Author Archives: Jon Kitley

Creepshow 2 Book!

by in Book News and tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The original George Romero film Creepshow (1982) is one of my all-time favorite horror films, no questions. I would consider it one of those perfect films that just couldn’t get any better. So, when the sequel came out, trying to reproduce the same feeling of the original, I was very excited but very apprehensive that they would be able to strike gold twice. Well, they didn’t. But it not only was entertaining, I think it still holds up today.

One of the best ways to enjoy a film even more is to know more about the behind-the-scenes. When you understand maybe some of the production issues they had, or problems with the funds, cast and/or crew, it makes you see the end results a little differently. Might not make it a better film, but at least you see it and understand a few things a little differently. So, I’m thrilled to see a new book coming out that is tackling this sequel.

The Making of Creepshow 2 by Lee Karr will be published in August of this year, from Plexus Publishing. Running over 300 pages, author Karr chronicles the film from the pre-production to the finished product. There is a day-by-day diary with production files, scripts, storyboard art, and notes from director Michael Gornick himself. We get to hear from a ton of people involved in the film, from costume designers, stunt coordinators, and other members of the cast and crew.

I can’t wait to dig into this one!

Soundtrack Review: The Woman in Black (2012)

by in Reviews: Soundtrack and tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Woman in Black (2012)
Released by Silva America
22 Tracks, with a total running time of 55:00 min.
Music by Marco Beltrami

With the return of Hammer Films, one of the things that made their films so noticeable and memorable was the music. When the music started, you knew in an instant that it was from Hammer. So, we were excited both for this movie, but also to see if the music would be as predominate as before. The answer is . . . sort of. First and foremost, you have to get the old Hammer out of your mind and just listen to this on its own merits, which I think there are plenty of.

Continue reading →

Mystery Photo 1-24

by in Mystery Photo and tagged

As easy the photo a week ago was, it seems our last photo was a little tougher bone to chew. Which I’m kind of surprised with all the talk of the recent box set on Folk Horror that Severin put out. It is from the film Tilbury, which is included in that fine set. A very strange film, indeed. The only one to send in a correct answer was Hoby Abernathy, so kudos to you!

This week we’ll go with one a little easier, at least we hope so. Take a peek below and see what you think. Just remember to email us your guess, at jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

Movie Review: The Alien Factor

by in Reviews: Movies and tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

(1977)
Directed by Don Dohler
Starring Don Leifert, Tom Griffith, Mary Mertens, Richard Dyszel, Anne Frith, Richard Geiwitz, Eleanor Herman, and George Stover.

Even if you didn’t know that this film’s budget was around $4000, it is still amazing on just how entertaining, not to mention how well made, this film is. This is the first film from the East Coast King of Low Budget Filmmaking, Don Dohler. If you haven’t heard of that name and enjoy low budget and more importantly, creative filmmaking with little money, then check out his earlier work.

Continue reading →

Feedback & Reviews Welcomed!

by in Misc. Ramblings | Leave a comment

Back in the summer of 2019, right before the world went crazy, I published my first book, Discover the Horror. You may have heard me mention it a time or two here on the site . . . I’ve heard from quite a few of you that have purchased it and enjoyed it, giving me a lot of great comments and thoughts about it. But I need to ask one more favor from you. If you have read it, please consider taking a few minutes and posting a review on Amazon. Doesn’t have to be too be wordy and long, but just a review. The more reviews on there, the more it will circulate along with other similar items. The more it pops up, the more a chance someone who doesn’t know me and the Krypt, will take a chance on it. Every little bit helps, so it would be very much appreciated!

But that also goes to my site, and my new venture into podcasting, with my friends Damien Glonek and Aaron AuBuchon. If you’ve listened to any of our episodes, we’d love to hear some feedback. You can post comments on the site (discoverthehorror.com), or on our Facebook page, or you can even email us at podcast@discoverthehorror.com. Feel free to leave not only comments, but suggestions for a future topic, or maybe some of your favorites from a subject we just discussed.

The point of all of this is to keep the trend of positivity going. By that I mean not just for my book, the site, or the podcast, but anything you’ve come across that has impressed you. Leave a positive comment. At a restaurant where you could tell the waiter was busting their butt, or if the food is really good. If you’ve heard a song or album recently, post about it and let others know!

A positive comment can go a long way.

Movie Review: Bad Dreams

by in Reviews: Movies and tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

(1988)
Directed by Andrew Fleming
Starring Jennifer Rubin, Richard Lynch, Bruce Abbott, Harris Yulin, E.G. Daily, Dean Cameron, Susan Ruttan, Sy Richardson

I would make a strong guess this film was made to jump on the Freddy bandwagon when it first was being made. First, it came out right after Nightmare 3, which seemed to be at the peak of Freddy-mania, and even getting one of the cast from the film, Jennifer Rubin to play the lead protagonist. Whatever the reasoning behind it, I remember not really caring for it when it first came out in the theaters way back then. When I recently watched it again, I tried to watch it with a fresh set of eyes and see if it played any better this time. Well . . . not so much.

