Love hurts. Sometimes it even brings you back from the dead.

In Episode 10 of It Hails From the Crypt, hosts Fred and Tim dig into “’Til Death,” Tales from the Crypt Season 2, Episode 4, originally aired April 24, 1990.

We head back to the source material and open up EC Comics’ The Vault of Horror #28, comparing the original “’Til Death” comic with HBO’s adaptation. What did the television version keep? What did it change? And how does the original EC story stack up against the considerably more elaborate version produced nearly four decades later?

Then we dive into the episode directed by Academy Award-winning makeup-effects legend Chris Walas (The Fly, Gremlins, The Fly II) and written by Jeri Barchilon, the episode follows devious developer Logan Andrews, whose plan to use a voodoo love potion on a wealthy heiress turns into a particularly gruesome lesson in why you should always follow the instructions.

We break down the episode’s mixture of voodoo horror, black comedy, romance and full-blown EC Comics grotesquerie, along with Walas’ direction and the practical makeup effects that turn an ill-advised love affair into a wonderfully macabre tale of devotion beyond the grave.

And, as always, we descend even further into "The Vault of More" for our Deep Cut Recommendations — a selection of movies, comics, books and other oddities connected to the episode’s themes, influences, cast and crew. If undead romance, voodoo curses, obsessive love, practical creature effects and forgotten corners of horror history are your thing, we’ve got you covered.

🎬 Chris Walas — Director
The Oscar-winning makeup-effects artist behind The Fly and Gremlins, and director of The Fly II.
Chris Walas on IMDb

✍️ Jeri Barchilon — Writer

🎭 D.W. Moffett — Logan Andrews
D.W. Moffett on IMDb

🎭 Pamela Gien — Margaret Richardson
Pamela Gien on IMDb

🎭 Janet Hubert — Psyche
Best known as the original Vivian Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Janet Hubert on IMDb

🎭 Aubrey Morris — Freddy
The legendary British character actor whose credits include A Clockwork Orange, The Wicker Man and Lifeforce.
Aubrey Morris on IMDb

💀 John Kassir — The Crypt Keeper

🎥 John R. Leonetti — Cinematographer

🎼 Nicholas Pike — Composer

📺 “’Til Death” — Tales from the Crypt (1990)
Full episode cast & crew on IMDb

Join us as we exhume another story from the glory days of HBO’s Tales from the Crypt, revisit the original EC Comics, and uncover some horror deep cuts you may have missed.

It Hails From the Crypt — where every episode of Tales from the Crypt gets dug up, dissected and dragged back into the light.

Ante up, Creeps! This week on It Hails From the Crypt, Fred and Tim put “Cutting Cards” on the chopping block... and by the end, we may be a few fingers short.

First, we dig into the original EC Comics story “Cutting Cards!”, published in Tales from the Crypt #32 (1952). Written by legendary EC editor Al Feldstein and illustrated by Fred Peters, the six-page story pits two compulsive gamblers against each other as their rivalry escalates from cards to Russian roulette to the wonderfully named “chop poker.” We examine the comic, its creators, and that classic EC formula of human vice + terrible decisions = beautifully gruesome consequences.

Then we jump ahead to HBO’s 1990 adaptation, directed and co-written by Walter Hill, starring Lance Henriksen and Kevin Tighe as two gamblers who decide the town isn't big enough for the twos of them. We compare the episode with its comic-book origin, look at what Hill and company changed, and discuss Henriksen and Tighe’s gloriously hateful (love filled?) chemistry.

Finally, Fred and Tim offer their recommendations inspired by “Cutting Cards” some deep cuts for anyone who needs another fix after leaving the Crypt.

So shuffle the deck, place your bets and keep your hands where we can see them.

You might not have them much longer.

The Original Comic

• Tales from the Crypt #32 — Grand Comics Database
• Al Feldstein — EC writer/editor
• Fred Peters — Artist

The HBO Episode

• “Cutting Cards” — IMDb
• Full Cast & Crew — IMDb
• Walter Hill — Director / Co-Writer
• Lance Henriksen — Reno Crevice
• Kevin Tighe — Sam Forney
• John Kassir — The Crypt Keeper
• James Horner — Composer
• John R. Leonetti — Director of Photography

What would you give up to be young, beautiful…and desirable again?

