Author Archives: Jon Kitley

FAB Press Releases Fisher Biography

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Way back in July of 2020, we posted about FAB Press announcement that they would be publishing Tony Dalton’s authorized biography of the incredibly underrated director Terence Fisher, best known for the work he did for Hammer Films. Well now it is at the printers and should be released next month. But you still have time to pre-order it and get a signed edition! The price is £29.99 (which right now is about $42), but we all know the beautiful work that FAB puts into their books, so it will be worth every penny. Not only that, but this hardcover edition is over 500 pages, almost that many illustrations, and is the first authorized biography of the man who helped start Hammer in their reign of terror that lasted over three decades.

Starting in the business as an editor in the mid-30s, he started directing in 1948 with A Song for Tomorrow. But in 1952, he started his association with Hammer Films, directing the crime drama Man Bait. He would dabble in science fiction with titles like Four Sided Triangle and Spaceways (both 1953), but it was in 1957 when he directed Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee in The Curse of Frankenstein that made the world take notice.

I can’t wait to dig into this book and if you’re a serious fan of Hammer Films, this really is a must. To get your pre-order in, just click HERE to get to FAB Press’ website.

Little Shoppe of Horrors Takes on Dracula

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Orders are now being taken for the latest issue of the magazine that has been running to close to half a century! Issue # 46 will be covering Hammer’s Dracula (1958), or as known in the states here, The Horror of Dracula, with the making of article by Bruce G. Hallenbeck. There will also be a tribute to Barbara Shelley, the Making of the Men Who Made Hammer series for Shout Factory, and so much more.

If you’re not familiar with this amazing magazine, I couldn’t urge you enough to look into it. If you love Hammer and British horror in general, there is no better magazine than this one. Always filled with amazing articles, incredible artwork, and so much information. Once you start, you’ll be like me and be hooked!

For all the ordering information, just head over to their website HERE.

Mystery Photo 5-3

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Another month gone, and hopefully another month closer to whatever our new reality will be. It’s been so long since we’ve been at a convention, it is going to be strange to go back. But we’re anxiously waiting for it to happen. Hopefully all goes well and we’ll be at Flashback Weekend to have a much needed return. Fingers crossed. But until then, let’s get down to the reason we’re here. Our photo last week was from Terror-Creatures from the Grave (1965), starring Barbara Steele. Not as many correct answers as last week, but it was a little more challenging. So kudos out to the following for sending in the correct answer: Kevin Hart, Bryan Martinez, and Bryan Senn. Well done.

For this week’s photo, we’re a little closer to home, if you needed a hint. Take a peek and see if you recognize this one. Just send us an email (to jon@kitleyskrypt.com) and as always, good luck!

Kryptic Army Mission: May 2021 – Horror in Space

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On May 14th, 1973, NASA launched the first United States space station, called Skylab. This was occupied by a series of 3-man crews for about 6 months, before it was left unmanned. By 1979, the station’s orbit was decaying, meaning it would soon fall back to Earth, which it did on the 11th of that month, crashing across the Indian Ocean and western Australia. I actually remember when this happened because my sister was terrified and convinced it was going to hit her house and made her kids sleep in the basement, just in case! Good times.

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Friday Favorites: Underrated Sci-Fi / Horror

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Yes, the Science Fiction genre has films that, while are horror, breaches into some strange themes and ideas, that could put them in what most would call the Sci-Fi sub-genre, though that is an argument for the after-hours conversations at the conventions when they start back up! But we have the mad scientists, ones that deal with time travel, biology gone wrong, and a whole mess of other things, but the intent is still to scare you. And like any sub-sub-genre, we all know that there are plenty of titles that amazes us that not more people know and talk about. And that is what we’re looking for here.

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Howlin’ Wolf Gives Us The Prowler

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I’m always excited when someone decides to release the soundtrack from a film that you wouldn’t expect to ever see happen. Well thanks to Howling Wolf Records, you will now have the chance to get a release of the 1981 slasher film The Prowler!

