Monthly Archives: December 2022

New Book on London After Midnight

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One of the most sought after lost films, especially for horror fans, is the 1927 film London After Midnight, starring Lon Chaney as the strange and sharp-toothed vampire. Every few years, there are reports that it has been found, but nothing ever comes of it. While we still wait in hopes that one day, a complete print will be discovered.

Until then, we now have a new book by author and film historian Daniel Titley that delves into the film history, from the production, distribution, original critical reviews, which will include “a wide gallery of never-before-seen materials from stills, to rare lost newly-translated texts, to the early production documents, posters, and press-books.”

This 452-page hardcover book, priced at $46, just came out at the end of this year, but I know we’ll be adding it to our library. And at some point, we’ll be posting a review about it here. Not sure if that will happen before the film is eventually found, but we’ll see. In the meantime, if you’re a fan of Lon Chaney and this film, you may want to check this one out.

Ruggero Deodato – Rest in Peace

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The man that showed us the power of cinema, Ruggero Deodato, passed away yesterday at the age of 83. While he had directed 36 films, he worked in just about every genre out there. But it was his 1980 film Cannibal Holocaust that brought him international fame. While I am not a fan of it personally, no one could argue how powerful of a film it is. He would go on to direct other horror films such as Cut and Run (1984), Body Count (1986), and Phantom of Death (1987). In the last couple of decades, he was no stranger to the convention circuit, even here in the US, and always seemed to just love the attention. While his English wasn’t that great, he was extremely friendly and loved to meet his fans. You can tell that by the number of photos with fans that were posted on social media over the last few hours, with everybody saddened by the news.

But his fame and notoriety will continue to live on as long as people still talk Cannibal Holocaust, which they will for decades to come. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family during this difficult time. Rest in Peace.

Discover the Horror Podcast: Episode 33 – 2022 Wrap-Up

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Last year, in Episode 7, we went over our favorite films that we watched for the first time in 2021. Now remember that we consider it a new movie if you’re watching for the first time, whether it came out this year, or 50 years ago. To you, it is still a new movie. In this episode, we take a look at our top 3 pics of our Best Viewed films that we watched in 2022. Plus, we also go through some of the films that actually did come out in 2022.

We also want to say thanks to everyone that continues to support Discover the Horror, listening to each show, and any and all feedback that we get. Please keep it coming, whether it’s on social media, comments here on the site, we want to hear what you think. It means the world to us knowing that we’re helping fans, both old and new, from the novice to the more weathered viewer, learn and seek out some titles to watch, or maybe even think about ones that you do know a little differently. That has always been our goal, and so far, we think it’s working.

Before you hit play, make sure you get a pen and notebook, because I think you’re going to want to write down some of these titles mentioned here to seek out for yourself. Ready? See you on the other side!

Movies mentioned in this episode:

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January Giallo at the Music Box

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Back in January of this year, Chicago’s Music Box Theatre offered up a series of Italian films from the giallo sub-genre, giving fans a chance to see some amazing titles on the big screen. Next month, they are continuing that tradition, giving us 5 more titles, but not just from Italy this time, showing the international influence of this intriguing sub-genre. You’ll still get 3 titles from Italy, once again showcasing some of the best gialli from that country, but also one from Spain and even one from here in the US, starring a very famous actor/director. Check out the titles and the dates below and start making your plans. These will all be screening in the main theater, with 3 from 35mm and 2 from DCP. For all the latest info about this series, just click HERE.

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Mystery Photo 12-26

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Welcome to our last Mystery Photo for 2022. I’m hoping everyone survived their visit from Krampus. I know we did, and it was truly glorious! But let us not forget why we are here, to continue to put that grey matter to work on a little pictorial puzzle. While we did miss updating a new photo last week, we think this is a good one to end the year on. But before we get to that, last week’s photo was from the 1986 slasher film Evil Laugh, co-written by Steven Baio (yes, Scott’s brother) and Dominick Brascia, who directed as well. Brascia is most known to horror fans as playing Joey who meets a grisly end at the beginning of Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985). Evil Laugh was his directorial debut, which has been recently released on Blu-ray by Vinegar Syndrome. Not sure if I would recommend the film itself, but the print looks amazing. The only one to send in the correct answer was Hoby Abernathy, so congratulations to you, Hoby!

Okay, for our last pic of the year, we found one a little interesting. And nope, that it’s the Baby New Year either! Take a look and see what you think. Just remember to email us your guess, at jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

Vampire Cinema: The First Hundred Years

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Back in 2017, author and historian Christopher Frayling gave us Frankenstein: The First Two Hundred Years, giving us an amazing history lesson, filled with a ton of amazing photos and illustrations, on the story of Frankenstein. Now, Frayling is back to give us a look at the other classic monster, the vampire, in Vampire Cinema: The First Hundred Years, recently published by Reel Art Press back in October. Not sure how I missed this coming out, but better late than never, right?

With close to 300 pages, Frayling gives goes through the cinematic history of the vampire, starting with the one that started it all, F. W. Murnau’s Nosferatu, released in 1922. Filled with a ton of stills, posters, artworks, and pressbooks, this is another essential volume for fans of horror films, and especially fans of the vampire sub-genre. The price is $45, which may seem a little steep, but if this is anything like the Frankenstein volume, it is more than worth it since that is a beautiful coffee table book that will give you more than a few hours of fun paging through it, not to mention maybe even learning a thing or two about this popular sub-genre.

Wishing Everyone A Very Scary Axemass!

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I know there hasn’t been a lot of updates this month, but I’m working on getting that back to normal, with several updates a week. Been a strange month, with trying to get ready for the holidays, and now the lovely drop in temps here in the Midwest, making me finally put on a coat over my hoodie. But everyone at the Krypt is still alive and kickin’ and ready for the new year to start. I’ve also been working on my Year End Reviews which always takes a lot longer than I anticipate. But the work is there, and it is coming.

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Discover the Horror Podcast Episode 32 – Conventions: The Promoter!

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In our final episode in our Convention Trilogy, where we’ve already covered the fans and the dealers, we now take a step back even further to the ones that put on the show in the first place, the promoters. These are the people that rent the hotels and convention centers, get the guests, round up the vendors, do the advertising, promotions, all in the hopes in giving the fans that show up a good time with plenty to see and do. When things go wrong, they take the heat for it, but seldom get the credit when things go right, so we wanted to take a peek behind the curtain, as it were, and learn a little about what actually goes into putting on one of these conventions. To get the insight into that side of the conventions, we’ve invited Nathan Hanneman, editor in chief of HorrorHound Magazine and one of the main persons behind the Horrorhound Weekend conventions.

Invasion of Monster Bash!

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Next August, Monster Bash is invading The Palace Theatre in Canton, Ohio, for what is becoming their annual film fest. And this year, the theme is INVASION! They have 8 fantastic titles lined up over two days, featuring some of the best in sci-fi / horror, that you can see all of them for only $40! That’s only $5 a movie! Plus, there will be vendors there as well, as well as plenty of the Monster Bash fun. This is taking place on Aug. 18th & 19th, 2023. Below is the lineup for each day, so start making your plans!

Friday, August 18th

Invaders from Mars (1953)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
War of the Worlds (1953)

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Mystery Photo 12-12

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Welcome to another Monday Mystery Photo! Our last photo must have really stumped everyone because I only got one correct answer and that was from Hoby Abernathy. The photo was from Guillermo del Toro’s first film, Cronos (1992), which still remains one of my favorites.

But let’s not waste time and get to today’s photo. Might not be on the same quality as del Toro’s work, but I think it is an interesting shot, nonetheless. Take a look and see what you can come up with. As always, remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!