Cinepocalypse 2019

Cinepocalypse 2019 banner

The Music Box Theatre in Chicago has already announced the dates for next year’s Cinepocalypse, which was recently named a top genre festival by MovieMaker Magazine. They had over 50 films playing at this year’s festival, with 9 world premieres, not to mention all the special guests that attended the event. While they haven’t announced any features just yet, with the path they’ve been on the last two years, 2019 should be just as epic. It will take place June 13th-20th. Mark your calendar.

Speaking of epic, if you purchase your tickets before January 1st, you can get an All Access Pass for only $100. If you break that down to another 50 features, that’s only $2 a movie. How can you beat that?!?! But you only have a few more weeks, so don’t delay. After the first of the year, they go up to $150 a ticket, so get them now! Or better yet, put it on your Christmas list, or maybe purchase a pass for that fellow horror film fiend. Sure would make an awesome holiday gift!

For all the information about the event, just click HERE.

Naschy’s Frankenstein’s Bloody Terror in 3D!!!

Frankenstein's Bloody Terror 3D

Folks in the New York city area, tomorrow you have the chance to see a rare screening of Naschy’s debut of his Waldemar Daninsky character, in the 1968 film Frankenstein’s Bloody Terror (or at least the version that was later released here in the states) in 3D, thanks to the wonderful people at Garagehouse Pictures.

At the Quad Cinema tomorrow at 3:05pm, in part of their special 3-D festival, you’ll get to see this amazing film like very few people have had the opportunity. Sam Sherman, the man really responsible for bringing Naschy’s name to the states when he bought this film for distribution here, will be there for the screening.

Sure, this is a little short notice, but if you’re in that area, I wouldn’t pass up this chance. I mean, Naschy in 3-D??? I’m still hopeful that this print will make it’s way out to the Midwest at some point. But in the meantime, you East-coasters better take advantage of it!

For more information about the screening, just click HERE.

Music Box of Horrors 2018

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Chicago’s Music Box Theatre has been hosting these 24-hour marathons since 2005, and I have been at every one of them. There were a few times I was just there as a fan to watch the movies, but usually I’m there as a vendor. When I am set up as a vendor, part of me always regrets not just coming as a fan and being able to enjoy watching the films instead of staying behind my table. Sure, with my wife Dawn there, I could always sneak out to catch a  film or two, but I usually feel bad about leaving her there to watch the table alone. Plus, I always feel I might miss something. We also usually pack and leave somewhere around 2am, figuring sales are usually low or non-existent by then. But this time out, things were a little different. Continue reading

Notes from the Krypt…

As you’d expect, this is a busy month for us. With events going on every weekend, not to mention coming into Chicago every Monday for something as well, the days are just flying by. Not a bad thing, mind you, but really tough to squeeze in some good horror flicks with all this going on. But this is the path we choose, right?

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Last weekend, we were in Strongsville, OH for the 18th year at Cinema Wasteland. Hard to believe it has been going on that long and still continues to be a great time. The draw this year was for a reunion for a favorite of mine, the original My Bloody Valentine (1981) and the Q&A was very informative and entertaining. Although I must admit being a little depressed when they asked a packed room right before the screening of the film, just how many people there have never seen the film before, and about two thirds of the room raised their hands. I would have thought this would have been key film to watch during your slasher education. Or at least, if you were going to a convention that the main guest lineup was a cast reunion from a film you hadn’t seen…that you’d watch it before the show! Sorry…Old Man Kitley is coming out again. Times for my meds.

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Do You Like Opera?

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Two weeks from today, the Music Box Theatre will once again unleash the terror from their projector, screening 13 features (with 10 of them being from actual 35mm prints!) in this year’s The Music Box of Horrors! Since our last post, they have added one final feature to the lineup, Dario Argento’s Opera (1987), which will be the Italian uncut version, playing in Chicago for the first time! This is actually Argento’s personal 35mm print being screened! How cool is that?

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Night of the Living Dead 50th Anniversary Screenings!

 

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That’s right, folks. It was 50 years ago that George Romero changed the face of horror cinema when he released his zombies onto the world in his little indie film Night of the Living Dead. I’m pretty sure all horror fans out there have seen Night, probably more than a few times. But have you had the chance to see it on the big screen? No? Then now is your chance.

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Dust-to-Dawn Horrorfest at the Midway Next Weekend!

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Next weekend we will be heading out the Midway Drive-In for their annual Dust-to-Dawn Horrorfest, and this year they have one hell of a lineup. Then again, they always do! This year’s lineup consists of the following titles:

  • The Thing (1982) – John Carpenter’s incredible remake that has never lost its impact!
  • The Blob (1988) – Chuck Russell & Frank Darabont’s excellent remake of this great classic, and one that still holds up.
  • The Funhouse (1981) – One of Tobe Hooper’s lesser known films but that is a great chapter to his long career.
  • Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers (1988) – With a title like that, can you tell it was directed by Fred Olen Ray? Starring Linnea Quigley, Michelle Bauer, and Leatherface himself, Gunnar Hansen. As the ads say, “They Charge an Arm and a Leg!”

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N.E.W. Horrorfest in Oshkosh!

NEWHorrorfest 2018There always seems to be another event that I’m scheduled to be at the same time as this great looking film fest that takes place in Oshkosh, WI. This is their 3rd year and they have a great looking lineup for this 2-day event. Taking place on Oct. 13th & 14th at the Time Community Theatre, they will be screening both short films and feature length titles.

For the full lineup, just click HERE. For all other information about the event, you can either click HERE for the website, or their Facebook page is HERE.

One of these days, we’ll make it up there. One of these days….

Full Lineup Announced for Music Box of Horrors

With just a little over a month away, the Music Box has announced the rest of the titles that will be screening at this year’s Music Box of Horrors. With only 3 out of the 12 titles being screened from a DCP, the rest will all be from 35mm. Previously announced titles were Lord of Illusions (1995), Child’s Play (1988), Freddy vs Jason (2003), Body Melt (1993), Wicked Wicked (1973), and Goke, Bodysnatcher from Hell (1968). But now posted on the theater’s website, we have the rest of the titles in the lineup. They are:

The Lodger (1927) – Alfred Hitchcock’s original version of this tale of Jack the Ripper. This will have a live score from False Gods Trio, and screened from a DCP format.

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Coscarelli Comes to Music Box

Don CoscarelliPhans of director Don Coscarelli take note! This true independent filmmaker will be coming to Chicago’s Music Box Theatre to celebrate the release of his autobiography, True Indie: Life and Death in Filmmaking, as well as a screening of his film Bubba Ho-Tep (2002).

His book gives us story after story of working in the filmmaking industry, but still able to remain independent and not be sucked into the evil world of Hollywood, one thing that I’ve always admired about him. He would continue to turn out very unique and unusual films, always creating entertaining pictures, from his Phantasm series, to the dark and strange comedies Bubba Ho-Tep and John Dies at the End, Coscarelli continues to shine as a truly independent and dedicated craftsman to the industry. And we get to read about all those stories in his book, which we can only imagine how many good ones he has to tell. Such as having his own office on Universal Studios’ lot while he was still in his teens, or where he almost drowns actress Catherine Keener, to setting his face on fire during the making of Phantasm, to even meeting and working with heavy metal legend Ronnie James Dio.

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