With the flood of slasher films coming out in the wake of Friday the 13th, Joseph Zito’s film about a revenge killer is one of the better ones, especially due to Tom Savini’s makeup effects. But Richard Einhorn’s score also helped. And now for the first time, the complete score will be available on CD, with over an hour’s worth of music! It has been assembled and masters for CD from the 15 ips master tape, and will contain 35 tracks, liner notes by Ian Zapczynski, and a 16-page full color booklet.

For all the ordering information, head over to Howlin’ Wolf Records by clicking HERE.

Mystery Photo 4-26

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A little late today, but here it is none the less. Our last Mystery Photo for April. That means the year is close to be a quarter way through. Hopefully this is putting us a little closer to getting back to a least some what of a resemblance of normality. One can only hope. But let us get to the business at hand. I was pleasantly surprised to see the number of correct answers for last week’s photo. I think we’re on a roll. I’ll have to do something about that! The film, of course, was from Amicus’ From Beyond the Grave (1974). But kudos to the following for sending the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Cate Cameron, Chris Dyer, Dave Fronto, Kevin Hart, Troy Howarth, Doug Lamoreux, Gary McGuire, Charles Miller, Lee Nattrass, Bryan Senn, Michael Shields, Mark Turner, and Todd Warren. Well done to the lot of you!

This week’s photo might not be as easy. Don’t want to get you people think I’m going too soft on the trivia! So take a look below and see if you can spot where this little pic is from. Just remember to email your guess to us (jon@kitleyskrypt.com). Good Luck!

Friday Favorites: Underrated Unusual Monsters

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Our series of Friday Favorites dedicated to Underrated Films continues this week with the … unusual. We’re talking monsters, but not the usual fare, like vampires or werewolves, but one where someone came up with something pretty creative, such as a half-man / half jellyfish creature in Sting of Death (1966), or the chlorophyll-blooded monster from Mad Doctor of Blood Island (1968)? But then is one that you just love but is just not getting the love that you think it deserves. Now these don’t need to be cheesy or schlocky, those were the first two that came to mind. But even something like the film Splinter (2008), which had a very unique and amazing monster in there, not to mention being a great little film. Remember though, we’re talking about UNDERRATED monsters, so as original and unique Alien might be, it definitely ain’t underrated. So dig deep here, people.

So let’s here those titles! Give us some movies to add to our watch list!

Movie Review: Astro Zombies

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(1969)
Directed by Ted V. Mikels
Screenplay by Ted V. Mikels and Wayne Rodgers
Starring John Carradine, Wendell Corey, Tom Pace, Tura Satana, Joan Patrick,
Rafael Campos, Vince Barbi, Joe Hoover, Victor Izay

I first met Ted V. Mikels at the very first Cinema Wasteland, back in Sept. of 2000, where he was set up next to us in the vendor room. I knew of his work, from seeing trailers, some other clips, and seeing him in some documentaries, but my appreciation of his really developed after that first meeting, since he was so honored to be there to meet his fans. Every time someone came up, he would stand up and greet them with a handshake and honest hello. I mention this only because to really appreciate his work, you need to know and understand the man. Always on the low budget side of filmmaking, Mikels had that passion for the industry. He knew how to do just about everything in the business, from writing to directing to editing and more. Sure, some may say that he wasn’t that great in any of those duties, but I still say for any filmmaker to create just one film that has lasted the test of time, let alone many of them, that is a true filmmaker. And Mikels is definitely one of them.

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Mystery Photo 4-19

by in Mystery Photo

Welcome back to another glorious Monday! Hope everyone had a decent weekend and are all excited about getting to the new week!!! Yeah … same here. But at least we have a new Mystery Photo, right? But first, let’s discuss last week’s photo, a little tribute to the late Giannetto De Rossi. It was from Antonio Margheriti’s 1980 epic Cannibal Apocalypse, which was also known as Cannibals in the Streets, Invasion of the Fleshhunters, or more than a few other titles. Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Kevin Hart, Troy Howarth, Gary McGuire, Lee Nattrass, James Schmeichel, Kristin Wicks. Well done!

Okay, so this week’s photo is below. Take a peek into the photo, but don’t stare too long or you might see someone staring back! As always, just send your answer to us in an email (jon@kitleyskrypt.com) if you think you might know it. Good Luck!