Author Archives: Jon Kitley

DtH Episode 86 – 2024 Wrap Up

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As 2024 comes to an end, we look in a rearview mirror filled with some amazing films, especially ones that came out this year. Filmmakers around the world wowed us with creative stories, intriguing plots and outstanding techniques. It is definitely a great time to be a horror fan.

2024 was another stellar year for us at the podcast, where we covered a wide variety of subjects, from Bigfoot to Amicus Films, from Women Directors to Al Adamson & Sam Sherman, to more obscure topics like German Expressionism, and much more. We also had an astonishing lineup of special guests including Severin’s David Gregory, Vinegar Syndrome’s Archivist Oscar Becher, HorrorHound’s Aaron Crowell, and Will Morris from Oscarbate and The Music Box Theatre, just to name a few.

One thing that continues through this year is our constant love and admiration for those that have made some long-lasting impact on the genre, and our constant striving to help share that love with our listeners. Nothing excites us more than hearing that we’ve turned someone on to a film or filmmaker or even sub-genre that they might have not experienced before. And you can be damned sure that we plan to continue that in 2025.

So, join us in this extra-long special episode as we go over our favorite viewings of this year, as well as some shout-outs and discussions on other films that came out in 2024.

Titles mentioned in this episode:

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Wishing You a Very Scary Christmas!

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Just wanted to take a quick second to wish everyone out there the best of holidays, no matter what or how you celebrate, but wishing you good cheer to you and your family. The one thing that everyone can afford, both in giving and receiving, is the gift of kindness. So please try and continue doing that throughout the year, not just during this holiday. It’s that simple.

Hopefully Satan Claws was good to you this year, bringing you plenty of Blu-rays and 4K movies, some new books on horror movies, or maybe even a few toys for the collection.

Happy Holidays!

Covid in the Krypt

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Sorry for the lack of updates or responses as of late, but over last weekend, I started to get sick, which then turned out to be Covid. I’ve had it before, so I wasn’t worried, but as I’ve heard before, not only does it hit everyone differently, it also can hit the same person differently. And this time, it knocked me on my ass. I have never had something that completely drain the will or desire to do anything. I did get out of bed, only because I couldn’t sleep laying down because of the congestion. Then again, I wasn’t sleeping anyway, so I was just sitting in my recliner in front of the TV. I guess one could look at that as one positive, but that’s a stretch.

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Soundtrack Review: When Evil Lurks

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When Evil Lurks
14 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 51:55
Music by Pablo Fuu

Being a huge fan of Demián Rugna’s film Terrified (2017), I was very excited to see this new one when it briefly hit the theaters last year. Wow. Hadn’t been hit by a film like this one in quite a long time.

One of the reasons this film is so effective is the music created by Pablo Fuu. It seems as of now, the only way to get it is a digital download, but hopefully there will be an actually physical release of it. In the meantime, here’s our thoughts on the score.

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Book Review: Naked Theater & Uncensored Horror

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Naked Theater & Uncensored Horror
Published by FAB Press, 2023. 360 pages
By Stuart Gordon

I’ve been wanting to get to this title ever since it arrived in the mail from FAB Press when it first came out. But like all things in life, something else always came up. Until a few days ago when I decided now was the time. It was a Sunday, and I didn’t have any real plans for the day, so I knew I could at least start it. 3 days later, I finished it.

I’ve known Gordon’s work since his debut film, Re-Animator (1985), hit the theater I worked at when it first opened. All horror fans immediately knew him as “the guy who did Re-Animator” and would watch for his next venture into the film world. The more films Gordon did, the more interviews and articles about him came out, the more we got a hint of his history. I knew very well that he came from theater background, even being here in Chicago for quite some time, but I really had no clue to the extent he had, or the impact that he made.

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January Giallo at the Music Box

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That’s right folks, since the end of the year is coming, that means that January Giallo at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago is right around the corner! They have announced the 4 titles that will be screening this year, and they are not to be missed.

