CryptSpeakers

Episode Notes When we saw that this week's episode was called "The Ventriloquist's Dummy", we were immediately pumped. Who doesn't love evil dummy stories? And with it directed by Richard Donner, starring Don Rickles and a 20% screechy Bobcat Goldthwait, based on a Frank Darabont script? We were sure we were in for a treat. But we had no idea what we were in for. No idea! Meanwhile, Jay reveals how deep and far back his love of inexplicable franchises goes, and Cecy shares fun games to play at home. This is the Tales from the Crypt we were waiting for! IMDB Page for "The Ventriloquist's Dummy": https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0716900/?ref_=ttep_ep10 Directed by Richard Donner, Starring Don Rickles and Bobcat Goldthwait Intro and outro music: "Mr. N" by Molly Fancher

Episode Notes CW: This episode discusses depictions of sexual assault. Well we finally did it, we welcome someone else into the Crypt as Phil Gonzales ("Deep in Bear Country", "It's Del Toro Time", "Pizza Toast") joins us. And of course the nicest gent in podcasting joins us to discuss the skeeziest episode of Tales from the Crypt yet in Tom Holland's "Four-Sided Triangle", a tale of captivity, unwanted sexual advances, and a very confusing ending. It takes a truly next level disturbing when a clown-scarecrow isn't the most unnerving part of your episode. So, thanks for dropping by Phil, sorry our show is so gross! IMDB Page for "Four-Sided Triangle": https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0716851/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 Directed by Tom Holland, Starring Patricia Arquette, Chelcie Ross, Susan Blommaert Intro and outro music: "Mr. N" by Molly Fancher

Episode Notes This week the Cryptspeakers crank it up to 11, as we head to the world of early 90s LA rock clubs for Jeffrey Price's sweaty crime-horror-comedy "For Cryin' Out Loud". We talk about this stacked cast, including a desperately undressing Iggy Pop and the maddening screams of Sam Kennison. Plus learn about obscure sub-reddits for falling asleep to your favorite TV shows. IMDB Page for "For Cryin' Out Loud": https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0716849/ Directed by Jeffrey Price Starring: Lee Arenberg, Katey Sagal, Sam Kinnison's pipes Intro and outro music: "Mr. N" by Molly Fancher

Episode Notes Listen, we try to level with you. Here at Cryptspeakers HQ, we're all about honesty. And honestly? This show has been treating us rough here for a bit. And this week's entry, Richard Greenberg's "The Sacrifice", may have been a breaking point. All we wanted was a show where a talking skeleton introduced us to spooky stories of things that go bump in the night, not insurance scams that don't make sense and icky blackmail arrangements, all performed by a parade of human garbage. We do get to talk about famous criminal parrots though, so that at least is worth listening to. IMDB Page for "The Sacrifice": https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0716894/?ref_=ttep_ep7 Directed by Richard Greenberg (literally who?) Starring: Kim Delaney, Kevin Kilner and Michael Ironside Intro and outro music: "Mr. N" by Molly Fancher

Episode Notes With a title like "The Thing That Came From The Grave," you know Fred Dekker's Tales from the Crypt directorial debut is going to be another tale of desperate lovers, senseless violence and manical mad men. But this time there is a twist, as the bad guy is played by the incredible Miguel Ferrer, giving Jay enough daylight to talk about Robocop for longer than you'd expect, and Cecy recounts fond childhood memories of beer proximity. Tune in to find out what things is coming out of which grave in the most romantic Tales From the Crypt episode. (Not that that is a high bar to clear.) "The Thing From the Grave" IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0716897/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_3 Directed by Fred Dekker Starring Miguel Ferrer, Teri Hatcher, Kyle Secor

Episode Notes This week, the Cryptspeaker's are covering David Burton Morris' "Three's a Crowd," an episode of Tales so thrilling, Jay kind of checked out on it halfway through. Luckily, he came back just in time for an ending that made him really mad! Meanwhile, Cecy is just trying to figure out what the deal with this music is. And why did that driver talk about how into free love he was? It's the least romantic episode of Tales From the Crypt yet, and this show is mainly about people killing their romantic partners. "Three's A Crowd" IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0716902/?ref_=ttep_ep5 Directed by David Burton Morris Starring Gavin O'Herlihy and Ruth de Sosa Theme music: "Mr. N" by Molly Fancher Editorial note: We know the sound quality of this one is not the best; we had some technical issues, and between scrapping it entirely and missing a week or putting out a rough sounding one, we decided to give this episode of Tales precisely what it deserves.

