Author Archives: Jon Kitley

Movie Review: Peony Lantern aka The Bride from Hades

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(1968)
Directed by Satsuo Yamamoto
Starring Kôjirô Hongô, Miyoko Akaza, Kô Nishimura, Mayumi Ogawa, Takashi Shimura, Michiko Ôtsuka

One of the earliest Japanese ghost story films was Botan-dôrô (1910), which was based on one of the oldest and most commonly used themes over the years in rakugo, then kabuki, before moving into the film world. The story actually came from a book of Chinese ghost stories called Jiandeng Xinhua by Qu You, first published in 1378. It was later adapted by Japanese author Asai Ryoi in his book Otogi Boko, giving it a Japanese setting and calling it Botan-dôrô. While there are many variations on the story, it basically deals with doomed lovers. In 1968, it was adapted for the screen by Yoshikata Yoda and directed by Satuso Yamamoto, called Peony Lantern, or The Bride from Hades.

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DtH Episode 91: Author Bryan Senn

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In our search for more knowledge about the horror genre, the films we love, and the people behind them, a lot of started out with the reference books to take those first steps. Years before the internet, these books were stepping stones for fans to learn about films they’ve never heard about and the people behind the films we knew and loved. It was like opening doors for the first time, or ones that were slightly open before, but now are wide open for us to learn so much more. 

In this episode, we invited author Bryan Senn on the show to talk about these reference books, especially since he’s been writing about the sci-fi and horror genre for over three decades, in a variety of magazines and even writing his own books on a few different subjects. So, sit back and enjoy, but you still may need that notepad just to write down some book titles you may want to seek out!

Films mentioned in this episode:

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Mystery Photo 3-3

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We made it to March! Need to celebrate those accomplishments, no matter how small, right? And with our first Monday of March, that means a new photo! But first, our photo from last week was from the The Seventh Curse (1986), one of those Hong Kong horror films that blew my mind when I first saw it. Not just the gore, but the bat-shit crazy story was like nothing I’d seen before, make it one of my favorites from that era. And with an amazing recent release from Vinegar Syndrome, now everyone can enjoy! Kudos to the following that also recognized it: Bob Hartman, Erik Martin, and William Wilson. Well done!

Now on to this week’s photo. Take a look below to see if you can recognize where this little beauty is from. Just remember, send me your guess in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And Good Luck!

Dick Smith: Godfather of Makeup

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In the world of movie makeup effects artists, we all know that Jack Pierce, creator of most of the Universal, is one of most important names in movie history. But right up there next to him, has to be Dick Smith. In a field that was highly secretive, Smith would willingly give up his techniques and tips to anyone wanting to learn, from his recipe for blood, to any number of makeup tricks, he would be more than giving to younger artists. Not to mention he was so incredibly talented, creating some of the most amazing and innovative makeup effects in history.

Every time I see Max Von Sydow in The Exorcist, it still reminds me that for years I really thought Sydow was a 70-year-old actor! But then add in what he did for films like Scanners, Ghost Story, to all the mainstream films like The Godfather, Taxi Driver, and his (finally) Oscar winning work on Amadeus, he never ceased to amaze audiences.

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Soundtrack Review: The Sender

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The Sender (1982)
Released by La-La Land Records, 2011
12 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 38:17 min.
Music Composed by Trevor Jones

The Sender was a film we stumbled across at the video store, thinking it looked pretty interesting. Not only was it pretty damn good movie, but it also has a great cast of Kathryn Harrold, Shirley Knight, and Zeljko Ivanek in his first starring role. It has remained not only a personal favorite, but one that I think is highly underrated. Then years ago, when I saw that La-La Land was releasing the score, I immediately ordered a copy. It made me realize that one of the reasons the film is so effective is this incredibly somber score from Trevor Jones.

