The first season of Tales From The Crypt, which premiered in 1989 on HBO, set the tone for the series’ gleefully macabre blend of horror, dark comedy, and moral comeuppance. Adapted from the infamous EC Comics of the 1950s, the season introduced viewers to the Crypt Keeper, whose cackling introductions and gruesome punchlines framed each episode. The stories leaned heavily into the classic horror themes of greed, revenge, jealousy, and irony and often ending with a cruel twist that punished the characters’ worst impulses. Early episodes were helmed by notable filmmakers like Robert Zemeckis, Walter Hill, and Richard Donner, giving the show an unexpected cinematic credibility despite its modest production values.
Season one also distinguished itself through its creative ambition and willingness to push boundaries, especially in terms of violence, sexuality, and cynical humor. Episodes such as And All Through The House and Dig That Cat… He’s Real Gone showcased a range of tones, from slasher-style suspense to absurd, comic-book logic. The cast featured a rotating lineup of recognizable character actors, including Mary Ellen Trainor, William Sadler, and Joe Pantoliano, many of whom leaned into the show’s exaggerated morality and pitch-black humor. In retrospect, the first season feels like a rough but confident statement of intent which established a formula that would be refined later, while already delivering the mean-spirited fun that made the series iconic.
6. Episode 5: Lover Come Hack To Me
5. Episode 4: Only Sin Deep
4. Episode 6: Collection Completed
3. Episode 1: The Man Who Was Death
2. Episode 3: Dig That Cat… He’s Real Gone
1. Episode 2: And All Through The House
How do you rank the episodes? Comment below.
We Have Issues 