Music Box of Horrors 2026!

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Okay Music Box fans… pay attention to this! The Music Box has announced the date for this year’s Music Box of Horrors, which will be on Saturday, October 24th, from noon to noon on Sunday. Tickets for this event will go on sale at noon on Thursday, June 11th. Now last year, the whole marathon sold out in a little over 24 hours! So, if you have any inkling to make it to this year’s marathon, I would set your clocks, alarms, computers, or whatever else you need to remind you to order your tickets once they do go on sale. Otherwise, when you see all the amazing titles they are going to be screening this year, you might be a little bummed.

Speaking of titles, they have announced 3 of them so far. They are Amityville II: The Possession (1982), Black Magic with Buddha (1983), and The German Chainsaw Massacre!

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DtH Episode 123 – Jean Rollin

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The Shiver of the Vampire (1972), Lips of Blood (1975), and The Living Dead Girl (1982)

The films created by director Jean Rollin are unlike anything else in the history of cinema. If you make your way into his incredible filmic world, you will be entranced by its beauty, cinematic landscapes, and unique horrors. And the more you venture down this path, the more you’ll start to pick up on repeating themes and motifs. Like Rollin, liminality, memory and nostalgia, families, surrealism and expressionism, might become your obsessions- they were certainly his.

If it is carefully constructed plots, realistic storylines, and deeply developed characters that you are searching for, then Rollin probably isn’t for you. But if you want the unique, the obsessive, the utterly gorgeous? Then you must dive into Rollin’s work if you’ve never stepped into that sea. And if you’ve been here before? Well, then there is no time like the present to walk slowly through the surf, exploring the past and finding landmarks jutting up just past the beach like forlorn teeth in a skull being beaten by the waves of memory.

Films mentioned in this episode:

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George Eastman – Rest in Peace

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While his real name was Luigi Montefiori, most everyone knew him as George Eastman. Or maybe his huge screen presence, no matter if it was a horror film, action, western, or even post-apocalyptic film, when he came onscreen, you recognized him. Eastman started in the film industry as an actor in the mid ’60s, appearing in 60 productions, in about every genre from westerns including a few Django films, the giallo, post-apocalyptic features, and of course, horror. It wasn’t too long in his career before he added screenwriter to his list of credits, writing over 50 features, including The Great Alligator (1979), Antrophophagus (1980), and Michele Soavi’s StageFright (1987). He worked a lot with cult director Joe D’Amato aka Aristide Massaccesi, writing for him, as well as acting in a bunch of his titles. He would even step behind the camera to director 2 features, Metamorphosis (1980) & 2020 Texas Gladiators (1983).

But it came out a few days ago that we had lost this massive talent, who passed away back in March, at the age of 83. And when I say “massive”, I mean the fact that he was 6′ 9″ feet tall! But his contribution to the horror / cult / western genre is just as massive. While nobody is going to claim his work was Oscar worthy, most of what he was involved with was entertaining, and memorable. And at the end of the day, that is what it is all about, isn’t it?

Our thoughts go out to his friends and family. Rest in peace, Luigi. You will always be remembered.

Mystery Photo 5-25

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Today is a day of remembrance of those that gave up their lives protecting our country and should never be forgotten. To honor our movies that show this, we thought we’d go that route as well. But first, let’s get to last week’s photo. It was from Doctor Blood’s Coffin (1961), which has been a favorite of mine since I finally got a chance to see it when I got a bootleg VHS years ago. I had seen photos of this film through the years in reference books, which made the movie look damn cool, not to mention always in black and white, so I had no idea it was actually in color! When I finally got to see it, it didn’t disappoint. Granted, with Hazel Court in there, I’m sure that helped a bit! Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Dave Fronto, Kevin Hart, Bob Hartman, Doug Lamoreux, Erik Martin, Charles Miller, Lee Nattrass, Bryan Senn, and Todd Warren. Well done, fellas!

Take a look at this week’s photo to see if you can recognize this shot from a movie dealing with the horrors of war, both real and fantastic. Just remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And Good Luck!

New Books from McFarland

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Even though money is tighter and tighter these days, it doesn’t stop me from adding more books to my want list for the Kryptic Library. Browsing through McFarland’s website, I found 4 titles that I will need to add at some point.

I’ve been a fan of director Jim Mickle ever since I saw his first feature film, Mulberry St. (2006), but then even more so with his follow up, Stake Land (2010). He’s only worked on 5 feature films and a couple of series, but I’ve really enjoyed everything I’ve seen. Now coming later this year, is Jim Mickle’s World: Critical Commentary and Interviews on the Films and Television Series by Ernie Rockelman, priced at $39.95. I know Ernie from his Rondo Award winning work in HorrorHound Magazine so it’s great to see friends continuing to contribute to everyone’s horror education! I can’t wait add this to my library, dig into the book, which I know in turn will want me to revisit Mickel’s films.

