Last Chance for Rondos!

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In case you haven’t voted yet, the deadline for the 2023 Rondo Awards ends at midnight on Tuesday the 16th. Yes, I am nominated in few categories (Best Column, Best Article, and Best Podcast), and would love your vote, but more importantly, just vote. There are a lot of hard-working people nominated there, so it’s always nice to be recognized for that hard work. So, head over to the Rondo site (just click HERE) and take a few minutes to send off an email to them with your votes. It’s pretty simple. Just copy and paste the ballot, and mark who you’re voting for, and send it off to David Colton, the Grand Poobah of the Rondos!

Eco-Horror and Maximal Melt at Facets

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This Friday and Saturday, at Facets in Chicago, they will be having a double and triple feature playing that is simply must-see. On Friday, they will be screening Godzilla vs the Smog Monster (1971) and Frogs (1972), both films trying to warn us about the dangers of the ecological damage we’re doing. Plus, they are just damn fun movies! We will actually have a small table in the lobby on Friday, and will have copies of my book, Discover the Horror, for sale as well as a few other book titles. I’ll also have T-shirts for our podcast, also called Discover the Horror, for sale as well. So, if you’re coming out on Friday, make sure you stop by and say hello! Click HERE for tickets.

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Myster Photo 4-8

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Welcome to Monday. But since today is the eclipse and everyone has seemed to be losing their mind about this, I guess it really is the end of the world. Oh well…see you on the other side. But until that, let’s take a quick look at today’s pictorial puzzle! First, as always, let’s look at the photo from last week that nobody was able to send in the correct answer. It was from the 2018 film The Sonata, starring Freya Tingley and Rutger Hauer, about a mysterious and reclusive composer that might have been dealing with darker things when he was creating this music. Not bad with a very interesting plot.

For this one, we might be going a little easier. Or not. You decide. Take a look and see if you can recognize where this shot came from. Just remember to send your guess to me in an email to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

Nightbreed Soundtrack Expanded!

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Almost 35 years since its release, we’re finally going to get the Danny Elfman’s complete soundtrack for Clive Barker’s Nightbreed. Needless to say, I’m more than thrilled. Say what you will about the film, whether it’s the theatrical cut, director’s cut, or any of the extended, bootleg, Cabal-cuts out there, I just love this movie, and have always loved the score.

Originally released by MCA which had 22 tracks and ran 46:42 minutes, it was pretty great. But now, thanks to fine folks at Intrada, we will now have the complete score which runs 75:19 minutes, in a special 2-disc release. The first disc has the complete score, while the second disc has the original release of the score, plus another 21:16 minutes of extra stuff, such as some alternate cuts, and 3 different versions of the song Country Skin, which no version of that is included first disc.

You can order it directly from Intrada (click HERE) or from Screen Archives (click HERE), where I get a lot of my soundtracks from!

DtH Podcast Episode 67: Film Preservation and Archiving with Special Guest Oscar Becher

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During conversations with serious film collectors, you might hear terms like inter-positive, or first negative, or even OCN, and have no clue to what they actually mean. Don’t feel bad because a lot of us are in the same boat. These are some of the many terms used when discussing the preservation and archiving of films, not to mention the amount of work that goes into doing just that. Plus, we’re not talking about the latest title coming from the MCU, but ones that were made for pennies a half a century ago, or longer, that got very little distribution, sometimes not even here in the states. But due to the thankless job (that we’re hoping to change) of some dedicated cinephiles, they are doing their best to bring those titles back from nearly being a lost film.

To help educate us on some of those terms, the processes, and just the sheer craziness of it all, we’ve asked Vault Manager and Archivist Oscar Becher from Vinegar Syndrome to do just that. While we’re not covering films, I’m pretty sure you’re going to learn a thing or two, maybe be even amazed at hearing some of this stuff, about the processes that go into bringing you that nice and spiffy new Blu-Ray of one of your favorite films.

Titles mentioned in this episode:

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Mystery Photo 4-1

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Don’t worry, there are no April Fool’s jokes here. No tricks, but just a straight up Mystery Photo. Before we get to it though, let’s review the one from 2 weeks ago since I was near death (aka con crud) and missed last week. The last photo was from It terzo occhio aka The Third Eye (1966), starring Franco Nero. When I heard there was a film that Joe D’Amato’s gory Buio Omega (1979) aka Beyond the Darkness was a remake of, I couldn’t believe it could be even remotely as twisted as that one. But it is, and well worth seeking out if you haven’t seen it. Congrats to Dave Fronto and Troy Howarth for sending in the correct answer!

Okay, onto today’s photo. Take a good look and see what you can come up with. Not going to lie, this may be a tough one. Just remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

Movie Review: Don’t Look in the Basement

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(1973)
Directed by S.F. Brownrigg
Starring Bill McGee, Rose Holotik, Annabelle Weenick, Michael Harvey, Gene Ross, Jessie Lee Fulton, Betty Chandler, Robert Dracup, Harryette Warren, Jessie Kirby, Hugh Feagin, Camilla Carr, Rhea MacAdams

When you’re discussing low budget movies, the conversation could go a few different ways. You could be talking about the kind of titles that were being churned out in the ‘80s, when the video market was booming and everyone and their brother had a camera and was trying to make their own little production. Nothing wrong with those.

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Golden Age of Sci-Fi Soundtracks

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Sure, it might say Sci-Fi, but we know these films are really horror films! None the less, fans of these movies just might want to get their pre-order in for this new soundtrack release coming out next month!

Dragon’s Domain has announced Volume 3 in their Golden Age of Science Fiction series, which features the scores from Elmer Bernstein’s work on Cat-Women of the Moon (1953) and Robot Monster (1953), and Edwin Astley’s score for Devil Girl from Mars (1954). Each soundtrack also includes the theatrical trailer. The total running time for the release is 56:52 min, with about 16 to 18 minutes for each film.

There is a special note when ordering, that these recordings are taken from analog masters and music & effects tracks, so there are certain limitations from the source tapes. But they have worked hard to preserve them as closely to the original recordings as possible.

Attack of the Con Crud!

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Last weekend, we hit our first convention of the year, HorrorHound Weekend in Cincinnati. That has traditionally been our first show of the year, and our biggest. And this year was no different. A huge crowd of people came out, on all three days, and it seemed that everyone had a great time. We spent most of our time behind our tables, having plenty of time to chat with friends, both old and new, as well as selling a lot of books, which honestly just makes my heart swell. Sure, that is what we are there for, to make money, but with every book that I sell, it means that there is a fan out there that is willing to take the time to read and learn about something they love. With the age of the internet, with people reading on their phones and Kindles, I just love it when I see someone still doing it old school! Gives me hope, not only as a bookseller, but as a fan.

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Silvia Tortosa – Rest in Peace

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Spanish actress Silvia Tortosa only made a few titles in her career that featured over 100 TV and movie appearances, but when she did, she always made an impact with the viewer. Her first role was in a on TV in 1964, but horror fans will remember her as the Countess Irina Petrovski in Horror Express (1972), followed by appearing in Amando de Ossorio’s The Loreley’s Grasp (1973). She also appeared in Paul Naschy’s The Frenchman’s Garden (1978).

She passed away on March 23rd, at the age of 77. She may be gone, but I know horror fans will always remember her for her work in these highly memorable films. Our thoughts go out to her friends and family during this difficult time.