Author Archives: Jon Kitley

Music Box of Horrors: The Dream Child

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The Music Box Theatre in Chicago continues to show their support for the horror genre, each and every year. They still have their 24-hour marathon, taking place this year on Oct. 19th, which I hear is already sold out and they haven’t even finishing announcing the complete lineup!?!?! But they are once again celebrating the entire month of October with some amazing screenings. For the complete and updated list, just click HERE. But I wanted to highlight a few titles here.

On Oct. 1st, they are screening Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), celebrating its 50th anniversary. Now I know most horror fans have seen this film, mostly likely multiple times. But if you haven’t seen . . . I mean experienced this film on the big screen, then you haven’t really seen it. Sure, that may sound a little pompous, but seeing this on the huge screen in front of you just amplifies the terror coming off the screen. Especially once you get to the dinner sequence and going on from there. It came be understated how effective this movie can still be a half century later. I urge you to take this opportunity to see it the way it was meant to be seen and heard.

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Mystery Photo 9-9

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Another week done; another week closer to Halloween! Then again, we all know that the Halloween season is just when most of us appear normal, or at least the same as the regular folks. And that really, we celebrate the Halloween season all year round! For me, I’m honestly more excited about the cooler weather coming on! Yes, I am not a fan of summer, with the blazing sun and extreme heat. Sorry, but I’ll take 50-degree weather all the time! But you didn’t come here to hear that, did you! Our last photo was from Hammer Films, under the original title of Fanatic, but also known as Die! Die! My Darling (1965). It always amazes me on how the color palette in this film is close to something like Bava would have done. Just incredible. And of course, nobody is scarier than Tallulah Bankhead! Congrats to the following for sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Steve Archacki, Kevin Hart, Christopher Highland, Troy Howarth, Jeff Owens, and Mike Shields. Well done!

Now on to this week’s photo. This one does not have the same color scheme, but it still a great film! Take a look and see what you think. Just remember to send me your answer in an email to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

Book Review: The Soul of Wes Craven

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The Soul of Wes Craven
Published by Harker Press, 2024. 460 pages
By Joseph Maddrey

Out of all the directors that were reigning supreme in my formable years, the ‘80s, with names like Romero, Carpenter, Cronenberg, Hooper, Coscarelli, Wes Craven was never in my favorites. There were a few of his films that I still love to this day, such as A Nightmare on Elm Street, but for a career as a whole, he’s not high up in my list. But by reading this new book on him, it proved yet once again that by learning more about a subject, really going behind and deep into the person, you cannot help but see things differently. Doesn’t mean it changed my feelings towards some of his work, but it gives one so much more understanding on what you see.

There was a lot about Craven that I knew, such as him being a very intelligent man, that he used to be a teacher at one point, as well as wanting to break free from the genre that he was continually forced to work in. A younger me would state that he just used the genre to get his foot in the door, but never really was a fan. Once you read of his life, being raised in a very fundamental religious background, you realize he is never far away from true horror. And wanting to do something different from just that genre, that he was a very creative person who wanted to show that while he enjoyed working in scary tales, he also could show you something else.

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DtH Episode 78 – Twice Told Tales: Invasion of the Body Snatchers

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Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978).

We’ve decided to take on a little twist here, doing an on-going series that we’re calling Twice Told Tales. This is where we are going to compare two films, an original and its remake. This is not to say which one is better, but to highlight the positives of both, what we feel works, and the differences between them.

For our first episode in this series, we’re going to tackle the first two versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. We’re not discussing about the 2 later day versions for any reasons specifically, but wanted to concentrate on the two that are more well know, and obviously because they were the first two versions. With both of these titles recently being released on 4K, you might find yourself wanting to upgrade. Careful, there are spoilers here, but I’m sure any fan of any merit already knows of what we’ll speak about. Enjoy!

Movies mentioned in this episode:

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Mystery Photo 9-2

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Welcome to our first Mystery Photo for September! That means we made it through the brutal heat the end of August gave us, and that we are even closer to October! I know it is going to seem like time will fly, and it will be November before we know it, so make sure we all take the time to enjoy the ride while we can! Our last photo was from the film My Dear Killer (1972), which has the most unusual, amazing, and unforgettable opening kill, which was present in the pic we posted. Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Steve Archacki, Aaron Christensen, Dada Debaser, Troy Howarth, Tim Palace, and Michael Tutino.

