Book Review: Naked Theater & Uncensored Horror

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Naked Theater & Uncensored Horror
Published by FAB Press, 2023. 360 pages
By Stuart Gordon

I’ve been wanting to get to this title ever since it arrived in the mail from FAB Press when it first came out. But like all things in life, something else always came up. Until a few days ago when I decided now was the time. It was a Sunday, and I didn’t have any real plans for the day, so I knew I could at least start it. 3 days later, I finished it.

I’ve known Gordon’s work since his debut film, Re-Animator (1985), hit the theater I worked at when it first opened. All horror fans immediately knew him as “the guy who did Re-Animator” and would watch for his next venture into the film world. The more films Gordon did, the more interviews and articles about him came out, the more we got a hint of his history. I knew very well that he came from theater background, even being here in Chicago for quite some time, but I really had no clue to the extent he had, or the impact that he made.

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January Giallo at the Music Box

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That’s right folks, since the end of the year is coming, that means that January Giallo at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago is right around the corner! They have announced the 4 titles that will be screening this year, and they are not to be missed.

While the first film isn’t technically the one to start the sub-genre of the giallo, it definitely helped define it. Mario Bava’s Blood and Black Lace is an incredible piece of cinema, if only for the use of colors and camerawork here. Talk about a master class! It is one that no matter how many times you might have seen it; each time still makes you sit and be amazed at how incredible it looks. If you can’t tell, I’m a big fan of this one and can’t wait to see it on the big screen again!

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DtH Episode 85: Modern Folk Horror

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Wake Wood (2009), The Wind (2018), Apostle (2018)

Folk horror has its roots in tales of witches and paganism, stretching back centuries. In cinema, the term “folk horror” was first coined by Rod Cooper in Kine Weekly to describe the 1971 classic Blood on Satan’s Claw. However, the themes that define folk horror—witchcraft, ancient rituals, and the eerie power of nature—have been present since the earliest days of film. A prime example is Benjamin Christensen’s Häxan (1922), which delves into witchcraft and age-old rites.

Regardless of its origins or definitions, folk horror has endured over time, weaving its way through the history of cinema. In recent decades, the genre has experienced a remarkable resurgence, not just in the United States but globally. This renewed interest may owe much to Kier-La Janisse’s expansive 2021 documentary, Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched, which shone a spotlight on the subgenre and sparked widespread conversation.

With the recent release of Volume Two of Severin’s All the Haunts Be Ours box sets, now seems the perfect time to explore some of the standout modern folk horror films from the past two decades. So, venture with us into the remote villages, pagan rites, and shadowy woods where all the horrors sit waiting for you in the dark corners where people rarely go. 

Films mentioned in this episode:

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Mystery Photo 12-9

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Here’s to surviving that first week of December. While here in the Midwest, the temps finally started to drop down in the teens, which mean moving up from just a hoodie to an actual jacket. At least for those real cold days. I mean, why bust out the heavy coats until at least the snow hits, right? Anyway, we only got a few correct answers for our last Mystery Photo. Remember, I did mention all the ones for this month would be relatively new titles, coming out within the last couple of years. Our photo from last month was from Caitlin Cronenberg’s Humane (2024), which really feels like it came from a Cronenberg. It’s one of those films that is scary just in the subject matter, as well as being not too far off from being reality. Kudos to Hoby Abernathy, Erik Martin, and Mickey Thompson for sending in the correct answer.

This week’s photo is another newer film, so keep that in mind as you’re trying to figure it out. Just remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And Good Luck!

Book Review: Feeding the Monster

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Feeding the Monster
Published by Faber & Faber, 2024. 256 pages
by Anna Bogutskaya

These days, way more than before, I love reading a book about the horror genre, and especially other writer’s views, thoughts, and opinions out it. Unfortunately, in my early days, it would be more like “this person doesn’t know what they are talking about”. But once I (thankfully) grew out of that phase and realized that everyone can bring something new to the conversation, especially when it gets you to think, it is always a good thing. Even when you don’t agree with them, if it makes you think about something more or even a little differently, then it’s a win.

I had picked up this new book because, well, it was on the horror genre and that’s what I do. But I didn’t have any intention of reading it right away since I have several other books I want to get to first. Then as I saw it sitting on my desk, waiting to be put away in my library, I picked it up and started browsing. Then I started reading. Next thing I know, I’m 50 pages into it.

