Author Archives: Jon Kitley

Mystery Photo 1-22

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As I expected, I got no guesses sent in from our last photo. I knew it was going to be tough one because up until a few months ago, I never even knew of this movie. So don’t feel bad. The shot was taken from a made-for-TV movie from 1964 called The Ghost of Sierra de Cobre, starring Martin Landau and Diane Baker, and written and directed by Joseph Stefano. It’s a great little creepy ghost story film that thankfully is available on Blu-ray through Kino Lober. So yes, I do recommend everyone try and see this. I did have it in my Best of Viewings from last year.

But let’s get to this week’s photo. Take a look and see if this one is a little easier. It’s from a film most of us should know, but will you be able to recognize it from this shot. Just remember to email me your answers (jon@kitleyskrypt.com). Good Luck!

Book Review: They Made How Many?!

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They Made How Many?!
Published by Rotted Rainbow Press, 2023. 646 pages
By Jason Paul Collum

Not only am I a sucker for horror film reference books, but even more so when there is a particular theme to it. I picked this up from Mr. Collum at the Flashback Weekend in 2023 and finally had the chance to really dive into it. If you’re looking for something to give you ideas of what movies to watch, then this is it. But tread lightly, which I’ll explain a little later.

Collum has taken on the monumental task of trying to go through all the American horror franchises of the 20th century, or “mostly” as stated on the front cover. But this massive 600+ page volume covers more than enough to keep you reading through it, as well as building that “I-Need-To-See” list of films. I really enjoyed the format, stating whether the individual titles are direct sequels or in name only. Trust me, in a few of these series, that alone gets pretty sketchy! Plus, the fun facts are great. There is a lot of trivia information that is really interesting and a lot of things I never knew.

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Mystery Photo 1-15-24

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Welcome to Monday. I almost forgot about getting this posted because I actually had the day off for the holiday. We typically don’t have this day off but now we do, so I am taking advantage of it, which is why I almost forgot to post the new one! But before we get to that, let’s review last week. We got 4 people who sent in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Aaron Christensen, Gary Miller, and William Wilson. And the movie? Nope, not forgetting this week! It was from the 1991 film The Boneyard, which I had not bothered with for the longest time, simply because I thought it looked too silly. Well, let me tell you that if you love good old-fashioned rubber monster movies, then this is amazing. A lot of fun.

Okay, on to this week’s photo. This might be a tough one, so we’ll see how good you are. Take a peek and send in your guess to me, by emailing me at jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

Movie Review: Sea Fever

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(2019)
Written and directed by Neasa Hardiman
Starring Hermione Corfield, Jack Hickey, Olwen Fouéré, Dougray Scott,
Connie Nielsen, Ardalan Esmaili, Elie Bouakaze

This was a film that I just took a random chance on while scrolling through Prime, and I’m glad I stopped on it. The bad part about having endless titles to scroll through is if it doesn’t hook you in the first 10 minutes, you move on. We have to make that decision and stick with it. Yeah, sometimes you’re going to lose, but others are well worth the time. Sea Fever was one of those I feel is worth taking the time.

Watching the trailer, it almost makes it sound like the plot is about a fishing boat that runs across some sort of sea monster. And that is sort of the story, but not really. There is some sort of creature, but the story is more about the effects of microbiology that makes the film a little more interesting. And if you watch the trailer, I’m not giving anything away that it doesn’t do.

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Double Dose of Martino at the Music Box

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I know we had previously announced that Italian director Sergio Martino was going to be at the Music Box Theatre on the 22nd for a screening of his 1973 epic Torso as the last film in this year’s January Giallo series. But the Giallo Gods have smiled upon us once again and have the Music Box has added another Martino classic, The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh (1971), starring George Hilton, Edwige Fenech, Ivan Rassimov, and Alberto de Mendoza, which I would consider a very essential title in the giallo sub-genre. This screening will be taking place on Tuesday the 23rd, at 7pm.

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David J. Skal – Rest in Peace

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When I saw this news start popping up in my feeds, I was really thinking / hoping it wasn’t true, especially since it apparently happened almost two weeks ago and we’re just hearing about it now. But it apparently is true, that David J. Skal has passed away, and its truly a stake in the heart for us horror cinephiles.

