News

Great Performances in Horror: Tim Curry in Tales From the Crypt: Death of Some Salesmen

Published

2 years ago

March 16, 2022

These days, all the great writers, directors, and actors are gravitating towards TV and streaming due to better, more challenging material. But not so long ago, television wasn’t taken as seriously as theatrical films. It was really HBO that started allowing TV to be seen with more respect by both the general public and critics.

A show like Tales From the Crypt doesn’t seem like something that would have attracted top-tier talent in the late 80s and early 90s, but it did. Each week, some of Hollywood’s biggest and brightest stars, both in front of and behind the camera, would be allowed some much-needed creative freedom to play in the gory sandbox.

One of the most well-regarded episodes is Death of Some Salesmen from the show’s 5th season. It stars Ed Begley, Jr. as Judd Campbell, a ruthless traveling cemetery plot salesman, who goes around scamming the elderly and vulnerable (including Yvonne De Carlo) until he knocks on the door of the decrepit Brackett home and, in true Tales From the Crypt fashion, he’s served a big plate of just desserts.

You see, the Brackett family has a long history with traveling salesman and they don’t believe Judd’s pitch one bit. After Judd discovers that they’ve killed other salesmen, he’s knocked out by Pa on his way out the door and wakes up to Ma and Pa plotting about what to do with him.

They want to wait until their daughter, Winona, gets a look at him and, if Judd has any hope of ever leaving this house of horrors alive, he’d better convince Winona that he loves her.

Tim Curry plays this entire carnival sideshow of grotesques with skill and attention to tiny details. His Pa is especially different from what we’re used to seeing him play from both a speaking voice to the way he moves.

He turns Pa into a no-nonsense, toxically masculine redneck with horrific stained yellow teeth and a tendency to tell his wife to shut up a bit too much. Even with all this, he does show that he truly loves his family and will do anything to protect them. He’s a murderer, but he’s also an ordained minister. Of course.

His Ma is a sweet and chronically exasperated housewife who’s fed up with her husband’s behavior. She’s quick to talk back when Pa belittles her and she’s a hopeless romantic, praying that, maybe this time, her daughter can find love with someone. She wants her daughter to be happy just like any non-homicidal mother does and that’s sweet in its own twisted way.

Winona is the true showstopper with her Halloween mask face, stringy hair, hunchback, and an intriguing odor due to the fact that she “ain’t washed in a couple of weeks.” Even with all these things that should repel us, Curry supplies her with a lot of heart and dignity.

She’s self-aware enough to know she’s no beauty, but she doesn’t dwell in misery about it and still believes she deserves love and happiness. She’s a sex-loving good-time gal, too, and is quick to take Judd for a test ride once she gets her paws on him. This is so he can prove that he really loves her in a disturbing and outrageous sequence that, once seen, isn’t easily forgotten.

Curry seems to be having the time of his life playing all these characters and he creates a family unit that is terrifying, darkly humorous, and full of love for one another. That’s hard enough to do in a feature film with a lot more time for exposition and character development, but in a 30 minute TV episode, it might as well be impossible.

Curry pulls it off and makes it look effortless just like the best actors do. For all his hard work, he was rewarded with a well-deserved Emmy nomination in 1994 – a rarity for a horror performance.

Unfortunately, the entire Tales From the Crypt series is absent from streaming services and has yet to receive a Blu-Ray release, but every season has been released on DVD and it’s well worth your time to purchase them all to marvel at the amount of talent and skill on display in this series.

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Related Topics:Tales from the Crypt Tim Curry

Movies

’47 Meters Down’ Getting Third Movie Called ‘The Wreck’

Published

2 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Deadline is reporting that a new 47 Meters Down installment is heading into production, making the shark series a trilogy.

“Series creator Johannes Roberts, and screenwriter Ernest Riera, who wrote the first two films, have co-written the third installment: 47 Meters Down: The Wreck.” Patrick Lussier (My Bloody Valentine) will direct.

The first two films were a moderate success, released in 2017 and 2019 respectively. The second film is titled 47 Meters Down: Uncaged.

