The Vault of Horror

Plot synopsis:
The movie begins with 5 strangers entering an elevator. It takes them to the basement and they exit to find 5 chairs a table and 5 glasses of brandy. The elevator, on that floor has no call button, so they decide to sit and wait for it to return on its own. One of the men, Rodgers states that his nightmares are quite frightening. After some coaxing he shares one of them. The nightmare begins with him speaking to his private investigator in his apartment. The P.I was hired to find Roger's sister. As soon as he gives Rodgers the address, Rodgers shows his gratitude by murdering him to cover his trail. Then, rRgers promptly travels to his dear sister's town. Before he murders her, he stops at a restaurant across the street from her. It is sunset and the restaurant is closing and the owner tells Rodgers that "they" come out at dark and that is why they are closing. Rodgers thinks it is odd but leaves and goes to his sister's house because she has just inherited everything. He fixes that by stabbing her. Then, of course he leaves and sees that the restaurant is open and "people" are going in to be seated. The food and beverages are unusual and Rodgers is soon about to learn why and meet "them", the vampires. His ending is also the end of this segment. The next man to share his dream is Critchet, an older Englishman. In his dream he is a neat freak that gets remarried in " A Neat Job". His new wife can't seem to put anything in it proper place. He scolds her until the pressure makes her rearrange everything, including their future. And yes, everything is in it's proper places. It is all neatly labeled as well and Critchet learns that he taught her a bit too well.
Then come the ghostly tale form the third man, Sebastian. In his dream he and his wife are magicians traveling to India looking for a new act. He finds and older local man, at a market performing a trick. Of course the arrogant Sebastian shows everyone that the trick is a fake. The lovely Indian assistant is upset and decides to practice a different trick. She shares it with Sabastian none the less, and he and his wife will kill to learn and own it. The problem is that the rope involved in the trick is possessed by a spirit that does not like betrayal. They accidentally found a way to play "The Trick That Will Kill You" on themselves.
Next is an even more gruesome tale perhaps the best of the five. Mailin tells of a deal "in bargain to death" that he and his friend Alex devise. It is a dishonest scam to make them both a lot of money. But the untrustworthy choose friends that are the same as them. A double cross leads to double death.
Then in our final tale "Drawn and Quartered" is told by an artist (Tom Baker aka Dr. Who) who has been wronged. He finds a new power from a voodoo priest to get revenge.He learns that one should always beware that the voodoo that you do, may just be what will undo you. After he uses his gift for the wrong reasons he finds himself out of time and back to his new friends in the basement discussing their fears. Suddenly the elevator that brought the five of them to this destination, comes back for them and opens.This time it takes them to their final destiny...the truth that evil deeds are no dream, but a reality that they must face, forever!

Tags: murder

Review:
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 opening lacks the production values and Sir Ralph Richardson of its predecessor Tales From the Crypt as the crypt-keeper sorely, but the stories are all well-done with finesse from cast, crew, and the very able direction of an underappreciated Roy Ward Baker.
The second story, starring Glynis Johns and Terry-Thomas(both funny beyond belief), is the comedic relief of the film about a man who is too neat who needs to have that point hammered into his head by his wife.
Jerold Wells enjoys himself in a superb cameo and provides a great comic edge to this story.The second story sees Terry-Thomas as an obsessively fussy man who wants to see everything in his house neat and tidy.
Glynis Johns deserves special recognition for giving such as convincing performance a his long-suffering wife, Eleanor.The third story sees Curt Jurgens and his wife, played by the supremely sexy Dawn Addams, in India looking for a new magic trick to showcase in their act.
The premise is also quite simple: five men meet inside an elevator which takes them, irrespective of the floor to which they were destined, to the basement of the building where a table has been set up for them; they gather around and, to while away the time until they're rescued, each recounts a recurring dream.The cast is fine, as usual: Daniel Massey goes in search of his missing sister (real-life sibling Anna), eventually locating her at a remote village  where, as it turns out, all the locals (including the woman) are vampires!; this may be the most popular episode but also, perhaps, the most disposable (despite the amusingly outrageous fate awaiting Massey at the end)  considering that Amicus had already dealt with the subject of vampires in at least two previous horror compendiums, DR.
