Author Archives: Jon Kitley

Music Box Loves Horror!

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I know I’ve sang the praises of Chicago’s Music Box Theatre many times before here, but damn if they don’t make it hard living out in the suburbs when they program so much great stuff during this time of year that makes me want to rent an apartment or something for the month of October!

We already posted about the upcoming Music Box of Horrors, taking place on Oct. 21st, which we will be making our glorious return as a vendor there, but they have added a few more titles to the list. They will be screening Mike Mendez’s The Convent (2000), with Adrienne Barbeau, Dan Curtis’ haunted house epic Burnt Offerings (1976), with an all-star cast of Oliver Reed, Bette Davis, Burgess Meredith, and Karen Black, as well as Child’s Play 3 (1991). All three titles being screened from 35mm prints. Along with the other films already announced, Piranha II: The Spawning (1981), Casper (1995), and J.R. Bookwalter’s Ozone (1995), this is going to be another 24 hours of greatness. For all the latest info on this event, just click HERE.

If that wasn’t enough, they are also having their 31 Nights of Terror, with a huge selection of rare archival screenings, special guests, interactive events, fan favorites and much more. Here are SOME of the titles they have already announced.

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Mystery Photo 8-21

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I know, the day is almost over and I’m just getting this posted. After being at HorrorHound all weekend and coming back to plenty of things to get caught up, this post being one of them, I’m amazed I haven’t collapsed yet! But here it is! Before we get to today’s photo, let’s talk about last week’s pic. It is from Russell Mulcahy’s 1998 film Tale of the Mummy, aka Talos the Mummy, which featured an all-star cast, including Sir Christopher Lee in a small role in the beginning, as well as Sean Pertwee, Jason Scott Lee, Honor Blackman, Shelley Duvall, Jon Polito, Michael Lerner, and even Gerard Butler! Not sure if this ever got a DVD release, at least not in its uncut version, but it is an interesting take on the mummy genre. Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Rod Barnett, Aaron Christensen, Kevin Hart, Erik Martin, Gary McGuire, Bryan Senn, and William Wilson. Great job, people!

Okay . . . on to this week’s photo. See if this gets you scratching your head. Take a peek and see what you can come up with. Just remember to email me your guess, at jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

Discover the Horror LIVE This Wednesday!!!

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In two days, at 8pm (CST), we will be celebrating our 50th episode by doing a LIVE show! The best part is that there will be a chat room, so you are welcome to ask questions, make comments, and maybe even count how many times Jon swears, or has technical difficulties, which then usually leads to more swearing!

Your Hosts:
Jon Kitley – Damien Glonek – Aaron AuBuchon

The plan is to go live at 8pm, and we’ll have a few subjects that we’ll be covering, but the main point of this is to hear from our fans. If you have suggestions for a possible topic, let’s hear it! If there is a particular episode that you really enjoyed, let us know! If there was a movie you watched because of one of our episodes and really enjoyed it, let’s hear it!

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Mystery Photo 8-14

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Halfway through August already, that means that Halloween is just around the corner! You know, when us horror fans can seem somewhat normal for a short time. Then again, we all know that normal is overrated. But not here to talk philosophy, are we? Let’s get down to business. Last week’s photo was from the 1987 film The Kindred, a very underrated little monster flick. If you haven’t seen this one, then make sure you pick up the amazing release from Synapse Films because they have done, as always, an incredible job with that one! Kudos Erik Martin, Gavin Schmitt, and William Wilson for sending in the correct answer.

For this week’s photo, we’re going with a one of the classic monsters. But which film is it from? That is the $64 question, isn’t it? Take a peek and see what you can come up with. Just remember to send your guess to me in an email (so I don’t lose it) to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

The Criminal Acts of Tod Slaughter

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Indicator has done it once again with coming up with a box set to celebrate one of the unsung heroes of the horror genre, Tod Slaughter. While he started acting on the stage in 19005, usually playing the villain and really hamming it up, he became a big star known for those types of roles. A lot of these roles were then transferred to the big screen, usually in very cheap and quick versions, to help with Britain’s quota-quickies, which then continued his notoriety.

