TV series
Tales from the Darkside is an anthology horror TV series created by George A. Romero, each episode was an individual short story that ended with a plot twist. The series' episodes spanned the genres of horror, science fiction, and fantasy, and some episodes featured elements of black comedy or more lighthearted themes.
Availability
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Tales from the Darkside premiered September 30, 1984. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Tales from the Darkside is an anthology horror TV series created by George A. Romero, each episode was an individual short story that ended with a plot twist. The series' episodes spanned the genres of horror, science fiction, and fantasy, and some episodes featured elements of black comedy or more lighthearted themes.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
An Egyptologist working on a sarcophogus ignores a curse and meets a horrific fate when he ignores it.
Directed by Frank De PalmaWritten by Robert BlochGuest stars Rod McCary, Sirri Murad, Donald MacKechnie, Colm Meaney, Angelo Grisanti, Neil Kinsella
Episode 2
A woman who lives with mannequins because she is unable to deal with real people gets a rude awakening.
Directed by Katarina WittichWritten by Jule SelboGuest stars Margaret Whitton, A.C. Weary, Fred Burstein
Episode 3
Despite the discouragement of his friend, a middle-aged photographer, Algernon, tries to captures spirits on film.
Directed by Bill TravisWritten by Mark Patrick Carducci, Brian Thomas JonesGuest stars Frank Hamilton, Richard Clarke, Terres Unsoeld
Episode 4
Sybil, a woman on the verge of death, is obsessed with the thought that after she dies her soul will dwell within a moth, and she begs her mother to hold the moth until she can be restored to life.
Directed by Jeffrey WolfWritten by Michael McDowellGuest stars Debbie Harry
Episode 5
A mobster who has finally defeated his old rival hires a reluctant puppeteer to string up his rival and make it dance for him. The mobster is unaware that puppet and puppeteer both have agendas of their own...
Directed by David OdellWritten by David OdellGuest stars Barry Dennen, T.J. Castronovo, Cameron Milzer, Bradley Fisher, Derek Loughran, John Marzilli
Episode 6
In this comedic episode, two treasure hunters discover a lost Egyptian tomb and accidentally revive a mummy. The mummy, Tapok, doesn't try to strangle them, but rather challenges the male explorer to a game of strip poker. The explorer loses, and with each piece of clothing he loses he takes on more of Tapok's wrappings until finally Tapok transfers his curse and leaves with the other explorer.
Guest stars Polly Draper, Arnold Stang
Episode 7
A normal, everyday, plain-as-day man, Jack Polo, lives a normal, everyday life...despite the fact that strange poltergeist-like events occur around him. He seems oblivious to everything bad around him. We soon realize that a small demon, a Yattering, has been sent to torment him because his mother was a witch. The Yattering's boss tells him he can do anything he wants as long as he doesn't touch Jack. Jack's daughter comes to visit, and she is surprised at both the host of strange occurrences (including an animated Christmas turkey) that occur, and her father's increasingly strident attempts to deny anything amiss. His motto: ""Que Sara Sara"". Finally, driven out of its mind with desperation, the Yattering touches Jack...which makes him his willing servant. Jack knew of the demon's plans all along, and that he hoped to trick it into touching him. Now he is safe from Hell's revenge, and has a new servant in the process.
Directed by David OdellWritten by Clive BarkerGuest stars Antony Carbone, Phil Fondacaro, Thomas Newman, Danielle Brisebois
Episode 8
Much to his parents' frustration, a spoiled young boy, Seymour, is declared the High Lama by a group of monks.
Guest stars J.D. Roth, Divine
Episode 9
Katie receives a mysterious phone call from a woman warning about her husband's death...but he isn't dead yet. Katie ignores the phone call, and her husband dies. At the funeral, a despairing Katie calls up herself...and finds herself talking to...herself. She tries to warn her past self, despite knowing that it won't do any good, then collapses in despair.
Directed by John HarrisonWritten by Stephen KingGuest stars Deborah Harmon, Arthur Taxier, Rhonda Dotson, Katherine Britton, Brandon Stewart, Nicole Huntington, Catherine Battistone
Episode 10
Michael, a heartless collection agent, finds out that Jeanette doesn't quite understand the rules of going into debt, and has some unpleasant problems as a result.
Directed by John DruryWritten by Richard BennerGuest stars Maura Swanson, Lewis Arlt, Wanda De Jesus
Episode 11
Betsy, an overweight woman, receives an anonymous package with an earpiece that will supposedly help her diet. It transmits the "voices" of her food as is being eaten, but Betsy still has problems and the next gift is a pair of glasses that let her "see" her food as well...
