The Vault of Horror is an anthology horror movie putting together five frightful stories telling themes of terror, deception, and supernatural existence. The production was done back in the 1970’s, and a sequel to it is Tales from the Crypt, which turned out to become a cult favorite due to its unique writing style and ambiance.

Release Date The Vault of Horror


The movie went to theaters February 10th, 1973.


Plot Summary The Vault of Horror

Five men locked in an unknown vault for unknown reasons wait to be rescued, awaiting their redemption. They sit around talking about their nightmares, which happen to them one by one. The stories in the anthology are:

  • The Gilded Cage – The husband is harassed by his wife’s adultery and receives a terrible fate in the end.
  • The Neat Job – The obsessive cleanliness of a man causes him to face a gruesome end.
  • This Trick’ll Kill You – A magician’s tricks become deadly when he tries to outsmart death itself.
  • The Man Who Was Death – A former executioner seeks revenge after being fired from his job.

Drawn and Quartered – A painter’s obsession with a beautiful woman leads to a nightmarish conclusion.
Every tale is associated with the theme of consequences of one’s actions, culminating in an unsettling climax that makes the viewers question their own fears.

Screenshots The Vault of Horror

Screenshots are not available for this review, but pictures from the movie can be seen online.

Cast The Vault of Horror

  • Tom Baker as the Narrator
  • Denholm Elliott as the main character in “The Gilded Cage”
  • Anna Palk as the wife in “The Gilded Cage”
  • Terry-Thomas as the fussy man in “The Neat Job”
  • Sam Kydd as the magician in “This Trick’ll Kill You”
  • John-Luke Roberts as the executioner in “The Man Who Was Death”
  • Gillian Hills as the woman in “Drawn and Quartered”

Cast The Vault of Horror

  • Director: Roy Ward Baker
  • Producers: Milton Subotsky, Max Rosenberg
  • Screenplay: Alan Scott
  • Cinematography: Peter Newbrook
  • Music: Douglas Gamley

Running Time The Vault of Horror

The running time of The Vault of Horror is approximately 88 minutes.

Public Review The Vault of Horror

Generally, mixed reviews were in circulation when this film was initially released. Some were fond of this film because it had an innovative storyline and effects for suspense, though not everyone favored the film, as it did not have a uniform speed. However, it has garnered loyal fans through its campy appeal and artistic cinematography, mainly from horror fans. The audiences tend to focus on the two twists within each story, which is one of the staples of an anthology horror film.
In summary, The Vault of Horror remains one of the excellent explorations of fear and consequences with sufficient scary stories that would leave audience members breathing out for more. Any horror enthusiast such as myself cannot get enough of watching the film.