«Cutting Cards» («Резаный poker») became second director's work Уолтера Hilla in the anthology «Байки from a crypt» after a pilot series «the Person who was death». Basically, this episode is benefit performance, though also not so successful, two remarkable actors – Лэнса Хенриксена («the Stranger against the Predator», «the fear House», «Colour of night») and Кевина Тига ("Whore", «That гложет Gilbert Grejpa?», «the Roadside snackbar»).

In a casino there are two bewitched contenders, to death of the professional player hating each other – Рино Кревис (Лэнс Хенриксен) and Sam Forni. After a mutual exchange of the causticities adjoining on insults, they decide to play «Russian roulette». Рино and Sam leave a casino on parking place and start to "shoot" by turns to itself at a head from a revolver, the charged one cartridge. After each single click the drum is scrolled, inevitably approaching the moment of a fatal shot. Eventually, Рино drops out to shoot the last – at it does not remain any chances. About itself(himself) having said goodbye to a life, it brings a revolver barrel to a temple, the misfire pulls the trigger and …! Sighed with simplification Рино nevertheless at once accuses Sam that that specially all has arranged to humiliate it (a revolver belonged to Sam). Between them verbal duel is again fastened. To put all points over «i», Sam suggests Рино to battle in so-called «резаный poker», that is poker in which the rate on a game is the finger lost. Рино agrees, and they come back in a casino …

On my deep belief, «Резаный poker» is one of the weakest episodes of the second season of a serial. A crazy plot, the marasmic ending. If not excellent game (but not in this poker!) Хенриксена and Тига (the scene of "Russian roulette» is especially magnificent) to look in general there was nothing. Definitely, Уолтеру Hilla is time for "fastening" with minifilms.

With the big stretch 3 from 5.

Author's translation

It is a little not on a theme of our blog as I am not assured, that this film is let out on DVD, but he can be looked absolutely free of charge in the Internet. I have not disassembled the exact name of this masterpiece, but is absolutely exact, that the film is worthy a serial «Байки from a crypt». The film goes all some minutes, and it to look faster, than to read on it the review.

«Баек from a crypt» «The Switch» ("Exchange") has taken part in the second episode of the second season remarkable actor's collective – legendary «the eternal old man» William Hikni («the Rose Name», «Honour of family Прицци», «the love Sea»), classical theatrical actor Ien Eberkrombi («Гарфилд 2», «Wild, wild Вест», «Park of the Jursky period 2»), ridiculous and simultaneously ominous Plenty Броксмит («the Road on Вэлвилл», «Improvised Хадсакера», «to Recollect all»), charming wife John Travolta Kell Preston ("Twins", «That wanted by the girl», «the Top view is better»). However the main thing here not fine actor's structure, and that "Exchange" became our favourite "iron" Arnold Schwarzenegger's debut (the trilogy about Терминатора, «Truthful lie», "Predator", the governor of the State of California etc.) as the director. By the way, it too "was lighted" in this episode, more precisely, in a prologue to it, having acted as the leader together with the Keeper of a crypt.

Advanced years decrepit, but rich Карлтон Уэбстер (William Hikni) is enamoured in very young Linda (Kell Preston). He says to true butler Fultonu (Иэн Эберкромби), that is intended to offer it a hand and heart. Thus naive and slightly self-confident Уэбстер he does not wish to admit to Linda that the millionaire. The rich man considers, that Linda should grow fond of money not belonging to it, and him. Уэбстер comes to the girl and, preliminary having told, that it is rather poor, does to it the offer. To its big grief, she informs it, that with pleasure would marry it if it was younger. Upset Уэбстер goes to the plastic surgeon behind the help – he thirsts to rejuvenate itself(himself). However that says to it, that can make a number of cosmetic operations, however not in forces to overcome an old age. The despaired millionaire begs to recommend any expert who could change its appearance considerably. After some fluctuations, the surgeon nevertheless gives Уэбстеру co-ordinates there is nobody the doctors, capable it to make. However he warns Уэбстера, that services of this doctor stand extremely expensively. The millionaire convinces him, that it is ready to spend any sum to become young. In the late evening Уэбстер comes to the specified doctor who lives and is engaged in the practice in gloomy, a Gothic kind, a private residence. The doctor (Plenty Броксмит), more similar to the mad scientist, assures Уэбстера, that can help it. It acquaints the rich man with атлетически the combined handsome man Hans (Рик Россович – «Терминатор», «the Best marksman») and says Уэбстеру, that will change their persons. To Hans it is indifferent, that it will have an old face – it money interests only. After the operation, standing one million dollars which very much resembled manipulations of doctor Frankenshtejna on revival collected of parts of corpses of the monster, Уэбстер has received person Hans. Pleased, it meets again Linda who, to its big disappointment, advises to it to change a torso. Уэбстер comes back to the doctor who, having received already two million dollars, "gives" it Hans's body. Its appearance again does not suit the girl – she wants, that it had young feet. Having given the last of three million dollars, Уэбстер receives new feet. It remains without copeck and even is compelled to dismiss the butler as not it is more it to contain in a condition. Happy, with colours in the hands, inspired with love, the former millionaire goes to the beloved. However it is waited by the big surprise …

