HBO aired the first episode of Tales from the Crypt about 30 years ago. The Crypt Keeper opened every episode of this anthology series, which was based on the 1950s E.C. horror comic books. Throughout its seven seasons, the show earned excellent viewer feedback and was even nominated many times for Primetime Emmy Awards.
The show essentially explored a number of various subjects, and the majority of them concluded with a shocking twist and clever wordplay from the Crypt Keeper. In fact, it is still deemed one of the most popular horror series to date. Despite being out in public for more than thirty years, there are several elements about the show that viewers might not know. Here are eight things about Tales from the Crypt that one probably didn’t know.
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The Crypt Keeper was Given Life by Six Individuals
HBO
With the advancement in technology, filmmakers and horror tv shows prefer using CGI to make ghouls and monsters. However, this may come as a shock to many, but the Crypt Keeper was a puppet! While John Kassir was the voice actor behind the character, it was actually controlled by six distinct individuals. Four out of six operated on his mouth, eyes, and iconic facial expressions. The remaining two handled other body parts such as hands, neck, etc. They also used smoke machines to blow smoke in his Crypt. After all, the Crypt Keeper is the heart of the show, and it would never have had the same eerie impact it does now, had it not been a puppet. Something about that and how his body moves adds to the spooky aura and makes him more true-to-life, which is always much scarier than CGI.
The Crypt Keeper Possesses Chucky’s Eyes
Kevin Yagher is the person behind Crypt Keeper’s design. Although Yagher has established a successful reputation as a special effects and make-up artist, he is more commonly known for his talent in horror films. He took the first step into the realm of movies in 1984 for Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter as a special effects make-up artist. People instantly fell in love with his work, and he got to work on well-renowned films such as The Phantom of the Opera, Hellraiser: Bloodline, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 2-4.
He is also the creator behind every kid’s biggest nightmare, Chucky from Child’s Play. If the audience pays attention to Crypt Keeper’s eyes, it will send a chill down their spine. In fact, his eyes might be the most menacing thing about him. The reason behind this is that Yagher made a conscious decision to give Crypt Keeper Chucky’s creepy blue eyes.
The Home of the Crypt Keeper was a Miniature Set
No one can deny that Tales from the Crypt’s opening was absolutely unforgettable, whether they are fans of the show or not. Before the show’s main character introduced each episode, the series always played its intro song that began with a creaking metal door opening as viewers were escorted on a housing tour of the Crypt Keeper’s mansion. Many fans, to this day, are unaware that the opener was actually shot in a miniature set. The team used small cameras to shoot the interior of the house. However, the staircases which led to the infamous crypt were indeed computer generated.
A Number of Celebrities Directed the Series’ Episodes
Many prominent people made a cameo in Tales from the Crypt prior to becoming the well-known celebrities they are today. Given HBO’s latitude, the show also had several renowned directors. For instance, the show has episodes directed by big names like Richard Donner and Robert Zemeckis. In addition, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s directors, Tobe Hooper and Tom Holland, who created the original Child’s Play, also directed a couple of episodes. Huge movie stars also directed many episodes. Episodes like “None but the Lonely Heart”, “The Switch”, and “The Trap” were directed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Hanks, and Michael J. Fox, respectively. The show never limited people who had an eye for storytelling; they even let their make-up artist, Kevin Yagher, direct some of the episodes.
From Dusk Till Dawn was Essentially a Film from Tales from the Crypt
Dimension Films
Even before the series was released, a movie of the same name was screened in 1972. In fact, in 1995, Tales From the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight was published just as the TV series was coming to an end. Even though renowned celebrities such as William Sadler and Billy Zane were in this film, it received highly negative reviews. Many might not know this, but this movie was actually the first in a trilogy. From Dusk Till Dawn by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez was originally intended to be a sequel in this trilogy. However, they were not able to reach an agreement with the producers. So, Rodriguez and Tarantino chose to make it an individual film and not a part of this series. It is a shame they couldn’t make a deal, as it would be such a great addition to the Tales from the Crypt franchise.
The Slogan “It’s not TV, it’s HBO” Was Made Possible Thanks to the Show
Since it was an era when broadcasting networks were free from the shackles of restrictions, HBO was very encouraging in pushing its boundaries with the type of content it produced. The channel aired a selection of explicit footage from the show to create a marketing campaign for Tales from the Crypt. During the campaign, when the lights turned up, someone exclaimed that “it was not TV,” and somebody chimed in by saying, “It was HBO.”
The Crypt Keeper Almost Got A Nose
As mentioned earlier, the Crypt Keeper was the soul of the show and the only constant who stayed despite the fact that every episode featured a unique story. None of the watchers of the show can forget his zombie-like puppet face, as it is exceptionally memorable at this point. However, this may come as a shock to many, but it might have looked entirely different. Kevin Yagher, the creator of Crypt Keeper, nearly gave him Chucky’s nose as well. Robert Zemeckis, the executive producer, and Yagher collaborated closely on his design as they hunted for the ideal nose to add as a final touch. However, Zemeckis then suggested, after looking at six different noses, that it looks much more terrifying without having one. And this is how the viewers got the Crypt Keeper they now saw on screen.
The Last Season Was Shot in London
Although the first six seasons were shot in the United States, its final season was shot at Ealing Studios in West London. Many fans assumed they did so to reduce production expenses. However, in reality, it was made to recruit new actors, directors, and writers for the series. Being in a new place with different cultures can help open up new possibilities. However, sometimes things don’t work how one perceives them to. Unfortunately, this season had several bizarre episodes that didn’t sit well with viewers, especially the finale, which was essentially a graphic animated story about the three little pigs. Sadly, HBO’s strategy didn’t really succeed, considering season 7 is generally recognized as the weakest of the entire series.
