Tales from the Darkside: The Movie
John Harrison
(1990)
A young boy tells three stories of horror to distract a witch who plans to eat him.
Cast
Crew
Hook
No logic applies. The supernatural force in Tales from the Darkside: the Movie doesn't announce itself — it seeps into the texture of everyday life until normal feels like a thin membrane over something ancient and hostile.
Identity
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie received mixed reviews upon its May 1990 release, with critics generally finding it an uneven but entertaining anthology whose individual segments varied considerably in quality and effectiveness, with the third segment about the gargoyle romance most frequently singled out for its relative ambition. The cast of the three segments includes a remarkable concentration of actors who would achieve or sustain significant subsequent careers, among them Christian Slater, David Johansen, William Hickey, James Remar, and Julianne Moore in one of her earliest screen appearances. A genuine touchstone of supernatural horror.
Collector Focus
Supernatural horror's collector appeal centers on atmosphere — the visual and sonic identity creates a consistent dread that translates across poster art, home video, and soundtrack releases.
Context
Directed by John Harrison, Tales from the Darkside: the Movie was produced on a budget of approximately $7 million, with the production offsetting its lean resources through craft and camera technique. Tales from the Darkside: The Movie received mixed reviews upon its May 1990 release, with critics generally finding it an uneven but entertaining anthology whose individual segments varied considerably in quality and effectiveness, with the third segment about the gargoyle romance most frequently singled out for its relative ambition.
