The fine folks behind the Super-Horror-Rama events held at the Music Box Theatre every month continue to program some really interesting titles. Last this month, they screen two films that take place in a movie theater, with Popcorn and Demons! Next month, they are doing it again, except moving from a theater to trains!
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Frankenstein Created Woman (1967), Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969), Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974)
Continuing our quest to get through the rest of Hammer’s Frankenstein films which starred Peter Cushing, we cover the last three titles that Hammer made. Cushing loved to play this character, and he’s done it like no one ever had, or ever has. Along with the screenwriters, Cushing made this character his own and really made him the real monster in this series.
While these films might be well covered by others, sometimes we forget just how good some of these are, as well as what we might be missing the first time or two that we watched it. And as we’ve mentioned many times before, watching them in sequence in a relatively short time, more things can come to light.
Films mention in this episode:
Continue readingSee that? We’ve made it through the first week post Halloween! Well done! Are you ready for another Turkey? But let us review last week first. This epic was from 1979 and simple called Bog, starring Gloria DeHaven, Marshall Thompson, Aldo Ray, and Leo Gordon. While I’m not a fan of watching an old couple making out (until I realize I’m the same age!), this is a fun little movie with some actors that might have been taking whatever work they could get. But that doesn’t mean they are phoning it in. And if you’re not familiar with any of these names, I would definitely look up Leo Gordon, because he had a very interesting life. But let’s get to the scholars that sent in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Steve Archacki, Kevin Hart, and Michael Pniewski. Well done!
Now on to this week’s Turkey Photo. Take a good look and see if you can recognize this one. Just remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And most of all, Good Luck!
While it might have something to do with the fact that I’m an older horror fan, but there is something special about going back and watching the classic films from the beginning of the golden age of the horror film. And we’re all familiar with the Universal classics that really helped create that first big impact, but they weren’t the only studio trying to make their own footprint in that horror heritage. While they might not have made as big of a footprint, studios like Warner Bros. and MGM were making some serious efforts at the same time. And some of these definitely should be held up in the same respect as some of those Universal entries.
Thanks to Warner Archives you can add 6 of these titles to your collection, all in one set! They have released the Hollywood Legends of Horror Collection that features Blu-ray releases of the following films: Doctor X (1932), The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932), Mad Love (1935), Mark of the Vampire (1935), The Devil Doll (1936), and The Return of Doctor X (1939). The set retails for only $59.99, so that really is about $10 a title. But honestly, the films alone are must for any horror fans movie library.
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…and the Mind on Fire!
One of my favorite things about the conventions that I attend every year is the conversations. Not only am I having the opportunity to talk about the genre I love so much, but it is those conversations that can spark new thoughts, new ideas, or new ways to think about a film that I never had before. Often, it has made me want to bust a movie out and rewatch because of a simple discussion with someone.
The same goes for the variety of riches that we have with DVD and Blu-ray releases of films, usually filled with commentaries, interviews, or features about the making of the film, or maybe those behind the films. The intake of information we receive, some of it we might have known, or maybe knew but had forgotten, or simply had no clue about, it aways gets those gears moving.
Continue readingThat’s right, just another 362 days until Halloween! But as we know, that doesn’t mean we can’t stop doing what we do all the time, which is to continue to enjoy the horror genre, watch more movies, learn more about them, and just have fun. Of course, before we get to this week’s photo and theme for the month, let’s talk about last week’s photo. It was from Robert Wise’s 1945 film The Body Snatcher, starring the incredible Boris Karloff, in what many think (me included) was one of his best performances. Not only is it pretty scary, but Karloff proves once again that he was an amazing actor and did not have to be covered in makeup to send chills up your spine. Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Steve Archacki, Chris Dyer, Dave Fronto, Kevin Hart, Doug Lamoreux, Michael Pniewski, Bryan Senn, and Todd Warren. Well done!
Since now that Halloween just ended, that means November is the month to celebrate the Turkey. Not talking about bad movies, because we all know that the only bad movie is a boring one. And a Turkey is anything but boring. If you want some examples of what I consider a Turkey, head over to the link on the right, to our Turkey Day Marathon writeups and that will give you plenty of examples. So, for this month, each of our photos is going to be a Turkey. Take a peek and then send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!
While usually Little Shoppe of Horrors covers Hammer films, they occasionally cover films outside of that famous studio. Their newest issue is a prime example of that, yet still staying over in the U.K. With issue # 52, they cover the 1961 film Gorgo, where they give their version of a Kaiju film and do a damn fine job of it too! Directed by Eugène Lourié and produced the famous King Brothers, this new issue is a whopping 270 pages! Pretty damn big for a “magazine” but it shows you the kind of depth and detail that editor Richard Klemensen and LSoH are known for.
You’ll get to read production information, comments and stories from crew members and even from Maury, Frank, & Hymie King. Plus, you’ll also learn more about the King Brothers themselves, from when their last name was Kozinsky, from having some ties to gangsters before moving into being some pretty famous independent film producers.
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As horror fans, we all know there are certain movies, actors, or anything under that umbrella that we can get a little obsessive over. For better or worse, it’s a little rabbit hole we go down, most of the time for the pure reason of just wanting to know as much as we can about a certain subject. Which is exactly what it seems author Nick Cato has done with his book, Dark Dreams: An Obsessive Look at Romano Scavolini’s Nightmare.
Nightmare (1981), one of the original titles on the Video Nasty lists in the UK, was one of those titles that seemed to be easy to find here in the states. Because of some of the gore, it became known as one of those flicks to watch because of just that. Even though the critics hated it, there were round-the-clock screenings in New York, as well as doing really well in video rentals. Word gets out quick amongst horror fans. But to superfan Cato, this film was much more. He spent the last 4 decades collecting and researching anything and everything he could find about this film, going to plenty of screenings, holding many interviews, and going through a ton of film reviews, most of which didn’t care too much for it, to say the least. The end result is this new book coming out from Headpress Books.
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This month has been a complete whirlwind, from conventions, a 24-hour movie marathon, 4 library lectures, as well as with all the regular real-life BS that everyone has to deal with. Trying to find to time to actually enjoy the month’s festivities can be a bit tough, while also trying to squeeze some movies whenever you can get a free 90-minutes! I always say at the end of each October, as tired and stressed as I might be, I have had an absolute blast and wouldn’t change a thing.
These are the choices we make. The choices may put extra work on our already full plate, but we do it anyway because it feeds our soul. We know we’re doing it for the right reasons and no matter how much work goes into it, when we look back and see all that we’ve done at the end of the month, you do get that sense of accomplishment.
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The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958), and The Evil of Frankenstein (1964)
What can you say about the Hammer Frankenstein films that hasn’t been said before?
Well, a lot, actually!
In 1957, a relatively small, mostly unknown studio made a film that would forever change horror and kick off a cycle of sensual, bloody, and atmospheric fright flicks that would dominate the genre for around twenty years. To say that The Curse of Frankenstein is a classic is almost like saying that water is wet, but it is also a film that lives up to its reputation. It and its sequels are films that not only deserve regular revisits, but they also belong in more modern conversations about horror. While nearly all the films shard crewmembers and all but one were directed by Terence Fisher, one constant defined the series: Peter Cushing’s mesmerizing take on Victor Frankenstein, equal parts gentleman and ghoul.
On this episode we look at the first three films in the Cushing Frankenstein cycle, and in a very real way, make a pilgrimage to one of horror’s holy places. We love these films, and we hope that either you do too, or that you will by the time you are done listening.
Films mentioned in this episode:
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