General Information

Director: Greg Widen

Writer: Greg Widen

Cast: Clancy Brown, Martin Kove, Costas Mandylor, Charles Martin Smith, Jon Tenney, Brian Wimmer, Cheech Marin, John Kassir, Mark Jay Goodman, and Judith Baldwin

Composer: Donald Markowitz

Air Date: 12/1/1993

Overview

By sacrificing one of his companions in the Brazilian rainforest, company owner Roger Lassen (Clancy Brown) acquires the secret of a chemical preservative. Six years later, Roger discovers that his former associates are being murdered one-by-one in a ritualistic manner.

“Half-Way Horrible” is a chilling, well-acted episode of Tales from the Crypt. Especially worth noting is the absence of comical and over-the-top subject matter, which allows for an insightful and disturbing examination of human nature.

Pros

This offering should be commended for its nauseating gore and make-up effects, which will undoubtedly appeal to fans of visceral horror. Highlights include stab wounds, severed heads, and living bodies covered with necrotic flesh—all of which are employed in conjunction with a zombie-themed premise.

“Half-Way Horrible” also deserves praise for its effective use of voodoo tropes. Specifically, this season-five entry maintains a heavy emphasis on curses, resurrected corpses, and ritualistic murders—themes that, though featured in many Tales from the Crypt episodes, are here explored with the solemnity and lack of camp that one would typically associate with an A-grade horror production.

Cons

A cameo appearance from comedian Cheech Marin serves to undermine—albeit briefly—the haunting, serious tone of this episode.

Analysis

Benefiting from the tormented performance of Clancy Brown, “Half-Way Horrible” contains a harrowing depiction of how a guilty conscience can poison the soul.

Concluding Comments

An underrated installment of Tales from the Crypt, “Half-Way Horrible” offers a fresh and compelling twist on the concept of good vs. evil as represented in a fictional setting. Also exceptional is Brown’s portrayal of villain protagonist Roger Lassen—an embodiment of corporate greed, malice, and disregard for human suffering.

Overall Quality: 9/10

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