Category Archives: Misc. Ramblings

Black Mold Trailer

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I think it was back in the mid to late 2000s when I first met John Pata, who had recently made a short film called Better Off Undead (2007). Even after I told him that I usually didn’t like low budget films, he wanted me to see his anyway, which I actually ended up really enjoying. And we’ve been friends ever since. In fact, Mr. Pata was the guy who laid out my book, Discover the Horror. But he’s also continued on as a filmmaker, co-directing the 2012 film Dead Weight, an intense short film called Pity (2014), but has now completed his first feature film as a stand-alone director for the film Black Mold. Pata also wrote and edited the film as well.

Years ago, Pata owned and operated his own printing shop and business was good, but he that wasn’t what he wanted to do with his life. I remember a few conversations with him saying that he’s got a good gig now, one that many people his age (at the time) would love to have. But he wanted to get into film and didn’t take my advice. And I’m so glad he didn’t.

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Arrow Unleashes Coffin Joe Box Set

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The number of box sets that are coming out lately, specializing on specific filmmakers is nothing short of amazing these days. And now, Arrow has announced Inside the Mind of Coffin Joe, a 6-disc set, featuring 10 films from this strange and bizarre filmmaker, that includes a TON of extras, as well as 4K restorations for all of the films! See below for all the details and then head over to our buddies at Diabolik DVD and pre-order your copy now! It is due out at the end of November.

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The Criminal Acts of Tod Slaughter

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Indicator has done it once again with coming up with a box set to celebrate one of the unsung heroes of the horror genre, Tod Slaughter. While he started acting on the stage in 19005, usually playing the villain and really hamming it up, he became a big star known for those types of roles. A lot of these roles were then transferred to the big screen, usually in very cheap and quick versions, to help with Britain’s quota-quickies, which then continued his notoriety.

Known for his over-the-top performances, he still continued to be popular in the film versions, though eventually that lost the charm to more modern-day fans. But thankfully, fans are still becoming aware of Slaughter and his work, and now, thanks to Indicator, it will be even easier.

These are the 8 films being released in this box set:

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A Chat with Film Masters’ Phil Hopkins

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We had a chance to pick the brain of Phil Hopkins, one of the people behind Film Masters to ask him about what they are doing, and more importantly, why is what they are doing so important?

Kitley’s Krypt: There is a trailer on the Film Masters website, which has a collection of different clips from a variety of films. Near the end of it, three words appear separately on the screen, one after another. They are Preservation, Restoration, and then finally Celebration. As a film fan, it was the last word Celebration that really got me, because it means that it is more than just re-releasing an updated version of a film print, but doing it because it needs to be remembered, enjoyed, and yes, celebrated. Was that the initial goal for Film Masters, to help keep these films alive for future generations?

Phil Hopkins: Absolutely! For the past 20 years I’ve been involved with retrieving thousands of 35mm and 16mm films, from very rare to considered to be lost.  I’ve re-located films from labs that had closed, storage facilities, basements, and other strange locations storing film.

Sadly, more often than not these films were not stored properly by the owners and so much of our cinematic history is lost due to neglect.

When I decided to reenter the industry, it was mainly to make it my mission to make sure all film that I’m involved with is relocated to proper institutions that can manage and preserve these important cinematic artifacts.

Kitley’s Krypt: There are some out there that would scoff at some of the titles you’re releasing, such as The Giant Gila Monster, The Killer Shrews, and Beast from Haunted Cave. I personally am a huge fan of these titles and am thrilled Film Masters is taking the time and effort to do these.

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DtH Podcast Episode 47 – William Castle

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House on Haunted Hill (1959), The Tingler (1959), and Mr. Sardonicus (1961). In the world of ballyhoo, nobody comes close to being a master at it than producer/director William Castle. From giving insurance policies to filmgoers in case they die of fright, promising the horrors onscreen will come off the screen into the audiences, to even letting the audience decide the fate of one of the characters in the film, Castle was a master of it. He treated his fans with respect and wanted everyone to have a great time with his pictures. And they still are entertaining today.

In this episode we’re going to delve into 3 of Castle’s films, as well as the man himself. Joining us to talk all things Castle is superfan and collector (not to mention Regional Warrior for Severin Films) Matt Harding!

Films Mentioned in this episode:

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Severin Kills with Promo Items!

