Tales from the Grave (2003) (V)

Director:

Stephanie Beaton

Writers:

Beverly Beaton (segment)
Stephanie Beaton (writer)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Cabin | Cemetery | Crone | Grave | Jack In The Box

Cast

Joe Estevez	...	Vinnie
Stephanie Beaton	...	Helen (Hercaylac)
Robert Herrera	...	Hank (Biker)
Tony Olivas	...	Todd
Matt Schwarz	...	Mike
Rollence Patugan	...	Brian
David Anthony Hernandez	...	Crasy Gunderman
Vinnie Bilancio	...	John Doe
Mary Beth Rim	...	Jane Doe
Donna Kimura	...	Dr. Smith
Kenneth Kimura	...	Dr. Jones
Beverly Beaton	...	Old Crone (as Lindsey Goodall)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Damian the Cat	...	Cat with Old Crone (as Damian)
Julian Ford	...	Bill
Lance Harding	...	Guy
Josh Matthies	...	The Billywack
Barbie Orr	...	Darva
Mikul Robins	...	Doe
Alicia Yang	...	Girl

Runtime:

USA:118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Crestline, California, USA

Company:

Silver Moon Productions

Movie Connections:

Followed by Tales from the Grave, Volume 2: Happy Holidays (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Own That Jimmy

Best little horror flick!

Added to my viewing pleasure lately is this super sweet Creepshow-esquire flick called TALES FROM THE GRAVE. Albeit in vein of Tales from the Crypt I must say I enjoyed this more then most episodes of TFTC that I've seen. TALES FROM THE GRAVE definitely had a cooler host. Each tale is introduced by the old witch who lives in the cemetery....who foresees them all through her crystal ball.Tonight's viewing adventure begins with the tale of Crazy Gunderman.

Dobbs and Mike go off into the woods in search for Crazy Gunderman (David Anthony Hernandez) after he does some weird hoodoo voodoo type stuff in the street. Pissing the kids off one of them beats him up and leaves him in the street. Pretty much brushing it off crazy Gunderman gets up and the curse is on. Getting the bright idea in their heads they decide to head off into the woods to search for his domicile. Smart huh? Go looking for someone who just hexed your ass. I know, it sounds lame, but if they didn't we wouldn't have been given this cool flick to watch. Upon arriving at Gundermans they kill him and run off. Only they return back to his dwelling. Did they kill him?? Is this some kind of nightmare? Director Stephanie Beaton does a damn fine job of delivering those perfect scares at the best time. The acting lends their hand into the fold by delivering believable performances from top to bottom. A job well done all the way through.

Next we have the Hercaylac, a tale starring the illustrious Joe Estevez as Vinnie. Vinnie heads off to a remote location only to be tested of his own sanity. The Hercaylac was plain and simply one of the weirdest shorts I've ever seen. Excellent camera angles and a superb direction of odd images are just downright eerie. I'll have to say when the kite hit the window it scared the hell out of me, and that's not easily done. So for that I must give you kudos Mrs. Beaton. Just from watching the first two shorts in this collection I've felt this DVD is worth watching, but we do still have two more to watch, so let's see what else she offers up.

Now we have Lab Rats which deals with two scientists dropping two random people into a giant maze with one big ass rat and release them. In sort of a Planet of the Apes meets The Cube feel we're led down some creepy ass hallways with a mean ass wicked looking rat the size of a damn elephant. The special effects were miraculous which made Lab Rats pretty damn cool.

And sadly last we have The Billywack., a tale similar to that of the Chupa Cabra in Mexico or the Goat man down here in Texas.The Billywack is half man half beast that roams the woods in search for prey. Enter the woods and you'll be hunting for your life. I must say that this segment was pretty chilling to me, due to it bringing up old ghost stories my parents used to tell me in hopes of keeping me out of the woods as a child. Instilling a little bit of that fear I had as a child. Now because of this, I must go out in those damn woods and see if I'm lucky enough to see our Billywack. Needless to say I really dug this film, if only because it hits home. Nonetheless Beaton delivers once again.

All in all I thought this DVD as a whole was more then worth owning and I've actually watched it once more since writing this review. I've really enjoyed this chance to catch TALES FROM THE GRAVE and am happy to say I have part 2 sitting right next to me. I'll definitely let ya know how that one is. Until next time…stay away from the dark!!