Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 12, 2020

Hoping to build on their success with 1982’s “Creepshow,” co-writer/producer George A. Romero and producer Richard Rubinstein brought their interests in small bites of horror to the small screen in “Tales from the Darkside,” a syndicated series that began its four year run in 1984. The show was a minor hit with a loyal audience, and some willing to stay up very late to catch the program, where its twisted sense of terror was best appreciated. 90 episodes were completed before the itch to take the brand name to the big screen was scratched, resulting in the creation of 1990’s “Tales from the Darkside: The Movie,” an anthology feature that doesn’t stray far from the essentials of the original show, offering more in the way of style and gore to help it compete with other cinematic nightmares filling the multiplex.

In a seemingly safe suburban home, Betty (Deborah Harry) is preparing a special meal for a dinner party, with the main course a boy named Timmy (Matthew Lawrence), who’s kept in a cage as the chef organizes her ingredients. To help delay the unthinkable, Timmy distracts Betty with stories from a “Tales from the Darkside” book. In “Lot 249,” bitter scholar Edward (Steve Buscemi) procures a mummy for dissection, taking control of a special scroll capable of awakening the monster, siccing the creature on rival Lee (Roger Sedgewick) while Andy (Christian Slater) tries to figure out what’s terrorizing his home and threatening his sister, Susan (Julianne Moore). In “Cat from Hell,” hitman Halston (David Johansen) is summoned to the mansion of pharmaceutical titan Drogan (William Hickey), accepting a mission to kill a black cat the old, wheelchair-bound man is profoundly afraid of. In “Lover’s Vow,” Preston (James Remar) is a struggling artist who has a close encounter with a demonic figure, promising the creature he will never share a word about their confrontation, finding his life soon changed by the arrival of Carola (Rae Dawn Chong).

Instead of mixing up different directorial visions, “Tales from the Darkside: The Movie” offers a single leader in helmer John Harrison, who manages the stories and the wraparound segment featuring church-going Betty and her desire to feast on a properly cooked Timmy. The boy’s tales of horror guide the film’s structure, with Timmy trying to keep Betty’s mind off dinner prep with three tales of dark events, beginning with “Lot 249,” arguably the weakest chapter of the endeavor. An adaptation of an Arthur Conan Doyle short story, the narrative concerns the wrath of a mummy resurrected by a dangerous graduate student, but screenwriter Michael McDowell has to deliver a significant exposition dump to get the plot rolling, keeping characterizations awkward as “Lot 249” has to conjure deep antagonisms in a matter of minutes. More engaging is the stalking mummy, which manhandles a few victims before the material transitions into a revenge tale, and one enthusiastically performed by Slater.

“Cat from Hell” permits Harrison to beef up the visual possibilities of “Tales from the Darkside: The Movie,” working with theatrical lighting cues and transitions to give the Stephen King short story (scripted by Romero) some cinematic heft. The effort is appreciable, and performances from Hickey and Johansen are terrific, really selling the admittedly ridiculous premise of a supercharged feline in a vengeful mood. Harrison is a bit more patient with the second chapter, leading to an impressively ghoulish finale. A fantastic ending is also present in “Lover’s Vow,” with McDowell building suspense as the lead character deals with a special level of paranoia concerning a monstrous encounter he promised to forget but can’t flush out of his system. “Lover’s Vow” has a bit more of a sexual push, and committed performances from Remar and Chong help the cause. However, it’s the final few minutes of the segment that really shine, offering a thrilling twist and excellent creature effects from KNB, who offer vivid genre gross-outs throughout the film.

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Tales from the Darkside: The Movie" doesn't arrive on Blu-ray with a fresh scan, but the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) offers a satisfying viewing experience. Age is apparent, with slight softness throughout, but detail isn't completely removed, offering lightly textured looks at the ghoulish elements of the production, including rotted and scaly skin on monsters. Interiors retain decorative elements, and exteriors remain dimensional. Color is satisfactory, dealing with a more warmly lit "Lot 249," while "Cat from Hell" offers deep blue flashbacks and purple-fringed "cat vision" shots. "Lover's Vow" is more urban and dark, with art offerings adding more vivid hues. Bloodshed retains a deep red. Delineation is acceptable. Highlights are a bit more troublesome, looking slightly blown out. Source is in good condition, without pronounced damage.

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix supports the haunting moods of "Tales from the Darkside: The Movie" without growing too aggressive. Surrounds handle atmospherics acceptably, offering the harsher sounds of NYC streets and echoed room tones in larger living spaces. Mild separation effects are present. Dialogue exchanges are distinct, with strong emotionality and monstrous manipulation. Scoring is supportive, with a lighter, synth-y presence. Low-end isn't too ambitious, reserved for harder hits of violence. Sound effects are more defined, capturing the crunchy, buzzy, and goopy action.

