Author Archives: Jon Kitley

Discover the Horror Book 5-Year Anniversary

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Thanks to Facebook, I was reminded that yesterday was when we had the official book launch for my book, Discover the Horror. It’s hard to believe that it has been that long, especially when it took me about 5 years to get it completed! But I’m still proud of it and what I’ve accomplished with it.

When I set out in the beginning, trying to figure out just what kind of book it was going to be, I realized that the only thing that I knew more about than anybody else was my own experiences with the horror genre. But yet, I did share a lot of experiences with other fans, no matter what year they were born, or when they started down the path of being a horror fan. I’ve said before that being a fan is not a race, but a journey. Sometimes that path takes you off the main road at times, but you can still find some pretty interesting films when you do go wandering off, but always coming back to the main road.

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Larry Fessenden Rules!

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Not sure exactly when I became aware of Fessenden’s work, but it was probably when my friend Aaron Christensen told me about his 1995 film Habit, which is a modern-day vampire tale. Fessenden wrote, directed, edited, and even stars in as the main character. It was a feature length film based on a previous short film he made back in 1982. It’s pretty tough to make modern-day vampire film work because it has been done so many times, but Habit does it perfectly.

From that point on, I was following his career, watching anything he directed. But like Roger Corman, there were a ton of young filmmakers coming out of Fessenden’s Glass Eye Pix, such as Ti West and Jim Mickle, who have created some incredible features on their own. Every time I’ve seen an interview with Fessenden, he just seemed so down-to-earth, with no pretentions, but just has this overwhelming passion to make film. When he’s not directing or producing, he’s always popping up with little cameos in a ton of different films, from the independent ones to even big-budgeted ones.

But I’ve never had the chance to actually meet this legend. Until yesterday.

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Indicator Scores Again!

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Yet another reason why we are so lucky right now. Last year, Indicator released their Mexico Macabre box set which featured 4 incredible titles from the Mexican horror output from the late ’50s and early ’60s, which was a much-needed release for fans who had missed out on the old Casa Nega DVDs. But there were 2 titles missing from that collection that were a must for any fan of this sub-genre. But have no fear because Indicator has announced this amazing double feature that will contain the film that started it all, El Vampiro aka The Vampire (1957), and it’s sequel, El ataúd del vampire aka The Vampire’s Coffin (1958), both starring Germán Robles in the title role, and Abel Salazar as the stand-in for Van Helsing! Both are filled with so much atmosphere you can cut it with a knife. Two perfect examples of the amazing work they were creating back then.

This set will include audio commentaries by star Germán Robles from 2007, as well as interviews with Claudia & Rosa Salazar Arenas about their father, actor and producer Abel Salazar, as well as other interviews with people involved in film fests, horror scholars, and film historians on the Spanish horror genre. The set also comes with a limited edition exclusive 80-page book with new essays Jesús Palacios and David Wilt, archival essays by Eduardo de la Vega Alfaro and Carmen A Serrano, cast interviews, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits

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DtH Episode 75 – Special Guest Zandor Vorkov

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In the realm of low budget filmmakers, Al Adamson, along with his partner, producer Sam Sherman, are gods among men. They created a wide variety of pictures, in just about every sub-genre out there, and made with more love than money. But they were entertaining, and always memorable. Perhaps their most memorable (and successful) film was 1971’s Dracula vs. Frankenstein, in no small part thanks to the casting of a young, unknown actor in the iconic role of Dracula. Raphael Engel, rechristened Zandor Vorkov was a whole new kind of creature of the night- longhaired, goateed, and able to shoot fire out of his ring, this was a brand-new Dracula for a brand-new age. Zandor’s Dracula stalked across the screen of virtually every grindhouse and drive-in screen in America in the early 70s and then across every television screen in America for a couple of decades after that. While his Dracula was being elevated to pop culture celebrity, Zandor himself left the movie business and fell out of the public eye for decades. Go to a convention, and bring up Al Adamson, and someone would eventually say “I wonder what ever happened to Zandor Vorkov?”

Like any good vampire, he was just lying in the shadows, waiting to emerge anew!

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How Lucky I Am…

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Now, I’m talking about us horror fans (which I’m guessing would be the only ones reading this!), but I am once again reminded on how great of a time we are living in, as horror fans. Yes, I know, the world is in turmoil right now, with us on the brink of destruction. But guess what, it always seems to be, or at least has been multiple times in my lifetime. So why not take a second and look at some positive things going on that, while doesn’t solve all the world’s problems, it does make you realize that there are some pretty damn cool things, even if it is just related to that “silly monster stuff”.

