Bloodtype Online
For the best of the Horror/Cult/Exploitation film experience
Tales from the Darkside - The Second Season (1985 - 1986)
If you know me or read my reviews you may already know that this show had a lot to do with me being the addicted horror fan that I am today. It’s something I remember watching with my dad as a kid every Saturday Night and it’s a show that I had a blast revisiting on DVD. Although the set is short on special features it does have all of the episodes from 1985 - 1986 and is a wonderful collection of shows. In this collection you get 24 episodes of the popular TV series and I have to say that there is a lot of quality in this package as well.
Personally I found that the first disc starts off slow with episodes like “The Impressionist” and “Lifebomb” as they aren’t terrible episodes, but they aren’t the greatest examples of the series either. Then the fun really gets started with “Ring Around the Redhead” which is a pretty weird story that is actually pretty fun and intriguing. “Parlour Floor Front” is a solid show too which comes off as having a real “EC Comic” type of feel to it. You also might recognize Rosetta LeNoire who was the grandmother on the sitcom “Family Matters”. The first disc also packs one of my favorite episodes of all time with the Tom Savini directed episode “Halloween Candy” about a mean old man who might just get some comeuppance from being mean to children on Halloween night. It’s a really fun story and it plays out perfect for the small screen as a story wrapped in a neat little package. “The Satanic Piano” literally floored me as Lisa Bonet (The Cosby Show) stars and I didn’t remember it whatsoever. The episode is certainly cheesy and dated, but it makes for a pretty fun viewing experience. “The Satanic Piano” is directed by John Harrison who actually directs several episodes during the season and is remembered for doing the music to George A. Romero’s “Day of the Dead” as well being the zombie in Romero’s “Dawn of the Dead” that catches the screwdriver to the ear. The first disc finishes as strong as possible though with the Romero written episode “The Devil’s Advocate” (complete with commentary by Romero himself) with comedian Jerry Stiller in the lead as well as “Distant Signals” starring the legendary Darren McGavin in the lead.
The second disc picks up with the episode “The Trouble with Mary Jane” a decent episode that I vividly remembered from childhood. Also, I remember the little girl (actress Tanya Fenmore) from an episode of “Mama’s Family” as well. It’s also has Lawrence Tierney and Phillis Diller in pretty entertaining roles as well. Then in “Ursa Minor” we get a story about a little girl and her potentially evil teddy bear that I thought was pretty entertaining and very well executed. “Effect and Cause” was a pretty cool and somewhat creepy episode about a woman who figures that it’s possible to live life backwards. “Monsters in my Room” is one that I remember well and seems to be one of the more popular episodes in the series as Sci-Fi plays this one consistently on their network. It also stars a very young Seth Green in the lead as young Timmy. “Comet Watch” isn’t really a horror tale but it features some of the greatest acting performances from the entire series from actors Anthony Heald (Silence of the Lambs) and the great character actor Fritz Weaver (Creepshow). The last three of the disc however are hit and miss with “Dream Girl”, “A New Least on Life” and “Printers Devil”
Disc three stars with the moral tale “The Shrine” and then goes into another one of the better episodes of the entire series with “The Old Soft Shoe” starring Paul Dooley (Sixteen Candles) in a great role. “The Last Car” was an episode I remember really creeping me out as a kid. It features a young woman going home from college traveling by train. Then before she knows it she stuck in some strange time vortex and can’t leave the car she’s riding on. “A Choice of Dreams” is a pretty interesting episode starring Abe Vigoda, “The Unhappy Medium” is a really cool episode with Connie Stevens that’s pretty dark and comedic and is a fine example of the series. “Fear of Floating” is one of the best episodes in the series as well and stars Howard Sherman (Bub from Romero’s Day of the Dead) in a role as a man who has the power to float like a balloon and has something to hide. “The Casavin Curse” unfortunately pales in comparison to earlier episodes in my opinion and wasn’t the strongest way to end and otherwise outstanding season of the show.
Overall Season Two of “Tales from the Darkside” is a damn fine one. It’s definitely darker than the first season was and the talent brought in to act during this season is much better. We get to see some great stories and some wonderful acting performances and it’s just an overall great time. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the season and if you’re already a fan of the show this is a must buy collection. So until next time, try to enjoy the daylight......
Rating - ***1/2
-Ed Demko
