In one of Amicus’s best offerings, directed by Roy Ward Baker, Asylum is a campy portmanteau horror anthology based on several tales by master storyteller Robert Bloch (Psycho 1960). When Dr. Martin (Robert Powell), a psychiatrist looking for employment, arrives at the asylum for the criminally insane, he doesn’t know quite what he’s stepping into. Patrick Magee plays Dr. Rutherford, who gives him the odd assignment of figuring out which one of the patients is actually a former psychiatrist gone mad. Martin is sent to talk to four separate inmates, who then relate their own bizarre personal experiences of the macabre and how they ultimately landed in the asylum. This is one of the best Amicus productions, with a slew of fantastic actors filling out the cast. It’s cheeky and eerie and most definitely a contender for some of the Hammer horror anthologies with its horrific shock value and campy dark humor. The cast includes icon Peter Cushing in ‘The Weird Taylor,‘ Britt Ekland and Charlotte Rampling in ‘Lucy Comes to Stay,’ and one of my favs, Barbara Parkins (Valley of the Dolls 1967), Richard Todd, and Sylvia Syms in ‘Frozen Fear.’ The last segment is entitled ‘Manikins of Horror’ with Herbert Lom.

TALES FROM THE CRYPT (1972)

Tales from the Crypt (1972) is a British horror anthology film directed by Freddie Francis and produced by Amicus Productions. A chilling portmanteau consisting of five separate segments based on short stories from EC Comics’ series “of the same name. The film opens with five strangers stumbling into a crypt during a tour, where they encounter the mysterious Crypt Keeper (Ralph Richardson). He proceeds to reveal how each of them will die.

“…And All Through the House” Stars Joan Collins as Joanne Clayton, playing a woman who murders her husband on Christmas Eve and must fend off a deranged psychotic killer dressed as Santa Claus.

“Reflection of Death” Features Ian Hendry as Carl Maitland, A man who experiences a nightmarish time loop after surviving a car crash.

“Poetic Justice” Stars Peter Cushing as Arthur Edward Grimsdyke, A kind but eccentric old man who is tormented by his cruel neighbors

“Wish You Were Here” Features Richard Greene as Ralph Jason, A variation on “The Monkey’s Paw” story, dealing with the consequences of three wishes,

and “Blind Alleys” Stars Nigel Patrick as Major William Rogers and Patrick Magee as George Carter. Residents of a home for the blind revolt against their abusive administrator.

5 Down, just 145 to go!-Your EverLovin’ Joey formally & affectionately known as MonsterGirl