Product Details

• Actors: Derek Cecil, Leela Savasta, Tom McBeath, Steve Bacic, Gerard Plunkett
• Directors: John McNaughton
• Writers: Clive Barker, Mick Garris
• Producers: Adam Goldworm, Andrew Deane, Ben Browning, Bo Altherr, Grant Rosenberg
• Format: Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
• DVD Release Date: November 14, 2006
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000FS2W3K
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,135 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Masters of Horror - John Mcnaughton - Haeckel's Tale" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

In a time when the laws of science battled the secrets of magic, medical student Ernst Haeckel (Derek Cecil) believes the power of life, death and resurrection lay in his arrogant hands. But on a journey to visit his gravely ill father, he finds shelter in the home of an older man and his seductive young wife (Leela Savasta) who cannot be fulfilled by mortal hungers. Somewhere in the darkness of a nearby necropolis, a defiant necromancer (Jon Polito of BARTON FINK, MILLER’S CROSSING) will now summon them all to an orgy of the undead and unleash the ultimate depravity for those who do not heed the warning of HAECKEL’S TALE. Directed by John McNaughton in association with horror legend George A. Romero, this startling mix of erotic desire and gut-ripping horror is adapted by series creator/executive producer Mick Garris from the short story by Clive Barker.

DVD Features:Widescreen Presentation enhanced for 16x9 TVs,AUDIO COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR JOHN MCNAUGHTON,BEHIND THE SCENES: THE MAKING OF HAECKEL'S TALE,BREAKING TABOOS: AN INTERVIEW WITH JOHN MCNAUGHTON,DVD-ROM: SCREEN SAVER,DVD-ROM: SCREENPLAY,JOHN MCNAUGHTON BIO,ON SET: AN INTERVIEW WITH DEREK CECIL,ON SET: AN INTERVIEW WITH JON POLITO,ON SET: AN INTERVIEW WITH LEELA SAVASTA,SCRIPT TO SCREEN: HAECKEL'S TALE,STILL GALLERY,STORYBOARD GALLERY,TRAILERS,WORKING WITH A MASTER: JOHN MCNAUGHTON

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tale of the broken hearted... well, sorta., November 15, 2006

By 

Neil Kloster "ianallen13" (Aurora, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Masters of Horror - John Mcnaughton - Haeckel's Tale (DVD)

So in loving all the rest of the Masters of horror movies, and being a HUGE fan of clive barkers... this was a pretty easy decision to pick this up. I had no idea what to expect, not seeing a trailer for it anywhere and only going off of the artwork and premise from the dvd. But this adaption of a Clive Barker story tells the tale of a man who visits an old woman who is told to be able to bring the dead to life. She convinces the man that if he still wants his wife back at the end of her story, she will do just that. Then the story begins...

It concerns a man named Ernst Haeckel who (very similiar to Frankenstein) beleives that God has no part in death and that he can make the dead rise. In failing numerous times, he hears of a man who can make the dead rise through black magic.. a necromancer. He visits this man and still not convinced, visits him again to confront him of his power. This does not go over well, and he is left to his own devices.

After receiving news of his fathers illness, Heackel leaves to see him.. on his way he is brought in by an old man and his young wife. The wife is very beautiful and the man is in his 60's. Soemthing does not seem right and then the wife in the middle of the night leaves towards the "necropolis" to meet up with the necromancer whom her husband paid to have her dead husband brought back to her.

Without spoiling too much of it, I'll just say this... you wont know what hit you in the end and if you enjoy a good zombie movie, then this one might be up your alley. George A. Romero also was involved in the making of this film if that tells you anything.

All in all, I enjoy period pieces and Frankenstein is one of my all time favorite classic movies. I would recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed both Clives stories and the MOH series. The only thing that I found not to my liking was the end was a little creepy-sappy, but once you see it... you'll know what I mean.

enjoy!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Softcore Zombie Porn, January 20, 2007

By 

Madelyn Pryor "Goblyn Queen" (Mesa, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Masters of Horror - John Mcnaughton - Haeckel's Tale (DVD)

Haeckle's Tale has an impressive pedigree behind it. Clive Barker is one of the horror gods, a twisted mind that has brought us a 1000 dark horrors including Hellraiser and Nightbreed. He also wrote the Books of Blood, check those out for a scary read. However, John McNaughton is responsible for `gems' like Wild Things (yuck!). Unfortunately, it is his influence that is felt more than Barker's.

What you're left with is Haeckle's Tale about a young doctor, overly influenced by Frankenstein, who wants to bring the dead back to life. Frustrated by attempts using science that fail, he instead finds himself trapped in the realm of necromancy. The movie could have been good had it perused this path, but instead it took a left turn at Albuquerque, as Bugs Bunny would say.

From there, it jumps to soft core zombie porn, almost as if this movie was made with the premise of "Let's through together a little quick plot and then have a really hot actress have sex with a zombie or two". The framing sequence makes no sense, especially one at the end.

I love Masters of Horror, but this is one of the most disappointing. Instead of wasting your money on this, get Fair Haired Child instead, which is the best of the series. Buy Haeckle's Tale only if you're completing your set, but don't expect to be scared or overly entertained.

Recommended for completists only.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best episodes of the series, September 26, 2008

By 

N. Durham "Big Evil" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Masters of Horror - John Mcnaughton - Haeckel's Tale (DVD)

Based on a Clive Barker story and originally slated to be directed by George Romero, Haeckel's Tale ended up being helmed by Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer director John McNaughton, and you may not even know the difference upon viewing. Haeckel's Tale revolves around a nineteenth century medical student (Derek Cecil) who aims to learn a way of re-animating the dead before embarking on a trip to visit his terminally ill father. His journey leads him to encounter a necromancer (Jon Polito) and a couple (Tom McBeath and the gorgeous Leela Savasta); all of whom share a horrible secret that you will have to see to believe. Haeckel's Tale is a nasty, sexy, and bloody affair to be sure, and combined with the hammy performances and dynamite ending, ranks as one of the best episodes of Masters of Horror. All in all, Haeckel's Tale is an inventive treat that definitely deserves a look if you're a zombie fan, even if Masters of Horror isn't usually your thing.