Terror Tales

Terror Tales is a horror anthology released in 2016 directed by Jimmy Lee Combs. The film consists of three stories tied together by a wraparound narrative that follows a young girl named Samantha (played by Bridgette Bako) who has been abducted by a sadistic clown named Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton). As Samantha tries to escape Art's clutches, he tells her three terrifying tales that revolve around different characters.

The first story is called "By Proxy" and it follows a couple, Carol (Lynn Lowry) and Walter (Christopher Showerman), who has hired a surrogate mother to have their child. However, the surrogate mother (Ari Lehman) turns out to have a dark secret that threatens to destroy their happy family.

The second story is "Radical Video" and it revolves around a group of friends who decide to spend the weekend at a remote cabin to shoot a video for their YouTube channel. As they begin filming, strange things start to happen, and they realize that they are not alone in the woods.

The third story is "The Offering." It follows a woman named Terra (Felissa Rose) who moves into a new house with her family. As they settle in, they come across a room that has been locked for years. When they finally open the room, they unleash an ancient evil that threatens to destroy their lives.

Throughout the film, we also see glimpses of Samantha's past and how she ended up in Art's clutches. As the stories progress, we see parallels between Samantha's experiences and the characters in the stories she is being told. The wraparound narrative ties everything together into a satisfying conclusion.

The performances in Terror Tales are all top-notch, especially David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown, who is both menacing and charismatic. The cinematography and practical effects are also impressive, adding to the overall eerie atmosphere of the film.

While the anthology format can lead to uneven storytelling, Terror Tales manages to maintain a consistent level of quality throughout. Each story has its own unique style, but they all fit together seamlessly within the larger narrative.

One of the strengths of Terror Tales is its ability to blend different sub-genres of horror. The first story is a psychological thriller, the second is a found footage film, and the third is a supernatural horror story. The wraparound narrative also has elements of torture porn and slasher films. This variety keeps the film fresh and exciting, making it difficult to predict what will happen next.

Overall, Terror Tales is a well-crafted horror anthology that delivers scares, gore, and a satisfying conclusion. It's a great way to spend a dark and stormy night, but make sure you leave the lights on.