Usually, the names I post here are the ones that we have loved watching on screen, or know they were the ones directing the film. But this loss is different. Skal spent his time writing and teaching us fans about the genre we loved. In fact, not only did I learn something from each one of his books I tackled, but it made me want to seek out and see or see again different films. Now there have been more than a few times when I’ve disagreed with some of his comments or points, but it no matter what, it makes us think. It makes us ponder different points of view that may not change ours, but at least lets you think and see it from another vantage point. And for me, that is why losing his voice is such a great loss.

But like the movies from the recently departed, that we’ll always have to remember them by, for Mr. Skal, we have plenty of books, audio commentaries, and documentaries that he had a huge part in, that will continue to make us fans, as well as the new ones coming into them, smarter and just a better fan. Thank you, Mr. Skal. Rest in Peace.

Tisa Farrow – Rest in Peace

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Almost made it through the halfway point of the month without losing a very familiar face in the horror genre. Not because she made so many movies, but she appeared in one specific one that made her very famous to us horror fans. Tisa Farrow, at the age of 72, passed away today. She is best known for her role as the female lead in Lucio Fulci’s Zombie (1979), co-starring with Ian McCulloch, Richard Johnson, Peirluigi Conti aka Al Cliver. She did appear in a couple of other genre related titles, including a great little made-for-TV movie a year before Zombie, called The Initiation of Sarah (1978). The second to her last role was in Joe D’Amato’s Antropophagus (1981). The movie life didn’t set well with her and decided to end her career and get into nursing.

While we applaud her decision to work at helping people, us horror fans will always have a soft spot in our twisted little hearts for the work that she did appear in. Our thoughts go out to her friends and family during this difficult time. Rest in Peace, Tisa.

DtH Podcast: Episode 61 – Norman J. Warren

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Satan’s Slave (1976), Prey (1977), and Terror (1978)

There are a lot of directors out there that might not have a huge filmography, or even be that well known to the general population of film fans, even in the horror genre. So, there is always room to discover them! In this episode, we take a look at three films by British independent director Norman J. Warren, who didn’t make a lot of films, but we feel the ones he did make, make him a worthy subject for us to discuss. Honestly, it might make sense to read a little about him before diving into the films, or at least, do it afterwards but I think he is a good example of knowing what he had to make what he did, for us, makes them a little more impressive. You’ll get blood, you’ll get nudity, and a lot more than you’d expect in these three very British tales of horror.

Films mentioned in this episode:

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Mystery Photo 1-8

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Welcome to our second Mystery Photo of the new year! That means one more week closer to Halloween! I have to say I was amazed at the number of correct answers sent in for last week’s photo. I really thought I was going with something pretty obscure, as far as the specific shot, but apparently not!

Editor’s Note: Apparently it helps when you list the movie from last week!!!! It was Black Christmas (1974)!

Here are who sent in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Enai Aya, Todd Barwick, Cate Cameron, Aaron Christensen, Peggie Christie, Dada Debaser, Kevin Hart, Christopher Highland, Troy Howarth, Jeff Owens, Tim Palace, Michael Pniewski, Erich Polnow, Mickey Thompson, Kristin Wicks, William Wilson, Greg Wojick, and Jeremy Zink. Well done!

Now onto this week’s photo. Let us see if this one seems to be too easy or not. Take a peek below and see if you recognize where this shot is from. Just remember to send me your answer in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

Do We Need Another Naschy T-Shirt?

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Of course, that answer is a big YES! Not only is it another Naschy shirt, but it is from my very first and still my favorite of Naschy’s work, Horror Rises from the Tomb (1973)!

Taken from an ad sheet for the film, Silk Screams have used that to create a brilliant looking shirt that really is a must for any fans of Paul Naschy. They are taking pre-orders now so if you’re interested, just click on the link HERE and get your own Horror Rises from the Tomb shirt! You can never have too many Naschy shirts. Trust me on this one! You can check out the rest of their stuff HERE!