10 Best Tales From The Crypt Episodes

Young Billy Goldman sees ventriloquist Mr Ingels (Don Rickles) perform his final show before a horrible tragedy would lead him to hide from public life. Fifteen years later, Billy (Bobcat Goldthwait) is a struggling amateur and tracks down the legend who inspired him, finding Ingels is now a broken-down, bitter shell of his former self. Gradually, Billy coaxes Mr Ingels out of retirement by reminding him of the business he once loved. But as Ingels comes out of his shell so does his puppet Morty.

In his second episode, director Richard Donner brings some of the dark comedy of his previous effort Dig That Cat... He's Real Gone on a dive into full-blown horror. Ever since 1945's Dead Of Night it's been accepted that ventriloquist dummies are never anything less than creepy, whether it be a representation of the operator's hidden personality or a living entity of its own, and Donner with screenwriter Frank Darabont keep you guessing throughout as to the nature of this seemingly malevolent doll, before answering that question in its showstopping finale.

Although it's Donner's name on the credits you'd be forgiven for thinking this episode was directed by Sam Raimi as its gleefully demented third act possesses an energy and physicality akin to his Evil Dead series.

You'll laugh and you'll wince while witnessing the most gruesome example of why you should never meet your heroes.