For lovers of the brooding and twisted (i.e. for those who still hold Rod Serling's Night Gallery, The Dark Room and Tales from the Darkside close to their dark hearts), writer/director Ansel (Loon Lake/Todd Tarantula) Faraj and Hollinsworth Productions' Theatre Fantastique is just what the mad doctor ordered. And as one's macabre luck would have it, the entire, grandiose series is now available in one package.
The three seasons consist of many uncanny motifs, with several featuring famed, Dark Shadows actors. Edgar Allan Poe plays a pivotal part in the sinister strand, as well, with his prose and poetry enacted.
Here's a rundown of what the collection entails:
1) The Madness of Roderick Usher: An outstanding rendering of Poe's perennial "Fall of the House of Usher" (and in my estimation, the best adaptation produced of the short story, which is saying a lot, considering how many fine ones there are).
2) Masque of the Red Death: A modernized, hypno-high variation on Prince Prospero's debauchery. (This one captures the spellbinding psychedelia of Spirits of the Dead, in addition to holding a lovely, little Phantom of the Opera nugget.)
3) Descent into a Maelstrom: A powerful reinterpretation of Poe's cataclysmic, seafaring yarn, in this case capped by a startling catch.
4) A Poem of Poe: A compilation of images and excerpts from Poe's legendary queue (rather like a best-of rundown, but the superb execution makes the portions brew as one).
5) Mrs. Hall's Mysterious Guest: An ominous take on H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man, which Universal monster fans will enjoy from start to finish.
6) Nosferatu Beyond Death: A passionate, F.W. Murnau homage, where an Orlok-inspired vampire rises from the grave to reconnect with the woman who made him what he is.
7) Werewolf of Venice: A moving masterpiece that takes classic, lycanthrope tropes and aims them in a fresh and unforgettable direction.
8) Screening After Midnight: A "love letter" to all who hope and dream that the Tod Browning/Lon Chaney effort will be found (and in this case, one learns it's in the possession of an evasive collector).
9) The Job Interview: A glorious delight for Dark Shadows fans, for this amusing fable acts not only as a reunion for several of show's stars, but succeeds as a veritable sequel.
10) Hitchcock Blonde: A creepy sojourn featuring an enigmatic director obsessed with Vertigo, who auditions an actress with a desired resemblance to Kim Novak.
11) The Happy Home of the Murderous Mahones: A comedic view of a contentious couple whose dangerous behavior places them in an Eating Raoul conundrum.
12) The Haunted Home of the Murderous Mahones: A ghostly follow-up that mounts further, droll mayhem for the crazed couple as a seance takes center stage.
13) The Family Wolff Christmas: An offbeat, Yuletide romp that invokes the cheeky glee of Frank Capra's You Can't Take it With You, along with the freaky hijinks of The Addams Family and The Munsters.
14) Madame LaSoeur: A renowned clairvoyant (featured in The Haunted Home of the Murderous Mahones) offers her special services to eager guests, but her motive may not be as gracious as it appears.
15) The City of Dreadful Night: A narrated reflection of James Thompson's acclaimed, Poe-esque poem, which enthralls through stirring sight and sound.
16) Randolph Carter & the Silver Key: A Twilight Zone-ish take on H.P. Lovecraft's spectral tale. This one brims with immense sentimentality, designed to pull at the heartstrings, and it does so with distinguished flair.
As with the best, anthology series, Theatre Fantastique is headlined by a who's who of established, genre names, including Christopher Pennock (to whom an affectionate tribute is included on the release), John Karlen, Lara Parker, Kathryn Leigh Scott, David Selby, Jerry Lacy, Sally Kirkland, Kelly Erin Decker, Eric Gorlow, Annie Waterman and Faraj's prevailing leading man, Nathan Wilson, among other superlative performers and contributors who give the curation its permeating tone.
It should be noted that the episodes vary in length, which works to their advantage, since there's no superfluous padding to weigh them down. Each is its own sterling achievement, though all mesh to create a satisfying stream.
Theatre Fantastique is too important to bypass. Its contents are, indeed, that transformative; so do yourself a favor and invest in this exceptional release.
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