Retro Recap - Tales From the Crypt: "The Man Who Was Death"

Written by Scotty

Growing up in the eighties, I was privy to being around when horror industry was at the top of its game and HBO produced a great series called Tales From the Crypt.  Although I was too young to partake in watching this series, it has fallen in my lap once again and I would do anything to see this kind of series return to television.  I am very happy to have all of the episodes at my disposal and will bring them all to you in my Tales From the Crypt Retro Recaps.

Having the perfect job is one thing, but loving what you do could be something completely different. Niles Talbot is a man that loves his job, being an electrician by trade, he has moved up the ranks at the prison and has become their one and only executioner for the past twelve years.  With the power of lightning at his disposal, he knows that he is doing right by God and the state.  With every man that has been sentenced to death sitting in his chair, Niles has been sure to look each one of them in the eyes, as he is not afraid of any repercussions.

When a heavy hitting news report hits the airways, condemning execution, Niles is let go by the prison that he has dedicated his life to. Without even an option to get his old job back, Niles is forced to look for work elsewhere, but he wants to continue his work that he has exceled at for the past twelve years.  Staying close to the court house, Niles sits in during trials and sees murderers let free due to incorrect paperwork.  Knowing that this is not right, he takes it upon himself to make sure that justice is served.

Running ten thousand volts through the guilty is all he has been good at in the past and now without any direction, he is able to enforce his punishments without a care in the world.  Knowing that there are more people involved in some of these murderous situations, he is able to take his job to the next level as everyone that is guilty gets the jolt of electricity, not just the ones that would have been placed in his chair by the state. As time goes by, Niles punishes the guilty, but trying to take it too far has landed him in the prison where he had worked so faithfully. 

As he walks down death row, not as a jailor, but as a prisoner, Niles knows that he will be treated differently as he has been upholding the law on the streets.  As the death penalty has been reinstated for his actions, Niles knows that the governor will call and give him a pardon for all of the hard work he had done in the absence of capital punishment.  Screaming for his life, Niles is put back in the place where he belongs as the switch is dropped and the electricity that he loves so much courses through his veins.

As an opening episode of the series, the Tales From the Crypt crew created something magical that captured many people’s imaginations. As there has not really been a horror comic book brought to life, much less on air ways, they have struck gold.  Bringing a seasoned actor like William Sadler into a series like this was just genius as he has been very strong with his performances, especially with the roles that actually require someone to show no regret for their actions. Until next time, Stay Scared.

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