Tom Holland has given us some of the most iconic horror tales in cinema history. ‘Child’s Play’, ‘Fright Night’ and Stephen King’s ‘Thinner’ all were helmed at the direction of Holland and now he returns to the small screen with an anthology of shorts that capture Hollands balance of humour and horror perfectly.

 

Comprising of nine short films, this anthology contains a passion for story telling and the genre that has been lost in recent compilation movies (pointing at you ‘ABC’s of Death 2’ and ‘V/H/S Viral’). Highlights include the hostage situation wherein a suspecting victim of an affair tricks his friend into holding a bomb set to explode if he releases the trigger, much like the best of the genre, each tale is not without a twist. Some more predictable than others, yet all compelling to watch. ‘Goosebumps’ meets ‘Tales from the Crypt’ in an entertaining collection of thrillers that deliver. With a mix of vampires, demons, werewolves and Ray Wise, there is no short change for horror fans here.

 

There is no denying that ‘Twisted Tales’ was built on a shoestring budget which make the special effects in an Asylum movie seem like Michael Bay fodder, yet it never detracts from the story that is unfolding. While eclipsed in CGI flames, Danielle Harris’ confrontation with a devilish William Forsythe is still a fascinating interaction and at the end of the world in ‘Shockwave’ some great performances deliver a believable end of the world scenario that defies the green mist surround the world. This in itself shows why Holland is still, 30 years after debut ‘Fright Night’, one of the great visionaries of horror. Guest turns from William Forsythe, Danielle Harris, AJ Bowen and many more bolster onto the added package.

 

It would be easy to dismiss this in a market that is currently swimming with an array of anthology movies yet its subtle nod to the late night short stories of the 70’s and 80’s provide a sense of nostalgia, Holland’s introduction to each episode is a novel yet welcoming touch too who is still doing the genre proud.

 

‘Shockwave’, ‘Boom’, ‘Vampire’s Dance’ and ‘Cached’ are the highlights from the micro series that make this a perfect late night watch and a must-see for fans of ‘Tales from the Crypt’ and ‘Hammer House of Horror’.