Horror History: Thursday, June 27, 1991: The Pit and the Pendulum was released in theaters

In the quest to save souls, the Spanish Inquisition will stop at nothing and knows no boundaries for evil. Under the direction of Torquemada (LANCE HENRIKSEN – “Alien,” “Pumpkinhead,” “Millennium”) the Grand Inquisitor of Spain, Maria, a young baker’s wife, is falsely accused of witchcraft and dragged before the Inquisition and the Cardinal (OLIVER REED – “Gladiator,” “Three Musketeers”). Torquemada is enchanted by Maria’s beauty and subjects her husband Antonio to heinous tortures hoping to prove that his own desires for her are a result of her magic, that she has “bewitched him.” With the help of Esmeralda, Maria’s cellmate and confessed witch, Maria must find the power to save Antonio from Torquemada’s ultimate machine of torture: the inevitable, razor sharp PENDULUM poised over the inescapable PIT of hell.

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Horror History: Wednesday, June 26, 1991: “Tales From The Crypt” episode “Top Billing” premiered

Season 3 Episode 5

A struggling actor (Jon Lovitz) kills off his competition (Bruce Boxleitner) in order to secure a part in a strange production of Hamlet, only to discover that the actors are escaped mental patients (and criminals) and that instead he’s to play the part of the long-deceased Yorick — for real.

Also starring John Astin, Paul Benedict, Kimmy Robertson, Louise Fletcher, and Sandra Bernhard.

Read more “Horror History: Wednesday, June 26, 1991: “Tales From The Crypt” episode “Top Billing” premiered”

Horror History: Wednesday, June 19, 1991: “Tales From The Crypt” episode “Abra Cadaver” premiered

Season 3 Episode 4

A doctor (Tony Goldwyn) who plays too many pranks soon finds out that revenge can be a harrowing event when his brother (Beau Bridges) (also a doctor) makes him the guinea pig of a new serum that mimics death.

Note: Based on the story “Dead Right!” renamed for television

Read more “Horror History: Wednesday, June 19, 1991: “Tales From The Crypt” episode “Abra Cadaver” premiered”

Horror History: Saturday, June 15, 1991: “Tales From The Crypt” episode “The Trap” premiered

Season 3 Episode 3

A scheming jerk (Bruce McGill) who cannot hold down a job and is verbally and physically abusive to his wife (Teri Garr) hatches a plan to fake his own death and collect his life insurance money, unaware that both his long-suffering wife and brother (Bruno Kirby) are planning to double-cross him.

Michael J. Fox, who directed this episode, plays the prosecutor, and James Tolkan plays a policeman investigating the “murder scene”.

Read more “Horror History: Saturday, June 15, 1991: “Tales From The Crypt” episode “The Trap” premiered”

Horror History: Saturday, June 15, 1991: “Tales From The Crypt” episode “Carrion Death” premiered

Season 3 Episode 2

An escaped con (Kyle MacLachlan) who is running for the Mexican border ends up killing a state trooper (George Del Hoyo), but in the process is cuffed to him (after he has swallowed the key) and has to drag the heavy corpse across the desert to freedom whilst being stalked by a hungry vulture.

Read more “Horror History: Saturday, June 15, 1991: “Tales From The Crypt” episode “Carrion Death” premiered”

Horror History: Saturday, June 15, 1991: “Tales From The Crypt” episode “Loved to Death” premiered

Season 3 Episode 1

A writer (Andrew McCarthy) has a neighbor (Mariel Hemingway) who is his own object of personal desire. He is aided by his landlord (David Hemmings) who gives him a love potion. He finally gains over the woman’s affections, only to regret his choice after the woman’s obsessive love and their torrid affair becomes too much for him to take and handle.

Also starring Kathleen Freeman as the next door neighbor.

Read more “Horror History: Saturday, June 15, 1991: “Tales From The Crypt” episode “Loved to Death” premiered”