Monthly Archives: December 2022

Robert Tayman – Rest In Peace

by in Rest in Peace and tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Robert Tayman was an actor that didn’t appear in too many horror films, but a few that are worth mentioning. He appeared in Pete Walker’s House of Whipcord (1974), and even Hammer’s strange Sci-Fi / Western Moon Zero Two (1969). But it really his performance as the vampire Count Mitterhaus in Hammer’s Vampire Circus (1972) that most Hammer and horror fans remember him by. While we haven’t seen anything official announced, I’ve seen a couple of posts from reliable sources that Mr. Tayman has recently passed away, at the age of 80 years old.

His performance as Mitterhaus is a bit over-the-top, but that is one of the reasons I’ve always enjoyed it, as well as the film itself. It’s a style that I’m not sure we’ll see anytime soon, but as a young horror fan, I thought the film, and the vampires throughout the story were just so damn slick and cool.

Our thoughts go out to his friends and family in this difficult time, but know that because of his performance in Vampire Circus, along with Count Mitterhaus, his life will go on for us fan.

Mystery Photo 12-5-22

by in Movie Events and tagged

Welcome to our first Mystery Photo for December! That means we’ll be in 2023 before you know it! Better get those last-minute films in to make it on this year’s list! But let’s get down to business. Last week’s photo was from José Ramón Larraz 1973 film Scream…and Die, also known as The House that Vanished. Which, depending on which version you have, it could be cut quite a bit. I know the Blu-ray release that came out here in the states is definitely cut. The copy I have from an old VHS tape under the Scream…and Die title looks to be the full version, though the print is a little less than stellar. But still worth seeing if you’re a fan of Larraz’s early work. Definitely repeating the sleaze and dark tone that he had been doing so far in his career. Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Kevin Hart, Gary McGuire, and Todd Warren. Well done!

Okay, throwing everyone a bone as an early holiday gift with this week’s photo. Should be pretty easy. Or is it? Maybe I’m trying to make throw you off by making you think it is easy, when in fact, it’s an obscure film only shown in one theater in outer Mongolia back in the ’40s, that reported made people go mad. Or not. Either way, take a look and see what you think. Just send me your guess, in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. As always, Good Luck!

To-See List!

by in Misc. Ramblings | 6 Comments

Around this time of year, everyone is making their Best Of lists for the last year, myself included. But here’s an idea . . . how about you make a list of films that you will watch next year. There are more than a few books (some pictured below) that give you a list of films you must see before you die or the Top 100 in whatever genre out there, plus there are plenty of those lists online if you just google it. Or, since everyone will be posting their lists within the next month, you could even go through those and see which ones you haven’t seen. For me, usually when I go through there, I’ve seen quite a few, but there is usually a title or two that I’ve never gotten around to. So, while I’m working on my Best Viewings for this year, I am also compiling a list of films that I plan to knock out in 2023.

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