Category Archives: Misc. Ramblings

Book News!

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Oargentone more thing we can look forward to in 2019 is the continuing proof that print is definitely not dead. Sorry folks, but not even close. Granted, my bank account very well could be, but there are more than a few books coming out this year that I know will be must additions to my library. Not sure where I’m going to be putting them when they do arrive, or when I’ll get around to reading them…

FAB Press announced that they will be publishing the English language edition of Dario Argento’s autobiography, simply called Fear. That is the only details FAB released but since I hadn’t even heard that he was even writing an autobiography (that was actually published in 2014…thanks Troy!), I am more than a little excited about hearing his stories, right from him. I can only imagine the insights and stories we’re going to hear right from the man responsible for so many incredible pieces of cinema.

Add this to the fact that Troy Howarth’s new book, Murder By Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento, will be out in 2020, that means we’ll have a few more Argento books for the library shelves. Maybe we’ll even get to see Volume 3 in Howarth’s So Deadly, So Perverse giallo series. Positive thoughts, my fellow book fiends.

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Frankenstein 1910

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frankenstein-1910

Because this is the 200th Anniversary of Mary Shelley’s famous tale, before the end of the year, I thought it might be a good idea to post this, just in case there might be a few out there that hasn’t seen it. This is the first filmed version of Shelley’s tale, that was thought lost for many decades, but a print was finally discovered. It is only about 13 minutes long, but if you haven’t seen it, please take the time to do so. Seeing the special effects used here might seem a bit crude, but just imagine the folks seeing this over 100 years ago.

The film was directed by J. Searle Dawley, and stars Augustus Phillips as Frankenstein, Mary Fuller as his Elizabeth, and Charles Ogle playing the “Monster” for the first time in cinematic history. So please, take a few minutes now and watch a very important piece of our horror history, and be thankful that this was even discovered.

A Very Scary Christmas from the Krypt!

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chthulusanta
We haven’t had an update in a while with the holidays and trying to get ready for our 2018 Year Review, but we’ll be back with our regular updates starting tomorrow.

I hope everyone out there got a bunch of goodies, like Blu-rays and horror reference books, left under the tree by Cthulhu-Claws. But also that you made those connections with your friends and family, because those relations are more important and can last longer than anything bought at a store.

So from everyone here at the Krypt, we wish you a Very Scary Christmas!

Peter Jackson – The Naughty Years in 4K!

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Bad Tastse

Over a decade before Peter Jackson would be known across the world of the director that brought Tolkien’s famous books to the big screen, he was very well known to us horror fans for his early films. I can still remember reading about this wacky and gory new film from some chap down in New Zealand who made an alien invasion film called Bad Taste (1987), which not only had Jackson directing, but starring in the film in two main roles, no less! His next feature was Meet the Feebles (1989), which was a twisted take-off of the Muppet Show, but if their world was filled with sex, violence, drugs, and everything else that made the world go round! Then of course, his next feature, Braindead (1992), also known as Dead Alive, became probably the goriest and bloodiest zombie film ever made. And all blood and guts aside, it was also a damn good movie! His fourth feature, Heavenly Creatures (1994) was a huge departure from those first three, but still a film to grab your attention, not by comedy and gore, but by an entrancing tale of murder. I can still remember when Jackson won the Oscar for the last Lord of the Rings feature, and during his acceptance speech, mentions Bad Taste and Feebles. I can only imagine some critic who didn’t know Jackson’s earlier work before the Rings trilogy and would seek them out, only to probably be shocked and appalled at them!

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Mondo Macabro Gives Us The Devil’s Nightmare!

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ADevil's Nightmareh yes…another fond memory from the old grey market VHS days. Finding an uncut version of Jean Brismée The Devil’s Nightmare (1971) was something you were always on the lookout. Even if you were lucky enough to score the big box VHS of it, under the title The Devil Walks at Midnight, you still were missing footage. Thankfully it was released on DVD in its uncut form, but now, Mondo Macabro is setting out to do that one even better with its HD debut of a brand new restoration from the uncut negative!

