Ep 14. Lower Berth

Tales From the Crypt is a horror anthology series that aired in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Each episode presented a self-contained story of the macabre and uncanny, with elements of humor, irony, and suspense. The show's signature host, the Cryptkeeper, introduced the episodes with his patented blend of puns, cackles, and macabre humor.

Season 2, Episode 14 of Tales From the Crypt is titled "Lower Berth". The episode opens in a freak show carnival, where a group of carnival workers discover an old trunk that had been hidden away for decades. The trunk is revealed to contain the corpse of a strange and mysterious creature, which quickly comes to life and begins to terrorize the performers.

The creature, named Caleb, is revealed to be a grotesque, deformed monstrosity with a split personality. While one side of his face and body is horribly disfigured, the other side is handsome and charming. The performers are initially frightened by Caleb, but they soon discover that he has an insatiable thirst for blood and a wicked, twisted sense of humor.

As the episode progresses, we learn more about Caleb's backstory. He was originally part of a travelling circus in the late 1800s, where he was put on display as a "freak" attraction. However, Caleb was secretly in love with a beautiful contortionist named Lilliana, who also happened to be the object of affection for the circus' cruel ringmaster, Mr. Sickles.

Caleb eventually confronts Sickles and kills him in a fit of rage, but not before he is injured and left for dead himself. Sickles' body is hidden away in the same trunk that Caleb is later discovered in, and Caleb spends the next hundred years trapped in death-like stasis until the trunk is discovered by the present-day carnival workers.

As Caleb continues his rampage, the remaining performers band together to stop him. However, they soon realize that Caleb is not the only monster in their midst. One of their own, a greedy and amoral strongman named Hugo, is revealed to be working with Caleb and trying to profit off his bizarre abilities.

In the climax of the episode, the performers launch a final assault on Caleb, Hugo, and their army of undead minions. The battle is gruesome and intense, with multiple characters meeting their fates in horrific ways. Eventually, only a handful of survivors are left standing, including the hero of the episode, a kind-hearted dwarf named Paolo.

In the episode's twist ending, Caleb is revealed to have survived the battle and is hiding out in Paolo's trunk. As the two converse, Caleb confesses that he was never fully human to begin with - he is actually a demon, and his curse will continue to haunt the carnival until the end of time.

Overall, "Lower Berth" is a classic Tales From the Crypt episode that blends humor, horror, and tragedy in equal measure. It features a memorable creature design, a strong ensemble cast, and a tight, suspenseful plot. Fans of the series will appreciate the episode's nods to classic horror tropes and its exploration of themes like jealousy, desire, and the nature of evil.