Best of the Decade?

As 2019 comes to a close, it marks the start of a new decade, which also means the end of one. When I was going through my list of films that I’ve watched in 2019, to look for my Best Viewing pics, I realized that since this is the end of a decade, I should really go through and pick out my personal favorites that came out from 2010 to 2019. I’m still working on them and will (hopefully) have them done for my Year In Review postings in a few weeks.

So I’m throwing that idea out to everyone out there to do the same. If you keep a record of what you watch each year (which I strongly suggest you do), why not go through and jot down the titles that really impressed you over the last 10 years. You can always post them on Facebook, your own blog if you have one, or just wait until I post mine and you can reply in the comments. I’d love to read them!

Okay… back to work everyone!

Physical vs Streaming

Ever since streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime started, the debate has raging on which is better. We have the die-hard collectors, the ones collecting VHS and other physical media, denouncing the streaming avenue and those traveling down it. While the ones streaming, like the convenience of it, having a wide selection at their fingertips without having to spend a lot of money. Is one right and the other wrong? Since I consider myself an Old One (meaning old school movie collector, not a Lovecraftian deity), who used to spend hours, days, and even years looking for a certain movie, that seems to be available in an instant, so let me put my two cents in. As far as which is better, I think I can safely say this: How about we stop complaining about which is better and just WATCH THE DAMN MOVIES!?!?

Video store aisle 1

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Time for the Turkey!

giantclaw

Now that Halloween season is official over, the next thing on calendar for us is of course, Turkey Day. No, I’m not talking about Thanksgiving, but our annual Turkey Day Marathon. Trust me, after getting through some of the titles we’ve watched over the years, just surviving is thankful enough! In all honestly, what I’m really thankful for is that I have a group of friends that make the trek out here every Black Friday to celebrate these Cinematic Shipwrecks along with me, and we have a lot of fun doing it. Continue reading

Horror History: Tod Slaughter

todslaughterTod Slaughter
Born March 19th, 1885 – Died Feb. 19th, 1956

Slaughter was a late bloomer when it came to movies. He was a stage actor who had been working for years before finally getting the film bug. But even before that, one of the characters that he played frequently, was that of the crazed murdering barber, Sweeney Todd. Before his life was over, it was rumored that he had played the character 4000 times. But the film version where he plays the title character, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1936), he really shines. Some say that he may be over acting a bit, but coming from the stage, that is what they were use to. But to me, I think it fits perfectly here in this film.

Slaughter would go on to play in quite a few other dark melodramas, but also continued to do stage work at the same time. He actually died shortly after a performance of Maria Marten, or The Murder in the Red Barn. A performer truly to the end.

Bloodstalkers Hits Blu-Ray!

Back in the VHS days, this title would draw your attention in right away because it had a woman laying on a table with an axe buried in her chest! How could you not rent it?!?! But this is one of those hidden gems that never got a release on DVD. But now, thanks to the fine folks at Garagehouse Pictures, it is coming to Blu-ray in what looks to be an amazing special edition!

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Tis Always the Season…

Halloween pumpkin

Yes, Halloween is over. At least it is according to the calendar. But for us fans of horror, every day is Halloween. It’s a comment I make quite often, because for me, it’s true. I know that for most people reading this, the horror genre isn’t something we follow at certain times of the year, but every single day. It is our passion. Yes, during the month of October, we almost fit in with the rest of the world. But come November 1st, they go back to planning for the big consumer holiday in a couple of months. Hell, those decorations have already been in the store for over a month now! But I digress. Continue reading

Movie Review: Marrowbone

Marrowbone banner
Marrowbone (2017)
Directed by Sergio G. Sánchez
Starring George MacKay, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton, Mia Goth, Matthew Stagg, Nicola Harrison, Kyle Soller, Tom Fisher

Not sure when I first heard of this but I’m irritated that it took me two years to sit down with it, because it surely would have been on my best of that year. But I’m pretty sure it will make this year’s list. Yes, it is that good. Continue reading

Discover the Reviews!

LSoH43Thanks to Richard Klemensen for this great little review of our book, Discover the Horror, which appears in the latest issue of Little Shoppe of Horror, which has a great cover story on Peter Cushing’s Blood Beast Terror! Here’s what Richard wrote:

“As the cover blurb puts it – “One Man’s 50-year Quest for Monsters, Maniacs, and the Meaning of it All”, I’ve known Jon Kitley for more years than I care to think about. Ran into him again and chatted at this year’s 2019 Monster Bash. My wife bought zombie pillows from his wife at Wonderfest a few years back.

So – what we have here is something I absolutely gravitate to – one monster fan’s trip to monsterdom and how he done got there! Growing up in a large family – his parents divorcing – finally ending up with his dad in a town where he knows no one. Moves to several different schools and ends up with few friends. How he grew; how he learned to love reading, then movies. His wonderful, understanding wife, Dawn, enters his world. He indoctrinates his son into his world of Gods and Monsters – and lots of other cool stuff. Continue reading

We’re Back!

office

Yes, we are back online! Sorry for the online absences but we had some new windows installed in the Krypt and to do so, that meant moving everything away from the windows. Well, if you’ve ever been to the Krypt, there is not a bit of free space anywhere! So moving stuff from one place to another was a bit challenging. Even in my office, I had to move a bookcase and my computer desk, which meant unhooking everything and finding places for all of the books in that bookcase. Ugh! Continue reading