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features co-producer David R. Kappes.

• Commentary #2 features director John Harrison and co-writer George A. Romero.

• "Tales Behind the Darkside: From Small Screens to Big Screams" (16:20, HD) is the first chapter of the making-of, discussing the creation of "Tales from the Darkside: The Movie" with director John Harrison, producer Mitchell Galin, cinematographer Robert Draper, production designer Ruth Ammon, and special makeup effects artists Howard Berger, Greg Nicotero, and Robert Kurtzman. The interviewees track the development of the original television series, which became a hit for producers Richard P. Rubinstein and George A. Romero. A feature was pitched, commencing the gathering of stories and the creation of a screenplay, while the look of the picture was heavily considered for the brand name's big screen debut. Labor from KNB is recalled, with the guys enjoying a hugely successful 1989/90, and the New York shoot is remembered, with the cast and crew paying full reverence to Deborah Harry.

• "Rising Stars and the Walking Dead" (17:41, HD) is the second chapter of the making-of, taking a closer look at the shooting of "Lot 249." Visual choices are identified, with Harrison looking to creating a "classic" look with warmer colors to best pay tribute to the movies of old. Michael Deak, the man in the mummy suit, joins the interview roster, sharing his experience as the monster, learning to act a certain way and control his bodily functions. Makeup details are identified, and casting is celebrated, with Christian Slater returning to "Tales from the Darkside" duty (he appeared in a season one episode), while Steve Buscemi and Julianne Moore (making her big screen debut) filled out the ensemble.

• "That Damn Cat!" (16:51, HD) is the third chapter of the making-of, exploring "Cat From Hell," a Stephen King short story that was originally prepped for "Creepshow 2" before becoming part of "Tales from the Darkside: The Movie." The visual approach of the segment is highlighted, with lighting transitions used on Francis Coppola's "One from the Heart" reworked here to move smoothly from the past to the present. Cat wrangling is also detailed in full, with the animal not always cooperative, requiring firm motivation. Chemistry between stars William Hickey and David Johansen is recalled, and major makeup effects for the grisly conclusion of the film are revealed.

• "A Vow to Keep" (25:42, HD) if the fourth chapter of the making-of, examining "Lover's Vow," which inspired Harrison to provide a more fairy tale appearance for a grittier New York City story. Casting is celebrated, bringing in Rae Dawn Chong and James Remar to the interviewee line-up, with the pair being weirdly careful while discussing their chemistry during the shoot, which was potent. Remar also shares a similar tale of monstrous secrets from Japanese folklore. Gargoyle design and lighting is detailed, and puppet challenges are recalled, including a frustrating night in the freezing NYC cold. Chong's gruesome transformation is also examined.

• "The Order of Things" (14:02, HD) is the fifth chapter of the making-of, covering the post-production process on "Tales from the Darkside: The Movie." We meet Harry B. Miller III, the editor, who was cutting during the shoot, taking on a few production roles in the process. Scoring selections from multiple composers are inspected, with Harrison aiming to offer different moods for the segments. Deleted scenes are discussed, including a reshot ending for "Lot 249," and Harrison and Miller III reveal how story order was reworked after test screenings, resulting in a continuity error in the wraparound segment that couldn't be corrected.

• "The Test of Time" (13:11, HD) is the sixth and final chapter of the making-of, delving into the release of the feature, which was picked up by Paramount, handed a decent marketing push. Release woes and reviews are recounted, along with fan appreciation, giving the effort cult longevity.

• Behind the Scenes (11:05, SD) offer home movies from KNB, observing their efforts as they test makeup effects and execute nightmare imagery on-set.

• Image Gallery (3:59) collects film stills, publicity shots, and poster art.

• KNB Gallery (4:09) collects personal photos of make-up application and workplace testing.

• Radio Spots (1:35) offer three ads for "Tales from the Darkside: The Movie."

• T.V. Spots (1:06, SD) supply two commercials.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:57, HD) is included.

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Some fans view "Tales from the Darkside: The Movie" as an unofficial "Creepshow 3," which makes sense, as it does share many of the same horror goals as the previous Romero/Rubinstein collaboration. "Tales from the Darkside: The Movie" isn't an electric viewing event, but it manages to retain some appealing oddity and surprise, avoiding a hostile take on anthology film offerings with a small screen adaptation that preserves the appeal of the original show and provides some gruesome highlights of its own.