Арни has removed amusing, very instructive episode with original enough, but predicted for many the ending. In due time "Beatles" sang «Can’t Buy Me Love», however in a life, frequently, all occurs very much the other way. Nevertheless, this episode has seemed to me very monotonous and dullish – it is better to Schwarzenegger to act in film, rather than to remove.

Unfortunately, 3 from 5.

Author's translation.

The second season «Баек from a crypt» has opened an episode «Dead Right» («the Terrible truth»), removed already familiar to us on a series «Only a sin» Hovardom Deitch. This elegant episode is remarkable that in it confidently winning popularity still young and full of sexual energy Demi Moore ("Twilight", "Soldier Jane", «the Indecent offer») has played a leading role.

Shitty and greedy to money girl Katie (Demi Moore) during a lunch break leaves office and runs to the fortuneteller of Madam Vorne (Natalia Nogulich, the American television actress) to learn, whether there is at it a chance to grow rich. Madam Vorna foretells to it, that this day it will lose the work, but at once will be arranged on the new. Katie, having counted the fortuneteller of the madwoman, comes back in office. Thinking, that the chief is not present at office, Katie loudly speaks about it unflattering things to the colleague. Having heard its words, chief who has just entered into an office discharges it from office. Casually passing by a night bar, Katie receives the offer from the owner of an institution to work there as the waitress. Not having other plans concerning the future labour activity, she agrees. Next day Katie, definitively having believed in words of Madam Vorny, again to it comes. The fortuneteller informs Katie, that she will get acquainted with big (not in sense of authority) an average prosperity the man whom Katie soon will marry. Besides, Madam Vorna says to the girl, that its future husband will receive the rich inheritance then will die a violent death. In the evening in a bar to Katie busily sticks it is immense the thick local habitue, the dear visitor of the owner by name of Чарли Марно (remarkable role Джеффри Тамбора – «Хеллбой: the Hero from a scorching heat», «Гринч – the thief of Christmas»). They start to meet. On one of appointments Чарли does to it the offer to marry it. Hardly having overcome feeling of disgust, Katie decides to become wife Charli. For Katie dreaming of luxury and riches, the new, dreadful life of the housewife begins – it erases the extreme sizes underwear Чарли, sleeps with it in one bed, is compelled to look daily how he ugly eats behind a table etc. Differently, prophecies of Madam Vorny have not come true – the life has turned to a hell, and Чарли it has appeared the rather poor person who does not have provided relatives which could leave to it the good inheritance. Nevertheless, once Katie comes into shop that something to buy, and suddenly it is surrounded with congratulations with all its employees and it is not known whence the undertaken TV men with chambers – it becomes the millionth visitor of shop and wins one million dollars. Happy Katie with a heap of cash comes home and on eyes amazed Чарли starts to pack the things for ever to leave hated to it apartment and to leave from the disgusting husband. She considers, that Madam Vorna was mistaken. But fortunetellers never are mistaken …

In my opinion, at Deitch very graceful episode with rather original unexpected ending this time has turned out. It is recommended to viewing especially to those who counts on "easy" money and trusts in predictions of fortunetellers (on my firm belief, to them it it is better not to go at all – so more easy).

Without meditations – 5 from 5.

Amusing enough episode «Баек from a crypt» «Collection Completed» («the Full collection») has turned out at Mary Lambert («City legends 3: Bloody Mary», «the Cemetery of pets» 1 and 2). Charm and humour to a minifilm are given by remarkable game of talented veterans of Hollywood Эммета Уолша («Wild, wild Вест», «Running on an edge», «Harrys and Hendersons»), Odra Линдли ("Relict", «Sudden death») and Martin Garnera («About the God! You the Devil», «the Twilight zone»). Odra Линдли, the moments very reminding hotly favourite by all experts on the Soviet cinema the grown old Hope Румянцеву (the "Girls" "Resistant", «the Queen of a gaz station») is especially charming.

