Author Archives: Jon Kitley

Jack Taylor – Rest in Peace

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I saw the news online this morning that cult actor Jack Taylor has passed away this morning at the age of 99 years old. Talk about one hell of a career! He worked with so many directors from big Hollywood names to running the gambit of cult directors known for the horror genre. From John Milius, Roman Polanski, Ridley Scott and Milos Forman to Jesús Franco, Amando de Ossorio, José Ramón Larraz, Juan Piquer Simón and Paul Naschy, he did amazing work and in just about every sub-genre there was. You may not recognize his name right away, but one look at those amazing glassy blue eyes, or the trademark mustache he had, you knew him when he showed up on screen.

While American born, once he started acting, he moved and worked all over the world. He moved to Mexico early in his career, picking up the language pretty easily. He would appear in Nostradamus and the Destroyer of Monsters and Genii of Darkness, both in 1962, before then moving to Madrid. There he would work several times with Paul Naschy, Jesús Franco, and Amando de Ossorio, and many others. When you saw his name in the credits, you knew it was going to be worth your time.

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Columbus Moving Picture Show – The Last Hurrah!

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I know we just posted a week or two ago about this show, but hearing this very unfortunately news, I feel I need to post about it again. It seems that this upcoming Moving Picture Show, taking place May 21st-24th, will be the last show. This is what was posted online on May 7th:

“We had hoped to enjoy a long run at the Crowne Plaza, but as a result of poor management decisions including eliminating event staff, we have been rendered homeless. Without the necessary funds to move back downtown, we have made the difficult decision to end the show, with our 2026 event being the last one. We apologize for the disappointment this is sure to cause, but we have run out of viable options.

We are incredibly grateful for your support over the last five years and wish we could see a path forward, but a variety of factors including an aging base, increasing costs, and lack of viable venues have indicated that we have made the right decision in making 2026 our last convention. We hope you will be there May 21-24 to celebrate one last hurrah together. Tickets will be on sale at the registration desk Thursday morning.”

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Mystery Photo 5-11

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I have not only survived my trip into the wilderness but have to say it was a great experience, and I really learned a lot. But that’s not why you’re here, is it. Fortunately, one of the things I didn’t experience in the Arkansas backwoods was any fellas running around like you saw in this picture, from the 1981 film Just Before Dawn, directed by Jeff Lieberman. Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Aaron Christensen, Kevin Hart, Erik Martin, Lee Nattrass, Tim Palace, William Wilson, and Greg Wojick. Well done!

For this week’s photo, we’re traveling a little farther than southern part of the U.S., so take that as your clue. But take a peek below and see if you can recognize where this shot is taken from. Just remember to send in your answer to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And most of all, Good Luck!

Movie Review: Dust Bunny

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(2025)
Written & Directed by Bryan Fuller
Starring Sophie Sloan, Mads Mikkelsen, Sigourney Weaver, David Dastmalchian, Sheila Atim, Rebecca Henderson, Line Kruse, Caspar Phillipson

There aren’t too many movies I feel that can perfectly blend in fantasy and reality together, with a heavy touch of surrealism, and maybe a little life lesson in there, and do it well. Tim Burton is one that comes to mind, and only after a few minutes of watching Dust Bunny, I wondered if he had anything to do with this picture! It really is like a child’s dream/nightmare come to life and seeing it through the eyes of a little 8-year-old girl.

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I Don’t Collect Toys… I Don’t Collect Toys…

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That is a mantra that I can repeat over and over and over until I’ve lost my voice, but it still won’t change the fact that I see something like this announced and I feel like a little kid again. I know I’ve even said this many times before, but who would have ever thought that we would have a Octaman action figure!?!?! Seriously? But in the past year or two, I’ve gotten a Beast of Blood figure and one from Humanoids from the Deep! And now, thanks to Monstarz Toys, next month you’ll be able to have not only your own Octaman figure, but in 3 different variants: the regular version, a Radioactive Glow version, or a Metachrosis Camouflage version.