Terry-Thomas is an ageing wealthy man who decides it's high time for him to marry, but ends up literally driving commoner wife Glynis Johns crazy with his obsessive fastidiousness!
Curt Jurgens is a magician on holiday in India with wife Dawn Addams: to show off, he exposes a local exponent plying his trade at the market square; humiliated, the latter plots an elaborate and terrible revenge  with the aid of his young daughter  by intriguing Jurgens with a new trick involving a magic rope.In the fourth episode, Michael Craig plans to collect his own life insurance (with the help of pal Edward Judd) by faking his own death  the latter, however, has no intention of sticking to his part of the bargain (though he's ultimately not allowed to reap the rewards of his fraud and betrayal).
An uneven anthology of EC horror comics stories from Amicus, this time directed by Roy Ward Baker who had worked on 'The Avengers' and was responsible for some of the best Hammer movies ('Quatermass And The Pit', 'The Vampire Lovers', 'Dr Jekyll And Sister Hyde').
Massey's involves looking for his missing sister, Terry-Thomas plays a newly married neat freak, Jurgens a magician looking for new ideas in India, Craig a man with an ingenious insurance scam and Baker a painter who uses voodoo to punish his enemies.
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 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.
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.
The three mainstays of this genre, this film, Doctor Terror's House of Horror and Tales from the Crypt are the best known.
This sequel to Tales from the Crypt offers five short stories, taken by the E.C. Comics, but only the first and the last (on a Vampire restaurant and on a voodoo curse put over paintings) are really worth your time.
As good as any other anthological horror movie, but you may ask for more after viewing this.Interesting to see, as the artist in the fifth episode, actor Tom Baker before his Doctor Who years..
Yet another good Amicus horror anthology - this one follows the format seen in 'Dr Terrors House of Horrors' and 'Tales from the Crypt', with five strangers telling (or being told) their stories.'Vault of Horror' starts with a panoramic view of London, which moves round to a modern tower block.
To kill the time they recount their recurring nightmares to each other.Whilst much about these anthology films is sub-standard, the short story format doesn't allow boredom to set in and as a viewer I find them enjoyable to watch.
They know their limitations and concentrate on giving the horror fan numerous quick-fixes to keep him more than happy.'Vault of Horror' isn't quite up to the standard of the two genre classics mentioned earlier, but its certainly up with the likes of 'Asylum' and 'From Beyond the Grave' (the latter being slightly over-rated in my opinion).As is usual the five stories range in quality - the 1st and 3rd segments (Midnight Mess & This Trick'll Kill You) are the above-average standard fare; the 2nd segment (The Neat Job) looks like it is the comic relief story.
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.
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.
A follow-up of sorts to Tales From the Crypt as it, like that film, takes its stories from the great EC horror comics from the 1950s.
No real tension to speak of and the payoff is predictable.Final story is "Drawn and Quartered," about an artist (Tom Baker) living in Haiti who seeks voodoo power to take revenge upon those who cheated him.
This one manages to create quite a good atmosphere, has some genuinely gory moments, and is probably the strongest story of the entire collection.This one won't let you down if you're a fan of 70s British horror, although these days it's unlikely to scare anyone over the age of 12.
Capably directed by Roy Ward Baker and filmed on location and at Twickenham Studios with tip-top acting from an all star cast of veteran British character actors makes it good viewing, especially if you're a fan of classic British horror..
This is the sequel to Tales from the Crypt (1972), another corny fun horror anthology.The frame work story is of 5 men that are in an elevator that ends up on the basement floor where the door opens and they all enter a room, sit down to tell us 5 different stories of their recurring nightmares.Story 1: Midnight Mess.
In fact, he's willing to kill to be able to use this trick.In "Bargain in Death", author Maitland (Michael Craig) thinks he's arranged for the perfect insurance scam, only for his plans to be derailed by some desperate medical students.Appropriately enough, we end with the best segment, "Drawn and Quartered".
Disembarking an elevator, five men find themselves in a small room and proceed to tell their dreams to each other to pass the time until they are rescued.The Good Stor(ies):This Trick'll Kill You-Traveling to India, a magician looks to find a new trick to bring into his act.