The hero of this episode Джонас (Эммет Уолш) has retired after 47 years of labour activity. From work it comes back with a useless gift (for some reason always last working day to the future pensioners give the most unnecessary things) – the big chromeplated decorative hammer. Its house is waited by pleasant and lovely wife Anita. At Джонаса, got used to "vanish" all time for work, the new carefree life of the old man who has served the century begins. It very much is not pleasant to it, he tries to find to itself(himself) any employment, having begun with a feverish hairstyle of bushes in a house court yard. Eternally angry Джонаса the various animals which have lodged at it in the house – dogs, cats, birds, even constantly exasperate fibers whom Anita gently looks after. Earlier Джонас, eternally occupied with work, did not pay any attention to the wife and its strangeness. And here – everywhere «our little brothers» and Anita constantly lisped with them. To big indignation Джонаса, the wife feeds the pupils better, than it is to it it puts on a table dietary dishes, and animals treats to meat and others вкусностями. Джонас does not understand, that having exchanged the wife for work, it as though itself has prompted it on creation of own circle of contacts with animals – she talks to them as with people, shares the problems and joyful events. Differently, Anita has weaned from the husband. He is worn out also annoying by the neighbour the Plenty (Martin Garner), too the pensioner repeating Джонасу, that it needs to find any hobby. Thus the Plenty during each visit to Джонасу fills up with its boxes with models of planes, the ships etc. type «make itself» literally. Anita reaches already before, that addresses with poor Джонасом as with a pet and feeds with its meal intended for them. He already starts to hate animals fierce hatred. Eventually, driven to despair Джонас thinks out to itself a new hobby which is pleasant to it and, on its deep belief, Anita …

The morals of minifilm Ламберт are obvious and rather actual for our pragmatical validity – do not allow work to change your family. Look this series to learn, consequences of the inattentive relation to the wife and family values can be what heavy.

Safely I put «the Full collection» firm 5 of 5.

Remarkable, full of "black humour», an episode the first season «Баек from a crypt» comes to an end with this. To a meeting in the second season!

Quite good episode «Баек from a crypt» under the name «Lover, Come Hack to Me» («Favourite, return to me in parts») the director has removed Volume Holland («the Deadly beauty», a miniserial «Лангольеры», «Night of fear»). Thanks to inimitable Amanda Plammer's remarkable game («Seven days to death», «Criminal reading matter», «the Necessary things»), this, by and large, an ordinary series has got a certain charm and till now is looked with indefatigable interest.

Страшненькая and little bit infantile, but very provided Пегги (Amanda Plammer) in day of the wedding together with husband Charles is going to leave the native house in wedding travel. She does not listen to aunt Edit who convinces Пегги, that Charles married it exclusively from mercenary promptings in hope to catch a decent condition of the girl (and it is valid so). On a way through dense wood newly married get to a terrible thunder-storm. To the car blocks movement a big tree laying on road which, probably, has fallen from a lightning stroke. Пегги searches in a glove compartment of salon for a lantern and finds there a pistol. Having joked, that it, probably, a gift on wedding from aunt Edit, Charles hides it to itself in a pocket (actually it has laid up the weapon that in marriage night to kill hated to it Пегги to put all fault on not existing robber and later to receive the rich inheritance). Fortunately a newly-married couple near to the fallen tree they find the huge thrown private residence in which it is possible to wait a thunder-storm and even to spend the night. Though outside the house seems started, inside it looks little bit rendered habitable. Having changed clothes in dry clothes, Пегги and Чарлз start to examine a private residence. On the second floor they find out a bedroom which ideally approaches for the first marriage night – the bed is laid by pure linen, its basis has beautiful candelabrums with the candles which have not scorched yet. Having managed to "get" the husband the sexual intimate dress, Пегги rushes to it to a bed. Passionate, but very chaste (at all my respect for Amanda Plammer, it all the same it is far not a sex bomb) the love scene further follows. After physical affinity Пегги informs Charles, that they have conceived the tiny girl. Having considered words of the wife its next strangeness, he easy falls asleep. After a while Charles wakes up from any noise in the street. He looks out in a window and with extreme surprise sees, how from the car which have approached on the house in the house comes Пегги with the unknown man. Having come downstairs on the ground floor, Charles becomes the witness of change Пегги with the stranger on a sofa at a burning fireplace. Amazed, he observes of how Пегги says to the lover that they "have made" the tiny girl. After these words it suffices an axe hanging over a fireplace and cuts in cabbage of the unlucky beloved. He tries to stop it, but his hands pass through its body, as though weaved of air. Then Charles understands, that has seen the past – the moment of conception Пегги her mother similar to his wife as like as two peas. With shout Charles wakes up while from a bathroom in a bedroom enters Пегги …

