Author Archives: Jon Kitley

Vampire Cinema: The First Hundred Years

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Back in 2017, author and historian Christopher Frayling gave us Frankenstein: The First Two Hundred Years, giving us an amazing history lesson, filled with a ton of amazing photos and illustrations, on the story of Frankenstein. Now, Frayling is back to give us a look at the other classic monster, the vampire, in Vampire Cinema: The First Hundred Years, recently published by Reel Art Press back in October. Not sure how I missed this coming out, but better late than never, right?

With close to 300 pages, Frayling gives goes through the cinematic history of the vampire, starting with the one that started it all, F. W. Murnau’s Nosferatu, released in 1922. Filled with a ton of stills, posters, artworks, and pressbooks, this is another essential volume for fans of horror films, and especially fans of the vampire sub-genre. The price is $45, which may seem a little steep, but if this is anything like the Frankenstein volume, it is more than worth it since that is a beautiful coffee table book that will give you more than a few hours of fun paging through it, not to mention maybe even learning a thing or two about this popular sub-genre.

Wishing Everyone A Very Scary Axemass!

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I know there hasn’t been a lot of updates this month, but I’m working on getting that back to normal, with several updates a week. Been a strange month, with trying to get ready for the holidays, and now the lovely drop in temps here in the Midwest, making me finally put on a coat over my hoodie. But everyone at the Krypt is still alive and kickin’ and ready for the new year to start. I’ve also been working on my Year End Reviews which always takes a lot longer than I anticipate. But the work is there, and it is coming.

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Discover the Horror Podcast Episode 32 – Conventions: The Promoter!

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In our final episode in our Convention Trilogy, where we’ve already covered the fans and the dealers, we now take a step back even further to the ones that put on the show in the first place, the promoters. These are the people that rent the hotels and convention centers, get the guests, round up the vendors, do the advertising, promotions, all in the hopes in giving the fans that show up a good time with plenty to see and do. When things go wrong, they take the heat for it, but seldom get the credit when things go right, so we wanted to take a peek behind the curtain, as it were, and learn a little about what actually goes into putting on one of these conventions. To get the insight into that side of the conventions, we’ve invited Nathan Hanneman, editor in chief of HorrorHound Magazine and one of the main persons behind the Horrorhound Weekend conventions.

Invasion of Monster Bash!

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Next August, Monster Bash is invading The Palace Theatre in Canton, Ohio, for what is becoming their annual film fest. And this year, the theme is INVASION! They have 8 fantastic titles lined up over two days, featuring some of the best in sci-fi / horror, that you can see all of them for only $40! That’s only $5 a movie! Plus, there will be vendors there as well, as well as plenty of the Monster Bash fun. This is taking place on Aug. 18th & 19th, 2023. Below is the lineup for each day, so start making your plans!

Friday, August 18th

Invaders from Mars (1953)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
War of the Worlds (1953)

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Mystery Photo 12-12

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Welcome to another Monday Mystery Photo! Our last photo must have really stumped everyone because I only got one correct answer and that was from Hoby Abernathy. The photo was from Guillermo del Toro’s first film, Cronos (1992), which still remains one of my favorites.

But let’s not waste time and get to today’s photo. Might not be on the same quality as del Toro’s work, but I think it is an interesting shot, nonetheless. Take a look and see what you can come up with. As always, remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

Robert Tayman – Rest In Peace

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Robert Tayman was an actor that didn’t appear in too many horror films, but a few that are worth mentioning. He appeared in Pete Walker’s House of Whipcord (1974), and even Hammer’s strange Sci-Fi / Western Moon Zero Two (1969). But it really his performance as the vampire Count Mitterhaus in Hammer’s Vampire Circus (1972) that most Hammer and horror fans remember him by. While we haven’t seen anything official announced, I’ve seen a couple of posts from reliable sources that Mr. Tayman has recently passed away, at the age of 80 years old.

His performance as Mitterhaus is a bit over-the-top, but that is one of the reasons I’ve always enjoyed it, as well as the film itself. It’s a style that I’m not sure we’ll see anytime soon, but as a young horror fan, I thought the film, and the vampires throughout the story were just so damn slick and cool.