This week on It Hails From the Crypt, Fred and Tim crack open “The Switch,” Season 2, Episode 2 of HBO’s Tales from the Crypt — a wonderfully nasty tale of vanity, greed, body swapping, and the very high price of looking good.

Arnold Schwarzenegger makes his directorial debut behind the camera, bringing along a cast packed with familiar faces. William Hickey stars as aging millionaire Carlton Webster, who becomes obsessed with transforming himself to win the affection of the much younger Linda, played by Kelly Preston. His increasingly extreme procedures involve the considerably younger — and considerably more muscular — Hans, played by Rick Rossovich (The Terminator, Top Gun).

We dig into Schwarzenegger’s unlikely turn as a Tales from the Crypt director, the episode’s grotesque take on the pursuit of eternal youth, and its roots in the original EC Comics story from Tales from the Crypt #45, written by Carl Wessler and illustrated by the legendary Graham “Ghastly” Ingels. We compare the comic to HBO’s adaptation and look at what changed on the journey from the gruesome 1950s page to premium cable television in 1990.

Then we take a deeper look at the episode’s cast and crew, including:

Arnold Schwarzenegger – Director
IMDb

William Hickey – Carlton Webster
IMDb

Kelly Preston – Linda
IMDb

Rick Rossovich – Hans / Younger Carlton Webster
IMDb

Roy Brocksmith – The Doctor
IMDb

Ian Abercrombie – Fulton
IMDb

John Kassir – The Crypt Keeper
IMDb

And, as always, we finish things off with deep-cut horror and movie recommendations inspired by “The Switch” — more stories of vanity, transformation, aging, obsession, body horror, and people discovering that getting exactly what they want may be the worst thing that could happen to them.

Episode 7 – “Dead Right” | It Hails from the Crypt

For richer or poorer… but preferably richer.

This week on It Hails from the Crypt, Fred and Tim kick off Season 2 of HBO’s Tales from the Crypt with “Dead Right,” a twisted tale of fortune telling, greed, marriage, murder, and the dangers of getting exactly what you wished for.

First, we head back to EC Comics and Shock SuspenStories #6, home of the original 1952 story “Dead Right!” We compare the comic to the HBO adaptation, examining what changed, what stayed faithful, and how a gruesome EC morality tale was transformed for television.

Then we dig into the episode itself, directed by Howard Deutch, best known for Pretty in Pink, Some Kind of Wonderful, and The Great Outdoors, from a screenplay by Andy Wolk.

Howard Deutch – IMDb⁠

Andy Wolk – IMDb⁠

The episode stars Demi Moore as Cathy, an ambitious secretary who receives a prediction that marrying the thoroughly repulsive Charlie will eventually make her rich. Moore was right on the verge of superstardom, with Ghost arriving in theaters just a few months after “Dead Right” first aired.

Demi Moore – IMDb⁠

Opposite Moore is Jeffrey Tambor as the unforgettable Charlie Marno, with Natalija Nogulich as mysterious fortune teller Madame Vorna and Troy Evans as Al.

Jeffrey Tambor – IMDb⁠

Natalija Nogulich – IMDb⁠

Troy Evans – IMDb⁠

And, of course, John Kassir returns as the voice of the Crypt Keeper.

John Kassir – IMDb⁠

Along the way, we talk about Demi Moore’s career, Jeffrey Tambor’s grotesque transformation, Howard Deutch’s direction, the episode’s pitch-black sense of humor, and how “Dead Right” helped launch a bigger and more ambitious second season of Tales from the Crypt.

“Dead Right” – IMDb⁠

Finally, we crack open the Vault of MORE for another batch of deep-cut recommendations inspired by this week’s episode.

Subscribe, rate, and follow It Hails from the Crypt wherever you get your podcasts for more Tales from the Crypt, EC Comics, Shock SuspenStories, classic horror, cult movies, horror history, and deep-cut horror recommendations.

Retirement is supposed to be relaxing. Nobody told Jonas.

This week on It Hails from the Crypt, Fred and Tim close out Season 1 of HBO’s Tales from the Crypt with Episode 6, “Collection Completed” — a pitch-black tale of retirement, resentment, marriage, pets, taxidermy, and one seriously unhealthy new hobby.

