The Vault of Horror
Five strangers trapped beneath a London office block trade recurring nightmares that unfold into darkly comic tales of supernatural retribution.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- macabre
- darkly comic
- theatrical
- classic horror night
- halloween viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the British anthology entertaining in concept and elevated by its distinguished cast, but uneven, static, and weakened by flat direction and overextended exposition.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Five trapped strangers in a sealed subterranean club recount their recurring nightmares as separate horror segments.
The narrated nightmares repeatedly turn deception, cruelty, obsession, or exploitation back against the people responsible.
The screenplay draws from stories associated with the EC Comics Vault of Horror tradition, emphasizing grotesque twists and macabre irony.
The strangers descend into a furnished sub-basement room with no visible exit and wait for help while exchanging nightmares.
Films like The Vault of Horror, and why
Tales from the Crypt
shared british anthology horror, supernatural punishment, campy grotesquerie, and framing device
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors
shared anthology structure, supernatural horror, dark humor, and story-within-a-story framing
From Beyond the Grave
shared british anthology horror, macabre storytelling, and supernatural dread
Dead of Night
shared vintage anthology horror, theatrical performances, and escalating supernatural unease
Movie Details
- Director
- Roy Ward Baker
- Release Date
- 1973-03-16
- Runtime
- 87 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (172)
Cast
- Anna Massey
- Terry-Thomas
- Glynis Johns
- John Forbes-Robertson
- Curd Jürgens
- Dawn Addams
- Ishaq Bux
- Michael Craig
- Edward Judd
- Robin Nedwell
Common questions
- What is The Vault of Horror about?
- Five strangers trapped beneath a London office block trade recurring nightmares that unfold into darkly comic tales of supernatural retribution.
- What is The Vault of Horror like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Vault of Horror as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Vault of Horror violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Vault of Horror as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Vault of Horror?
- Critics broadly found the British anthology entertaining in concept and elevated by its distinguished cast, but uneven, static, and weakened by flat direction and overextended exposition.
- Which films are like The Vault of Horror?
- Films with a similar feel include Tales from the Crypt, Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, From Beyond the Grave, and Dead of Night.
- How long is The Vault of Horror?
- The Vault of Horror runs 87 minutes.
