User Reviews

Here's my summary of this episodes.

Two women meet each other in a museum so one can give the other a magic amulet. Turns out they're both witches with an agreement for each on to hang on to the amulet for a year so one can use magic but other has to live without it.

When I first saw the description of this episode, I didn't think it sounded very good, but when I watched it I was surprised it was better than it sounded.

Maybe not the best in the series and the surprise ending isn't very satisfying, but you probably won't regret watching this one.

Uneventful episode of Tales from the Darkside about a reluctant witches' pact is a serious yawner due to nothing happening worthwhile. Two women (one who has suffered a string of rotten luck while the other is having a time of prosperity) meet at a museum featuring items dealing in witchcraft, and there exists a duel over an amulet with special powers that they both lust over. We are taken back centuries prior to this modern '86 meeting to see them during the Colonial days of Salem Witch Trials where the two women first met. Sally Grace is the haggard, misanthropic Mary Hobbs while Linda Thorson as Elizabeth is blessed with looks and charisma. Awaiting certain death while in a medieval prison for witchcraft, the two strike up an annual deal, as Elizabeth was supposedly drowned in a bucket of water by Mary in a scramble in the hay for the amulet, refusing to be the love partner for a demon, instead opting to return to the land of the living on her own accord. Meanwhile, the amulet remains in Elizabeth's possession, and she is willing to share it with Mary on the agreement that she is taught how to use it for magic purposes. A ton of chatter happens between the two, with a lot of it dealing specifically in the ladies at each other's throats, yelling and insulting. This is all about getting access to the amulet and exploiting its power for the benefits it provides. Two locations for this episode (the museum possibly redressed into the chamber trapping them in the past), and a lot of antagonism between the parties. If you find the two actresses fun, then this might be entertaining. I just found them tiresome. There is a clever development in the character of Elizabeth that Mary doesn't anticipate...Elizabeth is cunning, indeed.

Tales from the Darkside: Auld Acquaintances starts as two 300 year old Witches named Mary (Sally Gracie) & Elizabeth (Linda Thorson) turn up for their annual meeting each year at the dungeon where they first meet which has now been turned into a modern day museum. Each year they meet to exchange a magical talisman which gives whoever owns it all sorts of magical powers, however Mary has plans to alter the agreement to her permanent benefit...

Episode 18 from season 3 this Tales from the Darkside story originally aired in the US during March 1987, directed by Richard Friedman one has to say that Auld Acquaintances wasn't my cup of tea at all. The script by Edithe Swensen tells the rather dull tale of two Witches & their really rather dull argument & dislike of each other. This one didn't grab me at all, at even twenty odd minutes in length it felt too long & frankly bored me. Even at only twenty odd minutes it felt padded & next to nothing happens before a completely forgettable ending which isn't even much of a twist.

Auld Acquaintances seems to have had an even lower budget than usual & that's saying something, it's set entirely within the same single set location & features only two actor's. There's just not enough here to sustain twenty minutes & there's nothing I would describe as horror either. The acting is OK but nothing amazing.

Auld Acquaintances is yet another totally forgettable & throughly dull Tales from the Darkside episode that has practically zero going for it. There's no horror, no effects & the absolute minimum of story. I just can't see anything here to entertain.

Bitter old hag Mary Hobbs (a nicely sour portrayal by Sally Gracie) and the much younger and more attractive, yet still quite wicked Elizabeth Eaton (sharply played with infectious zeal by Linda Thorson) are a pair of ancient witches who fight over a precious amulet throughout the centuries that's the key to their magical powers. Director Richard Friedman, working from a witty script by Edithe Swensen, relates the enjoyable story at a snappy pace, presents an amusing sense of spot-on tart humor, and milks the fierce rivalry between the two radically contrasting main characters for all it's worth. This lively chamber piece further benefits from the spirited acting and spiky chemistry between the two excellent leads. In addition, the simple effects do the trick while the period sets and costumes are pretty impressive. In addition, there's a sound theme about how appearances can be deceiving as well as a satisfying, if rather predictable, twist at the end. A neat show.