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Mystery Photo 5-18

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Is it fall yet? I know some out there wait for the summer, but I am not one of those. Spending most of the day yesterday standing out in bright and sunny 85-degree weather is not my favorite thing to do. So yes, I am anxiously waiting for September / October to get here. But that’s not why we’re here, to hear my bitch about the heat, is it? Our photo from last week was from the Polish film Demon, a unique take on the legend of the dybbuk, from director Marcin Wrona. Sad to say he committed suicide while this film was in competition in the Gdynia Polish Film Festival. A great lost to the world of filmmaking. The following sent in the correct answer: Aaron AuBuchon, Chris Dyer, Henry Lester, Erik Martin, Chris Richmond, and Rich Sweet. Well done.

Our next photo might be a little easier, but it has always been a favorite of mine, always remember seeing a great photo from the film, and for years thinking it was actually a black and white film! But take a look and see if you can recognize this little classic. Just remember to send in your guess to me via email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

Ann Robinson – Rest in Peace

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It has just come out that actress Ann Robinson, most known for her role in The War of the Worlds (1953) had passed away last September, which has been recently announced by her granddaughter. As a child, that movie was one of high fascination and terror. I just loved the look of the spaceships (mainly because they were different than the typical ‘flying saucers’) and the sounds they made. But the scene where we scene the Martian creature duck behind some bushes terrifying me. No idea why because we get a much better look at the creature a few minutes later, but it still did some major damage to my brain!

But as I always say, because of this wonderful picture she worked on over 70 years ago, she will always be remembered. Our thoughts go out to her friends and family.

Carpenter Fest 2 at the Midway Drive-In

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While last night / this morning is still a bit of a blur, we were at the Midway Drive-In yesterday for their From Dusk to Dawn Carpenter Fest 2, where they screened They Live (1988), The Fog (1980), Escape from New York (1981), and In the Mouth of Madness (1994). And what a night it was.

Setting up there as a vendor is not an easy task, especially for some that don’t particularly like being outside in the sun. The things we do for our passions, huh? The temps were in the mid ‘80s with a lot of sun, and you could feel it. Being there around noon to start getting set up, right in the middle of the heat index, it takes its toll on your body. But for events like this, I will be more than welcome to go out of my comfort zone, and I’ll gladly continue to do it.

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DtH Episode 122 – Dario Argento’s Three Mothers Trilogy

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Suspiria (1977), Inferno (1980), and Mother of Tears (2007)

There are very few horror fans out there that do not know about Dario Argento’s work, and maybe mainly for the giallo-style films he’s known for. He never wandered into supernatural horror too often in his filmography, but when he did, like all of his films, he made it his own. After helping define what a giallo is with Deep Red (1975), he switched gears and gave us Suspiria, showing us violence through a blinding use of color and surrounded by an intense soundtrack that is pounding through the speakers. It looked like no film we’d really seen before. Then he continued this storyline of the dreaded Three Mothers with his film Inferno three years later, which gave us even more info on these wicked witches. We’d have to wait another 27 years before we got the final entry, Mother of Tears. Say what you will about any or all of these features, but they are all Dario Argento.

In this episode, we’re going to take a look at each of the three films, and Three Mothers, as well as the differences between the three films. We all have our favorite of the trilogy, but hopefully you’ll be able to see something in all three that maybe you missed out in previous viewings. So, join us in our little study group, as we learn more about Mater Suspiriorum, Mater Tenebrarum, and Mater Lachrymarum. But a word of caution… they don’t like people knowing about them, so be warned.

Films mentioned in this episode:

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Jack Taylor – Rest in Peace

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I saw the news online this morning that cult actor Jack Taylor has passed away this morning at the age of 99 years old. Talk about one hell of a career! He worked with so many directors from big Hollywood names to running the gambit of cult directors known for the horror genre. From John Milius, Roman Polanski, Ridley Scott and Milos Forman to Jesús Franco, Amando de Ossorio, José Ramón Larraz, Juan Piquer Simón and Paul Naschy, he did amazing work and in just about every sub-genre there was. You may not recognize his name right away, but one look at those amazing glassy blue eyes, or the trademark mustache he had, you knew him when he showed up on screen.

While American born, once he started acting, he moved and worked all over the world. He moved to Mexico early in his career, picking up the language pretty easily. He would appear in Nostradamus and the Destroyer of Monsters and Genii of Darkness, both in 1962, before then moving to Madrid. There he would work several times with Paul Naschy, Jesús Franco, and Amando de Ossorio, and many others. When you saw his name in the credits, you knew it was going to be worth your time.

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