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Back in the ’80s, in the midst of the video boom, there would be these awesome promo items the video companies would release. There was the Re-Animator (1985) paperweight, or the pack of matches promoting The Burning (1981), a Vamp (1986) credit card, and even a real box cutter for Blood Cult (1985). These of course, are highly collectible now and are a great reminder that those video companies understood the ballyhoo and doing little things to help promote the films they were releasing.

In today’s world of DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K releases, Severin Films are taking promo items to the next level.

Who could ever imagine that someone would create a plush toy for the notorious Italian gore film’s main character from Anthropophagus while he is eating his own intestines? Severin did. Why? Because they are as big of fans of these films as those who are buying their releases. Severin head guy, David Gregory is one of us. So, he makes these amazing items because he knows how damn cool they are! But they haven’t stopped there.

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Shock Waves Soundtrack Expanded!

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Back in 2014, Howlin’ Wolf Records made a dream of mine come true when they released Richard Einhorn’s score for the 1977 film Shock Waves on CD. Since I had seen the film more than a couple of times, I have always loved the weird and strange electronic score that Einhorn came up with, so I was thrilled and quickly ordered a copy of it. But now, even more Nazi horror has recently risen out of watery depths of terror!

Howlin’ Wolf Records have recently announced they will be releasing an expanded score of this release, almost doubling the amount from the original release. The one from 2014 was 31:31 minutes long, but this new release is 61:22 minutes long! It includes newly discovered tracks and bonus features, remastered from the composer’s personal 7.5 IPS master tapes. This release also features a 16-page booklet with new cover art by Austin Hinderliter, liner notes by Benjamin Chee, Ian Zapczynski, and an anecdote from composer Einhorn. Priced at only $17.95.

You can pre-order your copy, due to be released early next month, at Screen Archive Entertainment, by clicking HERE, or directly from Howlin’ Wolf Records, by clicking HERE.

Monster Bash This Weekend!

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We’ll soon be heading out to PA this weekend for this year’s spring Monster Bash! This has become one of our favorite shows over the years and is always a good time. Join us there for another weekend of movies, incredible deals in the vendor room, and more monsters to shake a stick at! We’ll have our usual array of books, magazines, movies, and soundtracks. Keep in mind folks, since my book selling days are coming to an end, now is the time to pick up some of those titles you’ve been wanting to get but just haven’t picked up yet. Of course, along with me is my partner-in-crime and wife Dawn with her selection of homemade tote bags and pillows.

The guests for this show include: Lynne Lugosi-Sparks, granddaughter of Bela Lugosi, Audrey Dalton from Mr. Sardonicus (1961) and The Monster that Challenged the World (1957), Daniel Roebuck, Beverly Washburn from Spider Baby (1967), Pamula Pierce, actress and daughter of the director of The Legend of Boggy Creek (1972), Tom Savini, as well as writers Tom Weaver, Frank Dello Stritto, Greg Mank, Sam Irvin, Rondo winning artist Mark Maddox, and more!

We’ll be there all 3 days at the show and hanging out afterhours to do some serious discussions on the world of monster movies and horror films! So come join us to escape from the real world (which is scarier than any movie), relax, and have a good time. Hope to see you there!

In Search of Darkness: The Book!

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Back in 2019, director David A. Weiner, and a host of names involved in the horror genre, from actors, directors, makeup artists, to a slew of genre journalists that gave us In Search of Darkness: A Journey Into Iconic ’80s Horror. I remember watching his epic documentary, running close to 4 1/2 hours, and really enjoyed it. My only complaint was that they were skipping quite a few titles. Little did I know that there would be 2 more entries in this series to come over the next 3 years, with part 2 coming out in 2020 and running close to 4 1/2 hours, and part 3 coming out last year and running OVER 5-1/2 hours! So yeah, one could really say they really covered a lot of ground in these three documentaries.

Which really is a love letter to one of the biggest and best times for horror fans, because that decade just exploded with movies. Again, with 3 documentaries running over 14 hours, that just shows how much was out there.

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Movie Review: Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares

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There are those icons from the golden age of horror, such as Lugosi & Karloff, or the generation after that, with names like Lee, Cushing, and Price. But if there was going to be one name from the modern generation of the horror genre, it would have to be Robert Englund. And now, thanks to this new documentary called Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, if you didn’t know already, you’ll learn why.

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