Tales from the Crypt, sometimes titled
HBO's Tales from the Crypt, is a
horror anthology American TV series that ran from 1989 to 1996 on the premium
cable channel HBO. The title was based on the 1950s
EC Comics series
of the same name and most of the content originated in that comic or the four other EC Comics of the time (
Haunt of Fear,
Vault of Horror,
Crime SuspenStories, and
Shock SuspenStories). The show was produced by HBO with uncredited association by
The Geffen Film Company and
Warner Bros. Television (all part of a production consortium officially called Tales From The Crypt Holdings). The series is not to be confused with the 1972 film by the
same name or
Tales from the Darkside, another similarly themed horror anthology series.
Because it was aired on HBO, a premium cable television station, it was one of the few anthology series to be allowed to have full freedom from censorship by network
standards and practices. The station allowed the series to contain graphic violence as well as other content that had not appeared in most television series up to that time, such as
profanity,
gore,
nudity and
sexual situations. The show is subsequently edited for such content when broadcast in syndication or on basic cable.
While the series began production in the United States, in the final season filming moved to England, resulting in episodes which revolved around British characters.