Juicy, but completely not original history that sometimes it is necessary to pay for a deceit and a marriage of convenience. It is rather instructive.

Estimation – 4 from 5 (only for the sake of Amanda Plammer).

Not so known director Hovard Deitch in Russia, the big expert in sequals (films-continuations) («Old grumblers have raged», «the Strange couple 2», «Nine yards 2»), has removed the fourth episode «Баек from a crypt» under the name «Only Sin Deep» («Only a sin»). Despite lacking director's experience in a genre of horrors, Deitch has created quite worthy series with rather interesting plot.

Street prostitute Silvija (Lea Thompson – the trilogy «Back in the future», «Intolerable Деннис») together with the friend on "business" Рейвен with envy observes of smartly dressed people gathering for a party in the house opposite. Unexpectedly the local souteneur offering to it "roof" starts to stick to it. Having decided to profit at his expense, Сильвия entices the souteneur in a dark lane and kills from the pistol. Having devastated its pockets (jewelry, money, expensive watch), Сильвия disappears. Next day it goes to the usurer to sell the extraction. However a disgusting kind the usurer (television actor Britt Lich) refuses to take its goods, referring that things stolen. While between them there is a verbal skirmish, the old woman comes into a pawnshop with the person closed by a black veil and accuses the usurer of larceny. Terribly having waved клюкой, it in despair leaves. After that strange visit the usurer offers Сильвии considerably the big sum, 10 thousand dollars, only for that she has allowed it to make a mould from her face. Thus he wishes to buy from it on the security of its beauty. Сильвия, having accepted the usurer for the harmless madman, with ease agrees on its offer. He says Сильвии, that to it is given four months to redeem goods back sold by it. Later to make it it will be impossible. Сильвия does not pay attention to its words and directs in boutiques for purchase of expensive clothes – she after all has conceived «охмурить» young rich handsome man Ронни, the owner of smart apartment in that house where there are elite parties. She yet does not know, that the usurer uses moulds from persons such as it, thoughtless persons for mysterious ritual on restoration of beauty and a youth of the for a long time died wife, almost мумифицированный which corpse lays at it in a back room of a pawnshop. Successfully having tempted Ронни, Сильвия moves to it to live. Time goes, and Сильвия with alarm notices, that at it ageing signs – wrinkles on the face, loss of hair etc. Fortunately start to be shown, Ронни leaves in official journey and has not time to see the terrible changes occurring with Сильвией. After four months it turns to the eighty-year-old old woman. In horror Сильвия runs in a pawnshop to return back youth …

«Only a sin» - very qualitative episode of a serial. And though in it practically there is no «саспенс», a frank violence, bloody scenes, «обнаженка» and even "black" humour (that is all attributes guaranteeing success at target audience), this episode it is looked with the great pleasure.

Firm 4 from 5.

The third episode «Баек from a crypt» «Dig That Cat … He’s Real Gone» («Nine lives») is removed by Richard Donnerom (квадрилогия «the Deadly weapon», «the plot Theory», «16 quarters»), the producer of this serial acting also.

The homeless tramp Ulrik (Joe Pantoliano – «Сорвиголова», «Pluto Nash's Adventure», "Remember") casually meets doctor Emilem Manfred (Gustav Vintas – «the Deadly weapon») which offers it money for carrying out over it of medical experiences. Ульрик agrees, and Manfred implants a hypophysis of a cat in its brain. When Ульрик the doctor comes to the senses after a narcosis explains to it, that now it became the owner of the cat's nine lives. As proof of the words Manfred shoots in Ульрика from a pistol. That замертво falls, that then, after some time, again to regain consciousness live and safe. On ability Ульрика to deceive death they decide to gain money. The doctor arranges Ульрика in circus of a chapiteau and its impresario acts in a role. Were the tramp receives a scenic name «Ульрик Immortal» and participates in severe attractions on which it heat, hang up, shoot at it from арбалета etc. The stunned public with horror and amazement observes, as soon as that the lost person through a certain time interval rises from the dead. Money flows like water in pockets Ульрика and doctor Manfred. At last, Ульрик decides not to share any more with the doctor. Having taken the helm cars in which Manfred also went, it arranges accident. Both perish, however Ульрик again revives. Now it is the individual creator and the owner of the tricks. Having considered, that at it remains two more lives (before he has been once again killed by the mistress and the assistant, decided to steal at it money), Ульрик Immortal declares new and last attraction which should bring in its the big incomes, - about own burial alive …

