"Tales from the Crypt" Retro Recap: "Carrion Death"

Written by Scotty

Being determined is one thing, but following through is something completely different.  Most people who may seem to be determined to do something actually stop at the first bit of trouble in their path, leaving them wondering, what if.  But the ones that are able to follow through get the joy of reaping their rewards for coming in at the finish line.  This is a trait that I wish more people would have, to follow through with their ventures, as so many people are left with regrets in this life and you should never have one for something that you have accomplished.

Earl Raymond Digs was on death row, but was able to escape before his execution.  Faking being sick the night before, Digs has a car, a shirt full of money and the dream of making it over the border to Mexico to start his new life.  But there is someone else following him on the road who has just received word of the stolen car and will do everything within his power to stop the serial killer.  Trying to get Digs to pull over, the officer is forced to use evasive maneuvers and shoot at the convict to get him to stop. 

With both men crashing on the side of the road, Digs is the first to return to consciousness and starts formulating his plan on how to make it to Mexico.  But he is not the only one who is awake and looking for results as a vulture lands on his wrecked car.  Offering the scavenger the meal of the dead policeman a few feet away, Digs goes about his escape in ease, but the officer is not dead and has warned the vulture that the he will get the kill before the bird.  Digs has a massive head start and has found a watering hole to get some food and drinks in his system, but comes to find out that the building has been abandoned for some time and he is not the only one looking for nourishment.

The officer is able to catch Digs and handcuffs the killer to himself, but in the struggle, loses his gun.  Digs picks up the firearm and kills the officer, but in his final breath, the handcuff key finds its way down his throat.  Digs is now chained to his pursuer, but that will not stop him for reaching his destination of Mexico.  Having the carry and drag the dead cop, Digs is getting dehydrated very quickly.  With Mexico in his sights, he will not be stopped by anything, but the vulture is still sticking around and playing the waiting game for the convict.  Making up to the top of the hill, Digs sees Mexico and has beat the bird that has been following him, but the weight of the officer has dragged him back down the mountain and now Digs has to find a way to get free of his former pursuer/dead weight.  Not being able to see or think straight, Digs is ready to take it to the next level and cut himself free, but in the heat, will he be able to wield his makeshift axe straight?

Just because there are only two people involved in this story, I believe that the vulture is the strongest character as it seems to be the one that everyone confides in.  I don’t want to take anything away from Digs or the officer, but I love the bird in this episode, it is so eerie and necessary.  Staring Kyle MacLachlan as Digs and George DelHoyo as the officer, I love how this the twist of this story took shape and how both characters played into it.  Even though the officer does not have many speaking lines, he is dragged all over the desert and forced to listen to the killer talk, but will not give up on what he was sent out to do, to stop Digs from getting to freedom.  Until next time kiddies, Stay Scared.

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