Tales from the Crypt – Season 1 Episode 1 – The Man Who Was Death
Niles Talbot is a professional executioner whose career comes to an end when his state abolishes the death penalty. Unwilling to accept that murderers can now escape justice through loopholes, Niles decides to dish out his own justice. He proceeds to embark on a vigilante crusade, tracking down criminals he believes deserve execution.
This first episode establishes this show’s signature style of dark humour and people getting exactly what they deserve. The Man Who Was Death makes for a terrific opening introduction. Directed by Walter Hill, the filmmaker behind The Warriors and 48 Hrs., this is particularly hard-edged compared to other episodes.
William Sadler is fantastic. Throwing himself into the role with considerable gusto, he creates a protagonist who is simultaneously charismatic, disturbing and completely unhinged. Niles might genuinely believe he is doing society a favour. It’s a performance that carries the episode, making an otherwise fairly straightforward revenge story considerably more personal.
The atmosphere is another major strength. From its dim prison surroundings to its seedy bars and nightclubs, everything feels slightly grubby. There is humour here, of course, but it tends to emerge from the absurdity of Niles’ ramblings rather than from anything resembling conventional comedy. A brief but welcome appearance from the mighty Gerrit Graham adds another little flourish to an already enjoyable opener.
Some of a curse for Tales from the Crypt, the story occasionally feels a little too compacted and might have benefited from another 10-15 minutes. As a little crime thriller, moreso than a traditional horror episode, it shows that these tales don’t need monsters or elaborate supernatural explanations to deliver their nastiness.
I’d put this as the second-best episode of the first season, but it contains what I consider the single best performance of the entire run. A dark, atmospheric and confident opener.
