When I was young, my mother had me read an abridged collection of Edgar Allan Poe's works. I remember they were part of the Great American Classics series, and they nestled in my childhood bookshelf between The War of the Worlds and the Hardy Boys mysteries.

I remember reading them and empathizing with the idea of the fear I was supposed to feel, but very much not being afraid. As if I was nodding at someone who finished telling an abbreviated joke and replying flatly: “Oh, yeah, I see where you were going there, very funny.” That essence is the essence of Extraordinary Tales, Raul Garcia's animated collective sample plate in honor of Edgar Allan Poe.

There must be applause to Christopher Lee for his masterful narration and last living role (he died in June), a performance fine enough to warrant an audience for the entire movie. Also a nod to the "Red Masque of Death: sequence for cleverly using none of Poe's words, rather adapting the invoked image of Death in the poem (easily the most frightening moment on screen).

Raul Garcia's animations of the five stories are diverse and apt for the material. There is a surreality in the style that lends itself to Poe's work, and as stand-alone pieces, they are incredibly fun. Which is, in many ways, the whole point of horror.