Our thoughts go out to his friends and family in this difficult time, but know that because of his performance in Vampire Circus, along with Count Mitterhaus, his life will go on for us fan.

Mystery Photo 12-5-22

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Welcome to our first Mystery Photo for December! That means we’ll be in 2023 before you know it! Better get those last-minute films in to make it on this year’s list! But let’s get down to business. Last week’s photo was from José Ramón Larraz 1973 film Scream…and Die, also known as The House that Vanished. Which, depending on which version you have, it could be cut quite a bit. I know the Blu-ray release that came out here in the states is definitely cut. The copy I have from an old VHS tape under the Scream…and Die title looks to be the full version, though the print is a little less than stellar. But still worth seeing if you’re a fan of Larraz’s early work. Definitely repeating the sleaze and dark tone that he had been doing so far in his career. Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Kevin Hart, Gary McGuire, and Todd Warren. Well done!

Okay, throwing everyone a bone as an early holiday gift with this week’s photo. Should be pretty easy. Or is it? Maybe I’m trying to make throw you off by making you think it is easy, when in fact, it’s an obscure film only shown in one theater in outer Mongolia back in the ’40s, that reported made people go mad. Or not. Either way, take a look and see what you think. Just send me your guess, in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. As always, Good Luck!

To-See List!

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Around this time of year, everyone is making their Best Of lists for the last year, myself included. But here’s an idea . . . how about you make a list of films that you will watch next year. There are more than a few books (some pictured below) that give you a list of films you must see before you die or the Top 100 in whatever genre out there, plus there are plenty of those lists online if you just google it. Or, since everyone will be posting their lists within the next month, you could even go through those and see which ones you haven’t seen. For me, usually when I go through there, I’ve seen quite a few, but there is usually a title or two that I’ve never gotten around to. So, while I’m working on my Best Viewings for this year, I am also compiling a list of films that I plan to knock out in 2023.

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DtH Podcast: Episode 31: Unearthed Zombie Films

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Sugar Hill (1974), Wild Zero (1999), Juan of the Dead (2011).

Everyone loves zombie films. Ever since Romero brought them to the screen in 1968 with Night of the Living Dead, they have become one of the horror genre’s favorite and most used monster. With this sub-genre flooding the market over the last 2 decades, there are a lot of good films that get buried or forgotten. Because of that, we decided to dig up three titles that we feel need more time in the spotlight. They are all three uniquely different, with more than a little social commentary in there, but all damn entertaining.

So, sit back, take some notes, and then seek these films out! Even a genre as “dead” as zombies, there are still plenty of them to see that you’ll still find damn entertaining and well worth your time.

Movies mentioned in this episode:

Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), Blacula (1972), Castle of the Living Dead (1964), Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things (1972), Dawn of the Dead (1978), The Dead (2010), Death Line (1972), Juan of the Dead (2011), Night of the Living Dead (1968), Poltergeist (1982), Race with the Devil (1975), Salem’s Lot (1979), Scream Blacula Scream (1973), Serpent and the Rainbow (1988), She-Beast (1966), Six-String Samurai (1998), Sugar Hill (1974), Under the Shadow (2016), White Zombie (1932), Wild Zero (1999)

Mystery Photo 11-28

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For those that didn’t send in the correct photo must not have read my Turkey Day report because I unknowingly used the exact same photo of last week’s Mystery Photo, from Bill Rebane’s Rana: The Legend of Shadow Lake (1980). If that is where you got it and sent in your answer, I’ll still count it, so no worries! Yes, that is the gill-man named Rana from Rebane’s take on The Creature from the Black Lagoon, for what it’s worth. I happened to like the film, while admitting it’s not the greatest. But congrats to the following for sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Aaron Christensen, Craig Clark, Kevin Hart, Bob Hartman, Tim Palace, Michael Pniewski. Well done!

This week’s photo might be a little tougher and a lot more obscure. Get your thinking caps on because this one will have you thinking. Just remember to send your guess to me in an email (that way I don’t lose your name!) to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!