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Mystery Photo 5-4

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Yes, before I head off to the wilds of Arkansas, possibly never to be seen or heard from again, I am getting this posted! Priorities, right? But let’s not dilly dally! Last week’s photo was from the film The Face of Marble (1946), which I’m not sure I had even heard of before stumbling across it on Prime. And a John Carradine horror film that I hadn’t seen before?!?!? Check that off the list immediately! As expected, a fun little flick, including a large white ghost/vampire dog! Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Bob Hartman, Doug Lamoreux, Erik Martin, Bryan Senn, and William Wilson. Well done!

Ok…this one might be a bit obvious, especially where I’m heading this week, but I figured if anything was more fitting, then why not? And you have to admit, this ending is one hell of a scene, and I don’t think anyone expect that! Just take a look and send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. See you on the other side!

Mariclare Costello – Rest in Peace

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I know this happened a couple of weeks ago and meant to put up a post on it but just kept getting sidetracked. But I couldn’t not post it since Costello appeared in one of my favorites, and highly underrated films, Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (1971), directed by John Hancock. She hadn’t made too many appearances in the horror genre in her career, other than small roles in the 1983 anthology Nightmares. But her performance as the homeless Emily in Jessica helps give the film that dreamlike or surreal quality to it. It really is a haunting performance and one that every horror fan needs to experience.

Our thoughts go out to her and her family during this difficult time.

World Tour Commences

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Starting tomorrow, I will be out of touch from most of the world for all of next week. I get to go on a fun adventure for work, one of those team building events. And boy am I excited. Trust me, images from Christopher Smith’s movie Severance have been going through my head for the last couple of weeks. If you email me, I will get back to you as soon as I return.

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Little Shoppe of Horrors – End of an Era

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The first issue of Little Shoppe of Horrors I purchased was # 8, which had originally come out in May of 1984. It was probably closer to the mid ’80’s to late ’90s when I picked it up. The main reason was because I was starting to go nuts over Hammer Films and The Vampire Lovers was one of my favorites, and issue # 8 was all about the Karnstein trilogy, so of course I had to get it. And from that issue on, I started to get the latest copy of Little Shoppe of Horrors every time one came out. It really was a Hammer Films fan’s dream come true, because it was so damn informative about not only the films, but those that were involved in making them.

And now, after over 5 decades and 53 issues, it is finally coming to an end. Issue # 53 will be released next month and has a cover story of the making of The Abominable Snowman (1957) by Bruce G. Hallenbeck, as well as an interview with Clive Dawson on the un-filmed Snowman, and an interview with star Forrest Tucker by David Aquino & George Stover. There is also a feature on the making of The Horror of Frankenstein (1970) by John Hamilton, an article by Stephen R. Bissette on John Gillin’s The Gamma People (1956), as well as other amazing pieces such as interviews with Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, and Anthony Hinds.

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That Very Witch Double Feature

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On May 30th, at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago, they are hosting That Very Witch Double Feature! Starting at 9:30pm, the first film is the Italian film Baba Yaga (1973), starring Carol Baker, Isabelle De Funès, and George Eastman, in a strange tale directed by Corrado Farina, of a photographer falling under the spell of the witch. Filled with eroticism, strange nightmares, and highly memorable images.

The second feature is Virgin Witch (1971), directed by Ray Austin, and starring real life sisters Ann and Vicki Michelle, who are invited for a weekend photo shoot at country home of Patricia Haines, who plays Sibil Waite, the owner of a modeling agency. But little do the sisters know Sibil has much more on her mind than modeling. In fact, she is in search of a virgin to join her coven of witches!

Both films will be introduced by author Payton McCarty-Simas, who will be selling copies her book That Very Witch: Fear, Feminism & the American Witch Film after the show. Severin Films will also be there with a Pop-Up in the Lounge before and after the screenings.

Just click HERE to get to the Music Box’s page for this event.