Tales from the Crypt: Season 2
Here are 18 more eye-popping episodes from HBO's shiver-shudder-and-shriek anthology series, adapted from the pages of E.C. Comics' legendary horror comics. Season 2 ofTales from the Cryptdoesn't back down from the promise made by its debut season: some of the biggest names in Hollywood do their best in front of and behind the camera to deliver the gory goods, with a healthy dash ofTales' signature coal-black humor. There's Demi Moore as a classic E.C. femme fatale in Howard Deutch's "Dead Right";Desperate Housewives' Teri Hatcher co-stars with a reanimated corpse in "The Thing from the Grave"; Iggy Pop and the voice of Sam Kinison are featured in a sinister story of music and murder in "For Cryin' Out Loud"; and Arnold Schwarzenegger makes his directorial debut with the macabre "The Switch." Series co-producers Walter Hill and Richard Donner also contribute creepfests, as do horror vets Jack Sholder, Tom Holland, and special effects designer Chris Walas; other performers facing fearsome fates include Patricia Arquette, Don Rickles, Bobcat Goldthwait, Lance Henriksen, and Harry Anderson. The three-disc set definitely delivers a triple treat of terror, but unfortunately, the supplemental features are a little (ahem) anemic, especially in comparison to the solid extras in thefirst-season set. Here, fans only get a short behind-the-scenes featurette that focuses mainly on actor John Kassir, who provides the Crypt Keeper's voice, and a glimpse at aTalesepisode done for radio with Tim Curry.--Paul Gaita