Discover the Horror – Episode 42: Universal Frankensteins

Frankenstein (1931), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Son of Frankenstein (1939), and The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942).

Time to go back to the source! The films that started a mythology, created the stereotypes, and taught us everything we were going to need to know about the mad genius that created a “monster” and the innocent, child-like creature that would eventually be known by his creator’s own name. In this episode, we look back at the first four Universal Frankenstein films, before the monster-ramas, when the main point was the creature and his maker. While there is a lot of material to cover in only one episode, we cover as much as we can, trying to show you just how important, entertaining and well-made these films are after close to a century.

Films mentioned during this episode:

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New Titles from Peveril Publishing!

If you are a series fan of Hammer Studios, as well as reference books on the famous Studio that Dripped Blood, then you probably already know about Peveril Publishing. Wayne Kinsey and company have continued to create some amazing film books over the years, giving fans so much information about Hammer, that they really become essential volumes for anyone wanting to do sort of research on the studio.

Today, they have released the next three titles they will be releasing, granted, these will take well over a year for them to come out. But I know I will be ordering my copies as soon as they are taking orders. They are such works of beauty, filled with such glossy images, not to mention packed filled with information.

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Mystery Photo 5-1

Yes, we are back with a new photo. Not sure what happened last week other coming off from a very busy weekend, from a convention and a little movie marathon. But enough excuses, right? Let’s get down to business. Our last photo was from the Spanish director Carlos Enrique Taboada, who was completely unknown to me until Vinegar Syndrome released a nice little set of 3 of his movies. One of them, which is where the photo is from, is Poison for the Fairies (1986). Kudos to Hoby Abernathy for sending in the correct answer!

On to the first photo for the new month. Take a look and see what you think and if you can recognize where it is from. Just remember to send your answer to us in an email (so I don’t lose it!) to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

Backstage and Beyond – Fabio Frizzi Autobiography Out!

If you’re a fan of Lucio Fulci, then you know the work of composer Fabio Frizzi. How can you not? His scores were essential in helping those films make the impact they did. From creating haunting breaks, to a highly memorable theme with just 7 notes, to filling our ears with music that helped us believe we were in “Beyond” our understanding!

Through Chiroptera Press, in 3 different editions, you can now order your own copy of Frizzi’s autobiography, Backstage and Beyond: An Autobiography, learning about his life in music, movies, and more recently, touring the world to bring both of those to his fans. The book has been translated by Esteban Medaglia and edited by Stephen Thrower, and, according to the website, “takes the reader on a richly detailed journey through his lifelong passion for music. Along the way, we encounter the giants who have inspired or influenced his career, including guitar virtuoso Andrés Segovia, fellow composers Armando Trovajoli and Carlo Rustichelli, and progressive rock group Goblin. We hear about Frizzi’s teenage rock’n’roll bands, his internship with the legendary Ennio Morricone, and learn the secrets of his early success with the group Bixio-Frizzi-Tempera (much admired by Quentin Tarantino). And we meet Lucio Fulci – a complex, tormented genius with whom Frizzi enjoyed a long-standing professional and personal friendship.”

There is a signed hardcover edition that is priced at $80, a signed softcover edition priced at $45, or the standard softcover priced at $36. It seems there are limited quantities of all of these editions, so if you’re interested, you may want to jump on it and get your order in! You can do just that by going to their website HERE.

Giovanni Lombardo Radice – Rest in Peace

Fans of Italian horror, especially the over-the-top, gore-filled pictures, know the face of this man. They may know him by his pseudonym John Morghen, but they definitely know his face, and usually how he met his grisly end in whatever picture he was appearing in. But unfortunately, news of his passing today spread through social media, making a lot of us fans a little more somber than before.

While he may have been known for his crazy characters, the outcasts, the one that you sometimes want to see get what’s coming to him, but beyond that he actually brought those different characters to life, making them quite different in each one. That showed real talent, that he wasn’t just hitting the numbers and walking through. Granted, some of the working conditions probably weren’t the easiest either, but he always delivered.

