Author Archives: Jon Kitley

Movie Review: Monster from the Ocean Floor

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(1954)
Directed by Wyott Ordung
Starring Anne Kimbell, Stuart Wade, Dick Pinner, Wyott Ordung, Inez Palange,
Jonathan Haze, David Garcia, Roger Corman

While this isn’t directed by Roger Corman, it is his first film as sole producer, and it was really a sign of things to come. While a lot of Corman’s earlier work might have involved cheesy monsters here and there, they were still entertaining. Watching them now, it gives me that nostalgic feeling of watching these as a kid, catching them on TV some Saturday afternoon. But watching them now, as an adult and a life-long student of movies, while I still get that same feeling as a kid, it also makes me appreciate the people involved a lot more. And Monster is a perfect example of that.

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Classic Monsters Modern Art Book

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Anthony Taylor, a celebrated writer whose work has appeared in Famous Monsters of Filmland, Fangoria, Screem, HorrorHound, Filmfax, and several books on a variety of genre subjects, as well as being the organizer of Atlanta’s Monsterama retro horror and sci-fi convention, now has a new book coming out. It is called Classic Monsters Modern Art: 20th Century Horror in 21st Century Illustrations, coming this September from Insight Editions.

According to the description, the book explores “the groundbreaking (and terrifying) pantheon of monsters from the 20th century’s greatest films and fiction interpreted by the world’s most exciting contemporary artists and illustrators in Classic Monsters, Modern Art!” With over 65 artists, taking on subjects like Frankenstein’s creature, Count Dracula, Elvira, Godzilla, King Kong, to more modern-day monsters like Freddy Kruger, this book will feature some amazing artwork of our favorite monsters, in full color, with Taylor giving us all the info needed about them!

Priced at $39.99, these 160 pages will be something you will find yourself paging through over and over, looking at the amazing work that went into each and every illustration. Definitely one for the library!

HorrorHound Next Weekend!

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That’s right, kiddies! Next weekend we will be heading to Cincinnati for our first show of 2025, and it feels like forever since we’ve been able to hang out with so many other like-minded deviants! They have a damn good guest lineup with some horror royalty appearing, such as the one and only Barbara Steele, star of classics like Mario Bava’s Black Sunday (1960), Roger Corman’s The Pit and the Pendulum (1961), David Cronenberg’s Shivers (1975), Joe Dante’s Piranha (1978), and so many more. Also attending is Linda Blair, a reunion from Evil Dead (2013) with Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, and Lou Taylor Pucci, Christina Lindberg from Thriller: A Cruel Picture aka They Call Her One Eye (1973), 11 guests from the Terrifier films, Henry Winkler, and many more. You can find all the latest and full guest lineup by clicking HERE.

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Mystery Photo 3-10

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See that? Almost halfway through March already? Time flies, so you really need to make each and every count as much as you can. Even if that means spending the day on the couch just watching movies. Sometimes we just need to recharge. But let’s get down to business! Our photo from last week was from the bat-shit crazy movie The Manster (1959). I first came across this one after seeing parts of it in It Came from Hollywood (1982), though it took me a while to find the name! But it is definitely like no other picture you’ve seen! Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Dave Fronto, Kevin Hart, Bob Hartman, Erik Martin, Bryan Senn, and Mike Shields. Nice job!

This week’s photo might be a little tougher. It is more recent, but that’s the only hint I’ll give. Take a look and see what you think. Just remember to send me your guess in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

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.