Author Archives: Jon Kitley

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

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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

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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

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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!

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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

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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!

Book Review: Making a Monster

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Making a Monster: The Creation of Screen Characters by The Great Makeup Artists
By Al Taylor & Sue Roy
Published by Crown Publishers, Inc., 1980. 278 pages.

In today’s world of horror fandom, everyone knows the names of Tom Savini, Rick Baker, Rob Bottin, and a dozen other names. In the ’80s, the films really made these people stars, and deservedly so! There were plenty of films I wanted to see simply based on who had done the makeup effect in it. They were sometimes more important to us fans than who starred in it or who even directed it. But what about the artists that came before them? Names like William Tuttle, Ben Nye Sr., John Chambers, or Phil Leaky? These are some of the few that took those first steps into helping filmmakers bring their ideas and imagination to life on screen.

This book highlights 25 different makeup artists that help create and elevate the industry to where it is today. Way before CGI or even basic special makeup effects, these guys were designing, developing, and even creating the makeup and techniques that helped advance the industry, some of which are still be used today. By reading this book, you will learn the important history of this crucial part of the filmmaking world that is so important to us horror fans. The ones covered in this volume are the forefathers and need to be remembered for what they help give us today. Even if you’re not a makeup artist, this is a lesson needed for any fan of the fantastic elements of cinema, bringing imagination and dreams to life on the big screen.

Mystery Photo 4-10

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Last week’s photo seemed to be a bit of a tough one, since we only got two correct answers sent in. The shot is from the 2004 Russian film Night Watch, from director Timur Bekmambetov, which was based on the series of novels by Sergey Lukyanenko. Originally proposed as a trilogy, sadly they combined the 2nd and 3rd novel into one film, 2006’s Day Watch. If you like a film that is going to bust through traditions and sub-genres, you might want to check these out. But back to the task at hand. Congrats to Neil Calderone and William Wilson for sending in the correct answer. Well done!

This week’s photo is closer to home is amazing to the eye for a few different reasons. But take a look below and see if you recognize where this shot is from. Just remember, send your guess to us in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

Soundtrack Review: I, Frankenstein

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I, Frankenstein
Released by Lakeshore Records, 2014
26 Tracks, with a total running time of 75 min.
Music by Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil

Okay, we can all agree that this is not a great movie. In fact, it is about as far away from Shelley as 2015 film Victor Frankenstein, and about as entertaining. But we are here to focus on the soundtrack, because as fans of movie music, we know that sometimes the music can be better than the film itself, and this is a perfect example.

The first word that comes to mind when listening to this score is epic. Right from the Main Title, it had my attention. I’m a sucker for operatic vocals in a score and this one starts out with this haunting voice over the building music. You can feel how big this movie is going to look just by the score. With a story about the title character fighting off demons and gargoyles throughout the running time, you need a big score to accompany it. And you have it here.

Klimek and Heil have created a great score here, one filled with quiet and somber themes, as well as cranking it up to the next level with plenty of pounding percussions, thundering strings, creating enough action in our ears that we can feel it.

While I can’t recommend the movie, which honestly is just damn silly, the score however is well worth seeking out.

1000 Vampires on Screen

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Since vampires are still one of the most popular monsters in film and television history, it is only natural for more books to continue to come out about them. But this new 2-volume set from BearManor Media, 100 Vampires on Screen by Simon Bacon, it seems a bit different than your average reference book. As it states in the book’s description, it “covers the history of vampires on film and television”, but here is where it gets different. It seems that it is told from the vampire’s perspective, which honestly sounds like it could be interesting, but is this just a fictional perspective from the author based on the character info from the film? I have to say, I am curious about this. And the fact that I’m a slightly obsessive horror reference book collector.

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Euro Horror Shock Show!

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I know we posted about this back in January, but with the show only 2 weeks away, we wanted to put this little reminder out in case you forgot. But in two weeks from tomorrow, thanks to the wonderful House of Monsters, you’ll have the chance to see TWO Paul Naschy flicks on the big screen, as well as two other great Euro horror titles. Just think about that for a minute . . . when was the last time you had a chance to see the Spanish horror icon Paul Naschy in a theater, filled with other like-minded horror fans?

Wait . . . not too familiar with Naschy? Then now is your chance to see two of his best films, The Hunchback of the Morgue (1973) and Mummy’s Revenge (1975).

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