Five men meet in a lift and are taken down to a basement room where all the comforts of home are evident, here they tell their reoccurring nightmares, which in turn leads us to the final shocking denouement.Very much dated and looking seriously of its time, there is still much to enjoy here, from Terry-Thomas's neat obsessive segment to Tom Baker's crowning last feature, it's wickedly sick without overtly trying to sicken you.
Admittedly "The Vault of Horror" is much weaker in comparison with all the previous Amicus installments (particularly classics such as "The House that Dripped Blood", "Asylum" and the direct predecessor "Tales from the Crypt") but it still definitely remains an enjoyable and worthwhile portmanteau movie with a macabre atmosphere like only the British could achieve in the early 70's and an extended variety of themes & story lines to keep you interested.
The film strictly follows the good old Bill Gaines' concept, meaning the stories' protagonists  who are slimy and obnoxious individuals - usually meet extreme and violent fates at the end of the tales.
That's not to say this movie is BAD - just predictable.The first story starts off with some intrigue, but around the halfway point you'll guess what the twist is long before the dumb central figure finds out.The second story has Terry-Thomas in an amusing role, and near the end there is a funny sequence of the wife finding herself losing control of the situation, but you'll guess what you'll see in the final shot early on.The third story is very predictable.The fourth story was actually pretty good.
It does at least have a central figure who has some smarts, but it's pretty easy to figure out more or less what will happen before the end.The wrap-around story is basically a rehash of the wrap-around in the previous year's movie "Tales From The Crypt".Recommend only for those in love with EC horror comics and horror anthology movies..
The film is rounded off with two other stories, one about a ridiculously trusting individual looking to be 'killed' and buried before being dug up by a friend with whom he'll split the life insurance, whereas the final one sees Tom Baker's Anglo-Haitian painter 'cursed' with the ability to kill people through what situation he paints them in.I suppose, if one is familiar with the acting talent therein, there might be a cheap thrill in watching these people, of whom are more associated with broad, sweeping, "sensible" films such as Battle of Britain and Peeping Tom, going through drab motions as a number of deadbeats who get right-royally done over in all manner of sordid spectacle, but there is little else beyond this.
Roy Ward Baker directed this five-part anthology film that sees five strangers stuck in an office basement who talk about their recurring nightmares: 'Midnight Mess' - A thief comes to a bad end when he meets some vampires.
Weak film has wildly uneven tales that veer from silly comedy to gruesome horror, none of which work, though Tom Baker comes out best.
Five stories taken from the old 1950s horror comics "Tales from the Crypt" and "Vault of Horror" with an excellent cast.
With the likes of Arthur Mullard ( as a gravedigger ), Tommy Godfrey, Robin Nedwell, Geoffrey Davies, and Terry-Thomas around, it is fair to say that this is hardly 'The Exorcist' ( which also opened that year ) though.What it is is an entertaining horror picture boasting good stories and nice black comedy touches.
These great, honest stories were banged out on a shoe-string and we love them.I still think 'The House that Dripped Blood' (even though it doesn't actually drip anything, incidentally) is more enjoyable but 'The Vault of Horror' has a good go and brings us exactly the kind of fare we love to lap up.It's always a bit silly to pick holes in a film like this but, forgive me, I must just say Terry Thomas gets a very raw deal: Everyone else is either a psychopath or a cold-blooded killer (or both) and Terry's great crime is 'being too fussy'!
The only flaw is we don't know what the rope did to his wife.{Story 4} Michael Craig is a man who fakes his own death by being buried alive, expecting to be dug up later in an insurance scam.
A great five story horror anthology from Amicus..
Another good story, it build up very well, and I liked the very appropriate twist ending.The third story, 'This trick'll kill you', sees Curt Jurgens and Dawn Adams as a magician and his wife who, while visiting India, try to steal a magic trick for their act.
Good fun.Directed by Roy Ward Baker this is a great little anthology film.
Oh, yeah, and those two dorks from Doctor At Large...Of the five tales only 3 work well - Baker's story, Drawn And Quartered, is by far the best, and he brings a powerful intensity to the role of a wronged artist seeking revenge through voodoo.
