The Vault of Horror

It's no surprise to horror fans that HBO's Tales From the Crypt was a huge success -- the UK's Amicus Productions was cranking out 4- and 5-story anthologies in the late 60's and early 70's. Utilizing veteran actors and cameramen who knew how to beautifully combine camp and horror, Vault of Horror was one of the best.

But you'd probably never know it, if you live in the US. Every version ever available on tape or on TV is cut, badly enough to almost totally destroy any payoff. A "Tale from the Crypt" is more dependent than most on a shocking ending; chop out the deliciously gory ending, or water it down, and you've got a big build-up to nothing. I first saw VOH in its hacked-up, PG version, and thought it pretty limp. It's so unfair: the last-minute hacks of a studio butcher (!) can render any carefully created piece of work into tepid mush, making the filmmakers appear incompetent.

Where can you find the uncut version in the US? Legally, nowhere. You'll need a friend in the UK who can lend you a copy, or possibly a Japanese import. This movie begs for release on DVD.

**UPDATE** The uncut version is finally available on DVD from Vipco (Britain). It won't play on most U.S. players, but may be played with some PC software such as WinDVD.

Five men are trapped in a basement, so to pass the time they each tell stories about visions they had of their own death. Directed by Roy Ward Baker for Amicus.

The first man (Daniel Massey) tells a story about a town of vampires, which was mildly entertaining and there was a good special effect with the mirrors. The vampires had some really goofy looking teeth, but this story was okay to start the film off.

The second tale was the best in my opinion, about an anal retentive guy (Terry-Thomas) who must have everything a certain way -- he even labels and counts his groceries and where they should be placed.

Next we have a magician (Curd Jürgens) in India, looking to buy some Indian magic. He finds a girl with a rope trick and tries to get it from her, but she will not sell.

The strangest story is the fourth, with a man (Michael Craig) buried alive... in one of the most unbelievable insurance scam attempts ever. I really enjoyed the fact the characters worked as comic book writers for "Vault of Horror", and this tale is probably the funniest.

Last, an artist (Tom Baker) who learns voodoo in Haiti and can command things to happen by painting them. The longest of the five and fairly decent, with some parallels that can be drawn to Dorian Grey.

I liked this film. It was not outstanding, but it was fun and original. The format is much the same as "Tales From the Crypt" or "Creepshow", only this is 1973! If you are a fan of those horror staples, you will like this one, too.

Another melange based on William H Gaines tales fron E. C.. comic books , produced by Amicus: Max Rosenberg, Milton Subotsky. A classic terror movie formed by five segments well realized and magnificently played . Vintage horror film financed by Amicus with a Great British Cast and formed by several episodes full of creepy events , chills, thrills , gore and guts. It stars with five strangers at an eerie and sisister room .Later on , there they tell how each of the strangers will die . As they explain fantastic visions about their nightmares . It deals with 5 segments with five protagonists : Real-life brother and sister, Daniel Massey-Anne Massey, Curd Jurgens, Michael Craig, Terry Thomas, Tom Baker get in a lift that transports them to a non exit lounge in the basement of a skyscraper. There they confide their recurring nightmares. Each segment has at least 1 killing. It is formed by 5 stories :Midnight mess with Daniel Massey, Anne Massey. The neat job with Terry Thomas, Glynis Johns. Bargain in death with Michael Craig, Edward Judd. This trick will kill you, with Curd Jurgens, Dawn Addams, Jasmine Hilton . And Drawn and quartered with Tom Baker, Demholm Elliott .The rest of the cast is no less impressive, though delivering brief but enjoyable interpretations. And now ...who is next....

Amicus sixth portmanteau movie that simply slaps down its thrilling and terrifying tales, butressing with dreary slabs of plot and chatter, concluding into eerie results. As at a rare room join five strange people who star 5 segments , all of them are filled with mystery , suspense , terror , grisly killings , twisted events and horrible happenings . The British star-studded results to be pretty good with a plethora of notorious actors . Well made terror antology film, and in some places was released as Tales of Crypt II, being compellingly filmed by the gore-minded lad Roy Ward Baker. The better episodes involve the suburban wife Glynis Johns driven to killing and her house-proud husband Terry Thomas constantly nagging about the housekeeping, resulting in an impeccably tidy disposal of a corpse. As well as the surprising story of a rope with a mind of its own starred by Curd Jurgens, Dawn Addams, including nice special effects. . Each story harbours an ingeniously creepy and ghoulish conceit and at the end each tale takes place a grand guignol climax. The great cast is pretty good, giving nice performances , though Edward Judd, Demholm Elliott, Anna Massey have a few lines.. Most stories previously appeared in American comic books as Tales of Crypt from EC comics as well as in The haunt of fear. Colorful , adequate cinematograhy , shot at Shepperton studios . It was compellingly accompanied by a thrilling and suspenseful musical score .

The motion picture was professionally directed by the British horrormeister Roy Ward Baker, though another terror specialist director, Freddie Francis, was the original choice to shot. Here Baker emphasising the frightening, dramatic and suspenseful possibilities. Roy directed a great number of films. Deemed to be a terror expert, as proved in The monster club, Mask of death, And now the screaming starts, The legend of the 7 gold vampires, Asylum, Dr Jekill and his sister Hyde, The scars of Dracula, The vampire lovers, The anniversary. Roy Baker also directed some Hollywood fims such as Inferno, House in the square, A night to remember, Don't bother to knock, and Night with sleep. Rating : acceptable and passable. 6/10. Worthwhile watching.

I adore the 1972 film; Tales From the Crypt and this 1973 follow-up is a solid effort. Granted, not all of the stories in this Amicus anthology are as strong as the '72 film, but this film is still a lot of fun. My favorite story in this anthology is the Terry-Thomas/Glynis Johns effort. It's definitely more comedy than horror, but even that packs a bit of a punch at the end. I've read that there was to be a third installment to this series of films, but a less than over-whelming feeling by the film-going public put an end to any further plans for a third film. The cast to this film is really strong and it's just a shame that the stories aren't as solid, still, an enjoyable effort and if you're looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon, a double-feature of Tales From the Crypt and Vault of Horror is definitely the way to go.

The Vault of Horror (1973) was another Amicus adaptation of the stories that were originally published in comic book form during the fifties. These stories came from the minds of publishing guru Bill Gaines and his staff of brilliant artists and story tellers. E.C. during the fifties was a hugely successful independent comic book company. But due to concerned parents and the crack down on comic book publishers by conservative politicians "who were protecting the children" created the Comic Book decency code that moralized all future comic books.

These brilliant stories first appeared in the VAULT OF HORROR series. Unlike the first film, the main character narrator is missing, other than that, it's the same omnibus style of film making. Odd stories with even mondo bizarro endings. Five tales that'll make you crave for more! Stars Terry-Thomas, Denholm Elliot and Glynis Johns. Watch out for the European cut. It has more blood and gore than the tamed U.S. release.

Highly recommended.