Author Archives: Jon Kitley

2025 Kryptic World Tour Coming to an End

by in Conventions and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This weekend, we are heading to our last real convention, Monster Bash, which is taking place in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. They have a great guest lineup, including Gary Clarke from How to Make a Monster, Kathryn Leigh Scott and Sharon Smyth from the original Dark Shadows series, Barbara Wilson from Blood of Dracula, Invasion of the Animal People aka Terror in the Midnight Sun, and The Flesh Eaters, John Russo from the original Night of the Living Dead, and more. You can get all the info by clicking HERE.

Continue reading →

Cinema Wasteland – 25 Years Later

by in Conventions and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“After several days of rest, we have finally recuperated from the Cinema Wasteland convention. Those of you who didn’t make it, you simply missed one hell of a show. As I’m sure everybody knew, the show was put on and run by Ken & Pam of Video Wasteland. These two have been dealers since the beginning of time, and have seen all the mistakes, screw-ups, and everything that can go wrong at a convention (and that was just at one Fangoria show). So, when doing this show, they wanted to make sure that it would be great for the dealers as well as the people spending their hard-earned cash at the show. And they did just that and more.”

That was the first paragraph of my review I posted on my website of the very first Cinema Wasteland show, back in September of 2000. The funny thing is that I could use that exact same quote for the show that I was just at over the weekend. And the one before that. And before that one. I don’t know of another show that has remained true to way they started from the very beginning. Ken Kish wanted to put on a show that wasn’t like the rest of the shows going on, and he has kept it that way. It’s small, especially compared to these huge shows where it takes hours just to get in the door, not to mention having to mortgage your house to meet a few celebrities. That is the charm to Wasteland. At Wasteland, you have a roomful of dedicated cinephiles that are more interested in the films themselves, and who made them, rather than the latest Funko Pop figure. I know that sounds a little mean-spirited, but it is the truth.

Continue reading →

Mystery Photo 10-6

by in Mystery Photo and tagged | Leave a comment

Welcome to October!!! We just returned from Cinema Wasteland, having a blast as always, and heading out to PA this weekend for Monster Bash! So needless to say… busy, busy, busy! But we wouldn’t have it anyway. Our photo from last week was kind of a trick photo. Not that it was doctored or anything, but more than a few people sent in Vault of Horror as their guess, mainly because of the famous shot in that film where the vampires are hanging up a victim with a spigot in his throat. But this show was actually from the Spanish film, Strange Love of the Vampire aka Night of the Walking Dead (1975), put out by Severin in their Danza Macabre Vol 3: The Spanish Gothic Collection box set. So, if you’re one that did send in Vault, don’t feel bad. You were not alone! Congrats on the ones that did send in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Steve Archacki, Chris Dyer, and James Turner. Well done, indeed!

But on to this week’s photo. Going to try and stay in the theme of great films to be watching this month. Or at least, that’s going to be the plan. We’ll see how far it get! But take a peek and see what you can come up with. Just remember to send your answer to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck and enjoy the season!

Night of the Living Dead Book

by in Book News and tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

We all have those film titles that we personally think are classics of the horror genre. But George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (1968) truly is one of them that very few would disagree. Not only did it create a whole new sub-genre of films, but close to six decades later, the film is still a powerful tale, hitting many different triggers for the viewer. Sure, it is a zombie film, but there is so much more going on within that 90+ running time.

Coming out this December from Titan Books and author Simon Braund, we are getting Night of the Living Dead: The Official Story of the Film. This book is the “official retrospective” of the film, giving the readers a look into how a small group of independent filmmakers created one of the most influential horror films ever made. Through interviews, we get to hear from different cast members and from the production crews on how it got made. From getting investors, finding locations, to even getting a bunch of people to appear as the title creatures, all outside of the normal Hollywood system, shows the talent and devotion these people had.

Continue reading →

Episode 106: Hammer’s Quatermass Films

by in Discover the Horror Podcast and tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Quatermass Xperiment (1955), Quatermass 2 (1957), Quatermass and the Pit (1967)

Everyone knows the name Hammer Films (at least, we hope they do!) but most people associate it with gothic horror, particularly their reimagining of the Universal classic Frankenstein in The Curse of Frankenstein (1957). Yet Hammer had been around long before Peter Cushing breathed life into that first stitched-together corpse. Founded in the 1930s as a distribution company, the studio gradually moved into producing films, often adapted from popular TV and radio series.

