AND ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE (1989): Starring- Mary Ellen Trainor, Larry Drake, and Marshall Bell
Directed by- Robert Zemeckis
Ah, now this is more like it. For many fans this is that best episode of the first season. I'm not sure if I'd go so far as to say that, but it's definitely the first one that feels like it torn straight from the pages of TALES FROM THE CRYPT.
The story begins on Christmas Eve, when a young woman (Trainor) murders her husband (Bell) with a fireplace poker to the head. Her plan is to dispose of the body in a nearby well. Her plans are complicated by her young daughter, who is staying up to see if Santa Clause comes. The mother eventually manages to send her daughter to bed and proceeds outside with the body. However, unbeknownst to her, an escaped mental patient dressed as Santa Clause (Drake) is lurking about, and he has an axe...
This is a very, very good episode. It's beautifully shot, and the tone of continuously mounting suspense is perfectly achieved. The two lead performances are great. Mary Ellen Trainor is exactly what you want in a TALES FROM THE CRYPT protagonist- you root for her, but you also realize that she really has it coming. Lary Drake is exceptionally creepy in an almost-silent role as the maniac. While it hasn't got much of a twist to it, the ending is one of the most lasting images this series has to offer. It's not my personal favorite out of the first season, but it's still one of the best.
My rating- * * * * out of * * * *
