From everyone here at the Krypt, we wish all of you and yours a very Happy Holidays. No matter what you believe in, or don’t believe in, the one thing that we all should is the simple act of being kind. I’ve always said that as a species, humans suck for the most part. The way our government works, the medical system, everything about getting to the top, no matter who you’re stepping on to get there. Damn shame really. But until our Lord Cthulhu shows up, there are still those out there that really do try and tilt the scales, showing that we do have the capacity to do good and to care for our fellow man.

So thank you to those that go the extra mile to help a friend in need, even if that means lending a caring ear. Those that donate time and money to a worthy cause. Those that spend time with their families. Or those that are just kind to one another. Those are the people give me hope, and are constant reminders of who I want to be. 

Here’s to you and yours… wishing you a Very Scary Christmas from the Krypt!

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!

Tod 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.