TV-Reviewed

Now here’s a blast from the past. Who doesn’t remember Tales From The Crypt? I was pretty young when it began airing on HBO and honestly don’t recall any specific episodes. What I remember most about the series is the Crypt Keeper’s great laugh. It’s hard to forget that.

The series started off its reign of terror in 1989 with an episode starring William Sadler, who just so happens to be a favorite actor of mine. Sadler played a character named Niles Talbot, a country boy who didn’t mind the city. He liked the pretty lights at night and knew that there was plenty of trash within the city that would keep him busy at work, as the state’s executioner.

Why hello there, my pretty!

A controversial vote would later put an end to the death penalty in Talbot’s state, thus eliminating his job. I kind of saw Talbot’s future as a killer well in advance here, much thanks to Showtime’s Dexter, a terrific show about a man who takes out the city’s garbage, as it were. Like Dexter Morgan, Niles Talbot typically killed murderers.

The biggest disappointment was the silly move to re-institute the death penalty just as soon as Talbot was arrested for the murders he committed and he got a taste of his own medicine. I guess that’s what happens when you get too caught up in your work, huh?

I loved the way Sadler’s character got to speak right to the audience. He laid it all out there, giving us plenty of insight into the mind of this eventual murderer. It made him an interesting character to watch. Still, the biggest thrill I got was from the Crypt Keeper himself. I haven’t seek the Crypt Keeper on my television in years so this was a pleasant re-introduction. His laugh is still great and his witty lines are full of puns galore. I just loved the writing for the Crypt Keeper.

Rating: 7.8