TALES FROM THE CRYPT - "Only Skin Deep" (1994)

This is the last Saturday Night Special of this years Countdown To Halloween, so let's send it off with a Halloween party, a party that would have been better off to avoid, since you never know whose really behind that mask, especially these days.

 

Tonight's tale was originally in the Educational Comic "Tales From The Crypt" that was published October of 1953.

The cover story for this issue was called "Tight Grip," but one of the other stories inside was titled "Only Skin Deep."

For the movie they put "Only Skin Deep" on the cover of the comic, and that's not even close to the only thing they changed.

The party in the comic was a celebration for Mardi Gras, not a Halloween party.

This TV show aired on October 31, 1994, and starts off with The Cryptkeeper playing poker with a couple of his best friends, and then Death decides to join the party.

Peter (Cop Rock) Onorati is a scallywag named Carl Schlag. It's no wonder he came to the party as a pirate! Peter was an NCAA all-conference wide receiver turned businessman, and didn't start acting until he was well into his 30's. He's been very busy ever since.

Carl Schlag is not even supposed to be at this party being thrown by his ex, but being the ass that he is, he refuses to leave.

Carl meets this woman in the kitchen, because everyone knows that all the cool people hang out in the kitchen at parties!

And this is where the story really deviates from the original comic never to return.

 

In the comic book, Carl goes to an annual Mardi Gras party with the intention of asking an old flame to marry him, even though he has never seen her face. In this story he picks up on this woman and goes home to her very strange and eerie home, and they hop in the sack together. It's supposed to be a don't ask, don't tell affair with both keeping their masks on, but Carl screws the whole thing up when he thinks he's in love. The very talented Sherrie (Night Claws) Rose is the very odd young lady known only as Molly. Sherrie Rose is not only an actress, but has also written, directed, and produced films, and was also in an earlier episode of "Tales From The Crypt" called "On A Deadman"s Chest."

This shot gives you a good idea of what the interior of Molly's pad is all about!

While Molly sleeps, Carl starts looking around desperately trying to find out more information about this woman he has just fallen for. He doesn't get too far!

In my less than humble opinion it's very difficult to film a dream sequence or something that is supposed to look akin to a comic book, but the makers of "Tales From The Crypt" do about as good a job as anybody!

Carl discovers that Yech, this woman doesn't collect something like rainbow or unicorn figurines, but has some very strange collectibles in her curio cabinet instead! Too bad it's too late since she has already drugged him. 

Carl gets over falling in love! Faces are overrated anyway, don't you think?

So that's it kiddies, another Halloween shot to Hell! Just remember, stay safe and sane, or end up like Carl, Unsafe, and Insane!