Author Archives: Jon Kitley

Dusk to Dawn Carpenter Fest!

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The Midway Drive-in will be celebrating all things John Carpenter on their spring Dusk to Dawn show this June 28th! As of now, they only have announced 2 of the 4 features that will be screening, The Thing (1982) from a 35mm print (!!!) and Prince of Darkness (1987) from DCP. I know I’ve mentioned here on this site before, but my very first viewing of The Thing was at a drive-in theater, and I have seen in numerous more times since then at the drive-in, and it never has lost its charm. When you have a perfect movie like that one, it is always an experience. And even more so seeing it projected on a 90ft screen!

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Mystery Photo 5-5

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Thought I forgot about today’s photo, did you? Okay . . . so I almost did. But better almost late than never, right! Yeap, been that kind of a Monday. Before we get down to business, let’s go over last week’s photo, that seemed to have stumped everyone, except Erik Martin. Well done, Sir! The shot was from the 1983 Hong Kong horror film Devil Fetus! Such a fun little picture.

Okay, before my time runs out, here is this week’s photo. Take a peek, and then send me your answer in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And most of all, Good Luck!

DtH Episode 95 – Mario Bava

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Black Sunday (1960), Blood and Black Lace (1964), and A Bay of Blood (1971)

There are some films and directors that are truly iconic and classics of the genre that sometimes we just assume that everyone has seen already. It’s easy to forget that out there right now, are fans that just might be getting into the genre, either because of their age, or now have a newfound interest in it and have just started taking their first steps. For those out there, we are here to lead over to Italy, to one of the most gifted directors when it came to the look of a film, the Maestro, Mario Bava. And for those that are familiar with his work, maybe it’s time for a revisit and once again, be blown away at what he shows us onscreen. Because if it has been a few years, you might be seeing things for the first time. That is one of the beautiful things about cinema.

For fans starting out with Bava, these three titles really show his beginning, as well as how he would influence other sub-genres of films, from the gothics, the giallo, and even slasher films.

Correction: Edgar Wallace was a British writer, not American.

Films mentioned in this episode:

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Mystery Photo 4-28

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Welcome to our last photo for April! That’s right . . . we’re a quarter through this year! Can only go up, right? Right??? Anyone? Okay, well there is always hope. I guess in the meantime, we’ll just have to occupy a little time away from the current dumpster fire and enjoy a little pictorial puzzle. Last week’s photo was from Hammer’s The Phantom of the Opera (1962). While not one of my favorite versions, I just love Herbert Lom’s look and performance. Congrats to the following who did send in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Steve Archacki, Dave Fronto, Erik Martin, Lee Nattrass, and Mike Shields.

Now on to this week’s photo. A real head-splitter if there ever was one! Just remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And most of all, Good Luck!

Making Monsters!

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Back in 2022, Howard Berger, Oscar winning special makeup effects artist, and journalist Marshall Julius gave us Masters of Make-Up Effects: A Century of Practical Magic, which covered some of the best makeup artists and their work over the last 100 years. That volume is a real page turner, as well as a tome of a massive about of amazing information about these incredibly talented artists, many who don’t get the credit they deserve. Now they are back with a whole new book, entitled Making Monsters: Inside Stories from the Creators of Hollywood’s Most Iconic Creatures!

Due out this September, this 320-page hardcover edition (also available on Kindle for $24.99) is priced at $49.95, has Berger and Julius reaching out to dozens of legendary makeup effects artists from Hollywood, asking them a simple question: What makes a great movie monster? What we get is answers from a huge list of talented makeup and digital artists like Tom Savini to Phil Tippett, to directors like John Carpenter & Ti West, to actors such as Simon Pegg and Barbara Crampton, to composers, and writers. It also has a foreword by Robert Englund and Afterword by Alex Winter. Like their previous volume, this one is filled with hundreds of images, from film stills to person, behind-the-scenes pics, as well as plenty of stories from the brilliant minds that helped bring our nightmares to life!

Lar Park Lincoln – Rest in Peace

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As horror fans know, most all who did battle with Jason Voorhees either barely escaped or ended up as another statistic. Out of all the Final Girls to do battle with that undying monster in that series, I feel that it was the character of Tina Shepard in Part 7: The New Blood. So, it was sad news of her passing, on Tuesday the 22nd. She didn’t appear in a ton of horror films, though did appear in House II: The Second Story (1987) and an episode of Freddy’s Nightmares (1988), but she still left her mark when she did. But she also spent a lot of her time helping younger actors get their start, by starting the Actors Audition Studios, based in Dallas, TX.

Our thoughts go out to her friends and family during this difficult time. She may be gone, but as long as there are Friday the 13th fans (which there ALWAYS will be), she will live on. Rest in Peace.

Unpleasant Dreams with Super-Monster-Rama

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The deviants are back to give you nightmares, with back-to-back midnight screenings at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago! On Friday, May 30th, at 11:45pm, they will be hosting a screening of Dream Demon (1988), an underrated horror film that never got the attention it deserves. Directed by Harley Cokeliss, who had previously given us Battletruck (1982) and Black Moon Rising (1986) and starring Jemma Redgrave (who would later go on to appear in a bunch of Dr. Who episodes), Kathleen Wilhoite, and Timothy Spall.

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Damien Thomas – Rest in Peace

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One of my all-time favorite Hammer Films is Twins of Evil (1971), and one of those reasons was the highly memorable villain Count Karnstein, played wonderfully by Damien Thomas. He seemed to just revel is playing this character and just makes the film so much more enjoyable. Sadly, we have heard the news that he has recently passed away.

He didn’t appear too much in the horror genre over the years, but was always a treat to see no matter what he was in. He is one of the many reasons that Hammer Films still are remembered and cherished today.

Our thoughts go out to his friends and family. Gone, but never forgotten.

Hammer Unleashes Quatermass!

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Being a huge fan of Hammer Studios, I’m so thrilled that they are finally doing what they can to keep the name alive. I’ve heard several times over the last couple of decades that they have new owners, and they are going to start new productions and do all this merchandising . . . and then nothing. But it sure seems with this new one, John Gore, is really doing it. They have already released special editions for the films Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974) and The Four-Sided Triangle (1953) and now are set to release the film that really put them on the map, The Quatermass Xperiment (1955).

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Mystery Photo 4-21

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I have to say I’m pretty proud for those of you that sent in the correct answer to last week’s photo. Sure, while the main villain is right there in the pic, the film itself, Chamber of Horrors (1966), isn’t one that seems to be more well known! Patrick O’Neal really does chew on the scenery here, but in the most entertaining way! I will say that my favorite part of this film, the “Horror Horn” and the “Fear Flasher” is the best part, even though I’ve seen more gore in a PG-13 movie that what we see here! But got to give them credit for pimping that ballyhoo! Congrats to all of the following that sent in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Steve Archacki, Maureen Connelly, Dave Fronto, Kevin Hart, Bob Hartman, Ken Johnson, Erik Martin, Charles Miller, Lee Nattrass, Jeff Owens, and Todd Warren! Well done!

These week’s photo is a film that most should know, but the question is if you can recognize it from the below photo. That’s the tricky bit, isn’t it? Just remember to send me your guess in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And most of all, Good Luck!