Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Temptation Waits. A big novelty surprise goes with every purchase., 30 Oct 2007
Down an unassuming little side street lies an unassuming little shop, called Temptations Ltd.
It is advisable upon entering this shop to be honest, and not to lie or cheat the proprietor(Peter Cushing),
no matter how much you may be tempted.
For if you do, something life threatening or at least life changing will happen to you.
Shoplifting here carries a very high price indeed.
With this interesting and highly original premise, I think what follows are some of the best Horror short stories ever committed to film.
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"The Gate Crasher" - a rather blood thirsty tale, in the literal sense, with David Warner and involving an Antique Mirror. One of his friends has the idea of holding a seance in the same room as the mirror, a very bad idea.
"FEED ME....BLOOD".
"An Act of Kindness" - a man with an unhappy married life tries to impress a down on his luck army veteran, by stealing an important medal from Temptations Ltd. A very bad move, which leads to severe family discord.
"The Elemental" - Ian Carmichael plays a fastidious and devious civil servant, who cheats Cushing out of the full price of a snuff box by substituting a cheaper price tag for the real one. As Cushing amusingly says as Carmichael's character leaves the shop. "I hope you enjoy snuffing it", but Carmichael's wife corrects his devious habits, permanently.
"The Door" - A young couple purchase a 16th century door, one night the young man opens the door and finds not the stationery cupboard that should be there but a mysterious blue room. And the room's owner isn't the kind of person you would like living next door to.
Interweaved between these stories are scenes of a dodgy looking character attempting to enter the shop, but hurrying away everytime a customer enters, he ends up getting the Point.
The morality of this film is a simple one, honesty is always the best policy.
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If you like multi story British horror films, you may like these, I find them most satisfying and I hope you do.
Dr Terror's House of Horrors.(1964)
Torture Garden.(1967)
The House that Dripped Blood.(1970)
Asylum.(1972)
Tales From the Crypt.(1972)
Vault of Horror.(1973)
The Monster Club.(1980)
Happy Shivers.
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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Four quality horror tales in one - bargain!, 15 Oct 2007
Sometimes older horror tales told through the scope of short vignettes can be dated and daft, but I really like this collection. Some of the tales are really rather spooky, not with shock-factor blood and guts but more in an eerie and unsettling way... like all the best horror classics, they get in your brain and leave you thinking about them in quite moments afterwards. I also liked the inclusion of morality behind the stories, and the camera work is really quite inventive and well-crafted considering these are not modern productions. Discerning film fans will enjoy this collection immensely... great production, great plots, great actors... great stuff!
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12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Wages Of Sin Is Death, 18 Oct 2007
I take my hat off to DVD.There were 4 videos you could no longer buy before DVD's came out.Sleuth Michael Caine,Scrooge Albert Finney,Henry VIII & his six wives Keith Michell and this one From Beyond The Grave.This 5 story chiller from 1973 is the BEST Amicus production.With a strong cast,well scripted and smartly presented."I'll tell you what I'll give you £25 for it"(antique 400 year old mirror)says David Warner to wily antiques shop proprieter(of Temptations Ltd)played by Peter Cushing.Who leaves you with more than just a knowing twinkle in his eye.The flat capped pipe smoking northerner is the perfect characterization for the part.As northeners aren't an easy lot to hoodwink.The deception from the greedy oportunist David Warner is only the beginning to that of ultimate sacrifice in 'The Gate Crasher'.Each story begins with a visit to THAT antiques shop.Ian Bannen is our next curious browser.In a story with Donald Pleasence and Diana Doors called'An act of Kindness'.A loveless marriage with a hen pecked husband(Bannen)and a son who's in the middle of this cat fight.Bannen curiously meets a shoelace and matches street peddlar.Through their mutual admiration for the British Army and as two ex-servicemen,drives Bannens interest in a world war medal.They strike up a bizzare friendship with Pleasence playing matchmaker to his REAL life daughter.Wooing Bannen into a proposal of...?After each and every story we return to Cushing who looks on ruefully.Ian Carmichael is the next customer showing a flair for imaginitive price fixing on a silver snuff box."Hope you enjoy snuffing it".Is Cushings remark as Carmichael quickly leaves the shop.Carmichael meets a strange lady on a train in'The Elemental'who interupts him reading his daily paper on his commute,to warn him of an elemental on his shoulder.Home life will never be the same again in this supernatural offering.An opportunist burglar who we have seen previously, again he hangs around eyeing up the shop waiting for the rush of customers to end.On this occasion Ian Ogilvy walks into him on his way into the shop.This the 4th story of 5 called 'The Door'.This time an old ornately carved wooden door is of interest to the buyer."Seaton" repeats Cushing."I'll write you a receipt for the door".Will Seaton who gives his last £40 for the door, be tempted from an open cash register as the owner leaves for a few moments?Seaton's fascinated by what was previously behind the strange door in its past history.Only to be told of a blue room.
This is an imaginative British Horror(filmed in Britain,cast&crew) that still holds up remarkably in todays ultra modern world.Some films burn themselves onto your brain when you're young,and they stay with you for life.I'm a bit worried now having stolen this DVD for that bargain price.
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