Tales from the Darkside

Who remembers this gem from the 1980's? Produced and partially written by George A. Romero, this anthology series was a predecessor to Tales from the Crypt and an after thought of Twilight Zone. The first season aired in 84 and was just released on DVD a month ago. It was then considered the dark competitor to Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories which aired in 85'.

Tales from the Darkside took your normal everday situation and twists it, yep you guessed right... to the dark side. I have watched the first few episodes so far. The first is called "Trick or Treat" written by George Romereo himself. It's about an old man who gets his kicks scaring kids on halloween with his haunted house, that is until he gets a scare of his own.

I must warn you, as with most television going back 20 years now (i'm getting so old) the stories have a much slower pace then they do now. It was a different era, a different way of telling, and with this is mind you can then open your mind and sink back into the 80's, a simplier time, try not to compare it to the stuff today. It's much more fun.

The budget I'm sure was tiny, but the creativity wasnt't. Remember before computers? (if you do, your old like me, haha!) Monsters were actually make-up artists most valiant efforts to bring demons, ghouls and goblins to life. Lights and wires were used, not blue screens and After Effects.

Also lots of actors in this series i had forgotten about. Almost as if they don't age in my head, frozen in time. I realize they do, but in my golden era of childhood, they don't. The second episode had "Buddy" from just one of the guys. His name is Billy Jayne, i remember his face and his work but never knew his name. Got to love the imdb.

Stephen King contributed a story I am looking forward to watching. Also Christian Slater is in an episode. Say what you will, but Slater was bad ass when we were kids. Pump up the Volume, Gleaming the Cube, Heathers, The Legend of Billie Jean... that's the Christian Slater i remember, not "I jot got cancelled on the latest crappy NBC show" Christian Slater. Sorry, got off topic...

If i can remember anything from watching this series as a child, it's this creepy ass intro... used to scare the frosted flakes out of me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnE3-0X-174

Tales from the Darkside is out to own dvd. There was also a movie that came later by the same name.