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Mystery Photo 7-22

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I had no idea when I posted the photo from last week, that I had caused a little confusion, especially on MY part! The other day while browsing through Prime, I came across this black and white film called Space Probe Taurus (1965) that looked like it could be fun. And when I saw this alien show up, I knew I had my next Mystery Photo. Then I started to get a couple of emails saying it was from a movie called The Wizard of Mars, also from 1965 but in color! After the second email, I looked it up and what do you know . . . they used the same makeup for the alien in both movies! Got to give those low budget filmmakers credit for using something cool more than once! So, kudos to all of the following, no matter which title you sent in: Hoby Abernathy, Bob Hartman, Erik Martin, Charles Miller, Lee Nattrass, Mike Shields, Alan Tromp, Todd Warren. Well done! I think we all learned something with this one. I know I did!

Now today’s photo is a little more recent than 1965, but let’s see if anybody recognizes it. And if you think it looks a little blurry or off, that is the way the shot is. Take a good look, and if you know it, send me your guess to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

Friends Helping Friends

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Over 25 years ago, I met Tom Sueyres (Simmons at the time), through another friend, and we started tape trading. Tom ran Video Holocaust, which soon became Video Junkie, which also became a magazine. Video Junkie’s tag line was that it’s not a hobby, but a way of life. That was not only true of the business and the magazine, but of Tom himself. I don’t know what impressed me more, his knowledge of film, or just his sheer passion for cinema. I know that if wasn’t for Tom, I wouldn’t have gotten started creating and getting Kitley’s Krypt going. He was huge part in getting me on my way, in both running my website, writing in general, and a LOT of much needed advice when it came to basic journalism. Oh yeah, self-editing was a constant topic of conversation between us!

But now Tom is need of some funds due to some severe medical conditions he’s dealing with now and could use any and all help. No matter how much, it all adds up. So back in the days of buying movies that you couldn’t find anywhere else, if you happen to get any from Video Junkie, or even was entertained by the magazine, or any of the rantings he would post on the Video Junkie website, see if you can’t spare a little change to help a friend out. Click on the link to get to the GoFundMe page and read his story. I know we’re all struggling out there, but if you can, help a brother out and let’s keep this very creative mind kicking around for a few more decades. Just click HERE and give what you can.

Soundtrack Review: The Abandoned

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The Abandoned
Released by Moviescore, 2024
14 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 46 min.
Music Composed by Alfons Conde

Nacho Cerdá’s directorial feature debut gave us something completely different than what he showed us in his short film Aftermath (1994). Instead of the disturbing and gooey subject matter of necrophilia, The Abandoned is a slow-moving ghost story, where a woman is haunted by her childhood. She returns to her birthplace in Russia in hopes of uncovering or laying to rest her dark memories.

There isn’t a lot of action here, but more of a mood piece, there are a lot of scenes of no talking, but looking. Waiting. Searching. This is where Conde’s music blends perfectly. It worms its way into your subconscious, much like the film. Sometimes you’re not even aware of the music in the background, like a prolonged note being held, or maybe a vibration. But it’s there, helping to create and enhance the emotions you are feeling by watching what is going on.

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Super-Horror-Rama at Sideshow Gelato!

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The Super-Horror-Rama shows have now moved to the Sideshow Gelato for screenings on the last 3 Wednesday nights in July! Each of the films that will be shown do have some sort of connection to ice cream, even if it might be a little twisted!

Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, July 17th, they will be screening Don Coscarelli’s Phantasm (1979), where we have the all-time, coolest guitar-playing, dwarf-killing ice cream man around, the one and only Reggie Bannister! There is a reason this film is still regarded as a classic.

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Mystery Photo 7-15

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We’re not officially halfway through July, which means (hopefully) halfway through summer. I know a lot out there enjoy the sun and heat, but I am not one of those. So, bring on the fall, and of course, Halloween! In the meantime, I’ll do what I can to stay inside, behind closed curtains and doors! But let’s get to the business at hand. Last week’s photo was from Sergio Martino’s 1979 film The Great Alligator, starring the lovely Barbara Bach, Claudio Cassinelli, Mel Ferrer, and the lovely little Silvia Collatina! We only had one correct answer sent in (unless, of course, I missed one) and that was from Erik Martin! Well done, Sir!

Today’s photo might be even more obscure, but at least from this country. Take a look below and see if you recognize it where it is from. Just remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com, or I definitely will forget! And most of all, Good Luck!