Taking Shape: Developing Halloween from Script to Scream

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Taking ShapeDo we really need yet another book on the Halloween series? Well, since one of the authors is Dustin McNeill, who gave fans so much more insight into the Phantasm series with his book Phantasm Exhumed, then I would say YES! Not to mention that there is always more to learn about movies, especially a series that has been going on for over 40 years.

Just released and available on Amazon, Taking Shape has escaped from Harker Press and has over 400 pages of information about the Halloween series, including Rob Zombies two films, and the recent return of Laurie Strode in H40.

But what can this book bring you that we haven’t gotten already? How about a comprehensive story analysis of each of the films in the series? Or a rundown of all the deleted scenes, as well as the alternate ones. You’ll also get comparisons of early versions of the scripts to the final product, an in-depth dissection of the official novelizations (which could always be quite different than the films), and so much more.

The book is available now through Amazon and is a perfect title for the season. Priced at only $23.99, it’s a killer deal.

Mystery Photo 10-21

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Happy Monday Everyone! We’ve return to the Krypt from our last convention outing this year, the wonderful Monster Bash, which will have a bit more on that a little later. But we are back with our usually Monday brain teaser. Speaking of which, our last photo was from the 1958 flick The Brain Eaters, starring Ed Nelson! If you ask me, its hard to go wrong with these low budget films. They may not be well made, but they are fun. Congrats to the following for sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Bob Hartman, Dave Fronto, Lee Nattrass, & Michael Shields. Well done!

Now onto this week’s photo. I have methods for my madness, and some of you will pick up on this. So there is your clue! As always, please don’t post your answers here but send them to us in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

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Mr. Murder: The Life & Times of Tod Slaughter

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Mr MurderWithin our horror history, there are still names that we need to not only remember, but know why they are important. One of those names is Tod Slaughter, who some call Britain’s first true horror star. Slaughter didn’t start making films until he was 50, after a long career of acting on the stage. But making films, especially when he appeared as the villain, is when Slaughter not only shined, but he seemed to just love it. Probably his most famous role, was that of bloody barber Sweeney Todd, in The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1936).

Coming this November from Hemlock Books and authors Denis Meikle, Kip Xool, and Doug Young, you will be given your chance to learn more about Slaughter than ever before. Mr. Murder: The Life and Times of Tod Slaughter will us a definitive biography of this unsung hero of horror. The book will even feature extracts from Slaughter’s unpublished autobiography, as well as tons of information on this actor who just relished being over the top and chewing the scenery. Appearing in other films such as The Face at the Window (1939) and Horror Maniacs (1948), Slaughter is a name you need to know within your horror education.

This 280 page book will be available in hardcover format, and will be fully illustrated throughout the book, with 8 pages in color. The retail price is £29.95, which is about $38 over here. It will be a bit pricy once you throw in the postage, but I know it will be one title I’ll be adding to my library! For more information, head over to their site by clicking HERE.

Discover the Reviews!

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LSoH43Thanks to Richard Klemensen for this great little review of our book, Discover the Horror, which appears in the latest issue of Little Shoppe of Horror, which has a great cover story on Peter Cushing’s Blood Beast Terror! Here’s what Richard wrote:

“As the cover blurb puts it – “One Man’s 50-year Quest for Monsters, Maniacs, and the Meaning of it All”, I’ve known Jon Kitley for more years than I care to think about. Ran into him again and chatted at this year’s 2019 Monster Bash. My wife bought zombie pillows from his wife at Wonderfest a few years back.

So – what we have here is something I absolutely gravitate to – one monster fan’s trip to monsterdom and how he done got there! Growing up in a large family – his parents divorcing – finally ending up with his dad in a town where he knows no one. Moves to several different schools and ends up with few friends. How he grew; how he learned to love reading, then movies. His wonderful, understanding wife, Dawn, enters his world. He indoctrinates his son into his world of Gods and Monsters – and lots of other cool stuff. Continue reading →

Buyer Beware!

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Everyone reading this knows I tend to collect horror reference books. More than your average fan. And because of my love of them, I always like to help promote them as well, either through reviews or just letting my followers know about upcoming titles that might be of interests. 

In the past, I’ve made posts about some books that publishers like to re-issue every couple of years, but change the title and cover a little to make it seem like its a new book. For example, Carlton Books have re-issued their Horror! title that was first published in 2006, at least 3 different times, all with a new cover and all with a slightly different name, adding a few pages at the end to “update” it to the current year. Sure, newer fans aren’t going to have the previous release, but at least they could do is state that it is an updated edition. Continue reading →

Mystery Photo 10-14

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Back online and back again for another fun photo challenge. Because of the Halloween season, we’re going to stick with another classic. Well, maybe one not everyone would call a classic, but that is always debatable. But before we get to that one, let’s go back to our last one. It was from the original Tales from the Crypt (1972) that I feel still holds up today, with the stories as well as the acting! Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Todd Barwick, Dave Fronto, Troy Howarth, Martin Meeks, & William Wilson. Well done!

Okay, back to this week’s photo. Take a good look and see what you can come up with. But don’t strain that brain… wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself before Halloween. As always, don’t post your answers here so others can have a guess. Just send an email to us, at jon@kitleyskrypt.com. It’s that simple! Good Luck!

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We’re Back!

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office

Yes, we are back online! Sorry for the online absences but we had some new windows installed in the Krypt and to do so, that meant moving everything away from the windows. Well, if you’ve ever been to the Krypt, there is not a bit of free space anywhere! So moving stuff from one place to another was a bit challenging. Even in my office, I had to move a bookcase and my computer desk, which meant unhooking everything and finding places for all of the books in that bookcase. Ugh! Continue reading →

Book Review – Fear: The Autobiography of Dario Argento

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Fear Aregento AutobiographyFear: The Autobiography of Dario Argento
Published by FAB Press, 2019. 288 pages.
By Dario Argento

No matter what you have to say about Dario Argento, he is a powerful voice in cinema, with a staggering amount of pictures that will be discussed at length, at movie conventions and film schools alike, for many years to come. So when news of his autobiography, which was first published in Italy in 2014, was going to see its first English version thanks to FAB Press, I immediately pre-ordered a copy.

Autobiographies can be a bit tricky, especially coming from someone as high up as Argento is. Sometimes they can be very self-indulgent, filled with self-praise, or even though while entertaining, you question the legitimacy of some, if not all of the stories. So I went into this volume with a slight trepidation as to what I was going to get. What I did get was something that felt completely honest and written from the heart. If there is one thing that is filled within each and every page, it is passion. Even in the opening chapter, when he touches on his thoughts of suicide, you can tell he is not holding back with his stories. Continue reading →

AC’s Scare-A-Thon 2019: Day of the Lorax

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AC's Lorax

Our good friend Aaron Christensen is doing his annual Scare-A-Thon, this time putting attention to the Amazon by raising money for Amazon Watch. No, this isn’t anything to do with ordering stuff online or watching streaming movies, but to help the Amazon rain forest and the people that live there. And its pretty simple to help AC in his quest. Continue reading →