^{47 Meters Down}

The plot for The Wreck is detailed by Deadline. They write that it involves a father and daughter trying to repair their relationship by spending time together scuba diving into a sunken ship, “But soon after their descent, their master diver has an accident leaving them alone and unprotected inside the labyrinth of the wreck. As tensions rise and oxygen dwindles, the pair must use their newfound bond to escape the wreck and the relentless barrage of bloodthirsty great white sharks.”

The filmmakers are hoping to present the pitch to the Cannes market with production starting in the fall.

“47 Meters Down: The Wreck is the perfect continuation of our shark-filled franchise,” said Byron Allen, founder/chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. “This film will once again have moviegoers terrified and on the edge of their seats.”

Johannes Roberts adds, “We can’t wait for audiences to be trapped underwater with us again. 47 Meters Down: The Wreck is going to be the biggest, most-intense film of this franchise.”

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

News

‘Wednesday’ Season Two Drops New Teaser Video That Reveals Full Cast

Published

5 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Cameron McFarland

Netflix announced this morning that Wednesday season 2 is finally entering production. Fans have been waiting a long time for more of the creepy icon. Season one of Wednesday premiered in November of 2022.

In our new world of streaming entertainment, it isn’t uncommon for shows to take years to release a new season. If they release another one at all. Even though we will likely have to wait quite a while to see the show, any news is good news.

The new season of Wednesday looks to have an amazing cast. Jenna Ortega (Scream) will be reprising her iconic role as Wednesday. She will be joined by Billie Piper (Scoop), Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Evie Templeton (Return to Silent Hill), Owen Painter (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Noah Taylor (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

We will also get to see some of the amazing cast from season one making a return. Wednesday season 2 will feature Catherine-Zeta Jones (Side Effects), Luis Guzman (Genie), Issac Ordonez (A Wrinkle in Time), and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (Devs).

If all of that star power wasn’t enough, the legendary Tim Burton (The Nightmare Before Christmas) will be directing the series. As a cheeky nod from Netflix, this season of Wednesday will be titled Here We Woe Again.

Jenna Ortega Wednesday — Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams

We don’t know much about much about what Wednesday season two will entail. However, Ortega has stated that this season will be more horror focused. “We’re definitely leaning into a little bit more horror. It’s really, really exciting because, all throughout the show, while Wednesday does need a little bit of an arc, she never really changes and that’s the wonderful thing about her.”

That’s all the information that we have. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Movies

A24 Reportedly “Pulls Plug” On Peacock’s ‘Crystal Lake’ Series

Published

6 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Film studio A24 might not be going forward with its planned Peacock Friday the 13th spinoff called Crystal Lake according to Fridaythe13thfranchise.com. The website quotes entertainment blogger Jeff Sneider who made a statement on his webpage through a subscription paywall.

“I’m hearing that A24 has pulled the plug on Crystal Lake, its planned Peacock series based on the Friday the 13th franchise featuring masked killer Jason Voorhees. Bryan Fuller was due to executive produce the horror series.

It’s unclear whether this is a permanent decision or a temporary one, as A24 had no comment. Perhaps Peacock will help the trades shed more light on this project, which was announced back in 2022.”

Back in January 2023, we reported that some big names were behind this streaming project including Bryan Fuller, Kevin Williamson, and Friday the 13th Part 2 final girl Adrienne King.

“‘Crystal Lake info from Bryan Fuller! They officially start writing in 2 weeks (writers are here in the audience).” tweeted social media writer Eric Goldman who tweeted the info while attending a Friday the 13th 3D screening event in January 2023. “It will have two scores to choose from – a modern one and a classic Harry Manfredini one. Kevin Williamson is writing an episode. Adrienne King will have a recurring role. Yay! Fuller has pitched four seasons for Crystal Lake. Only one officially ordered so far though he notes Peacock would have to pay a pretty hefty penalty if they didn’t order a Season 2. Asked if he can confirm Pamela’s role in the Crystal Lake series, Fuller replied ‘We’re honestly going to be covering it all. The series is covering the life and times of these two characters’ (presumably he’s referring to Pamela and Jason there!)'”

Whether or not Peacock is moving forward with the project is unclear and since this news is secondhand information, it still has to be verified which will require Peacock and/or A24 to make an official statement which they have yet to do.

But keep checking back to iHorror for the latest updates to this developing story.

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'