Ep 1. Death of Some Salesmen

Tales From the Crypt is a horror anthology series that formerly aired on HBO. The first episode of the fifth season is entitled "Death of Some Salesmen." Like each episode in the series, this one is introduced by the show's host, a frighteningly grotesque corpse known as the Cryptkeeper.

The story follows two down-on-their-luck door-to-door salesmen, Lyle and Crampton, as they try to make a living selling household items to uninterested and often angry people. The salesmen are played by Ed Begley Jr. and Tim Curry, respectively, both of whom give stellar performances. Lyle is the more reserved of the two, while Crampton, who has a tendency to exaggerate the quality of the products they're selling, is more outgoing and boisterous.

The two men's fortunes begin to change when they stumble upon the town of Povertyville, which, as its name suggests, is not the wealthiest location. They quickly realize that they can make a killing in the town, as the residents are desperate for the products they're selling. Their sales tactics become more aggressive, which leads to some confrontations with the locals.

Despite these run-ins, Lyle and Crampton make a small fortune in Povertyville. However, their luck starts to run out when they learn about the town's dark secret. The residents of Povertyville have been using a deadly chemical called "Zombie Dust" to keep their business running. This dust slows the body's functions down to the point of appearing dead, allowing them to collect on life insurance policies.

The salesmen are caught up in this scheme when they sell the dust to one of the locals, who uses it to fake his own death. The man, Reggie, plans to claim his life insurance policy and then come back to life, using the money to escape Povertyville. Reggie's plan is initially successful, but when he's buried alive, he learns that the Zombie Dust wasn't the miracle drug he thought it was.

Lyle and Crampton soon find themselves caught up in the dangerous cycle of Povertyville, becoming trapped themselves. Viewers will be taken on a wild ride as they watch the salesmen navigate the town's dangerous waters.

The episode is directed by Gilbert Adler, who directed several episodes of the series prior to this one. The writing is credited to Frank Spotnitz, Howard Gordon, and Gilbert Adler. The show's iconic score is credited to Danny Elfman. The episode takes full advantage of the series' trademark gore and horror, with some nice comedic touches thrown in for good measure.

Overall, "Death of Some Salesmen" is a haunting and suspenseful episode that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. With fantastic performances from Begley Jr. and Curry, as well as the show's trademark macabre humor, it's a must-see for horror fans. The episode is sure to leave viewers wondering what horrors lurk around the corner in future episodes of Tales From the Crypt.