Shudder Day: 'Tales from the Crypt' Has the Original 'Obsession'

 An Episode that sounds like a present day (as of writing) Film is pretty rare.

As such, let's celebrate the Season 3 Premiere (of 3 Episodes) and it how it might have inspired a surprise Box Office Success.

This is...

The Cryptkeeper introduces this tale of unrequited love, uncontrollable obsession and life in Los Angeles in the '90s. 

A would-be Screenwriter- Andrew McCarthy- is obsessed with a lady in his building- Mariel Hemmingway- and fantasizes about her as what we would now call a Trad Wife.

An especially horny, at that.

The problem- she's not that.  At all.

She will barely have anything to do with the guy, which he does somewhat bring upon himself a number of times.

Credit where credit is due for the nuance.

After (rightfully) being rejected, his landlord (David Hemmings)- who never leaves his room- calls him in.

He feels bad for the guy and offers him a love potion.

The guy from 'Deep Red' got Deeply Creepy

She takes a drink from him and the potion works.

Unfortunately for the guy, it works too well.
She's quite literally obsessed with him and won't leave his side.

Seen here before things got really bad.

He makes a temporary escape and learns that this potion has never worked out well for previous users.  Thanks for the late update, David!

He gives him a new potion and McCarthy tries to drug her again.
She switches the glasses unknowingly, however, and dies from the poison.

His peace in Heaven is soon interrupted by Mariel's arrival.  She jumped out the window when he died and apparently wounds carry over to the Afterlife.

She's here to stay.
The Ed!

I haven't seen 'Obsession,' but this can't also be the Ending.

A well-made Episode that unfortunately suffers from some odd Pacing.  Sorry, Tom Mankiewicz

Positives first- Hemmingway is very good here.  She plays both versions of the Character quite convincingly.
McCarthy is pretty good here, being just the right amount of pathetic and exasperated.

He often looks like a younger David Hemmings too, but that is likely a coincidence.

My issue is that the Story takes too long to get to the hook.  As such, the final part with her being, well, obsessed is too short.

I think it should have happened at the end of Act 2- at the latest.  Give us more time to see the irony and show how it is more than just not letting him out of bed.

This all goes back to a 1940 story called 'The Chaser' (as in the drink term) that was then adapted into an EC Comics tale and then a 1960 Episode of The Twilight Zone.  Is it worth a comparison review?

Regardless, this works pretty well, but I just think the Pacing keeps it from true greatness.

They cut out the Alchemist in this Episode.

Next time, Season 3's debut continues with an Episode by the Writer of many '80s Classics.  Throw in a Twin Peaks Actor and this can't lose, right?  See you then...