Robot Monster In 3-D is Almost Here!

February 12, 2023 by Jon Kitley in Movie Events and tagged Bayview Entertainment, Gregory Moffett, Robot Monster, Stewart McKissick | Leave a comment

The official 70th Anniversary release of one of the greatest films in movie history (okay . . . stop laughing), the one and only Robot Monster will finally be hitting Blu-ray and DVD this summer. It will be distributed by Bayview Entertainment with this new smashing cover art by Stewart McKissick. All the extras are still being worked out, but they did announce that they have recorded an audio commentary with star Gregory Moffett, as well as a featurette about him. We got to meet him at a Monster Bash conference a few years ago and he had some great stories then. It is so great to see that they will now be documented in this new release.

I know I contributed to the Kickstarter to get this released in its original 3-D format, so I know these guys have been hard at work making this thing happen. Can’t wait to be able to see this in its restored form, as well as in 3-D. But until then, check out the artwork below.

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House of Monsters Presents Euro-Horror Shock Show

January 24, 2023 by Jon Kitley in Movie Events and tagged Death Smiles on a Murderer, Don't Torture a Duckling, House of Monsters, Hunchback of the Morgue, Joe D'Amato, Klaus Kinski, Lucio Fulci, Paul Naschy, The Davis Theatre, The Mummy's Revenge | Leave a comment

Chicago fans are in for a real treat this April. House of Monsters is presenting a night of Euro Horror, some of which has probably never been screened in Chicago! Taking place on Saturday, April 22nd, at The Davis Theatre, they will be screening 4 different titles, two from Italy and two from Spain, but all giving fans a nice taste of Euro-Horror!

You’ll get to see Joe D’Amato’s first official directorial debut, Death Smiles on a Murderer (1973), starring the one and only Klaus Kinski. Then there is Lucio Fulci’s Don’t Torture a Duckling (1972), a dark and sweaty giallo about someone murdering the local children.

For the last two films, we travel over to Spain for a double dose of one of the most iconic figures in the horror genre, Paul Naschy! That comment won’t be a surprise to any regulars to this site. But now is your chance to see two of Naschy’s finest: Hunchback of the Morgue (1973) and then The Mummy’s Revenge (1975).

The doors open at 3pm and the features start at 4pm. There will be vendors, trailers, and free stuff! So, mark your calendars because this is an event that you will not want to miss. Presale tickets are available now and I wouldn’t wait too long because this just might sell out!

For all the latest information, check out the Facebook event page HERE.

Universal Classic Horrors at the Strand Theatre

January 22, 2023 by Jon Kitley in Movie Events and tagged Creature from the Black Lagoon, Dracula, Frankenstein, Fright Night Frights, Old Dark House, Strand Theatre, The Black Cat, The Invisible Man, The Mummy, The Strand Theatre, Universal Horrors, Universal Monsters | 1 Comment

The Strand Theatre in Shelbyville, IN, has announced this year’s Friday Night Frights schedule and once again, makes me wish I lived closer to the theater! We all know and love the Universal Classic Monsters (or at least we should!) but few fans have had the opportunity to see them in a movie theater on the big screen. Well, if you live near the Indianapolis area, now you have your chance.

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’70s Argento at the Gene Siskel Film Center

January 8, 2023 by Jon Kitley in Movie Events and tagged Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Cat O'Nine Tails, Dario Argento, Deep Red, Four Flies on Grey Velvet, Gene Siskel Film Center, Italian horror, Suspiria, The Five Days | Leave a comment

If you’re a fan of Dario Argento, especially his early work, and live somewhat close to Chicago, you might want to check this out. Starting on Feb. 3rd, they will be screening Argento’s first 6 feature films over the course of 7 days. Below is the list of titles, dates, and times. If you haven’t had the chance to see these on a big screen, then now is your chance to knock out his early titles, which many would argue are his best, including the rare comedy he made, The Five Days, aka Five Days in Milan. For more details, you can go directly to the Gene Siskel site by clicking HERE.

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January Giallo at the Music Box

December 27, 2022 by Jon Kitley in Movie Events and tagged All the Colors of the Dark, Caroll Baker, Clint Eastwood, Dan Hedaya, Edwige Fenech, Eloy de la Iglesia, Erika Blanc, Florinda Bolkan, Geneviève Bujold, George Hilton, Helga Liné, Ivan Rassimov, January Giallo, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Lizard in a Woman's Skin, Lucio Fulci, Music Box Theatre, No One Heard the Scream, Sergio Martino, So Sweet So Perverse, Umberto Lenzi | Leave a comment

Back in January of this year, Chicago’s Music Box Theatre offered up a series of Italian films from the giallo sub-genre, giving fans a chance to see some amazing titles on the big screen. Next month, they are continuing that tradition, giving us 5 more titles, but not just from Italy this time, showing the international influence of this intriguing sub-genre. You’ll still get 3 titles from Italy, once again showcasing some of the best gialli from that country, but also one from Spain and even one from here in the US, starring a very famous actor/director. Check out the titles and the dates below and start making your plans. These will all be screening in the main theater, with 3 from 35mm and 2 from DCP. For all the latest info about this series, just click HERE.

