Greg Cannom – Rest in Peace

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Back in the ’80s, it was a time when the makeup effects artists were treated like celebrities. Sometimes we’d go to a movie because of who did the special effects more than who was in it! Names like Tom Savini, Rick Baker, Rob Bottin, and countless others help create the monsters and makeup that made the 80s and beyond so much entertaining. One of those names was Greg Cannom, who we lost yesterday at the age of 74.

From his very beginning assisting Rick Baker on films like It Lives Again (1978), The Incredible Melting Man (1977), to going on his own path, continuing to create some amazing work. He had been nominated 14 times for an Oscar, winning 7 times, mainly for non-horror characters like in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) and Mr. Doubtfire (1993), but he also won for Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), which is still one of my favorite versions of the Stoker novel. Over the years, he had worked on films like The Lost Boys (1987), Blade (1998), and even turning Ozzy Osbourne into a werewolf for his 1983’s Bark at the Moon album cover!

I had the honor to meet him at the Monsterpalooza convention back in 2019, and it was indeed an honor, and I thanked him for the many, many hours of entertainment his work had given me, and countless other fans. Upon hearing the news of his passing, Rick Baker said “His work will be remembered long after his passing.” I couldn’t agree more. That is the one positive mark of working in the film industry, that you will live on through your amazing work. Rest in Peace, Mr. Cannom. Gone, but not forgotten.

Movie Review – Terror in the Fog: The Wallace Krimi At CCC

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I thought I knew what a “krimi film” was and had seen a couple of them over the years. Turns out, in fact, I knew very little about them. I thought they were just a little off shoot to the Italian giallo films but made in Germany, which they kind of were, but so different. Kind of like saying all pasta is the same as spaghetti! The term krimi is slang for Kriminalfilme, or Crime Film, that was shortened to just krimi. This moniker was created after a series of films based on the works of British author Edgar Wallace and his son Bryan Edgar Wallace, mainly starting by the films made by the West Germany company Rialto Films between 1959 and 1972, but also a series of films by Artur Brauner with the Central Cinema Company (CCC), that he founded in 1946. Brauner was also the one to bring back the criminal mastermind, Dr. Mabuse, back to the screen with a series of films. But that’s for another review!

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Dusk to Dawn Carpenter Fest!

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The Midway Drive-in will be celebrating all things John Carpenter on their spring Dusk to Dawn show this June 28th! As of now, they only have announced 2 of the 4 features that will be screening, The Thing (1982) from a 35mm print (!!!) and Prince of Darkness (1987) from DCP. I know I’ve mentioned here on this site before, but my very first viewing of The Thing was at a drive-in theater, and I have seen in numerous more times since then at the drive-in, and it never has lost its charm. When you have a perfect movie like that one, it is always an experience. And even more so seeing it projected on a 90ft screen!

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Mystery Photo 5-5

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Thought I forgot about today’s photo, did you? Okay . . . so I almost did. But better almost late than never, right! Yeap, been that kind of a Monday. Before we get down to business, let’s go over last week’s photo, that seemed to have stumped everyone, except Erik Martin. Well done, Sir! The shot was from the 1983 Hong Kong horror film Devil Fetus! Such a fun little picture.

Okay, before my time runs out, here is this week’s photo. Take a peek, and then send me your answer in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And most of all, Good Luck!

DtH Episode 95 – Mario Bava

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Black Sunday (1960), Blood and Black Lace (1964), and A Bay of Blood (1971)

There are some films and directors that are truly iconic and classics of the genre that sometimes we just assume that everyone has seen already. It’s easy to forget that out there right now, are fans that just might be getting into the genre, either because of their age, or now have a newfound interest in it and have just started taking their first steps. For those out there, we are here to lead over to Italy, to one of the most gifted directors when it came to the look of a film, the Maestro, Mario Bava. And for those that are familiar with his work, maybe it’s time for a revisit and once again, be blown away at what he shows us onscreen. Because if it has been a few years, you might be seeing things for the first time. That is one of the beautiful things about cinema.