Despite rather positive reviews (some consider this episode as the best in a serial), this series not so was pleasant to me. A plot good, game of actors is remarkable, however, in my opinion, «Nine lives» could be made more qualitatively. With big «саспенсом», fear forcing, however Доннер has emphasised only "black" humour, having transformed this minifilm in cheerful buffoonery. I do not argue, it can it and achieved. In general I consider, that it is better to Richard Donneru to remove full-length pictures or to act as the producer of teleserials and films and not to be exchanged for short episodes. The special grasp inherent very in few directors is for this purpose necessary.

My estimation – 3 from 5.

«And All Through the House» («And all ways conduct through the house») – the excellent Christmas history which has been removed by magnificent Robert Zemekisom ("Forrest Gamp", "Derelict", «That hides lie»). I consider, that this series can be included in group of the best episodes «Баек from a crypt». It very successfully combines classical «саспенс» with excellent "black" humour.

On the eve of Christmas in one silent and cosy private residence the woman (Mary Ellen Trejnor – квадрилогия «the Deadly weapon», «the Novel with a stone», «the Strong nutlet»), in advance having agreed to the lover, a chimney poker kills the husband who has bothered to her. Having calmed falling asleep on the second floor of the house a daughter who has heard noise below and has thought, that has come Санта Клаус, it drags out a corpse of the husband in the court yard brought by snow that it to hide. In the course of carrying out of a body from a private residence the woman hears the message by radio about the maniac-murderer who has run away from a madhouse which have been changed clothes for suit Санта Клауса. Hardly having pulled out a corpse on street, it meets face to face with mad Санта Клаусом (as always, Larri Drake's brilliant game – «the American pie 2», "Doctor Gigglz", «the Person of darkness»), swinging axe. After fight the woman runs in the house and starts to call in police, however, having come round, hangs up a telephone tube. The woman appears between two fires – on the one hand it is threatened with the maniac, and with another she is afraid to address for the help to police which for certain will arrest her on suspicion in murder (all proofs against it). She understands, that should solve this serious problem independently. And in the meantime the maniac climbs on a ladder on the second floor – in a room where its definitively woken up daughter with trembling waits on a visit Санта Клауса …

Without any doubt I put to this episode 5 of 5.

The minifilm of the known director and producer Uoltera Hilla («Streets on fire», «48 hours», «Red heat») «The Man Who Was Death» («the Person who was death») became the first episode «Баек from a crypt».

In it it is told about cynical prison executioner Najlze Telbote (William Sedler – «the Strong nutlet 2», «the Knight of demons of night», «Runaway from Шоушенка») which does the work, that is executes the prisoners sentenced to death on an electric chair, with special pleasure. For it news about an abolition of capital punishment is terrible blow. In conversation with the chief of prison Telbot says, that he is not able to do anything else (though, in my opinion, it would leave the quite good electrician). Remained without work, the former executioner it is very difficult to them to leave "business", starts to create self-court – it refined kills the criminals justified by court. For the time being all goes at Тэлбота smoothly while once on it there is no police …

I do not know, how to you, expensive readers, and the first episode has not so liked me. Like all in it is, and original murders, and it is a little «обнаженки», and amusing enough ending, but … all the same not that. Be not surprised, but this episode has seemed to me a little tightened (it at it 20 with superfluous minutes!) and dullish. Probably my opinion was affected by that during all episode the offscreen voice of the protagonist is constantly heard. It tyres a little and the film "brakes".

My estimation – 3 from 5 (at all respect for Hilla and Сэдлеру).

There, where it is possible, transfer of names of episodes will correspond to names which have been used during serial display on the Russian TV and in company "ЕА" VHS-releases. In any case of the name in Russian will often differ from English in view of complexity of transfer (almost all names of episodes «Баек» are connected with a word-play).