Author Archives: Jon Kitley

The Karloff Compendium

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I guess I should have figured that since I posted a little while ago about a new book on Lugosi, that there would have to be a new one on Karloff to balance the scales, right? Thanks to Stephen Jacobs, author of the amazing and highly recommended biography Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster (click HERE for our review of it), we now have another volume to add to our library: The Karloff Compendium: The Films, TV, Radio, Theatrical Work and More of Boris Karloff!

According to the book’s description, it is the most comprehensive volume on Karloff’s film roles, including several recently discovered movies (editor’s note: I have to admit, that alone has me curious), as well as selected highlights from his appearances on TV, radio, and his work on the stage. This is a “pictorial journey” through the life of one of the greatest icons in film history.

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Beast from Haunted Cave Released by Film Masters

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Not sure when I first came across Beast from Haunted Cave, but when I had learned it was filmed in South Dakota, my birth state, and it was a low budget monster flick, I was in. We’ve reviewed the film previously here on the Krypt (just click HERE), but recently Film Masters have put it out on Blu-ray, along with in a double feature disc, so we wanted to mention it here again.

Bottom line is that if you like those low budget monster flicks, and unusual ones at that, then you can’t pass up this new release from Film Masters. Not only does the print look great, being a newly restored 4K scan from 35mm archival material, but you get a bunch of extras, including an early Roger Corman feature called Ski Troop Attack, which was an early WWII drama using the same locations that were used in Beast. This is a great example of what Corman was doing with very little money, a small cast, but making it work to put out an entertaining little film.

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Mystery Photo 11-6

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Welcome to our first Mystery Photo of November! Just seems like a few days ago we were all getting ready for Halloween. How time flies. But let’s get down to business. Our photo from last week was from the Mexican film La Loba (1965), an actually pretty fun movie if you haven’t had the chance to see it. Kudos to the following that did send in the correct answer: Bob Hartman, Gary McGuire, and Bryan Senn! Buen trabajo mis amigos!

Okay now on to this week’s photo. Might be easy, might not. Then again, don’t I always imply that? But take a look and see if you can recognize the movie this poor fellow is from. Just remember, send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com! Good Luck!

Hammer: The Whole Story Book

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Back in 1996, I bought my first book from Denis Meikle, A History of Horrors: The Rise and Fall of the House of Hammer. Besides the issues of Little Shoppe of Horrors, I never found a book solely dedicated with that much information on this famous British studio, and I just devoured it. Back in 2008, Meikle updated and released a much larger and revised edition. Now, coming from Hemlock Books, there is a new version, entitled Hammer Films: The Whole Story.

Due to be published at the end of the month, this volume covers the whole 115-year history of Hammer, from 1907 to 2022. It starts with they were just a distribution starting with Enrique Carreras, then connecting with William Hinds to form Exclusive Films, then getting into production themselves.

Now coming from a guy who has two bookshelves with nothing but volumes on Hammer, do we really need another one on the Studio that Dripped Blood? Well, of course we do! And I’ve already ordered my copy! Sure, I’m a bit of a nut when it comes to both books and Hammer, but Meikle was an author that wrote his mind, no matter if it wasn’t the most popular opinion. And what that did was make us think maybe a little more. Might not change our opinion but it makes us think a little more on a particular subject, and that is always a good thing. So yes, we DO need another book on Hammer.

You can find all the info about the book HERE on Hemlock Books page.

20th Anniversary of Turkey Day Coming

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Can you believe that it has been 20 years since I made the crazy decision to spend all of Black Friday watching some of the finest in cinematic shipwrecks? And what’s even crazier, is that now I am not alone in that celebrating. While it did start by myself in 2003, once we got to 2010, the number of people joining in had grew, as well as the number of films we’d get through. While we started with 4 or 5 titles, once we hit 7 features, it seemed that was the standard going forward. I think our record of attendees was at 14 or 15 people. To think back of when I started this idea, and then jump ahead two decades and realize that not only am I still doing it, but that a trusted group of people join me each and every time for this insane celebration.

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Black Christmas & Curtains Double Feature

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Just because Halloween is over doesn’t mean we still can’t have some awesome movie events, right? And thanks to the fine folks at Facets and House of Monsters, you’ll be able to break in the Christmas season with a nice little spirited double feature of one of the original slasher films, Bob Clark’s Black Christmas (1974) and the highly underrated slasher film Curtains (1983). Both films star Lynne Griffin who will be appearing at this double feature to meet fans, take photos, and do a Q&A after each screening.

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Discover the Horror Podcast: Episode 55 – Universal’s The Invisible Man

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The Invisible Man (1933), The Invisible Man Returns (1940), and The Invisible Man’s Revenge (1944).

In the pantheon of Universal Classic Monsters, some might say the Invisible Man is the least terrifying in the monster heritage, or maybe even bordering on if they even belong in the horror genre. In this episode, we’re going to delve into three of the films in Universal’s Invisible series, for the most part, stay within the horror genre, though, that argument will be addressed as well! We’re leaving out The Invisible Woman and Invisible Agent, since they are pretty much either a comedy or a war time action film. 

Join us as we try to “see” more into these films that maybe aren’t as “transparent” to the casual viewer who might have missed something. Or maybe we’re seeing too much and not finding them too entertaining. Want to know? You’ll have to listen and find out!

Movies mentioned in this episode:

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Béla Lugosi – The Man Behind the Cape

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For fans of Bela Lugosi, I would assume this is going to be a must for their libraries. I’m still on the fence, maybe due to the $150 price tag for the low-end edition (unless you go with the PDF format, which is only $50), but I have to say, it does look incredibly detailed and something that will only go up in value.

Set to be out in May of 2024, this special edition book from Clover Press, will feature not only over 700, but will include “many unseen documents and photos from the Lugosi family’s collection, rare stills, Béla’s personal correspondence and poetry, and artifacts from his professional career.” But it is not just a book of photos. According to the Kickstarter page, “This meticulously researched biography by Robert Cremer is not just another account of Lugosi’s career; it’s a deep dive into the man behind the legend. Through exclusive interviews, rare photographs, and intimate anecdotes from those who knew him best, he unveils the layers of this complex man.”

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Free Screening of Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving!

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If you are in the Chicago area, and are free on November 14th at 7pm? Then just click the link below and sign up for a free pass! Please keep in mind, these are first-come/first-served, so you want to make sure you get there early to get in!

CLICK HERE!

This is the feature length title that Roth had given us a “fake trailer” for a film called Thanksgiving back with the release of Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino’s Grindhouse (2007), and we finally now get to see what we were teased with way back then.

The free screening is at AMC River East 21, at 322 East Illinois Street, Streeterville. Once again, no guarantee so get there early!

Mystery Photo 10-30

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Back for our last Mystery Photo for October. Man, what a month it has been! That is main reason for the lack of updates here, but we should be getting back into the swing of things. But for now, let’s get down to business. Our last photo was from the 2014 film Musarañas, aka Shrew’s Nest, starring Macarena Gómez and Nadia de Santiago. This is one hell of a movie if you haven’t seen it and like Spanish cinema. Kudos go out to Peggie Christie and Dave Friedman for sending in the correct answer!

Now on to this week’s mystery pic. Take a look and see if you can recognize this title! Just remember to send me an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com, with your guess. And most of all, Good Luck!