In 1953, the BBC aired a six-part serial, The Quatermass Experiment. Hammer quickly recognized its potential, adapted it into a feature film, and in doing so set itself firmly on the path toward becoming “the studio that dripped blood.” In this episode, we cover all three Quatermass films. While they lean more toward science fiction than Hammer’s later gothic output, they are steeped in horror… and we think they’re well worth your time.

Films mentioned in this episode:

Continue reading →

Horrorfest at Drive-Ins Near Me

by in Movie Events and tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Regular followers of the Krypt know not only my affection for the drive-ins and these horror marathons that are held there, like I recently posted about our trip to the Midway Drive-In a couple of weeks ago. But not only are there other drive-ins out there, but a lot of them are also doing very similar things by hosting special horror film screenings throughout the month of October. Not sure where a drive-in is around in your neck of the woods? Have no fear. Just head over to Drive-In Near Me (by clicking HERE) and you can search for theaters by state and links to their own website!

Continue reading →

Sam Sherman – Rest in Peace

by in Rest in Peace and tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

This is definitely an end of an era, with the news of the passing of Sam Sherman. He was mainly known as a producer, one half of Independent International, working with Al Adamson, but his contributions to the horror genre is just massive. From his work with Jim Warren and Famous Monsters of Filmland, to working with Hemisphere Pictures, especially in their promotion department, then moving on to work with Adamson. While he was a very multi-talented man, it is his work in PR is what I loved about him. He knew how to sell a film and came up with some of the most beautiful and crazy advertising. Of course, Sherman was the man responsible for bringing Paul Naschy to the states, picking up the rights and releasing Naschy’s first picture, Mark of the Wolfman, though changing it to Frankenstein’s Bloody Terror, yet again with some really great ad campaign for it! Sure, there’s no Dr. Frankenstein or Frankenstein creature in the film, but we do get a WOLF-STEIN!!!

Continue reading →

Mystery Photo 9-29

by in Mystery Photo and tagged | Leave a comment

Welcome to our last photo for September. That means in a few short days, we’ll be in October! Hopefully everyone has plenty of plans set for the month, from planning some movie marathons, or at least a hit list of titles that you’re planning to watch. Or hitting some special screenings at the theaters, or even a convention or two! Plenty of stuff to do to celebrate our month, the one time when we almost seem normal!

Okay…let’s get down to business. Our last photo was from Hammer’s X – The Unknown (1956), which they made in between the first two Quatermass titles. It’s sort of their blob movie, but two years earlier than the American one. Being an early Hammer title before they exploded on the scene with The Curse of Frankenstein the following year. Kudos to the following that recognized the photo: Hoby Abernathy, Kevin Hart, Erik Martin, and Mike Shields. Well done!

Now going back to color and a little more gothic this time out with this week’s photo. Might be a little tough, and harder than you think… just saying. Give a look and see what you think. Just send me your guess in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And Good Luck!

Movie Review: Death Line

by in Reviews: Movies and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

(1972)
Directed by Gary Sherman
Starring Donald Pleasence, David Ladd, Sharon Gurney, Clive Swift, Norman Rossington, Hugh Armstrong, June Turner, James Cossins, Christopher Lee

For the longest time, I always knew this film as Raw Meat, mainly due to the poster art that AIP used for it, which admittedly, was pretty cool looking. They knew a title like that would be much easier to sell than Death Line, which I have to I agree with. But for the film itself, Death Line fits a lot better, not to mention not misleading the audience as to what kind of film this is.

Continue reading →

A “New” Frankenstein Book?

by in Book News and tagged , , , | Leave a comment

There is nothing I love more than coming across a new non-fiction book on Frankenstein, whether it’s on the movie, the novel, or the history, I’m always intrigued to learn more. I have plenty of volumes in my library but can always make room for one more.

But then there is nothing I hate more than coming across a “new” book that after a little digging, looks to be a previously published book, just retitled, making it look like a new book. Now if this was a book way out of print and hard to find, that’s one thing. And if that’s the case, why not just publish an updated edition? Why change the title and the look of it?

Continue reading →