I know I posted about this back in December, but I feel that it needs posting again, mainly because it is for a good cause, and our good friend Phil Meenan needs your help and MONEY!
If you’ve been to any number of horror conventions over the last decade or so, then you’ve probably seen Phil at one of them. He’s pretty easy to spot! I’ve known him for well over a decade and coming across someone as nice as Phil doesn’t happen that often. Continue reading
It looks like we’re jumping on the enamel pin bandwagon here at the Krypt. I still can’t believe how easy these were to get made either! But we wanted to just have a couple more little things out there to help celebrate our little anniversary. The Discover the Horror one actually glows in the dark! What a time to be alive, huh?
We will have these available at the conventions, as well as being able to order them directly from the site. The pricing is $10 each or both for $15. If you’re interested in ordering them directly from us (with a small postage fee), just shoot us an email at jon@kitleyskrypt.com.
Since the Krypt turns 20 years old this October, we had asked our good friend and talented artist Don England to come up with a design for a T-shirt that we will be selling at the upcoming shows this year. And as always, he did an amazing job.
I wanted to have something that had more of a fun and cartoonish angle to it, and I think Don captured it perfectly in the design. The one on the left will be on the front of the shirt, and the eyeball design will be on the back. We will be selling these at the show for a mere $10, so if you’re a fan of the Krypt and enjoy what I do, then why not help support it by showing if off with this special tribute shirt! If you can’t make it out to a show and would like to order one through the mail, we can do that too (plus postage). Just drop us an email (jon@kitleyskrypt.com) and let us know.
Our first show is a little more than a month away, at the HorrorHound Weekend in Cincinnati on March 23rd-25th, so come on out and help start the 20-Year birthday celebration!
Larry Fessenden is one of my favorite filmmakers, because not only does he create entertaining films, but they are smart, well made, and highly effective. Ever since my first experience with his early film Habit, it still remains what I would consider one of the best of modern day vampire films. So when I read the news that he was set to direct his version of Shelley’s Frankenstein, a personal favorite classic monster of mine, I was more than excited.
The will be called Depraved and should start filming this month. It will be a modern day re-imagining of Shelley’s tale. Now, I know we all hate the phrase “re-imagining”, but in the hands of Fessenden, I am more than hopeful that it will be something highly effective and memorable. Fessenden says “I’ve been moved by the iconic character since childhood and it is a great thrill to try and put my version on screen.”
It deals with a combat field surgeon that is dealing with his PTSD once he comes back from the Middle East. While back home in Brooklyn, he creates a man out of body parts in his homemade lab. The film will star David Call, Joshua Leonard, and Alex Breaux as the monster.
I try not to get too excited or look forward to films before they are even close to coming out, but I have to say, this one is one that I’ll be counting the days until its release.
If you are one of those that haven’t had the pleasure to witness one of the best giallo films to come out in the last couple of decades, and one that looks like it was made back in the heyday of the black gloved killers, then you need to see Francesca, created by the highly talented brothers, Luciano and Nicolas Onetti. Just check out the trailer below to see what I’m talking about.
So…I’m sure we’ve all heard the Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water got 13 Oscar nominations, in just about every category, except for a couple. But we’ll get to that in a minute.
First of all, I’m thrilled and so happy for del Toro and the rest of the creators of this film to see them get the recognition they so richly deserve. I mean, to have this film beat out Universal’s The Mummy in nominations is just incredible! Oh wait…I don’t remember seeing that title anywhere. Maybe I’m thinking the Razzies. I wonder if the heads of Universal are re-thinking their decisions. Maybe they’ll realize that they need to let creative filmmakers do what they do best and leave them alone to do it!
Every holiday season, I’m still amazed at the amount of books that had been released this year, and all the ones that are still yet to come. I always make the joke about print being dead, but that is about as far from the truth as you can get. Each month, new and interesting titles are being announced or released. I know it’s making it harder for me to find room in the Kryptic Library these days. But I’ll never complain!
Here’s to another year of diving into more great titles!
If you’ve been going to horror conventions for a few years, you’ve probably seen Phil Meenan around. He’s pretty easy to spot (unless he’s wearing his giant Frankenstein head), covered in horror tattoos, and just hanging out. Or you might have seen him on the first part of Shout Factory’s Horror Hunters show, where you can see his unbelievable monster collection. I’ve known Phil for over two decades and I can’t think of someone who is a complete opposite of what one might think of when you see Phil. He’s one of the friendliest, giving, and funny people that I have the great honor in calling a friend.
But now Phil is facing a monstrous task that is scarier than any character tattooed on his body. He has decided to do try and raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In fact, his goal is to raise $21,000. And just how is he going to do this? By riding his bike from Chicago to Hollywood California, which is 2100 miles. This is a journey that he is making on his single gear bike, by himself, at the end of March of next year.
I personally think Phil is crazy, but then again, I thought that even before he decided to take on this task! But I can’t be more proud of him for what he’s trying to do and to raise money for a great cause. There is not a person alive that hasn’t not been affected by cancer in some form or another, either personally or a friend or loved one that has had to deal with it. So check out his donation page by clicking HERE and give something if you can. I know this is the holiday season and money is tight, but even a few dollars can help get Phil to his goal. Once he starts his journey next March, he will be posting updates as he goes, with I’m sure plenty of photos.
So take a few minutes to look over his page and give what you can.
It looks like the Year of Naschy will continue into 2018!!!
El Caminante (1979), a film that Naschy co-wrote, directed, and stars in, will be making it’s way to Blu-ray early in January, from the fine folks at Mondo Macabro. For Naschy fans, this is a pretty amazing news since this title had never been released over here in the states on DVD or even VHS, so to not only be able to finally see it, but to see it in a nice brand new 4K restoration!?!?! Just amazing.
Also known as The Devil Incarnate, the story is about the Devil who takes human form and walks the earth to see how humans have progress over the years. But the story here is a very dark one depending on how deep you look, especially in today’s terms. In 1994, a special double Naschy issue of Videooze came out where the actor/writer/director himself talks about each of his films. His thoughts on this film are even more meaningful today than ever.
Naschy says that “we live in the age when becoming rich is the most important thing, no matter who may stand in the way. The age when friendship has no value; we sell it out for nothing. The age in which a man could take his friend’s wife to bed and think nothing of it. The age in which even murder is justified with politics. We live in the age of the Devil.” That was said over 20 years ago.
Next October, Kitley’s Krypt will officially be 20 years old. That’s right…that means come October, I’ll have been ranting and raving on my little world wide web soapbox for two whole decades. While I’m not 100% positive, I’m pretty sure the Krypt is the longest running site out here on this inter-web thingy, at least here in the States. That is a lot of ramblings over those years, and hopefully inciting a little spark or two in some of you to look and learn more about the horror genre, and to really Discover the Horror. That is a moniker that I still truly stand by and belief in.
Trust me, it’s hard sometimes for me to believe that I’m still at this and haven’t given up on it. There’s been a few times I thought about it, but always continued on. And sure, the Krypt isn’t one of the big boys on the block, but honestly, if that would mean being owned by a studio and having to give up some journalistic integrity, then I guess I’m pretty happy right where I’m at. But when it all comes down to it, I do this because this is what I love doing….talking about horror movies. It really is my life’s passion and one that I don’t see myself ever stopping. All I need to know is that I’ve given a fan a little push in the right direction, having them decide to look a little deeper into the genre, then I know I’ve done right by the genre.
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