Tales of Terror (1962)

Tales of Terror is the kind of anthology that reminds you how much fun gothic horror can be when it’s guided by a mischievous sense of humor and a master of macabre charisma like Vincent Price. Adapting Edgar Allan Poe in three distinct moods—brooding tragedy, wickedly comic one-upmanship, and a final chill that lingers—it keeps reinventing itself just as you think you’ve settled into one flavor. The vibe is classic Corman: stagey in a charming, storybook way, rich with atmosphere, and paced to deliver punchlines and shivers with equal confidence. Not every segment is equally deep, but even at its slightest it’s so entertaining and effectively performed that it feels less like a compromise and more like a lively evening of haunted tales told by someone who knows exactly when to make you laugh—and when to make you look over your shoulder.

Tales of Terror is clearly trying to be a stylish Edgar Allan Poe sampler—three bite-sized stories mixing gothic dread with a wink and a nudge. The problem is it plays unevenly: one segment may hook you with mood and menace, while another feels undercooked or oddly paced, and the lack of a wraparound thread can make the whole thing feel patchy rather than cohesive. The broad comedy in “The Black Cat” especially can land as charmingly mischievous or just plain jarring, depending on how much camp you’re willing to tolerate in your horror. If you want consistent, genuinely eerie atmosphere, this may disappoint, but if you like vintage anthology curios with strong performers and don’t mind tonal whiplash, there’s still some fun to be had.