Known for his over-the-top performances, he still continued to be popular in the film versions, though eventually that lost the charm to more modern-day fans. But thankfully, fans are still becoming aware of Slaughter and his work, and now, thanks to Indicator, it will be even easier.

These are the 8 films being released in this box set:

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Dusk to Dawn Horrorfest at the Midway Drive-In

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I can’t remember how long it’s been, but ever since Mike and Mia Kerz took over the Midway Drive-In in Dixon, IL, and started doing these old-fashioned all night horror movie marathons, we’ve been there! And now that they’ve announced this year’s lineup, I know I am, as always, excited to do it all over again!

Taking place on September 16th, they will be screening the following features:

Child’s Play (1988)
The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
Slumber Party Massacre (1983)
Frankenhooker (1990)

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Discover the Horror LIVE!

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To Celebrate our 50th show, we are going to try something a little different. Heavy on the “try” part! We are going to do a live show, that will be streaming on YouTube and where you’ll be able to interact with us, asking some questions or make comments. We don’t have the link just yet but will post it everywhere once we do get it.

This momentous event will take place 2 weeks from today, on August 23rd, at 8pm CST. This will have video, so you’ll be able to see as well as just listen this time out. Or at least until I run into the usual technical difficulties I tend to each show. But we’re going to give it a whirl anyway!

Mark your calendar, stay tuned for more details, and come to the show with your questions and comments! See you in 2 weeks!

Discover the Horror Episode 49 – Fanzines with Dave Kosanke

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One of the things that was realized at some point after the creation of Famous Monsters magazine, was that there was this horror fandom, or fan base, of all these horror fans around the country, in a variety of ages, that realized that they were not alone in their love of horror. While there were more magazines to follow, at some point there was the birth of the fanzine, which was the low budget version of a professional magazine, but one that was created by nothing but passion. In the ’90s, with home computers and then desktop publishing became something you had in your own home, more and more of these fanzines started. Each one wrote about the films they wanted to cover, whether it was mainstream, though mainly they were talking about more on the obscure side, but it was always through the excitement of hoping to get others to seek those films out.

In this episode, we welcome Dave Kosanke, creator and genius behind the fanzine Liquid Cheese, which Dave created, wrote, and self-published for 25 years. Dave’s knowledge of the horror genre and fanzines is a topic that he is more than well-versed in, which it shows within the first few minutes of chatting with him.

Fanzines and magazines mentioned in this episode:

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William Friedkin – Rest in Peace

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It’s hard to go on any social media today and not see the news of the passing of director William Friedkin, at the age of 87. While he made plenty of films, it really was only two that gave him the notoriety that he carried with him for the rest of his career, the first being The French Connection (1971) and, of course, The Exorcist (1973). On the later, one can argue about his tactics on set (and one should), but the end results that ended up on film are just incredible, giving us, without question, one of the scariest films of all time. It is a film that still holds up today and can still pack the same slap to the face, has he had done to Father William O’ Malley, playing Father Dyer, right before the scene where he gives Karras his Last Rites.

Because of The Exorcist, Friedkin will never be forgotten in the minds of not only horror fans, but movie fans in general. He was able to create one powerful film, obviously with the help of many talented actors, makeup artists, technicians, and everyone else involved in that film. But without his craziness leading the charge, who knows if it would have been as effective.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Friedkin. Thank you for the nightmares.

Mystery Photo 8-7

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Welcome to our first Mystery Photo for August! So far, this month has started busier as ever, so that is why I’m blaming on not getting this posted until now! Had an amazing weekend at Flashback so now playing a little bit of catch-up. But let’s get to business!

Looks like last week’s photo was a good one because we got a lot of correct answers this time out. The photo was from The Lodger (1944), starring the amazing talented Laird Cregar. Congrats to the following: Hoby Abernathy, Aaron Christensen, Dave Fronto, Kevin Hart, Troy Howarth, Erik Martin, Gary McGuire, Lee Nattrass, Bryan Senn, and Todd Warren. Well done, indeed!

This week’s photo might be a little tougher, but I have faith in that some of you out there will get it right away. Right? Just remember to send your answer to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!