For fans starting out with Bava, these three titles really show his beginning, as well as how he would influence other sub-genres of films, from the gothics, the giallo, and even slasher films.

Correction: Edgar Wallace was a British writer, not American.

Films mentioned in this episode:

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Mystery Photo 4-28

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Welcome to our last photo for April! That’s right . . . we’re a quarter through this year! Can only go up, right? Right??? Anyone? Okay, well there is always hope. I guess in the meantime, we’ll just have to occupy a little time away from the current dumpster fire and enjoy a little pictorial puzzle. Last week’s photo was from Hammer’s The Phantom of the Opera (1962). While not one of my favorite versions, I just love Herbert Lom’s look and performance. Congrats to the following who did send in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Steve Archacki, Dave Fronto, Erik Martin, Lee Nattrass, and Mike Shields.

Now on to this week’s photo. A real head-splitter if there ever was one! Just remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And most of all, Good Luck!

Making Monsters!

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Back in 2022, Howard Berger, Oscar winning special makeup effects artist, and journalist Marshall Julius gave us Masters of Make-Up Effects: A Century of Practical Magic, which covered some of the best makeup artists and their work over the last 100 years. That volume is a real page turner, as well as a tome of a massive about of amazing information about these incredibly talented artists, many who don’t get the credit they deserve. Now they are back with a whole new book, entitled Making Monsters: Inside Stories from the Creators of Hollywood’s Most Iconic Creatures!

Due out this September, this 320-page hardcover edition (also available on Kindle for $24.99) is priced at $49.95, has Berger and Julius reaching out to dozens of legendary makeup effects artists from Hollywood, asking them a simple question: What makes a great movie monster? What we get is answers from a huge list of talented makeup and digital artists like Tom Savini to Phil Tippett, to directors like John Carpenter & Ti West, to actors such as Simon Pegg and Barbara Crampton, to composers, and writers. It also has a foreword by Robert Englund and Afterword by Alex Winter. Like their previous volume, this one is filled with hundreds of images, from film stills to person, behind-the-scenes pics, as well as plenty of stories from the brilliant minds that helped bring our nightmares to life!

Lar Park Lincoln – Rest in Peace

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As horror fans know, most all who did battle with Jason Voorhees either barely escaped or ended up as another statistic. Out of all the Final Girls to do battle with that undying monster in that series, I feel that it was the character of Tina Shepard in Part 7: The New Blood. So, it was sad news of her passing, on Tuesday the 22nd. She didn’t appear in a ton of horror films, though did appear in House II: The Second Story (1987) and an episode of Freddy’s Nightmares (1988), but she still left her mark when she did. But she also spent a lot of her time helping younger actors get their start, by starting the Actors Audition Studios, based in Dallas, TX.

Our thoughts go out to her friends and family during this difficult time. She may be gone, but as long as there are Friday the 13th fans (which there ALWAYS will be), she will live on. Rest in Peace.

Unpleasant Dreams with Super-Monster-Rama

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The deviants are back to give you nightmares, with back-to-back midnight screenings at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago! On Friday, May 30th, at 11:45pm, they will be hosting a screening of Dream Demon (1988), an underrated horror film that never got the attention it deserves. Directed by Harley Cokeliss, who had previously given us Battletruck (1982) and Black Moon Rising (1986) and starring Jemma Redgrave (who would later go on to appear in a bunch of Dr. Who episodes), Kathleen Wilhoite, and Timothy Spall.

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Damien Thomas – Rest in Peace

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One of my all-time favorite Hammer Films is Twins of Evil (1971), and one of those reasons was the highly memorable villain Count Karnstein, played wonderfully by Damien Thomas. He seemed to just revel is playing this character and just makes the film so much more enjoyable. Sadly, we have heard the news that he has recently passed away.

He didn’t appear too much in the horror genre over the years, but was always a treat to see no matter what he was in. He is one of the many reasons that Hammer Films still are remembered and cherished today.

Our thoughts go out to his friends and family. Gone, but never forgotten.