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Soundtrack Review: I, Desire

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I, Desire
Released by Dragon’s Domain Records, 2024
23 Tracks with a Total Running Time of 44:03 min.
Music Composed and Conducted by Don Peake

Sometimes it just amazes me what soundtracks get a CD release these days. Here’s a made-for-TV from the early ’80s, that never even had a released on VHS, DVD, or Blu-ray, and yet here we are, talking about a CD release for it. Just amazing. It’s even more impressive because this is an exceptional score.

I remember trying to track down this film on the grey market back in the ’90s because had never shown up on VHS, and because it was a TV-movie about a vampire, starring David Naughton, fresh from An American Werewolf in London (1981), and Brad Dourif, so how could this be not worth seeking out!

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Mystery Photo 12-2

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Welcome to December! Thanksgiving and Turkey Day is over and now we can get prepared for the last celebration of the year . . . spending money! Okay, there might be some other reasons too. But let us get to the reason why we’re here, the Mystery Photo. Last week’s photo was from the later day film by Lucio Fulci, called The Sweet House of Horrors (1989). Not one of the maestro’s best, but it is still his. Congrats to the following so sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Scott Bradley, Troy Howarth, Erik Martin, and Tim Palace. Well done!

For the rest of the month, I’m going to try and use films that came out within the last couple of years. The reason is that with so many films that are always coming out, in the theater and especially on the streaming services, titles can get lost in all the titles. So, the ones that we’re going to highlight this month are ones that we feel need to be sought out. If you’ve already seen them, then you will have no issues recognizes the shots, right? Just remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And most of all, good luck!

Turkey Day 2024 Report

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Another very successful Turkey Day in the books. As usual, we got through 7 features, some hitting the low point, many hitting some high points, and one hitting so far off the grid that it would be tough to explain! But we managed through, because we are, after all, professional lovers of cinema! And if you can’t find enjoyment in some of the strangest films out there, you’re just looking too hard at them. These films are the ones that you just sit back and bask in the wonderment, that someone thought that not only was the story good enough to proceed, but that they actually found backers willing to put up the money!

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The Blood is the Life Book

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Since it is Black Friday and all . . .

The latest volume from the creators of We Belong Dead magazine, this time covering one of the oldest monsters around, the vampire! The Blood is the Life covers “a century of filmic bloodsuckers”, starting with the one and only Nosferatu (1922), which is only fitting since next month we will be getting a new version of this tale with the release of Robert Eggers new film. This book covers a wide range of films from the classic Universal titles like Dracula (1931), Dracula’s Daughter (1936), to a slew of Hammer titles with Christopher Lee as the Count, to their other efforts like Kiss of the Vampire (1963) to Twins of Evil (1971). I was honored to be part of this tome, having essays on Al Adamson’s Dracula vs Frankenstein (1971) and José Ramón Larraz Vampyres (1974).

While these books are a bit pricy with the currency exchange and the overseas postage, because I have several of their books, I will say they are luxurious looking volumes of well written essays on the genre. With full color pages, filled with plenty of poster art, stills, lobby cards, and even some behind-the-scenes shots, it’s one of those volumes that just paging through it can be a little time machine, helping you escape into many different worlds! So yes, an investment, but I feel a worthy one.

Hardcovers are £45.00 or $57.02 US, and softcovers are £35.00 or $44.35 US. Shipping to here in the US will cost another $25. So again, it’s a bit of cash, but a beautiful investment in knowledge, and for your library. Just click HERE to see more information about the book!

A Day to Give Thanks

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While I do try to keep this idea in my head all year long, but it seems to be so much easier today. I know I personally have so much to be thankful for, from an incredible family to a multitude of really passionate friends that I am able to share those passions with.

We know that there are daily reminders of how life is not going well, that when we look back, we realize it might not have been the big deal we thought at the time. Time can do that. As they say, time is precious, so we are usually so busy trying to make things happen or just survive to really see the positives that we have all around us. That is what I’m really thankful for this year, to really strive to make that a daily mantra, if you will, to take a second and think of what is positive in your life. Trust me, it’s not easy and I often lose track of it. But like life itself, it’s a work in process.

So, from everyone here at the Krypt, we wish everyone out there a very Happy Thanksgiving! Stay positive, stay creative, and always remember to feed that passion, no matter what it is.