Masters Of Horror – Clive Barker’s Haeckel’s Tale
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: B- Episode: B-
Originally
intended as a project to be directed by George Romero, Clive Barker’s Haeckel’s Tale is still the best installment we have
seen to date of the often awkward and very disappointing installments despite
the often big names connected. Though
Barker is more miss than hit, the story here had great potential with Romero
interpreting it. As it stands with Henry – Portrait Of A Serial Killer director
John McNaughton, it is like an hour-long Night
Gallery that could have been darker, but that is still more competent than
most installments have been.
In
Romero’s hands, it could have even been a classic or great in-joke piece with
its use of zombies, but at least it has its moments. A man who has lost the love of his life goes
to a woman who may be able to help him bring her back to life. To explain why he might not want his wish, we
get a story told in flashback about the title character (Derek Cecil) who
believes totally in medical science and is not religious. He too has a love in his life and death is
going to come a knockin’, but there is also the mysterious Montesquino (Jon
Polito, often stealing scenes) who also has a connection to the undead and too
might be able to summons them at will.
Even with
the conclusion of this show and loss of a real “master of horror” like Romero,
it is obvious that the series is not interested in doing real Horror genre work
with any point or weight. Everything
feels like second-rate John Landis comedy, with even the actual Landis turning
in a lame installment. With each guest
director, it is almost like The Muppet
Show where they show up to do one installment and disappear, except that
you don’t want to rewatch them years later.
It just perpetuates the reputation of this show as a bad package deal
and their continued censorship of darker installments further verifies that
image. Well, this is better than
nothing.
Extras
include an audio commentary by director McNaughton, "Breaking Taboos: An Interview with John McNaughton"
featurette, "Working With A Master:
John McNaughton" featurette, "Behind
The Scenes: The Making of Haeckel's Tale" featurette, On Set separate
interviews with Leela Savasta, Jon Polito & Derek Cecil, Script To Screen:
Haeckel’s Tale, trailers, still gallery, John McNaughton text biography and
both DVD-ROM accessible teleplay and screensaver.
- Nicholas Sheffo
