Author Archives: Jon Kitley

Mystery Photo 3-7

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Another month, another day closer to convention season starting for us, and of course, another Monday. But that means a new Mystery Photo, right? Well, last week’s photo was a bit of a tough one, both in trying to guess it as well as watching it! The film was from the film Killing Birds: Raptors (1988), but also known for its strange retitling Zombie 5: Killing Birds. Uh . . . Yeah. Anyway, congrats to the following that did send in the correct answer: Troy Howarth, Kevin Hart, and Will Wilson. Well done!

For this week’s photo, the title might be known to fans, but we’ll see if this particular shot comes to mind. Just remember to send your guess to me by email (that way I won’t forget!) at jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

Horrors at the Music Box in Chicago

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While we all wait for news of this year’s Music Box of Horrors, Chicago’s best 24-hour horror movie marathon, there are more than a few interesting screenings coming up there that might peak the interests of local fans!

This Wednesday, at 9:15pm, they are screening the 1982 epic Boardinghouse, one of the earlier shot-on-video films that actually did play theaters. I know this for a fact because it played at the theater I worked at and was both confused and blown aways by it! Plenty of nudity and gore, as well as a lot of W-T-F moments, it is definitely like nothing else you’ve seen. And getting to see it on the big screen is a whole other experience! There will be an introduction to the film by author and film critic Preston Fassel, author of the book Landis: The Story of a Real Man on 42nd Street, the first ever biography of Sleazoid Express found Bill Landis. There will also be a post screening conversation as well.

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Movie Review: Terrified

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(2017)
Directed by Demián Rugna
Starring Maximillano Ghione, Norberto Gonzalo, Elvira Onetto, George L. Lewis, Julieta Vallina, Demián Salomón

It is not often that a film can have very little explanation of what is actually going on in the story, even once the final credits roll, and still be as effective as this one. For those who have not seen this yet, I will not mention any spoilers in this first part of my review, only because I feel it would be much better going into this completely blind. But there is so much I feel the need to comment on that in the second part I will go over some moments that I think are just amazing.

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The Incredibly Strange Features of Ray Dennis Steckler

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Those fans of low budget and independent filmmaking might be aware of Ray Dennis Steckler. Even if you’re not, you’ve probably heard of the title The Incredible Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies (1964). But he made plenty more like that, hitting a variety of sub-genres, but no matter what, they were always the same demented mind. Now, thanks to author Christopher Wayne Curry, you’ll be able to take a deeper dive into that madness with his latest book, The Incredible Strange Features of Ray Dennis Steckler, being published by McFarland later this summer.

The book will cover “nearly fifty movies while his lost, incomplete and experimental films have been examined as well. Key Entries include cast and crew credits, alongside a plot synopsis, pictures, posters and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. This wild and way-out read is made all the more so with a Steckler memorabilia checklist, an overview of global tributes, exclusive interviews and much, much more. Transcriptions of the author’s interviews with Steckler’s ex-wife Carolyn Brandt, his daughter Laura H. Steckler, and stuntman Gary Kent are included.”

I’m sure once I get my grubby little hands on a copy, I’ll be posting a review shortly thereafter!

Soundtrack Review: The Phantom of the Organ / Vampyre at the Harpsichord

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The Phantom of the Organ / Vampyre at the Harpsichord
Originally Released 1973-74.  Re-released in 2000 by Electric Lemon
15 Tracks, with a total running time of 56:38 min

I remember first coming across this music in the early ‘80s, strange looking albums that weren’t soundtracks but contained creepy, gothic sounding music. No idea that they had originally released in the early ‘70s. I had no idea that they had been remastered, combined, and released on CD in 2000 by Electric Lemon, but was so happy to add it to my music library.

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Mystery Photo 2-28

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Welcome to our last Mystery Photo for this month! A little late today still making it in before the clock strikes midnight. Our last photo was from Amando de Ossorio’s last Blind Dead film, Night of the Seagulls (1975), and in my opinion, one of the best in the series! Congrats to the following for sending in the correct photo: Hoby Abernathy, Dave Fronto, Troy Howarth, & Bryan Senn.

Now on to today’s little picture. Give a good look and see what you can come up with. Just remember to send your guess to me in an email (jon@kitleyskrypt.com), that way it is a little tougher for me to lose it! Good Luck!

Veronica Carlson – Rest in Peace

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Boy, does this one sting. Back in 1994, when Fanex announced they were doing a Hammer themed convention with a few guests attending from the famous studio, I knew I was going to be there, which I did. One of the guests there was the lovely Veronica Carlson. Meeting this amazing woman that I had watched many times onscreen during screenings of Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968) to my favorite entry in their Frankenstein series, Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969), was just a delight. Sure, while this may have been before conventions began to be all about the autographs, she was so friendly and kind, and truly respected her fans. Even over the next couple of decades when I had the chance to meet her a few more times, that friendliness and respect never wavered.

So, hearing today that she has passed away truly was some saddening news. Being a huge Hammer fan, a studio that in reality stopped making films in the late ’70s, the older we get, the more of these amazing talented people we lose, as we did today. Thankfully, due to her kindness, and her performances in these movies, we can always remember how gracious and talented she was. Rest in Peace, Veronica. Our thoughts go out to her friends and family during this difficult time.

Nick Zedd – Rest in Peace

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Not a name to many film fans know unless you really dug deep into the underground. Zedd was an American filmmaker, author, writers, and much more. He coined the term Cinema of Transgression, that encompassed a group of filmmakers and artists who used shock value and dark humor in their work. The budget of his films made Corman look like a billionaire, with titles like They Eat Scum (1979), Geek Maggot Bingo or The Freak from Suckweasel Mountain (1983), War in Menstrual Envy (1992), and many more like that.

No matter what you thought of his work, you have to give him credit for creating his own path and feeding his own passion. He passed away on Feb. 27th at the age of 63.

Movie Review: Panic Beats

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(1983)
Directed by Jacinto Molina
Starring Paul Naschy, Julia Saly, Lola Gaos, Manuel Zarzo, Jose Vivo.

My first experience with Latidos de pánico, aka Panic Beats, was a terribly looking bootleg VHS, which at the time, was the only way to be able to see this title. It was said to be a sequel to Horror Rises from the Tomb (1972), a personal favorite of mine, so I knew I had to see it, no matter what the quality of the print was. Through the grainy print, with the blacks being so black you couldn’t see anything, to just the almost blurry quality, it was difficult to watch. But because this was a Naschy film, and this was the only way to see it, it didn’t matter. Now, decades later, thanks to Mondo Macabro, we have a nice, beautiful looking Blu-ray to enjoy!

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