MovieChat Forums > Tales of Terror (1962) Discussion > 3/10. Here's why:

3/10. Here's why:

posted 8 years ago by IMDB_Vits
3 replies | jump to latest

TALES OF TERROR is an anthology with 3 segments. MORELLA is scary but, because of its subject, it could (and should) have been deeper. THE BLACK CAT doesn’t belong in this movie. It’s a comedy that tries to scare only 2 or 3 times. Director Roger Corman said that he wanted to “break things up by adding humour”. That’s fine, but add comic relief; don’t turn the whole thing into a comedy! THE CASE OF M. VALDEMAR is the worst of the 3. I mean, if you make an anthology that starts with supernatural horror and psychological horror, you can't expect the audience to then be scared by a *beep* hypnosis session. Yes, VALDEMAR rises from the dead, but he does that at the end. By then, it’s too late. At least THE BLACK HAT had 1 or 2 scares before the last part. Also, the way VALDEMAR comes back and the way he attacks CARMICHAEL is so similar to what happens in MORELLA that it felt like recycling concepts.

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Any thoughts?

[–] ElectricWarlock 8 years ago

The Black Cat is the only one out of the three that I can say I loved. The other two were okay, but I liked the version of "The Case of M. Valdemar" in Two Evil Eyes a lot more. Overall I'd give this movie a 7/10.

[–] ChristianeK 8 years ago

I found it pretty enjoyable. Sumptuous colours made sets and costumes entertaining eye candy.

[–] greenbudgie (2355) 4 years ago

I reckon that 'The Black Cat' is the segment that could have stood on it's own if it had been expanded into a feature. I think portmanteaus like to include a comic section which 'The Black Cat' provides.