Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
A young boy tells three stories of horror to distract a witch who plans to eat him.
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie is a decent anthology horror film with an entertaining wraparound segment involving a boy stalling a witch with macabre stories. The three segments vary in quality — the Conan Doyle-inspired cat story and the Stephen King gargoyle tale are highlights — but the acting is inconsistent throughout, ranging from serviceable to campy. Cinematography is functional but unremarkable for the era. Its novelty lies in its anthology format and darkly comic tone, though anthology horror was hardly new by 1990. The ending of the wraparound provides a satisfying, darkly comedic payoff that elevates the overall experience.