***SPOILERS*** From the famous "Vault of Horror" 1950's horror magazines we have an anthology of five horror stories that have to do with persons who committed their crimes, with the exception of Arthur Critchit played by Terry-Thomas, and ended up paying for them.
All five men, including Arthur, magician Sabastian, Curt Jurgens, insurance fraud shyster Maitland, Michael Criag, murderer for profit Harold Rogers, Daniel Massey, and frustrated artist and voodoo practitioner Moore, Tom Baker, end up not only paying for their crimes but reliving them over and over every day until the end of eternity!It's not a pretty sight in what happens to those who find themselves locked in the sub-basement, or Hell for short, in this London high-rise with them all getting everything that they deserved and getting it with interest compounded.
Five fairly lightweight stories feature an exceptional cast including Terry-Thomas as the meticulously house-proud Arthur Critchit ("Can't you do anything neatly?"), his wife Eleanor played by Glynis Johns; Daniel and Anna Massey as brother and sister Harold and Dona Rogers; Curd Jürgens as a magician on holiday in Amicus' cut-price India doing dodgy business with a terrific Dawn Addams; Michael Craig in a grave-robbing tale alongside Robin Nedwell, Geoffrey Davies and Arthur Mullard, who were comedy actors popular at the time; finally, future Doctor Who Tom Baker as Moore, a cash-strapped painter who falls victim of voodoo magic in Haiti and gets revenge on scammer Denholm Elliot and Terence Alexander.The framing device features Thomas, Jürgens, Baker, Daniel Massey and Craig who enter an elevator, a scene which opens the film.
The second story is the comedy horror piece of the film, and is actually very good on reflection, with excellent pacing.
Like all of the stories in these Amicus films, the participants get their just desserts come the end of the tale.Tom Baker's final tale is the best of the bunch and with an excellent, well-executed story of revenge and voodoo, similar to Roy Castle's segment from DR.
Roy Ward Baker masterfully brings us five stories shared by five men trapped in a luxurious office basement while wrapping it up with one central story which doesn't disappoint/ Starring class acts such as Tom Baker, Terry Thomas, Daniel and Anna Massey this 1980's film really packed a punch and still does.
Inspired by the 50's comic books, this Amicus Produced anthology film was supposed to be the direct sequel to "Tales from the Crypt".
The final story, 'Drawn and Quartered', ends the movie with a creepy story of an insane artist (Tom Baker) who paints his enemies portrait and through the use of voodoo mutilates the painting which kills the person for real.
Altogether, "Vault of Horror" doesn't quite reach the lofty inspired heights of "Tales from the Crypt" but still is a fun and scary entry into the Amicus productions of anthology horror films..
An interesting horror anthology, with a more original approach than other similar movies."Midnight Mess" is a slightly odd story with a fun vampiric twist."The Neat Job" sticks out from all five for the simple reason that it doesn't have an evil protagonist who snuffs it, hence the only real flaw TVOH has.
Stories revolve around vampires, bodily dismemberment, east Indian mysticism, an insurance scam, and an artist who kills by painting his victims' deaths....These sort of movies were ten-a-penny in the seventies, and in the US, this was released as a sequel to 'Tales from the Crypt'.As usual with these films that are stories that are really striking, and others that pale in comparison.
Companion film to Amicus' omnibus Tales from the Crypt concerns five men who find themselves locked within a vault after an elevator leads them to it with no doors or exits, as they relate nightmarish stories about themselves which feel so vivid and real.
The best parts of the fourth story are where they show a vintage "Vault Of Horror" comic book, and a scene in where the main character is reading a novilization of the "Tales From The Crypt" movie!
The framing story in this kind of film has to be strong and if it is like Dead of Night the twist in this part of tale has to be especially surprising but in both these aspects The Vault of Horror fails.
His character's back story seemed interesting but like so much of the film his part feels a bit underdeveloped.The Neat Job is part 2 and stars the great Terry-Thomas and Glynis Johns.
A mixed bag of Amicus horror tales with a cast that's far better than the stories: Terry-Thomas; Glynis Johns; Tom Baker; Curt Jurgens, etc.