This week on It Hails from the Crypt, hosts Fred and Tim head into the cornfield for “Four-Sided Triangle,” Season 2, Episode 9 of HBO’s Tales from the Crypt: a twisted tale of lust, abuse, obsession, revenge and one very unusual romantic triangle involving a scarecrow that may be more important than anyone realizes.

As always, we begin where Tales from the Crypt began:

Before “Four-Sided Triangle” came to HBO, “4-Sided Triangle” appeared in Shock SuspenStories #17, written by Carl Wessler with artwork by legendary EC artist Jack Kamen.

Fred and Tim dig into the original 1954 comic, examining Kamen’s distinctive artwork, the story’s mixture of sex, cruelty and grotesque humor, its rural nightmare atmosphere and the vicious EC morality at its center before looking at how the story was radically expanded for television nearly four decades later.

What happens when Tales from the Crypt takes a brutally simple eight-page EC shocker and gives its central character an entirely new story?

Then we turn to the 1990 HBO adaptation, directed by Tom Holland, the filmmaker behind Fright Night and Child’s Play.

Patricia Arquette stars as Mary Jo, a young fugitive trapped on an isolated farm with the deeply unpleasant George and Luisa Yates, played by Chelcie Ross and Susan Blommaert.

George has his eyes on Mary Jo. Luisa has her eyes on George. Mary Jo has her eyes on somebody else. Unfortunately, he’s a scarecrow.

After a violent encounter leaves Mary Jo with a head injury, she becomes convinced that the scarecrow standing in the field is alive — and that he’s her lover. George sees Mary Jo’s obsession as an opportunity, Luisa becomes increasingly jealous, and what begins as a nasty rural melodrama starts moving toward the kind of gruesome punchline only Tales from the Crypt could deliver.

Fred and Tim break down Patricia Arquette’s performance, Tom Holland’s direction, the episode’s sexuality, black comedy, violence, rural Gothic atmosphere and increasingly bizarre love triangle while comparing the HBO adaptation directly with its EC Comics source.

Why does the television version give Mary Jo so much more agency than the character in the original comic?

How does Tom Holland, the filmmaker who turned vampires and killer dolls into ’80s horror icons, approach the very different horror of a lonely farmhouse and a scarecrow?

And does expanding the original EC story make “Four-Sided Triangle” one of those rare adaptations that actually improves upon its source material?

Finally, Fred and Tim unlock the Vault of More for another collection of deep-cut recommendations inspired by the episode.

Movies. Television. Comics. Books. Horror history. Scarecrows. Rural nightmares. Forbidden desire. Killer relationships. And whatever other strange artifacts we can drag back from the dead.

If you love Tales from the Crypt, EC Comics, Patricia Arquette, Tom Holland, Fright Night, Child’s Play, vintage horror comics, HBO horror, scarecrow horror, rural horror, horror anthologies, cult movies or simply discovering obscure corners of horror history, join us as we dig into “Four-Sided Triangle.”

Send us your questions for the next visit to The Dead Letter Office.

It Hails From The Crypt

#TalesFromTheCrypt #ECComics #ForCryinOutLoud

This week on It Hails from the Crypt, hosts Fred and Tim crank up the volume for “For Cryin’ Out Loud,” Season 2, Episode 8 of HBO’s Tales from the Crypt — a deranged mixture of murder, greed, guilt, rock ’n’ roll and one conscience that absolutely refuses to shut up.

Fred and Tim dig into the original comic, Shock SuspenStories #15, written by legendary EC writer Otto Binder with artwork by Reed Crandall. examining Crandall’s detailed artwork, Binder’s tale of murder and guilt, the story’s increasingly bizarre psychological torment and the cruel morality that made EC Comics infamous before looking at how the story was transformed for television nearly four decades later.

Then we turn to the 1990 HBO adaptation, directed by Jeffrey Price, the Oscar-nominated co-writer of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and written by Price and longtime writing partner Peter S. Seaman.

Crooked rock promoter Marty Slash thinks he has found the perfect way to steal a fortune from a benefit concert. There’s just one problem: after committing murder, Marty’s conscience suddenly develops a voice of its own. And that voice belongs to Sam Kinison.

The episode stars Lee Arenberg as Marty Slash, Katey Sagal as Ms. Kilbasser, Sam Kinison as the screaming voice of Marty’s conscience and punk-rock legend Iggy Pop as himself, with John Kassir providing the unmistakable voice of the Crypt Keeper.

Finally, Fred and Tim unlock the Vault of More for another collection of deep-cut recommendations inspired by the episode.

And this week we open a brand-new wing of the Crypt: The Dead Letter Office!

Fred and Tim answer questions sent in by listeners about Tales from the Crypt, EC Comics, horror movies, filmmaking, the podcast and anything else strange enough to find its way into our mailbox.

EPISODE, CAST & CREW

• For Cryin’ Out Loud — Episode
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0716849/

• Jeffrey Price — Director / Writer
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0696949/

• Peter S. Seaman — Writer
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0780620/

• Lee Arenberg — Marty Slash
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0034305/

• Katey Sagal — Ms. Kilbasser
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005408/

• Sam Kinison — Marty Slash’s Conscience
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0455630/

• Iggy Pop — Himself
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006563/

• John Kassir — The Crypt Keeper
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0440885/

• Tales from the Crypt — Full Cast & Crew
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0716849/fullcredits/

#TalesFromTheCrypt #ForCryinOutLoud #ECComics #HorrorPodcast #Horror #HBO #CryptKeeper #SamKinison #KateySagal #IggyPop #LeeArenberg #JohnKassir #JeffreyPrice #ShockSuspenStories #HorrorComics #ClassicHorror #HorrorTV #HorrorMovies #ComicBooks #CultHorror #90sHorror

Lust, murder, blackmail—and a very dangerous insurance policy. Fred and Tim explore “The Sacrifice,” Season 2, Episode 7 of HBO’s Tales from the Crypt, in Episode 13 of It Hails From the Crypt!

Our deep dive begins with the original EC Comics story from Shock SuspenStories #10 (1953), plotted by William Gaines and Al Feldstein, scripted by Feldstein, and illustrated by Jack Kamen. We examine its twisted crime-comic roots before digging into how the story made the leap from the printed page to HBO.

Then we unpack the television adaptation, directed by Richard Greenberg and written by crime novelist Ross Thomas. Starring Kim Delaney, Kevin Kilner, Michael Ironside, and Don Hood, “The Sacrifice” follows an insurance salesman whose affair with a wealthy client’s wife leads him into murder and blackmail. We explore the performances, suspense, dark humor, and deadly double-crosses—and compare the episode with its original comic counterpart.

Finally, we dig into our Vault of More for deep-cut recommendations connected to the episode: movies, television, comics, and other discoveries to keep you exploring after the Crypt Keeper closes the coffin.

Spoilers for the original comic and television episode.

EPISODE & IMDb LINKS

“The Sacrifice” — Tales from the Crypt, S2E7
Complete cast and crew

CAST

Kim Delaney — Gloria Fielding
Kevin Kilner — James
Michael Ironside — Jerry
Don Hood — Sebastian Fielding
John Kassir — the voice of the Crypt Keeper

BEHIND THE CAMERA

Richard Greenberg — Director
Ross Thomas — Screenplay
John R. Leonetti — Cinematography
Jonathan Elias — Music