James Remar, John Rhys-Davies.

THE RELUCTANT VAMPIRE - dir. Elliot Silverstein. Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Michael Berryman.

EASEL KILL YA - dir. John Harrison. Starring: Tim Roth.

UNDERTAKING PALLOR - dir. Michael Thau. Starring: Graham Jarvis.

MOURNIN' MESS - dir. Manny Coto. Starring: Ally Walker.

SPLIT SECOND - dir. Russel Mulcahy. Starring: Brion James, Michele Johnson.

DEADLINE - dir. Walter Hill. Starring: Marg Helgenberger.

SPOILED - dir. Andy Wolk. Starring: Anthony LaPaglia, Faye Grant.

YELLOW - dir. Robert Zemeckis. Starring: Kirk Douglas, Eric Douglas, Dan Aykroyd, Lance Henriksen.

The third season may not have a big amount of major stars, but the directors, the directors! Even if you are not a fan of chills and thrills, you'd want to check their works here. Have fun!

This is a pretty great selection of episodes. As with any season some episodes are better then others and there are a few duds. This is actually the best season released so far in my opinion, season 2 is good but there are to many zombie revenge episodes.

You may also notice that the episodes here are noticably longer then in season 1 or 2. Most of these episodes run close to the 30 minute mark (Even a 40 minute episode). In previous seasons the episodes only ran around 20-22 minutes. Also, the introduction that was missing in previous seasons is rightfully included. I recommend this for any fan of the show, the extras on this set are alot better then the ones on season 2.

It should also be noted that the box is different then seasons 1 and 2. This one has 2 small dvd cases inside the box rather then a fold out digipack.

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