Episode Notes Okay so. The Cryptspeakers cover Chris Walas' "'Til Death", which has some capital P Problems when it comes to the depiction of black people in general and voodoo in particular. But also? It's like unrelentingly horny, the perfect kind of horrific and paced liked a pistol. So come for the dissection of racist stereotypes in 2021 when examining a show made in 1990, based on a comic from the 1950s. Stay for the discussion of why eating a bunch before sex might be a terrible idea. One things for sure, this episode keeps getting hotter! "'Til Death" IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0716820/ Directed by Chris Walas Written by Jeri Barchilon Starring DW Moffett and Pamela Gien Theme Music: "Mr. N" by Molly Fancher

Episode Notes We've been vibing pretty hard with Season 2 of Tales so far, so when we got to the often talked about "Cutting Cards", we were pretty stoked. Unfortunately, this is a Walter Hill episode, and all that entails from his first stab, "The Man Who Was Death", is still in effect here and more so. So it's kind of a lot. But also not enough? It's a weird one. Other topics of discussion include Money Plane comparisons, unfortunate sound effects and whatever the hell James Horner was doing with this score. Also, Jay figured out how to add episode clips, so enjoy that. "Cutting Cards" IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0716836 Directed by Walter Hill Written by Hill and Mae Woods Starring Lance Henriksen Theme Music: "Mr. N" by Molly Fancher

Episode Notes One of the greatest curiosities of Tales from the Crypt is that it houses within it the directorial debut of Arnold Shwarzenegger, and this week the Cryptspeakers finally hit his episode, "the Switch". There is plenty of Arnold talk, but also discussion of the status symbol that is butlers, how to spot a sketchy doctor and if skeletons can sweat. But mostly it's a lot of Arnie talk. "The Switch" on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0716896/ Directed by Arnold Shwarzenegger Written by Michael Taav and Richard Tuggle Starring William Hickey and Kelly Preston Theme Music: "Mr. N" by Molly Fancher

Episode Notes The Cryptspeakers celebrate the start of Season 2, and the start of the 1990s, by talking about one of the weirdest episodes of Tales From the Crypt yet, "Dead Right." We discuss the meteoric rise of Demi Moore, the tarnished legacy of Jeffrey Tambor and lessons learned about everything from underwear to automats. Oh we also talk about Wishbone for longer than you'd think. Welcome back to the Crypt, kiddies! "Dead Right" IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0394934/ Directed by Howard Deutch Written by Andy Wolk Starring Demi Moore, Jeffrey Tambor Theme Music: "Mr. N" by Molly Fancher

Episode Notes We did it! We watched the whole first season of Tales from the Crypt! Okay, it was only six episodes, but you take your victory laps when you can get them these days. So before we head off to the unknown country that is Season 2, we take a moment to reflect on what was, by providing our personal rankings of what were the best and worst Tales to come this season. Theme Music is "Mr. N" by Molly Fancher

Episode Notes The Cryptspeakers have reached the end of the (admittedly short) first season of Tales From the Crypt. But before we close the book on season one, we have one more episode to discuss, about animals, love and retirement. Also, some pretty stylish track suits. It's Mary Lambert's "Collection Completed", and it hits some very personal notes with one of the Speakers. "Collection Completed" IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0716831/ Directed by Mary Lambert Written by Battle Davis, Randolph Davis and A. Whitney Brown Starring M. Emmet Walsh Theme Music: "Mr. N" by Molly Fancher

Episode Notes So far, the Cryptspeakers have been enjoying some fairly high gloss horror, but it wasn't exactly clear why it had to be on HBO. But now we have Tom Holland's (the Child's Play one, not the Spider-Man one) "Lover Come Hack to Me." And boy howdy, this is certainly some trademark HBO entertainment. So join us as we discuss an especially horny episode of Tales from the Crypt. "Lover Come Hack To Me" IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0716862/ Directed by Tom Holland Written by Michael McDowell Starring Amanda Plummer Theme Music: "Mr. N" by Molly Fancher

Episode Notes In this week's episode of Tales, Howard Deutch's "Only Sin Deep," the Cryptspeakers confront a truly terrifying specter that comes for us all: old age. Items discussed include if Lea Thompson is or isn't good in this episode, why problematic racial context seems to be just beneath the surface of this episode, and what makes a great 1989 rich people coke party. "Only Sin Deep" IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0716871/ Directed by Howard Deutch Written by Fred Dekker Starring Lea Thompson Theme Music: "Mr. N" by Molly Fancher

Episode Notes Hurry hurry hurry! The Cryptspeakers take you to the Freak Show, for the uncanny sights of Richard Donner's "Dig That Cat...He's Real Gone"! Thrill as we discuss one of Hollywood's most prolific, and yet somehow underappreciated, directors! Gaze in amazement at a horror story that seems to hate people who like horror stories! Ponder if Peter Weller actually is actually in this episode! (He isn't.) "Dig That Cat...He's Real Gone" IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0716841/ Directed by Richard Donner Written by Terry Black Starring Joe Pantoliano Theme Music: "Mr. N" by Molly Fancher

Christmas in February The Cryptspeakers return to discuss "And All Through the House", as well as the strange career of Robert Zemeckis and what kind of closet has a window anyway? "And All Through the House" IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0716825/ Directed by Robert Zemeckis Written by Fred Dekker Starring Mary Ellen Trainor Theme Music: "Mr. N" by Molly Fancher

The Man Who Was Meh Join us for the pilot episode of CryptSpeakers, where we talk about how the show came to be, and cover the very first episode of HBO's Tales from the Crypt, The Man Who Was Death. The Man Who Was Death IMDB https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0716890/ Directed by Walter Hill Written by Walter Hill, Robert Reneau Starring William Sadler Theme Music: "Mr. N" by Molly Fancher