Mystery Photo 2-2

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Man, those last 4 weeks sure did seem like it lasted a lot longer than a month. Being that I’m STILL dealing with the remnants of whatever cold/virus that I got at the very beginning of January, I am one that is glad that month is finally over. Hopefully February will be a little better! But on to business. Our last photo was from the wonderfully entertaining and scary 1987 film The Gate. While it may be a PG-13 rating, there are plenty of things in here to get to most viewers. Not only does a very young Stephen Dorff do a great job, but we also have to give a special shout-out to Randall William Cook for his visual special effects work. Kudos to the following for sending in the correct title: Hoby Abernathy, Todd Barwick, Chris Dyer, Kevin Hart, Lee Nattrass, Jeff Owens, Tim Palace, and William Wilson. Congrats, my friends!

This week’s photo is a wee bit older, and while nowhere near as frightening, unless you consider the budget! Take a look and see what you think. Just remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

National Film Registry Adds The Thing

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When you think about a film that has initial reviews that said it was “foolish, depressing” and its actors are “used merely as props to be hacked, slashed, disemboweled and decapitated, finally to be eaten and then regurgitated” and the film overall, “is too phony to be disgusting. It qualifies only as instant junk,” which was from the New York Times Vincent Canby. Or when Roger Ebert called it, “a great barf-bag movie.” But it wasn’t just these types of film critics that hated John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982), his adaptation of John W. Campbell’s novella entitled Who Goes There, first published in 1938. Even Alan Spencer, writing for Starlog magazine wrote that the film, “smells, and smells pretty bad. It has no pace, sloppy continuity, zero humor, bland characters on top of being totally devoid of either warmth or humanity.” He went on to write that Carpenter should not be directing films, but instead, would be “suited to direct: traffic accidents, train wrecks and public floggings.”

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Andy Milligan Rises Again!

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If you would have told me a decade ago that I would be praising the work of Staten Island bottom of the basement auteur Andy Milligan, I would have said you’re crazy. I had known about him and a few of his titles but just wrote him off as another low-budget schlocky filmmaker. But a couple of years ago, Severin Films did an amazing thing by releasing a massive box set of Milligan’s work, with a ton of extras. These films looked better than they probably did if/when they played in theaters. As I started to go through the set, I realized that while they are still very low budgeted films, and weren’t the best on the technical side, there was a charm to them that I really started to enjoy. I’ve always said that the more you know about an artist, it will make you appreciate their work a little more. And between that box set and Jimmy McDonough’s book The Ghastly One, I really started to enjoy what I was seeing.

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Kryptic World Tour 2026 Starts Soon

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While we’re in the middle of a deep freeze here in the Midwest, what better time to think ahead to when convention season starts! We’ve got a couple of new shows that we’re going to be hitting this year, plus some that I really wanted to highlight in the incoming months just to keep getting the word out.

On March 14th, we are going to be heading to Muskegon, Michigan for the Michigan is Dead show, which is just a 1-day event that actually takes place in a mall. The people that run Static Tape Video have been doing this little tape trade, sort-of flea-market style event that looks like it might be fun to give it a try. So, we’ll be set up there with our usual array of horror reference books, maybe some magazines, movies, and of course some horror pillows and tote bags from my lovely wife.

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Mystery Photo 1-26

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Before we get started, I wanted to make sure everyone knew that I wasn’t referencing Martin Luther King’s holiday last Monday, but in fact it was Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday. Obviously two very different people and especially what they contributed to the world. Wasn’t trying to imply one was more important than the other, but this is the Krypt, where we try to celebrate those that had made some contributions to the world we love. And Poe definitely did just that. And on that note, the film was from Premature Burial, the one Poe film Corman did without Vincent Price, but starring Ray Milland instead. Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Dave Fronto, Kevin Hart, Erik Martin, and Charles Miller. Well done!

Now on to this week’s photo. No birthday tie in this week. Just a creepy little film for decades past. Damn does that make me feel old! But take a peek and then send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And most of all, Stay Warm, and Good Luck!

What a Time to be a Horror Fan

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Horror fans and the Oscars have not had a long and friendly relationship. Over the decades, when some incredible performances have been given out in a wide variety of titles, because they are classified as horror, they usually get passed over. Not always, but in the history of cinema that is well over a century old, let’s face it… traditionally, if it is a horror film, it won’t get nominated besides maybe in makeup or visual effects.

