(Originally posted on our old site on January 13th, 2015)
2014 really has been a rollercoaster of a year and one that I am glad is over. Not that anything really bad happened, but just that it has been a bumpy ride. Last December, I started a new job which had me working 12-14 hour days for most of the first part of the year. I have to say those kind of hours can really cut down on one’s movie-watching time, not to mention everything else. So my movie count for this year was way lower than I usually get to. But at least I have a job, right? So shouldn’t really be complaining about that. The hours are better now and while not saying this place doesn’t have its share of issues, I’m trying to remain somewhat positive and hopeful. But besides the job and the long hours, we’ve had to deal with a (supposedly) busted sewer pipe, which meant having our basement floor dug up. Granted, it was an unfinished basement, so again, it could have been worse. Though, after spending a few thousand dollars to get it fixed, it really didn’t matter. Then throw in the fact that after spending a grand to have a leak somewhere in our A/C system fixed, we discover there is ANOTHER leak somewhere else that is going to cost another grand to find and fix. And of course, that is not to say that yet another leak won’t appear. Granted, the AC place be more than happy to install a whole system where they could guarantee no future leaks. Sure, let me just grab that extra $4000 sitting in on my shelf. Continue reading
For those who weren’t aware of it, I started Kitley’s Krypt back in October of 1998, using Microsoft Front Page. After many upgrades and computer replacements, Front Page wasn’t compatible with Microsoft’s latest version of Windows, so in early 2015, I moved the site to this WordPress Blog format. There was a link to the old site on the right, but not sure how many really went over there. I have been bringing reviews and such from the old site and posting them here every now and then.
Just throwing this out there, so other lovers of movies about spooky houses can add it to their list of upcoming books to buy, McFarland has announced this title to be released later this year. I don’t have a lot of information about it other than the title is The Haunted House on Film and is by Paul Meehan. I’ve been a huge fan of haunted house movies ever since those old black and white thrillers from the ’30s and ’40s (which always turned out to be some sort of Scooby Doo endings), but once I got to see The Haunting (1963) and The Legend of Hell House (1973), there was no turning back. So I’m thrilled that someone has put a book together compiling all of these great movies. Granted, the “Historial Analysis” has me worried a bit that it might be one of those academic, microscopic looks at the sub-genre, but one can hope, right?
I’ve been a long time fan of the work of Al Adamson. I know, some say that would be on par with being a fan of Larry Buchanan, but as I’ve said many times before, if you’re entertained by their work, then they can’t be bad movies! And I still stand by that statement! Adamson made some of the best in low budget horror and exploitation films, such as titles like Satan’s Sadist (1969), Horror of the Blood Monsters (1970), Brain of Blood (1971), Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971), The Naughty Stewardesses (1975) and Blazing Stewardesses (1975), and so many more. But Adamson’s ending was right out of one of his movies.
One of the glorious things about the horror genre is that no matter how long you’ve been a fan, there are always titles from decades ago that come to light that just blows you away. Not only in its presentation, but also the fact that somehow even the existence of the title had eluded you for so long. That is how I thought when I first heard about this Russian film several years ago. In all my years of paging through reference books, I never remember coming across this. So upon my first viewing of Viy, I really was blown away.
Back in the late ’70s to early ’80s, Baltimore’s own Don Dohler made a few low budget films that may not have been the best made, but they happened to be pretty entertaining for young horror fans that were eating up different titles at their local video store. And seeing his 1982 alien invasion flick Nightbeast on the shelf, I was more than pleased with it once I got home! Originally released on DVD from Troma back in 2004, now thanks to the fine folks at Vinegar Syndrome it comes to Blu-ray for the first time in a newly scanned and restored in 2K from its 16mm camera original. And I suggest you order your copy now, especially if you are one of those that enjoys those nice rubber-suited monster movies of that time, plenty of blood and a few boobs, and just a lot of fun.
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