So here at the Krypt, we are deeply saddened to hear this news this morning. As we always say, we know that he will always be remembered, and his legacy will continue to live on amongst all horror fans. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family during this difficult time.

Discover the Horror: Episode 41 – Made for TV Horrors 2

Devil Dog: Hound of Hell (1978), Vampire (1979), & Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981). Back in Episode 11, we covered 3 Made-for-TV films that we felt were must see! And now we’re back again to go over another 3 titles that we think are well worth your time and attention. During the late ’70s and early ’80s was still a time of great films that were made to premiere on your television at home, decades before streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime were available. Thankfully, these three are available in a variety of formats, but you may have to do a little searching first. But that’s okay…the hunt is part of the fun!

So sit back, hit play, and listen to us ramble on about some really good films, with incredible casts, and some damn entertaining monsters!

Here are the titles mentioned in this episode:

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Skyline Drive-In’s Super Monster Movie Fest

The Skyline Drive-in has announced the first 4 titles for this year’s Super Monster Movie Fest, taking place on August 25th & 26th. The theme this year is Frozen Frights, so the films will be taking place either during the winter, or something to do with the cold!

On Friday, they will be screening Krampus (2015) and the original The Thing from Another World (1951), and on Saturday, they will be screening the original The Invisible Man (1933) and John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982).

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Mystery Photo 4-17

Welcome back to Monday, one more day closer to Halloween, right? We’re halfway there now, so just keep muddling along and we’ll be there before you know it!

Last week’s photo was from the one and only Mardi Gras Massacre (1978), one of the original Video Nasties in the UK, and recently released on Blu-ray by Severin Films. Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Dada Debaser, Kevin Hart, and Mike & Mia Kerz. Well done!

This week’s photo is going to be a little more obscure, but let’s see who might be able to recognize it. Take a look and see what you can come up with. Just remember to send your answer to me in an email (so I don’t lose or forget it!) to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

Robot Monster in 3-D!

Most fans of horror and sci-fi films, especially ones from the ’50s, know of the infamous film Robot Monster (1953), from director Phil Tucker, that stars the notorious Ro-Man, one of the most iconic monsters of that time. Yes, it is one that usually gets the laughs and snickers because it is basically a guy in a gorilla suit with a space helmet on. While this film is usually labeled as one of those “so bad it’s good” kind of films, I will stand by the fact that it is in fact a Turkey, but not by the standards of the Medveds and MST3K. By MY standards of what a Turkey is, which is that if it is entertaining, it can’t be considered a bad movie. While it may not be the most technically efficient, or well-made film, it surely is entertaining. Therefore, no matter how much you must try to calculate it, it CANNOT be qualified as a “bad” movie.

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Soundtrack Review: The Innkeepers

The Innkeepers
Released by Screamworks Records, 2012
14 Tracks with a total running time of 40 min.
Music by Jeff Grace

I was first introduced to Grace’s work with his incredible score for Stake Land, immediately started seeking out his other scores, and have been a fan ever since. This one just adds to the list.

The film is a very slow paced and moody piece, relying a lot on atmosphere, and the score blends perfectly with it, being very somber and slow paced but highly effective. There are a few faster paced tracks, but most of it is slow and steady, but damn does it work. Filled with lot of continuous or drawn-out notes, as if we’re waiting for something to happen, slowly building up that suspense and tension, it is a score to listen to when you’re trying to relax but will still raise the hair on the back of your neck!

Right from the Opening Title track, we get a nice hook that sets the pace. When you get to track 3, Right Behind You, you can just imagine sitting there and imagining something is right behind you. This track is beautiful in the way you have this low continuous string notes, then a quick few notes on the piano, then a long pause again before more piano. Really creepy and sets up the mood perfectly.

Highly recommend this score, as I would with just about any of Grace’s work!