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Invasion of Monster Bash!

December 13, 2022 by Jon Kitley in Movie Events and tagged Invaders from Mars, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Invasion of the Saucer Men, Monster Bash, Target Earth, The Blob, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Palace Theatre, The Thing, War of the Worlds | Leave a comment

Next August, Monster Bash is invading The Palace Theatre in Canton, Ohio, for what is becoming their annual film fest. And this year, the theme is INVASION! They have 8 fantastic titles lined up over two days, featuring some of the best in sci-fi / horror, that you can see all of them for only $40! That’s only $5 a movie! Plus, there will be vendors there as well, as well as plenty of the Monster Bash fun. This is taking place on Aug. 18th & 19th, 2023. Below is the lineup for each day, so start making your plans!

Friday, August 18th

Invaders from Mars (1953)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
War of the Worlds (1953)

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Mystery Photo 12-5-22

December 5, 2022 by Jon Kitley in Movie Events and tagged Mystery Photo

Welcome to our first Mystery Photo for December! That means we’ll be in 2023 before you know it! Better get those last-minute films in to make it on this year’s list! But let’s get down to business. Last week’s photo was from José Ramón Larraz 1973 film Scream…and Die, also known as The House that Vanished. Which, depending on which version you have, it could be cut quite a bit. I know the Blu-ray release that came out here in the states is definitely cut. The copy I have from an old VHS tape under the Scream…and Die title looks to be the full version, though the print is a little less than stellar. But still worth seeing if you’re a fan of Larraz’s early work. Definitely repeating the sleaze and dark tone that he had been doing so far in his career. Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Kevin Hart, Gary McGuire, and Todd Warren. Well done!

Okay, throwing everyone a bone as an early holiday gift with this week’s photo. Should be pretty easy. Or is it? Maybe I’m trying to make throw you off by making you think it is easy, when in fact, it’s an obscure film only shown in one theater in outer Mongolia back in the ’40s, that reported made people go mad. Or not. Either way, take a look and see what you think. Just send me your guess, in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. As always, Good Luck!

The Rebane Exhibit Report

October 25, 2022 by Jon Kitley in Misc. Ramblings, Movie Events and tagged Bill Rebane, Blood Harvest, Brandon Johnson, Giant Spider Invasion, Rana: The Legend of Shadow Lake, The Alpha Incident, The Merrill Historical Society, Tiny Tim, Twister's Revenge | 2 Comments

As I reported a few days ago, on Saturday the 22^nd, myself, along with Aaron Christensen, Dave Kosanke, and Gavin Schmitt, made the trip up to Merrill, Wisconsin for the Bill Rebane’s Hollywood Midwest: A Retrospective on Wisconsin’s First Feature Film Studio, an exhibit being held at the Merrill Historical Society, put on by Brandon Johnson. Because it opened at 9am and we wanted to be there right when it opened, it meant that I had to leave at 3am, drive into Chicago to pick up Aaron, then head north to pick up Dave, and then meet Gavin at the Museum as close to 9am as we could. We got there at 8:55am. Pretty good planning if I do say so myself!

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A Pilgrimage to Merrill WI, and then Insanity

October 20, 2022 by Jon Kitley in Movie Events and tagged Bill Rebane, Blood Harvest, Giant Spider Invasion, Rana: The Legend of Shadow Lake, The Alpha Incident, The Shooting Ranch | 2 Comments

This weekend, a few friends and I will be making a trip up to Merrill, Wisconsin, which is about a 5–6 hour drive for us. Why, may you ask? Because the Merrill Historical Society there is having a special Bill Rebane exhibit, which Mr. Rebane himself will be attending, possibly along with some other cast and crew from his films.

Bill Rebane, to those that don’t know, is probably most known for his film The Giant Spider Invasion (1975), but he had made quite a few other titles, such as The Alpha Incident, The Demons of Ludlow, Rana: The Legend of Shadow Lake, and Blood Harvest, which even starred Tiny Tim. One of the things that set Rebane apart from most directors is that he made most of these films without leaving Wisconsin. In fact, in the town of Gleason, he created his own little film studio, called The Shooting Ranch, where he could film, edit, looping, everything else needed to make a film start to finish. Sure, some of his budgets were pretty low, but that doesn’t mean they are not entertaining.

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Midway Drive-In Horrorfest Next Weekend!

September 18, 2022 by Jon Kitley in Movie Events and tagged Doctor Butcher M. D., Friday the 13th The Final Chapter, John Carpenter, Pieces, They Live | Leave a comment

Now is your chance to see 4 classic horror films on the big screen, like they were meant to be! Not to mention seeing them in the company of other like-minded crazy horror fans! Next Saturday, on Sept. 24th, at the Midway Drive-in, located in Sterling, IL, they will be holding their annual Horrorfest, featuring some incredible titles: John Carpenter’s They Live (1988), Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984), Pieces (1982), and Doctor. Butcher M.D. (1980)! Plus, the first 500 people that get there will get a free Doctor. Butcher M.D. Barf Bag, thanks to sponsor Severin Films!