First, we go back to the original EC Comics story from The Vault of Horror #25, written by Bill Gaines and Al Feldstein and illustrated by Graham “Ghastly” Ingels. We compare the comic to the HBO adaptation, looking at what changed, what was expanded, and which version delivers the nastier punchline.

Then we dig into director Mary Lambert, the filmmaker behind Pet Sematary and iconic Madonna videos including “Like a Prayer” and “Material Girl.”

Mary Lambert – IMDb

We also take a deep dive into the episode’s two veteran stars: legendary character actor M. Emmet Walsh, whose extraordinary career included Blade Runner, Blood Simple, The Jerk, Raising Arizona, and Knives Out, and Audra Lindley, best remembered as Helen Roper on Three’s Company and The Ropers.

M. Emmet Walsh – IMDb

Audra Lindley – IMDb

Along the way, we discuss the episode’s bizarre domestic horror, its place in Tales from the Crypt Season 1, and whether “Collection Completed” improves upon its gruesome EC Comics source.

“Collection Completed” – IMDb

Finally, we crack open the Vault of MORE for another round of deep-cut recommendations to keep you screaming until next week.

Subscribe, rate, and follow It Hails from the Crypt wherever you get your podcasts for more Tales from the Crypt, EC Comics, classic horror, cult movies, and horror history.

Episode 5 – "Lover Come Hack to Me" | It Hails from the Crypt

Love. Marriage. Murder. What could possibly go wrong?

This week on It Hails from the Crypt, Fred and Tim sharpen the axe and revisit one of the most gothic episodes of HBO's Tales from the Crypt: "Lover Come Hack to Me." Directed by Tom Holland https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0276169/?ref_=tt_ov_1_1 (Child's Play, Fright Night) and written by horror legend Michael McDowell https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0568313/?ref_=tt_ov_2_1, this eerie honeymoon nightmare blends supernatural horror, dark romance, and classic EC Comics irony into one unforgettable tale.

Join us as we break down Amanda Plummer'shttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001625/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_7_in_0_q_amanda%20plume wonderfully bizarre performance, the episode's haunting atmosphere, its twist ending, and the themes of greed, obsession, and doomed love. We also compare the HBO adaptation to the original EC Comics story from Haunt of Fear #19, examining what changed, what stayed faithful, and how the television version expanded a seven-page comic into a memorable half-hour of horror.

Along the way, we'll discuss Tom Holland's direction, Michael McDowell's screenplay, behind-the-scenes trivia, the episode's place in the first season, and whether "Lover Come Hack to Me" deserves more love from Tales from the Crypt fans.

Then Axe-Cuse me but the Vault of MORE will have another set of deep cut recommendations to keep you screaming.

Subscribe, rate, and follow It Hails from the Crypt wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of It Hails From the Crypt, Fred and Tim dive into “Only Sin Deep,” from June 14, 1989 the classic Tales From the Crypt HBO episode starring Lea Thompson https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000670/?ref_=fn_i_1 and directed by her husband Howard Deutch https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222043/?ref_=tt_ov_1_1. Adapted from the infamous EC Comics story, this dark horror tale follows a young woman willing to trade her beauty for wealth only to discover that every bargain comes with a terrifying cost.

We compare the Tales From the Crypt television adaptation to its original EC Comics source material, Haunt of Fear #24 (1954) https://eccomics.fandom.com/wiki/Haunt_of_Fear_Vol_1_24 exploring the differences between page and screen while examining the episode’s themes of vanity, greed, aging, beauty, and supernatural justice. Along the way, we discuss the creative team behind the episode and the legacy of EC horror comics.

As always, we close out the show with horror movie, television, comic book, and pop culture recommendations inspired by the episode’s blend of Gothic horror, dark fantasy, and twisted humor.

In this episode of It Hails From the Crypt, Frederick Schroeder and Tim Loughran discuss “Dig That Cat… He’s Real Gone,” the third episode of HBO’s Tales from the Crypt.

We examine Richard Donner’s adaptation of the classic EC Comics story, starring Joe Pantoliano as a carnival performer who discovers a shocking way to cheat death. We discuss the episode’s blend of horror, dark comedy, and morality play, compare it to its comic-book origins, and explore what makes this one of the series’ most memorable early entries.

We also share our latest horror recommendations before heading back into the crypt