i will admit to be bias when i review this since it be my introduction to the series . i saw this film for the first time in ~2005 on the late night fear friday on amc and which often pull obscure gem like this out of cold storage for new generation . i make it a point to watch the entire amicus anthology series before review any of them here to make sure i have perspective . look back and i still rate the house that drip blood a my favorite and follow closely by tale from the crypt and then asylum . i think all of the element that make this series charm the vintage 60s/70s style cinematography and creepy to kooky and far fetched tale and the utter britishness of it all right down the backing music come together well here than any of the others overall . the movie center around a very old english country house and the misfortune that befall all that dwell within . the first story involve a horror writer and his wife and who move into this secluded place to get a break from the city so he could concentrate on his passion . he create a murderous character call dominic and soon start experience great difficulty tell reality from fiction . there be a subtle physchedelia here via his torment that i find amuse yet creepy . oh and those horrible prop teeth ( then again these be british actor and maybe those be real . ) the second story be the tale of a lonely old man ( peter cushing ) that have move here to escape his loneliness and yet it only worsen a he be haunt by lose love . he seem to have find possible salvation at a local ( very creepy ) wax museum and but it turn out he would have be much good off alone . the third story include the great christopher lee ( my fav british horror actor ) a a single father with a rather disturbed and thoroughly creepy young daughter . he be constantly wary of her get into thing she shouldn not like witchcraft . she have a natural talent for it and with good reason . lee be superb here a the ice cold disciplinarian and that man have a true talent for play character that be absolutely devoid of warmth . but despite his best effort and the little troublemaker do in fact learn forbidden knowledge and bad thing follow . this final story be the tale of a cynical old veteran actor that feel the young director he work with isn not qualify to capture a proper vampire film and right down to the quality of the costume and his cloak in particular . so he go to a old curiosity store in the middle of a foggy night to get something more authentic . little do he know that he pick up a truly authentic vampire cloak . put it on at the stroke of midnight have rather noticeable effect . by the time i have get to this fourth and final story and it be after 3 be and i couldn not quite stay awake on the first try ( not from boredom ) . but i do experience something that i have hundred of time and a curious bonding experience i have with film or music when i drift in and out of sleep and the film or music become part of my dream . great fun . this bizarre story be perfect for that and seem much scary the first time than it actually be because i wake up right when he be levitate by the cloak power and couldn not quite comprehend be what happen at first . not long after and the lovely ingrid pitt and a costar on his movie set and come to visit and he warn her not to put on the cloak at midnight but he needn not have bother and for she be a real vampire herself . the chintzy keyboard jingle that follow a she fly toward him on the staircase be simply hysterical . and again in my half asleep state and seem rather confuse . side note represent make sure to catch lee and pitt along with the stunning amicus star britt ekland in the all time classic film the wicker man ( 1973 ) . the weak link here be the interlace commentary between story and but base on the story themselves and this be a classic . objectively and i would say the third story be best and but i like the 4th most because it make me smile so much . very highly recommend for horror fan and if youre a british horror fan and it mandatory . i would say it worthwhile to view the series in chronological order if you can . the last film of this series and monster club ( 1980 ) be certainly the weak . i think the first 3 4 film except for the at time mediocre torture garden ( 1967 ) be the best and but if you like any of them and you should watch them all at least once . you will probably be back many more time to watch your favorite .