On January 24th, they will be taking pre-orders for their new Blu-ray release of this great Euro-horror classic. There will be a limited edition version, with a standard one being available at a later date. Final details on the specs are being worked out still, and there might be different specs between the limited edition and the regular ones, but here is what they have released so far:

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End of an Era

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cw_show_logo

No…the show is not stopping. Let’s get that straight right off the top. I don’t want Ken to be emailing me about misleading people! The show will go on, just not with Kitley’s Krypt there vending.

Back in September of 2000, we set up at the very first Cinema Wasteland Movie and Memorabilia Expo, in Strongsville, Ohio. 19 years later, after 34 shows, it is still going strong. We were a dealer at that very first show and have continued to set up there since, never once missing one. In my years of going to shows, both as a fan and as a dealer, which is three decades worth, I’ve never known a show like Cinema Wasteland.

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A Spicy Gift from Krampus!

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Krampus Hot SauceJust in time for the upcoming holiday and for a friend that loves to heat things up. Halloween Hot Sauces has once again worked his magic and created an all new sauce for the holiday….the Krampus Hot Sauce! This new flavor is made with Cayenne Pepper and has a medium heat range. Nothing like spicing up the holiday food with a little kick in taste buds!

Or, if you want something a little harder, they also have Grinning Skull, which has habanero peppers, or Smoky Ghost, which has a combination of Chipotle and Ghost peppers. Looking for a milder one, you can always go with Spider Venom, which has Jalapenos. Plus, you can have them delivered in these little homemade coffins! Just a great little addition to an already great product.

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A Time of the Turkey and a Time of Thanks

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turkeyday

First and foremost, a Happy Turkey Day to all of our followers out there. While most consider this a time of a huge dinner and spending time with family, here at the Krypt, we celebrate the Turkey a little differently. While we will have a nice family dinner today, more time will be spent prepping for our annual Turkey Day Marathon that takes place tomorrow, where friends will gather here to watch what like we like to call some of the finest in cinematic shipwrecks. These are not bad movies, mind you, because remember, the only bad movies are boring ones, and what we watch definitely aren’t boring.

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WildClaw Theatre’s Deathscribe Returns!

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Martian landscape with the highway to the mountainsChicago’s own WildClaw Theatre returns next month with Deathscribe: HELLeven! If you’re not familiar with what Deathscribe is, just picture reading a short little horror story. But instead of you reading it, it is sort of like if you were listening to it on the radio! With over 200 entries, WildClaw has narrowed it down to the final five finalists, and now will take their stories and turn them into radio plays, that are brought to life in front of the audience, with full sound effects with a live Foley on stage! We were at the very first Deathscribe and it was pretty incredible. Not only were the stories really good, but hearing them come alive on stage was even more incredible.

Here are the final five:

  • Floris by Ben Huffman & William Andrew Lewis, directed by Jose Nateras
  • The Forbidden Room by Nikkita Duke, directed by Jyreika Guest
  • Migraine by Skyler Schrempp, directed by Spenser Davis
  • Subject # 9 by Tim Griffin, directed by Elizabeth Lovelady
  • Whisper Trigger by Dan Finnen & Sarah Gise, directed by Tara Branham

This even takes place on Monday, December 3rd, at 8pm, at Lincoln Hall in Chicago. For all the details about the event, and to order your tickets, head over to the WildClaw Theatre’s page HERE. Hope to see you there!

 

Happy Halloween!

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happyhalloween

From all of us at the Krypt, here’s to a great and safe Halloween! It has been an amazing time this last month, with plenty of conventions, movie screenings, and marathon madness. Every year I am shocked at how packed our October is but I wouldn’t give it up and relish every moment. If you were part of this madness I was involved in, I thank you! And let’s plan to do it all again next year!