Author Archives: Jon Kitley

Book Review: Behind the Mask

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Behind the Mask: The Secrets of Hollywood’s Leading Creature Suit Performers
Published by BearManor Media, 2025. 308 pages.
By Joe Nazzaro

This was a tough review to write. There is so much information within these pages, on so many talented people working in the movie business that consistently create new characters to put on screen that just give us a sense of wonder. On more than one occasion, it had me busting out a movie to rewatch because of the information they go into on creating a creature suit and how they did it. Nazzaro covers a lot of different artists and designers, sculptors and painters, that really help make these movies what they are.

But here’s the part that gets me. The title of the book is about suit performers, but that is only a very small part of the book, talking to the actual performers. It is mainly on the effects people creating the suits, but very little time is given to the ones having to wear them. There is 20 pages spent discussing all the different characters in Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008), from the main characters to minor ones like Wink, the Angel of Death, and the legless goblin with a cart. Then when interviewing John Alexander who played that goblin character, as well as Johann Krauss, it’s only 6 pages. Alexander had played apes or gorillas in a few movies over the years, starting with the character of White Eyes in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan (1984), as well as the title character in Mighty Joe Young (1998). So, it’s a shame that we don’t get to hear more from him, as well as all of these other performers, which is what I assumed the book was about.

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Mystery Photo 3-9

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It’s funny with last week’s photo, which was from Amando de Ossorio’s The Ghost Galleon (1974) aka Horror of the Zombies, was actually supposed to be posted the previous week but didn’t because I was too sick! I had no clue that Vinegar Syndrome was going to announce their new 4K release of it the day before I posted it! I wish I could manipulate the world of 4K releases with my Mystery Photo pics! It was great to see the second of the four films to now get a 4K release, which means we’re halfway there! Kudos to the following for sending in the correct guess: Hoby Abernathy, Steve Archacki, Enai Aye, Chris Dyer, Dave Fronto, Kevin Hart, Erik Martin, and William Wilson. Well done, people!

Going back to the black and white classics this time out. Might be easy for some, but I will say while it has a great title, it’s not one that you see many talking about. So, let’s hope we can change that, shall we? Take a look and see if you can recognize where this shot is from. Just remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And most of all, Good Luck!

Movie Review: Salem’s Lot

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(1979)
Directed by Tobe Hooper
Starring Davil Soul, James Mason, Lance Kerwin, Bonnie Bedelia, Lew Ayres, Elisha Cook Jr., George Dzundza, Ed Flanders, Geoffrey Lewis, Kenneth McMillian, Fred Willard, Reggie Nalder

My first experience with the film Salem’s Lot was not a good one. I don’t remember seeing it when it was first broadcast on TV back in 1979, which seems odd enough. But in the early 80s, I began to dive into horror fiction, which spread faster than a vampire plague in a small town! When I got to King’s Salem’s Lot, I absolutely loved it and over the years, it would remain my favorite. Maybe because I grew up in a similar small town, though in Michigan, where everyone knew everyone’s business, but it really resonated with me. So, after finishing the book I went out and rented the VHS release of it, not realizing it was the shorter theatrical version. I absolutely hated it. I hated that Barlow looked like Nosferatu, which is completely different than he is in the novel. I hated they had left so much character development and backstory out. This was in my younger and naive days when I had no clue what it took to adapt a novel into a feature film, not to mention that the version I had just watched was condensed version of the full 2-part series.

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The Thing Expanded

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I know with the amount of attention this has been getting, from all over social media to just the fans aching to see and hear more about not only one of their favorite films, but let’s face it… it’s simply one of the greatest horror films ever made. Am I right? But why this post when everyone in the horror genre already knows about it, possibly even supported the online support process to get your name in the credits as well as some cool additional stuff besides the documentary. Simple. Because we need to remember the fact that upon its initial release, it was hated by most critics and the general public. But us fans… we knew then how fantastic and incredible this film was. And we supported it then and continued to support it until those lame critics faded away, along with those words they wrote some 40+ years ago. Unlike those words, this movie has lasted.

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1000 Women in Horror Documentary

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Back in 2020, I reviewed the book 1000 Women in Horror by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, which I recommended highly then, and I still do. If you want, you can read our review by clicking HERE.

It really shows the amazing amount of work out there, from the very beginning of cinema to modern day work, that is being created by women. From writing, directing, actresses, makeup effects work, and everything in between. Just name the profession, and there’s women doing it. Back in the early days, especially when the studio system started to take over, it was pretty tough to be taken seriously. Thankfully today it’s a little easier, though I think we can still make even more progress.

Just do a search for how many horror films were directed by women in the last 10 years and you’ll be amazed. Especially since quite a few of them are really well done!

And to show that, this incredible book is now a new documentary, using the same title, that will make its debut on Shudder on March 20th! I guarantee that you will not only learn something new but will probably be amazed at some of what you do learn. Below is the trailer for it, so take a peek and make sure you check it out when it hits Shudder.