While the first film isn’t technically the one to start the sub-genre of the giallo, it definitely helped define it. Mario Bava’s Blood and Black Lace is an incredible piece of cinema, if only for the use of colors and camerawork here. Talk about a master class! It is one that no matter how many times you might have seen it; each time still makes you sit and be amazed at how incredible it looks. If you can’t tell, I’m a big fan of this one and can’t wait to see it on the big screen again!

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DtH Episode 85: Modern Folk Horror

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Wake Wood (2009), The Wind (2018), Apostle (2018)

Folk horror has its roots in tales of witches and paganism, stretching back centuries. In cinema, the term “folk horror” was first coined by Rod Cooper in Kine Weekly to describe the 1971 classic Blood on Satan’s Claw. However, the themes that define folk horror—witchcraft, ancient rituals, and the eerie power of nature—have been present since the earliest days of film. A prime example is Benjamin Christensen’s Häxan (1922), which delves into witchcraft and age-old rites.

Regardless of its origins or definitions, folk horror has endured over time, weaving its way through the history of cinema. In recent decades, the genre has experienced a remarkable resurgence, not just in the United States but globally. This renewed interest may owe much to Kier-La Janisse’s expansive 2021 documentary, Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched, which shone a spotlight on the subgenre and sparked widespread conversation.

With the recent release of Volume Two of Severin’s All the Haunts Be Ours box sets, now seems the perfect time to explore some of the standout modern folk horror films from the past two decades. So, venture with us into the remote villages, pagan rites, and shadowy woods where all the horrors sit waiting for you in the dark corners where people rarely go. 

Films mentioned in this episode:

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Mystery Photo 12-9

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Here’s to surviving that first week of December. While here in the Midwest, the temps finally started to drop down in the teens, which mean moving up from just a hoodie to an actual jacket. At least for those real cold days. I mean, why bust out the heavy coats until at least the snow hits, right? Anyway, we only got a few correct answers for our last Mystery Photo. Remember, I did mention all the ones for this month would be relatively new titles, coming out within the last couple of years. Our photo from last month was from Caitlin Cronenberg’s Humane (2024), which really feels like it came from a Cronenberg. It’s one of those films that is scary just in the subject matter, as well as being not too far off from being reality. Kudos to Hoby Abernathy, Erik Martin, and Mickey Thompson for sending in the correct answer.

This week’s photo is another newer film, so keep that in mind as you’re trying to figure it out. Just remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And Good Luck!

Book Review: Feeding the Monster

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Feeding the Monster
Published by Faber & Faber, 2024. 256 pages
by Anna Bogutskaya

These days, way more than before, I love reading a book about the horror genre, and especially other writer’s views, thoughts, and opinions out it. Unfortunately, in my early days, it would be more like “this person doesn’t know what they are talking about”. But once I (thankfully) grew out of that phase and realized that everyone can bring something new to the conversation, especially when it gets you to think, it is always a good thing. Even when you don’t agree with them, if it makes you think about something more or even a little differently, then it’s a win.

I had picked up this new book because, well, it was on the horror genre and that’s what I do. But I didn’t have any intention of reading it right away since I have several other books I want to get to first. Then as I saw it sitting on my desk, waiting to be put away in my library, I picked it up and started browsing. Then I started reading. Next thing I know, I’m 50 pages into it.

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Soundtrack Review: I, Desire

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I, Desire
Released by Dragon’s Domain Records, 2024
23 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 44:03 min.
Music Composed and Conducted by Don Peake

Sometimes it just amazes me what soundtracks get a CD release these days. Here’s a made-for-TV from the early ’80s, that never even had a released on VHS, DVD, or Blu-ray, and yet here we are, talking about a CD release for it. Just amazing. It’s even more impressive because this is an exceptional score.

I remember trying to track down this film on the grey market back in the ’90s because had never shown up on VHS, and because it was a TV-movie about a vampire, starring David Naughton, fresh from An American Werewolf in London (1981), and Brad Dourif, so how could this be not worth seeking out!

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