A graveyard, a grave robber and lots of rats.

The second curiosity in Guillermo del Toro’s cabinet, is entitled Graveyard Rats and let’s just say the episode does exactly what it says on the tin – or rather the coffin – in quite an in-your-face way (so to speak).

There is nothing subtle about this instalment. I generally prefer my horror implicit and lurking in the shadows, but director and screenwriter Vincenzo Natali’s episode checks in at a pacey, claustrophobic 38 minutes and successfully batters the audience with a full-on horror nightmare.

The production values are good and David Hewlett as Masson allows us to have a modicum of sympathy for the hapless grave robber.

Verdict: Graveyard Rats is a solid, efficient bedtime chiller, although, if, like my other half, you really, really don’t like rats, you might want to watch the news for a bit of cheery distraction before turning out the light. 7/10

Martin Jameson

www.ninjamarmoset.com