Naschy at the Alamo!

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FINALLY! I will now have the chance to see my absolute favorite Paul Naschy film in the theater! Thanks to the Alamo Drafthouse in Chicago, in part of their Terror Tuesday series, on March 17th, they will be screening this iconic classic of the Spanish horror genre, Horror Rises from the Tomb! And yes, I will be there!!! This film has it all… Zombies, decapitated villains, blood, gore, nudity, and Paul Naschy in dual roles! Actually, 3 roles if you want to get technical! If you’ve never experienced one of the biggest horror stars of Spain, this is the perfect film to start with.

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DtH Episode 117 – 1950s Giant Monster Movies

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It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955), The Monster that Challenged the World (1957), and The Giant Gila Monster (1959)

There is something special about this decade, one that gave us so many sci-fi / horror films, with plenty of incredible monsters, whether they came from outer space, or right here from our backyard. And thanks to atomic energy, those monsters tended to be big ones! In fact… GIANT ONES! Just imagine a creature, from bugs to animals, and I’m sure someone in the 1950s made them bigger and made a movie about them!

In this episode, we take a look at three different ones, each one using a different method of showing his humongous beast, from stop-motion animation to a practical mechanical design, or the good old-fashion use of a real creature with undersized sets. No matter how they did it, in all these examples you get some damn fine entertainment! So, grab the popcorn, crank up your rock ‘n’ roll, and sit back for some fun!

Movies mentioned in this episode:

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Super-Horror-Rama Celebrates Birthdays

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This month’s Super-Horror-Rama screenings celebrate their 1-year anniversary of twisted screenings at the Music Box with two deadly birthdays screenings. Before we get to the titles, just some info regarding upcoming screenings. Since the Music Box is adding a third screen to their venue, the 2nd screening room, where the Super-Horror-Rama events take place, are going to be closed down for a bit during the construction. So, this screening will the last one for a bit, but they will be back! That means what better time to come out and show your support to the fine folks that program these wonderful events, especially on their 1-year birthday!

The first feature, screening on Friday, March 27th at 11:45pm, is the Australian film Alison’s Birthday, a folk horror tale that doesn’t seem to be talked about too much but is an interesting take on the sub-genre from down under. The second feature, screening on March 28th at 11:45pm is the wacky, far-out-, and gory-as-hell Belgium film Rabid Grannies (1988). It is just as crazy as the title you make you think it is, with plenty of old-fashioned gore effects. If you’ve never seen either of these, now is your chance to catch a rare screening of them both.

You can get your tickets HERE. Every ticket includes a limited-edition pinback button, and they have some great giveaways before each screening with trivia questions keyed into the screenings theme, with this one being, of course, birthday horror! The prizes are donated by The Shadowboxery, Cryptid Craft Studio, Night Natalie, Groovy Doom, and Full Bleed.

Mystery Photo 3-2

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Welcome to March! We’ve survived another month of 2026. I know, each day it seems like that is a struggle. But kudos to everyone for continuing to pull through and move forward. That’s all we can do. Now that I’m hopefully on the mend, I can do more of that myself. For our last photo, I really thought I was being slick and come up with a photo from well-known film but using a pic that looked like it had nothing to do with the movie, especially since I couldn’t show any main characters without easily giving it away. But a lot of you “saw” through that and recognized it anyway. It was from the chili cookoff scene in Texas Chain Saw Massacre 2 (1986). Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Todd Barwick, Tom Brennan, Chris Dyer, Richard Garcia, Kevin Hart, Erik Martin, Michael Pniewski, Kyle Severn, Mickey Thompson, William Wilson, Greg Wojick, and Jeremy Zink! Well done!

This week’s photo might be an easy one, or maybe not. Depends on your taste in a certain country’s cinema. But take a peek and see if you recognize where it is from. Just remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And good luck!

Movie Review: The Black Raven

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The Black Raven (1943)
Directed by Sam Newfield
Starring George Zucco, Wanda McKay, Noel Madison, Robert Livingston, Bryon Foulger, Charles Middleton, Robert Middlemass, I. Stanford Jolley, Glenn Strange

Because I grew up watching a lot of old movies on TV in my early teens, seeing titles like this always gives me a feeling of nostalgia. Almost like I’m a kid again watching these, always hoping for something dark and sinister. And while The Black Raven is really just a mystery melodrama, a couple of the cast ties it into the horror genre which makes it even more fun.

George Zucco plays Bradford, known to the underworld as the Raven, who runs a out of the way motel called The Black Raven, near the Canadian border. During the night, all sorts of guests arrive that are somehow all connected. The first is an old partner of Bradford that escaped from prison and now wants revenge on him. Then there’s another gangster on the run, as well as a young couple that are trying to get across the border so they can be married, because the young woman’s father, a corrupt politician, won’t allow it. Of course, he then shows up at the hotel as well! Then throw in a bank thief, a bumbling sheriff, and Bradford’s dim-witted helper Andy, and it’s going to be a night full of thrills.

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