Nox Arcana Returns

t’s been two years since the release of an album from Nox Arcana, but the wait is now over. Next month, they will be releasing their latest creation, entitlted simply Gothic. We’ve been enjoying their work ever since they put out their first release, way back in 2003. With each of their releases, they create an amazingly dark and moody soundscape that is just the perfect thing to enhance your exploits of the evening….even if that just sitting at your computer working.

Here is what the band says about their latest effort: Nox Arcana invites you to spend the night in a gothic mansion with a haunted and sinister history. Eerie sounds echo through the cobwebbed halls of Grimstone Manor, beckoning you deeper into the shadows. Venture forth to explore the estate’s hidden realms and discover the dark secrets buried long ago.

It is due out this Halloween. For more information about this one and the band itself, as well as all their other releases, check out their website HERE.

That Guy Dick Miller DVD Signing

August 11, 2015 by Jon Kitley in Misc. Ramblings and tagged Dark Delicacies, Dick Miller, Elijah Drenner, Joe Dante | Leave a comment

I’m really hoping that eveyone reading this knows not only who Dick Miller is, but how much this man has contributed to movies over the years. Well thanks to director Elijah Drenner, he has created a documentary about this famous character actor, simply called That Guy Dick Miller.

On Sept. 12th, at the Dark Delicacies in California, they will be hosting a DVD signing with the one and only Dick Miller in person! But not only will he be the guest, but also his wife Laninie Miller, regular director Joe Dante, and the director of the documentary, Elijah Drenner will be there as well.

Even if you can’t make it out to the store, you can order a copy of the DVD online to get it signed for only $20 (while supplies last, and you’ll have to pay shipping). We all know what the going rate for autographs are these days, so for those signatures alone is quite a steal, not to mention that you’ll get this DVD as well.

For more information, just click HERE.

The Proof is in the Pus

August 2, 2015 by Jon Kitley in Misc. Ramblings and tagged Alec Gillis, Amalgamated Dynamics, Harbinger Down, Lance Henriksen, Tom Woodruff | 1 Comment

Sometimes it’s funny. Even though being a huge horror nerd, there are a lot of times I don’t really pay attention to the news sites or what is coming out or the dozens of rumors always floating around the net. Too easy to get caught up in all that crap, so I just let it pass over me. So I was really surprised to find out about a new film that comes out next week on VOD and a limited released. The film is called Harbinger Down and stars Lance Henriksen. It was written and directed by Alec Gillis and produced (amongst others) by Tom Woodruff Jr., both of which run Amalgamated Dynamics, and how have worked in the effects industry for years. They both worked for Stan Winston for years and worked on countless classic movies throughout their careers, from most of the Alien films, the Tremors flicks, and tons more.

Amalgamated Dynamics were hired to work on the effects in the 2011 film The Thing, but as we all later found out, most of their practical effects work was replaced with CGI for the final cut of the film. Needless to say, like us, they were not too happy with the end results. So they decided to make their own movie, using a Kickstarter fun, and create Harbinger Down, which according to a statement on its IMDB page, “features entirely practical creature effects created through the use of animatronics, prosthetic makeup, stop motion and miniature effects. There are zero computer animated monsters in this film.”

Continue reading →

Those Who Inspire Us….

July 30, 2015 by Jon Kitley in Misc. Ramblings and tagged Aaron Christensen, Hidden Horror, Horror 101 | 2 Comments

On this date ten years ago, I was set up at the Flashback Weekend show, selling my usually wares of horror reference books. Some things just don’t change, you know? Well, on this fateful day, a guy stopped by the table and was looking through the books I had on display. I noticed this bad-ass Godzilla shirt that he was wearing that I knew my son would get a kick out of, since he was really getting into the Kai-ju films around then. So I mentioned this to him and asked him where he got the shirt. That led us to talking about Godzilla films and eventually horror reference books. It seems that this gentleman was in the beginning process of starting to write his own film guide book. Of course, I offered my services to him, that I might be able to help him out finding some titles that he hadn’t been able to find. We had a nice conversation, exchanged info, and he walked away. Little did I realize how much this man was going to change my life. In the ten years since that fateful weekend, he has not only become my editor, my soundboard, my Turkey Day co-pilot, a life coach, but also has taught me in more ways in not only appreciating the horror genre, but other fans as well. He has also become one of my best friends. This guy’s name is Aaron Christensen.

Continue reading →

Scream Factory Announces Blood and Lace

July 12, 2015 by Jon Kitley in Misc. Ramblings and tagged Blood and Lace, Ghost Story, Scream Factory, The Car | 2 Comments

Scream Factory has recently announced a slew of new titles they will be releasing, some of them making their debut on blu-ray, while some have already had a blu-ray release, and some that are in much neeed a special edition. Granted, we don’t know of any details as far as extras for any of them, but are very anxious on a few of them. Here’s the list of what they’ve announced:

Women’s Prison Massacre (1983)
Blood and Lace (1971)
Troll (1986) & Troll 2 (1990) double feature
Ghost Story (1981)
The Guardian (1990)
The Car (1977)
Nightmares (1983)
Death Becomes Her (1992)
Garbage Pail Kids: The Movie (1987)
Return of the Living Dead (1985)

Continue reading →

The Art of Don England

July 4, 2015 by Jon Kitley in Misc. Ramblings and tagged Blind Dead, Don England, Dr. Phibes, Hellraiser | 1 Comment

I‘ve known Don England for many years, first meeting him at one of the early Cinema Wasteland shows. We’ve become good friends since then and see each other several times a year at different conventions. He is one incredibly talented artist, and one that still does it the old fashion way…with his hand. Sure, using the computer to do your coloring and all that can look pretty impressive, and nothing against it, but honestly, for me personally, there is something special about a good old fashion pen and ink drawing. But lately Don has been doing some work with charcoal that has once again impressed the hell out of me. One of the first ones that he did recently was a Blind Dead one, which I immediately knew I had to have for my collection and purchased it right away. Since then, he has continued to crank out these little masterpieces and always make me envious of his talent.

