HBO PROJECT: Tales from the Crypt (1989) | Lifestories: Familes in Crisis (1992)

The HoopleCast HBO Project continues by discussing two episodes of the horror anthology Tales from the Crypt (1989). In "The Man Who Was Death" William Sadler is a real Frank Underwood-slash-super villain, getting sadistic thrills by electrocuting his city's undesirables, until the easily predictable tries-too-hard-to-be-ironic "twist" ending. "Creep Course" finds a curious bookworm thrown into Jeffrey Jones's Egyptian tomb wherein she fucks a mummy to freedom and earns herself an A+ grade. Upstairs, Anthony Michael Hall transitions from nerd to jock then bleeds from the ass and mouth. (11:23-1:09:35) ... Then things get really horrific as we go all after school special with Lifestories: Families in Crisis (1992). "The Secret Life of Mary Margaret: Portrait of a Bulimic" stars Calista Flockhart as a teenager on the "scarf and barf" diet, and "A Body to Die For: The Aaron Henry Story" features the future husband of Jennifer Garner (Ben Affleck, not Noel from Felicity) going all aggro when he overindulges in the steroids. Grace Zabriskie from Twin Peaks co-stars as Affleck's mother. (1:09:36-2:20:21) ... All these episodes are terrible, but some are less terrible than others. ... Also, Westworld's blockbuster ratings, two space operas in the HBO pipeline (Glare, and Isaac Asimov's Foundation series), and Big Little Lies. (0-11:22) | Send feedback to [email protected]. Find our recording schedule, show notes, discussion threads, and more at hooplecast.com. | Recorded December 11, 2016. Released December 18, 2016. [Warning: Explicit Language.]