Directed by John StrysikWritten by Jule Selbo, Bobs GannawayGuest stars Sharon Madden, Larry Gelman, Diana Hale, John Romo, Catherine Battistone, Neil Kinsella
Episode 12
Screenwriter Tom Dash unwittingly makes a deal with the Devil and finds he must get out of it by finding a new victim or offer up his soul.
Directed by T.J. CastronovoWritten by Granville Burgess, Allen CoulterGuest stars Allen Garfield, Bradley Whitford, Robert Costanzo, Elyssa Paternoster, Kristine Greco, Jon Jacobs
Episode 13
Jane is hired by a Puritan museum but ends up mysteriously going back in time where she is forced to work as a near slave in the past.
Directed by Eleanor GaverWritten by Ellen SandhausGuest stars Haviland Morris, Wayne Tippit, Katherine Elizabeth Neuman, Gary Lahti
Episode 14
On her deathbed, Jamie's great grandmother tells him the tale of a Celtic demon, the Cutty Black Sow, that comes to claim the soul of anyone dying that night, and Jamie vows to protect her soul from the beast.
Directed by Richard GlassWritten by Michael McDowell, Thomas F. MonteleoneGuest stars Huckleberry Fox, Paula Trueman, Mary Griffin, Timothy Landfield, Sharon Ullrick
Episode 15
An aged inventor and his wife come into possession of a box marked "Do not open this box." The wife opens it and finds it empty. The next day a man comes to claim the box and the lady makes up a story about losing the box. The man begins giving them nice things in exchange for eventually getting the box back. The couple begin living the sweet life thanks to the stranger but when they finally give the box back, the man tells them that it contained a human soul - since the box was opened the soul has escaped and now the man needs a replacement.
Directed by Jodie FosterWritten by Franco Amurri, Bob BalabanGuest stars Richard B. Shull, Eileen Heckart, William LeMassena, Fay Gold
Episode 16
Janice, a young mother, swears to a social worker, Trudy, that her husband Robert kidnapped their son Bobby six months ago and she hasn't seen either of them since. Trudy agrees to find the father and son, but discovers that everything isn't what she was led to believe.
Directed by Tom SaviniWritten by Edithe SwensenGuest stars Patricia Tallman, Stephen McHattie, Daniel Terrence Kelly, Marilyn Rockafellow
Episode 17
An alien is sent to Earth to study the nature and behavior of human beings. The alien, who resembles a normal Earth female, meticulously studies photographs of still life from large cities, simultaneously fascinated with and disgusted by the disarray and degeneration depicted in the pictures. The alien joins a therapeutic support group in an effort to better understand the seemingly contradictory humans. As she develops personal relationships with each group member, she begins to further understand the origin of and reasons for the behavior of humans, albeit from an outside observer's vantage point. The other members of the group see the alien as distant and detached, a condition that they assume is rooted in a self-denial complex. As the alien speaks at one of the group meetings, she suddenly realizes that she has been experiencing the exact same feelings as the humans that she has been studying. She has become human-like through assimilation, trapped within the emotional shell of ano
Directed by Andrew WeinerWritten by Andrew Weiner, Theodore GershunyGuest stars Alison Sweeney, Kim Greist, John Aprea, Cynthia David, Richard Kuhlman, Pamela Kenny
Episode 18
A babysitter is called in to take care of a sick boy. As a game, the two make up a pretend creature out of household parts, one that eats sounds. The creature comes to life, sucking the sound and the life out of everything in the house. The two try to evade it, but the boy's uncontrollable coughing gives him away. The creature then becomes sensitive enough to the girl's heartbeat to find and kill her too, then goes out into the world for more "food"".
Directed by Allen CoulterWritten by John Harrison, Zenna HendersonGuest stars Nile Lanning, Eric Jason, Bonnie Gallup
Episode 19
A mother tries to get a reprieve from her noisy drums-practicing son by making a deal with an ammonia-seeking alien. Spoofs the I Love Lucy television series.
Directed by Christopher T. WelchWritten by Jule SelboGuest stars Jack Carter, Jill Jaress, Michael Santiago, Miguel Alamo
Episode 20
A wrestler seeking one great opponent finds himself tricked into fighting a demon from Hell.
Directed by Anthony Santa CroceWritten by Peter O'KeefeGuest stars Vic Tayback, Brinke Stevens, Marie Denn, Marlene Casamento, Steve Strong, Scott St. James, Magic Schwarz, Jack 'Wildman' Armstrong
Episode information updated Jul 23, 2026
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