Now on to this week’s photo. Take a minute to look and think because it might not be what you think it is. How’s that for a hint? Either way, make sure you email me your guess, at jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And most of all, Good Luck!

Back from the Dead

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Well . . . hopefully. In case you were wondering why no updates or much of anything from me over the last week is that coming back from the amazing weekend at the Skyline Drive-in and their annual Super Monster Movie Fest, when I got up Monday morning, I could feel a sore throat coming on. And it got worse. Though for sure I had a sinus infection and figured I’d stay home from work and just rest, hoping it would work its way through. Silly me. When it didn’t look like I was getting any better, I went to the doctors on Thursday, tested negative for Covid, no fever, and no sinus infection. “You just have a simple cold.” I’m still calling bullshit because I’ve never had a simple cold where it felt like my head was in a vice constantly. Again, why I have trust issues with doctors.

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I Love Being a Horror Fan!

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Since I’m on the verge of hitting the big 60 next year and have been a horror film fan most of my life, watching as many different films as possible over those 6 decades, one would think that I’d be close to seeing everything, right! WRONG! Therein lies the beauty of the horror genre, or really cinema in general. If they stopped making movies today, we would still not be able to see all the films out there that we haven’t seen yet. And to prove this, is the latest stunning box set announced by Severin Films today, All Haunts be Ours: A Compendium of Folk Horror Vol. 2.

The first set was amazing enough, especially with the deep diving documentary Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched, that opened up the doors to so many films. And now, Severin has done it again with volume 2, that features 13 discs, with 24 international folk horror classics! As I mentioned, I’ve been in the game a long time and there were many of these titles that I was not familiar with at all. That is why I never get tired of the horror genre. There is always more to discover.

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Dusk-To-Dawn Horrorfest at the Midway Drive-in!

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The Midway Drive-in has announced 3 out of the 4 titles for this year’s Dusk-to-Dawn Horrorfest, and it’s going to be another great night! Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the movie that started it all for Freddy Krueger, with A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). With this film, Wes Craven changed the game when it comes to the horror genre, for the 2nd time in his career, and wouldn’t be the last time either! Forget all the silly one-liners and comedic elements, the first is where we see Krueger the scariest! Come check it out and see why it is still as effective after all these years.

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DtH Episode 77: Slashers with Aaron Crowell from HorrorHound Magazine

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Mother’s Day (1980), Madman (1981), Pieces (1982), and Evil Dead Trap (1988)

When you’re talking about horror films with most non-horror fans, they usually are thinking about the slashers which they seem to encapsule all of that genre. But when us fans start to dig into that sub-genre, that’s when the questions arise, parameters seemed like they have to set, even though plenty of the films go out of their way to beyond said parameters. As if any were meant to stay between the lines!

Then you start to delve into when the sub-genre started, which can then start another round of questions and discussions.

To help get those arguments . . . we mean discussions started, in this episode we’re going to cover 4 different slasher films, granted, of varying types, but we feel still fits into the category of slasher films. And to help with this, we’ve invited Aaron Crowell, Managing Editor of HorrorHound Magazine back to join in the conversation.

Movies mentioned in this episode:

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Mystery Photo 8-19

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That’s right, even though it’s my birthday, I’m still here working in the Krypt to bring you a new Mystery Photo! Which kind of explains why it’s so late getting posted! Oof…too much Indian food! But back to the task at hand! Our photo from last week was from the 1946 film The Catman of Paris, recently released in the Republic Pictures Horror Collection. Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Michelle Creason, Dave Fronto, Kevin Hart, Bob Hartman, Ken Johnson, Doug Lamoreux, Lee Nattrass, Bryan Senn, and Mike Shields. Nice job!

Now on to this week’s photo. I’m sure everyone feels this every Monday going to work. I know I do! I’ve always found this kill one of the more interesting ones I’ve seen in cinema. Let’s see if you know which movie it is from. Just make sure you send your guess in an email to me, at jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And Good Luck!