Continue reading →

Turkey Day 2021

by in Turkey Day Marathon and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I seem to say this with every Turkey Day report, but it never ceases to amaze me. This was the 19th year I’ve held my little annual marathon, which means next year will be two whole decades since I started this maddening excursion. Even more crazy is the amount of people that are anxious to join me on that quest. Granted, since 2019, we’ve had to hold them online, which has been fun, but I have to admit that it is just not the same. I’m really hoping that by next year, we can get back to the in-person marathons, but we’ll just have to see. I know that is going to disappoint some of the people that have been able to partake in the online version, but maybe that just means you should start your own Turkey Day event!

Nonetheless, my first official Turkey Day was in November of 2003, where I was by myself. That’s dedication for you. But that was the last year going solo since the following year the number started to increase until we were hitting close to 15 or more people before the pandemic started. Going online, I think we hit over 25 joining at some point. In May of 2015, we started holding Turkey Day in May, simply because there were just too many turkeys to only hold this even once a year! So, from 2003 when it all started, this was the 26th Turkey Day Marathon. That . . . is a lot of Turkeys. But it also was a lot of fun as well.

One of the things I posted earlier this month was about what I was thankful for. To have a group of friends, and even some I never have met, join together for these crazy viewing parties is something I am forever grateful for. To those that joined in, even if it was for only one or two films, thank you.

But let’s get the movies!

Continue reading →

Nightmare Industry – Italian Horror Documentary

by in Movie Events and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

From the producers of the In Search of Darkness documentaries comes a new one that looks to be just amazing! Nightmare Industry is a new documentary coming out soon that is going to cover the Italian horror film industry. With Phillip Escott and Eugenio Ercolani as the co-directors and producers, I have a great feeling that this is going to be essential viewing. According to Escott, they want to “tell the ultimate story about Italian horror cinema.” He also states that their goal for this project is for fans to learn something, which has my support right there! Escott said “I want them to be entertained. I want them to have fun, because that’s what Italian horror cinema is all about. But I also want them to walk away enlightened. I want them to learn. A lot about what went into making these incredible movies.”

Continue reading →

Dawn of the Dead at Music Box in Chicago

by in Movie Events and tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Now I will admit that out of George Romero’s Dead Trilogy (yes, nothing exists after Day), I would put Dawn of the Dead (1978) as my least favorite. I know, I know, but I will defend that statement!

BUT . . . no matter what, if you have not had the chance to see this film in the theater, and live near the Chicago area, then you need to fix that and come out to the Music Box Theatre, either on Friday, Feb. 4th, or Saturday, Feb. 5th, for a special midnight screening of the original theatrical cut of this epic film. I’ve already checked and this will be screening in the main theater too!

Continue reading →

Yvette Mimieux & Carol Speed – Rest in Peace

by in Rest in Peace and tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I meant to get this posted yesterday about the passing of Carol Speed but before I could get to it, news of Yvette Mimieux came through today.

Carol Speed passed away last Friday, Jan. 14th, at the age of 76. Best known for her roles in some ’70s exploitation films, which is a shame because she was a treat to watch on screen. She worked for a few of the low budget directors, like Jack Hill’s The Big Birdcage (1972) and Al Adamson’s Dynamite Brothers (1974), but it was her title role in William Girdler’s 1974 film Abby that probably drew most of the attention.

But Speed was also an author, singer and songwriter as well. In fact, the soundtrack for the film Abby has a song that she wrote and performed called My Soul is a Witness. Fans of those early exploitation films will definitely be keeping memory alive. I got to meet her at a Cinema Wasteland convention back in, I believe, 2010. Such a nice person.

We also just lost Yvette Mimieux today. While she did appear in a couple of TV movies in the ’70s, Snowbeast (1977) with Bo Svenson, and Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell (1978) with Richard Crenna, most wouldn’t consider those great films. But I’ve always been highly entertained by them, so there. But she also appeared in a couple of films from my youth that always made me remember her. As a kid, watching the original George Pal version of The Time Machine (1960) not only hooked me into the story, but I definitely found my horror element with the Morlocks that used the Eloi as food! When that little bit of storyline hit my young brain, it through me for a loop! Years later, she appeared in The Black Hole (1979), which while wasn’t a great film, as a teenager, I really enjoyed it.

Mimieux, who was also an anthropologist, passed away today at the age of 80.

Thankfully, we still have their movies to still bring us entertainment and joy while watching them work. Gone, but not forgotten.