As the name implies, most episodes feature a different monster with which the story was concerned,[4][5] from the animatronic puppet of a fictional children's television program to mutated, weapon-wielding lab rats.

[5] Each episode is a standalone tale, and feature a variety of monsters from vicious man-eating plants to friendly aliens from outer space.

Producer/creator Richard P. Rubinstein said he wanted the show to be "a mixture of fun and scare", and for the monsters to be creatures of fantasy and fairy tales rather than more realistic menaces such as serial killers.

[3] Richard P. Rubinstein had grown frustrated that while his company Laurel Productions' show Tales from the Darkside got good reviews, praise tended to focus on the stories and acting, with almost no mention of the makeup and special effects.

[3] The show's stable of directors included Bette Gordon, Ernest D. Farino, Gerald Cotts (directing as "Jerry Smith") and Jeffrey Wolf.