Tales from the Crypt: The Man Who Was Death (TV)
1989 · Movie · 26 min. · United States
Niles Talbot works as the executioner at a state prison, throwing the switch to put convicts to death in the electric chair. He's an easygoing, genial sort of fellow, commenting on the prisoners' behavior when their time comes and touting the virtues of electricity as a method of execution. When the state legislature suddenly votes to abolish the death penalty, Niles loses his job and his musings become more bitter as he wanders the city's less reputable districts. He begins to administer his own brand of justice, electrocuting people who were brought to trial on murder charges but never convicted - first a biker, then a pair of lovers. A strip club dancer is next on his list, but when he throws the switch, nothing happens. The police arrive and arrest him, having found and cut his wires, and Niles learns that the state has just voted the death penalty back in. The episode ends as it began, with a prisoner being dragged to the chair as he screams about the governor calling to pardon him - only now the prisoner is Niles. The call never comes, just as it never did while he was on the job, and he is executed.
Direction Walter Hill
Cast William Sadler · J.W. Smith · Roy Brocksmith · David Wohl · Gerrit Graham · Dani Minnick · Tony Abatemarco · Mimi Kennedy · Robert Winley · Eve Brent · Edgar Small · Mark Lowenthal · F.J. O'Neil · Raymond O'Connor · Jennifer Evans · Patti Yasutake · Al Allen · Kate Benton · Julie Ann Lucas · Ed DeFusco · Laura Albert
Soundtrack Ry Cooder
Screenplay Walter Hill · Robert Reneau
Cinematography John R. Leonetti
Original title Tales from the Crypt: The Man Who Was Death (TV)
6.1
207 votes (FilmAffinity)
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