Classic Halloween Tale to Tell: The Cursed Tape

This story has been circulated for many years. It was told before the films, The Ring and its Japanese predecessor, Ringu were released. It is often told on college campuses.

Have you heard about the videotape * that will kill you within 48 hours of watching it? Last year several college girls spent Friday night partying together. One was sent to the local rental store to pick up a scary movie. She asked the store clerk for a recommendation. While this woman was in the back the girl noticed a tape sitting on the front counter that had a strange title. Just as she was picking it up the clerk returned and requested she not touch it.

When she asks about the title the clerk shrugged and told her it is just a “home movie.” She then rented one of the films the woman brought from the back. But as the clerk retrieves her change she slips the other tape into her bag. Once back at the party her peers chastise her for swiping the tape but then they request she play it for them.

But when she puts the tape in the machine and pushes play the lights flicker and the power goes out but the television stays on. The video is of a woman being burned because she practices witchcraft and hoodoo. As the girls watch this she eerily looks out at them and utters a curse. She states that whomever witnesses her death will die within two days.

Unnerved, the girls watch as the videotape starts to make skipping sounds and then it just cuts off. The girls at first laugh at it but as one by one they start to die panic overtakes the remaining girls. As promised they all die by Monday. The graphic descriptions of the accidents that cause their deaths vary with each telling.

* This story was told before DVDs.

Classic Halloween Tale to Tell: The Town Drunk

Late one dark and snowy night just outside Doncaster in Yorkshire, England Tom the town drunk was told for the third time by the bar keep that it was closing time. He awoke briefly and then laid his head back down on the sticky table. 

Impatient, the keeper hauled him up bodily and threw him out the pub’s door. The cold moist air hit his bones, shivering he rubbed his arms and stamped his feet. His brain still hazy he set out for home. But instead of turning right he turned left.

Completely turned around now he found himself meandering amongst the tombstones in the church graveyard. The wind whipped around him as he grabbed his thin coat closer to his body. 

Tom hearing what he thought was his name being called turned around but no one was there. He shook his head trying to clear his thoughts. Again he heard a voice calling his name. He stepped forward and tripped over a freshly dug pile of dirt.

His struggled to regain his balance but as he feet sunk into the loose soil he lost his balance and fell backwards into a deep gaping hole. 

Now lying prone in pitch darkness he heard his name spoken once more. As his eyes slowly adjusted to the dark he realized he must have fallen into a grave. He spotted a figure close by in the darkness with him. 

Thinking it must be Satan come for him he panicked as he heard his name called out yet again. He scrambled to his feet backing away from the figure. He grabbed at the dirt trying to climb up and out.

The dark figure stated, “ You can’t get out.”

Then he heard a moan. Tom shouted out in pure terror and leapt straight up in the air. He found himself gripping the edge of the grave with his hands. Desperate and afraid for his life he hauled himself up and ran home as fast as his shaking legs would take him.

Inside the dark hole, his neighbor Billy sighed in resignation. He, too, had fallen into the grave that night. He was relieved to see his old friend. But he wondered why Tom had not responded to his calls. 

When Tom landed at his feet he thought that with two they could manage to climb out. Now he had to wait until morning for the gravedigger to bring him a ladder.