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DtH Episode 114 – Deadly Spawn’s Ted A. Bohus

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The Deadly Spawn (1983) & Metamorphosis: The Alien Factor (1990)

One of the greatest low-budget monster movies of the ’80s, with one of the most original looking creatures, is The Deadly Spawn. And its much-underrated semi-sequel Metamorphosis is also a lot of fun that sadly needs a Blu-ray upgrade. But the guy behind both of this is Ted A. Bohus. Not only being a producer and director, but has also created some amazing film magazines, such as SPFX and Candid Monsters, that can prove that maybe you don’t know as much about a movie you thought you did!

Mr. Bohus sits down with us to discuss both Deadly Spawn, Metamorphosis, as well as working in the independent low-budget world of filmmaking, with more than a few lessons out there for up-and-coming filmmakers. We also cover his role as a publisher, doing deep, deep dives into some of our favorite classic films in his magazine (damn near book) Candid Monsters. So, sit back and get ready for some great and fun stories about the wonderful world of making movies and magazines!

Films mentioned in this episode:

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Mystery Photo 1-19

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Not sure what part of the world you’re at, but here in the Chicagoland area, it’s a brisk -2 degrees outside. Gotta love it! Good excuse to stay inside and watch movies! But before we get to that, let’s get some business taken care of first. Our photo from last week was from Voodoo Man (1944), starring Bela Lugosi, John Carradine, and the wonderful entertaining George Zucco, who is featured in the photo. Sure, might not be on too many Top Ten list but damn if it isn’t a fun film. Kudos to the following for sending in the correct photo: Chris Dyer, Dave Fronto, Kevin Hart, Doug Lamoreux, Charles Miller, Bryan Senn, Mike Shields. Well done!

So, today’s photo is a little special. If you know the movie, and know what day it is, then it makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? And if it doesn’t, do a little research to find out, or wait until next Monday. But take a look at the photo before and see if you recognize what film it is from. Just remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskyrpt.com. Good Luck!

Marshmallow Sequel Coming

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I had picked Daniel DelPurgatorio’s feature film debut, Marshmallow (2025) for my Best Viewings of last year. If you still haven’t seen it, PLEASE seek it out, which should be available on a few different streaming services. BUT… and this is very important… DO NOT READ ANYTHING ABOUT IT! You want to go into this film completely blind. And just when you think you know what is going on, just sit back and wait. Trust me.

Anyway, the reason for this post is that a sequel has been announced, with director DelPurgatorio and writer Andy Greskoviak returning, as well as actor main actor Kue Lawrence, as well as Kai Cech, Dylan Friedman, and Max Malas. No title has been released just yet, but just like the original, they are making sure the plot is kept under wraps. The basic premise they have stated is that it takes place years after the events of the film, and what has happened to the characters who survived and throughout the world.

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Book Review: Rear Window

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Rear Window: The Making of a Hitchcock Masterpiece in the Hollywood Golden Age
Published by Citadel Press, 2025. 253 pages.
By Jennifer O’Callaghan

I hadn’t expected to read a second book on a Hitchcock film after just finishing Criss-Cross by Stephen Rebello, but since Rear Window is my favorite of the director’s work, and I was already knee-deep in the Hitchcock cinematic world, I figured why not. And just like the Rebello book, there is a ton of information on the making of it. From finding the right writer to tackle adapting the short story by Cornell Woolrich, to getting the studio to foot the bill for an entire neighborhood to be built on a soundstage.  And then there casting as well, along with the design, art direction, and all that other fun stuff that goes into making a classic.

Finding an actor for the lead role would have to be someone that would follow Hitchcock’s direction. When he had worked with Montgomery Cliff in I Confess (1953), the director ran into issues getting him to do what he wanted because Cliff was a method actor, something Hitchcock did not care for. Hitchcock worked in visuals, what the audience was going to see and how that carried the story along. When Cliff didn’t want to do something in particular because “my character wouldn’t do that”, it caused issues with Hitchcock not being able to get the shots he wanted. Hitchcock had said “It’s a movie. You’re an actor. Act.”

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