So when you get a chance, head over to his website (HERE) and check out some of his artwork. Who knows, maybe you’ll be adding an original piece to your own collection as well. Remember, supporting people like Don shows that what they are doing is still important and appreciated!

Nightmare Castle Comes to Blu-ray!

June 28, 2015 by Jon Kitley in Misc. Ramblings and tagged Barbara Steele, Castle of Blood, David Del Valle, Ennio Morricone, Nightmare Castle, Severin, Terror Creatures from the Grave | 2 Comments

As horror fans, we all know that Barbara Steele made a few gothic horror flicks in her day. Some of the plots might even sound a bit similar….I mean, how many films can you make about ghosts coming back from the dead for revenge? Well…quite a few it seems. But the difference with these films is that they were made by talented filmmakers! So it didn’t matter if the plot had been used several times before, it was still a great movie. A prime example of that is Nightmare Castle

Sure, we all know and love Mario Bava’s Black Sunday, which was the film to catapult Steele into her path towards being a Queen of gothic horror, but I have to say that Nightmare Castle is one of my favorites of hers. The tale is about a deceitful wife and her lover who are tortured to death by her sadistic husband. But the story doesn’t end there, when they come back to haunt the husband and his new wife. With some incredible music by Ennio Morricone, and co-starring Paul Muller and the beautiful Helga Liné, I couldn’t recommend this film enough.

Continue reading →

The New Krypt Hits 100 Post Milestone!

June 27, 2015 by Jon Kitley in Misc. Ramblings | 1 Comment

Well, it has been about four months since we’ve switched the Krypt over to the new site and this is our 100th post! It was a struggle in making the transition but I still think it was for the best. I know I am enjoying the new way of doing this, which I have to say is much easier. I can only hope that everyone out there is still enjoying the updates and my ramblings.

Even though we’ve changed where we are doing it, my goal is still the same, that I am still delivering you the same quality content that I had been doing with the old site for the last 17 years, and hope to continue to do so for more years to come. As it has been since the beginning, this is a labor of love and passion and am grateful to all of you out there that follow this site and show your support. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.

Don’t forget you can follow this site by clicking either the Follow button on the right, or entering your email address in there. That way, each time we post something, you’ll automatically get an email letting you know. Pretty fancy, huh? Also, we’d love to hear more thoughts and comments from you out there. One of the things I really liked about this new format is the ability for you, the reader, to post your own thoughts and comments directly here on the site. There is nothing more I enjoy then having a nice conversation about this genre that we all love. So please, feel free to add your own two cents in to whatever I’m yapping about, or even if you have questions. I’m all ears.

Alright…back to work for now.

Looking for a Hidden Horror? The Sender Comes to Blu-ray and DVD

June 26, 2015 by Jon Kitley in Misc. Ramblings and tagged Olive Films, The Sender, Zeljko Ivanek | Leave a comment

A couple of years ago, we published a book called Hidden Horror. Heard of it? Well, it was a collection of essays on 101 horror films that we felt more people needed to see as well as maybe not even being too familiar with. Author Will Wilson’s pick for his essay was the 1982 film The Sender. And now thanks to the fine folks at Olive Films, access to this wonderfully creepy film is a little more…accessible!

The story deals with a young trouble man who attempts to kill himself at the opening of the film. He is placed in a psychiatric facility for observation. But strange things start to happen, with bizarre and terrifying images start appearing in people’s minds. The young man, is played by the brilliant character Zeljko Ivanek, making his debut performance here.

I don’t want to go into much detail about it, but only that it is well worth your watch. So order your copy now and I’m sure you won’t regret it and might even be wondering why you had never even heard of this film before.

Unfortunately, Olive Films website doesn’t list any extras on the disc, so we’re not sure what, if any, they are. We’ve already reached out to them to find out and will post it here if we hear back. But you can check out their site HERE for what info they do have.

Larry Fessenden’s Habit Comes to Blu-ray

June 14, 2015 by Jon Kitley in Misc. Ramblings and tagged Habit, Larry Fessenden, vampires | Leave a comment

Scream Factory announced that they would be putting out the Larry Fessenden Collection later this year. The films include No Telling, Wendigo, The Last Winter, and lastly, his film Habit, which I personally think is one of the best low budget and realistic modern-day vampire films out there. This was the first film I had seen of Fessenden and have become a fan of his work ever since. I’m also excited about getting to see No Telling, which is the only one of these titles that I haven’t seen yet.

There’s no release date yet, or what extras are going to be on here, other than the promise of a lot of them. No matter what they are, I know I’ll be picking this up when it hits the streets. Fessenden is an extremely talented man and I’ve pretty much loved most of the stuff he is involved with, whether as an actor, director, or producer.

My good friend Aaron Christensen not only is responsible for pointing this film in my direction, but also chose to write about it in the book Hidden Horror.

I urge everyone out there to check these out…especially Habit, and even more so if you’re one of these that is tired of the vampire genre. This one just might change your mind.