Extraordinary Tales

Extraordinary Tales is a 2013 animated anthology film of five tales from Edgar Allan Poe. Boasting an impressive voice-over cast that includes Christopher Lee, Bela Lugosi, Julian Sands, Guillermo del Toro, and Roger Corman, the movie reimagines Poe’s classic eerie tales with stunningly unique animation styles.

The movie is, at its core, an anthology, depicting five separate Poe classics: "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Pit and the Pendulum," "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar," and "The Masque of the Red Death." These iconic short stories have long been touchstones of horror literature, each with its own distinctive plot, tone, and theme, and are regarded as timeless masterpieces that resonate with readers to this day.

The film begins with "The Fall of the House of Usher," voiced by the legendary Christopher Lee. This story is about a weary wanderer who happens by a dilapidated house belonging to an old friend. The atmosphere is thick with dread and imminent doom, pulsating with what can only be described as the beating heart of horror itself.

Next is "The Tell-Tale Heart," featuring an archival-recorded narration by the renowned Horror icon Bela Lugosi. Set in a stark black-and-white, this eerie tale is about a man driven to the brink of sanity by guilt. The undulating, almost hypnosis-like visuals mirror the spiralling descent of the narrator into his madness.

"The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar," the third story, is narrated by Julian Sands and follows a mesmerist who uses hypnosis to prolong the life of a dying man. This chilling tale unfolds in a gloom-ridden landscape filled with ominous apparitions and ghastly figures, and the hypnosis sequences are aptly hypnotic themselves.

"The Pit and the Pendulum" features director Guillermo del Toro as the voice of the character ensnared in a hellish torture device during the Spanish Inquisition. Rendered in haunting, stark visuals, it conveys a claustrophobic feeling of ever-tightening despair and fear from start to finish.

Finally, "The Masque of the Red Death," visually rated as the most experimental of the lot, is presented as a dramatic fresco without dialogue, with Roger Corman as Prince Prospero. The story is about a decadent masquerade ball taking place during a deadly plague, represented with strikingly bold and vivid colours that evoke a feeling of macabre beauty.

The director Raul Garcia showcases a different and dynamic style of artistry for each tale; from the sketched look of "The Tell-Tale Heart," the comic book style art in "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar," to the gothic aesthetic of "The Fall of the House of Usher," and the surreal beauty in "The Masque of the Red Death." This varying artistry not only pays tribute to the malleability of Poe's work but also offers a fresh perspective on each tale, making them stand out individually, yet work together harmoniously.

Interspersed between the tales are scenes of a raven (presumably symbolising Poe himself) in a graveyard talking to Death, depicted as a beautiful yet stern statue. These introspective moments provide context and lend a framing narrative to each tale.

Extraordinary Tales appeals to both fans of Poe's stories and appreciators of unique animation. The film's vibrant and distinctive storytelling style, coupled with the compelling adaptation of Poe's timeless tales, makes it an intriguing watch. The stellar voice-over cast breathes life into Edgar Allan Poe's macabre tales with a spine-chilling authenticity that will resonate with horror enthusiasts and literature lovers alike.

In conclusion, Extraordinary Tales is not just a tribute to the tales of Edgar Allan Poe; it's an exploration of the diverse possibilities of animation as a storytelling medium. By presenting each segment in a different visual style, Garcia is able to capture the essence of Poe's storytelling in a potent and captivating way that will leave viewers both awed and unnerved.