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Jay Warren – Rest in Peace

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If any of you have gone to see a silent movie with a live organ accompaniment in Chicago in the last couple of decades, chances are it was Jay Warren playing the organ. I can’t tell you how many screenings that I have been to, which always amazed me. Most of the time, I would completely forget that someone was down there playing the music, just thinking it was in the actual soundtrack. That’s how good Warren was. But unfortunately, it was in the news that Warren had passed away last Sunday at the age of 74.

Warren’s real name was Dennis Wolkowicz but used the stage name because it was easier for people to say than his real name! He was the founder of the Silent Film Society of Chicago and first performed at what used to be the Gateway Theater, located on Lawrence, which he managed for almost two decades. He’s played all over the Midwest, and especially in the Chicagoland theaters, from the Portage to the Music Box. His talent will be greatly missed.

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

Super-Horror-Rama Returns – Mall Madness

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Thank the crazy movie-loving gods that Super-Horror-Rama is back and have found a brand-new home at The Music Box Theatre! Next month, they will be taking over Theater 2 for two screenings of Mall Madness, with a Friday night screening of Chopping Mall (1986) and then on Saturday, they will be screening Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge (1989).

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Last Shark Surfaces on Blu-Ray

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One of the greatest shark movies to ever completely rip-off Steven Spielberg’s 1977 film Jaws, and still be one of the most entertaining ones, is finally coming to Blu-ray. Granted not here in the states, but if you have a region-free player (which you should), Treasured Films is putting out a nice new special edition with plenty of extras.

This film did get released here in the states but only for a short time before it was pulled because Universal Pictures sued the producers of The Last Shark stating that it had plagiarized their film, Jaws. If you’ve seen the movie, it’s obvious that a few things might have been “inspired” by the Spielberg film, especially with Vic Morrow’s character and his “floating chainsaw” comment, but it is crazy enough on its own, that I don’t think it would have hurt much of Universal’s business. When I worked at a theater back in the early ’80s, I remember putting up the poster for Great White (what it was going to be called here in the US) in the “Coming Soon” spot, but we never got it.

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Mystery Photo 2-24

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Welcome to our last Mystery Photo for February. Amazed that this month went so fast. Our last photo was that of Captain Picard himself, Patrick Stuart, but a couple of years before he took off on the Enterprise. The shot is from Tobe Hooper’s Lifeforce (1985) and is one crazy movie but highly memorable. Kudos to the following that sent in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Erik Martin, Gary, Miller, Lee Nattrass, Jeff Owens, Bryan Senn, and William Wilson.

On to this week’s photo. Like our last one, this features an actor that hadn’t made the huge breakout in movies that he would made within the next couple of years. But it is a movie that when you see it for the first time, you won’t believe all that is in here. Enough clues. Take a look and then remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

Tony Isbert – Rest in Peace

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I missed this when it was announced by a few people online but wanted to make sure I mention it here, because while he might not be a famous name amongst some of fans, he appeared in a ton of great films, so it needs to be mentioned and remembered. Tony Isbert was a Spanish actor who appeared in close to 100 films, shorts, and TV appearances in his career that spanned almost 50 years. He passed away on Feb. 19th, at the age of 75.

His first appearance, though uncredited, was in an episode of Narciso Ibáñez Serrador’ TV anthology series, Historias para no dormir in 1966. But he would also go on to appear in Riccardo Freda’s Tragic Ceremony (1972), the Spanish giallo No One Heard the Scream (1973), León Klimovsky’s The Dracula Saga (1973), John Gilling’s Cross of the Devil (1975), and even worked with Paul Naschy in Secuestro (1976) and Inquisition (1977). Later in he would appear in José Ramón Larraz’s Rest in Pieces (1987) and Juan Piquer Simón’s The Rift (1990). So, while you might not recognize the name, I’m sure you know at least some of these films.

As I always say, because of the films that he did appear in, many of which have been released on wonderful Blu-rays, we will always be able to remember this fine talented man and the work that he put out. Never to be forgotten. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family during this difficult time.