Mystery Photo 7-19

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Sorry people, running a little late today, but our latest photo is up for you to ponder. But first, let us review last week’s photo, shall we? It is from the one and only, The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971), starring, of course, Vincent Price. The photo is the remnants of poor Terry-Thomas, checking the box off for the curse of blood for Phibes’ quest. Kudos to the following for sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Gregory Avery, Dahlia Daniels, Dave Fronto, Kevin Hart, Bob Hartman, Troy Howarth, Doug Lamoreux, Erik Martin, Gary McGuire, Jeff Owens, Jen Slotler, James Turner, and Nick Wilson. Well done!

For this week’s photo, don’t gaze too long into it, or you may end up just like the character in the photo! Just remember to send your guess to us at jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And Good Luck!

Flashback Approaches!

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Our first real convention since October of 2019 is only 2 weeks away, and it looks like it is going to be HUGE! Moving to a new location, the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, this place looks to be not only a much bigger location, but is going to allow for even more fun. I can’t wait to be able to hang out with all our convention friends and family once again. It really has been way too long.

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New Criterion Blu-Rays

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Normally I don’t announce too many Blu-ray releases, namely because there are so many, but these two that Criterion just announced really are must buys for fans, especially for those that have never seen before.

Jack Arnold’s The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), based on the book by Richard Matheson, is usually mentioned in the sci-fi genre, but is one that I will definitely argue that is really a horror film, but is really much more than that. As our hero Scott Carey slowly starts to shrink in size, he battles all sorts of obstacles, from real terrors like a cat or a spider that has now become huge to him, or the psychological impact as he tries to realize exactly what is happening to him.

Kaneto Shino’s 1964 film Onibaba is such an underrated classic that I couldn’t recommend it enough. It is a simple tale of two women struggling to survive in war-torn medieval Japan, having to kill wandering samurai and sell their belongings just to stay alive. An older woman awaits with her daughter-in-law for her son to return from the war, but really starts having doubts when his friend returns alone. Trying to keep her one companion from running off, she puts on a demonic looking mask to scare her and seals her fate.

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Long Live the Drive-In!!!

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Wow. Just …. Wow. Within 24 hours of the Mahoning Drive-In Theater posting their cry for help, after learning that their home for the last 72 years, was in peril, the help came in support from around the county. It seems that Greenskies Clean Energy was not completely informed of the situation and once they did, getting and seeing all the comments from the drive-in community, they backed out of the deal, not wanting to shut down what was obviously a successful business. So major kudos to Greenskies for doing the right thing and showing their own support.

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Save the Mahoning Drive-In!

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News started to spread quickly yesterday that the Mahoning Drive-In, located in Lehighton, PA, recently found out that the land they are located on has been optioned to Greenskies Clean Energy LLC, a solar company that plans to tear down the drive-in theater, which has been there since 1949, and use the land for a solar farm. Now, I’m all up for clean living, but there has to be other places to put one of these instead of on this thriving drive-in that has been running for close to 75 years, and has been creating lasting memories for generations of movie fans.

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“Education isn’t something you can finish”

by in Misc. Ramblings | 1 Comment

That above quote is from the legendary author Isaac Asimov, known to be one of the “Big Three” science fiction writers. But this post isn’t about science fiction, or about writing. It’s about education. Now, the word education can have a few meanings but for my purpose today, it about the act of learning.

The above quote is just as powerful about the horror genre as it is for any other subject. For me, it means never stop learning about the genre. Never stop watching different kinds of films. Never stop learning about those who are making them, or had made them. Doesn’t matter if we’re talking about a film that came out this year or one that from a 100 years ago, we need to invest our time to know more. It will not only open up more doors to different point of views and cultures, but it can possibly help you understand and see things that you already know a little differently.

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Giallopalooza at the Drive-In!

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How would you like to be able to see 8 classic Italian giallo films over two nights on the big screen? Then start making your plans to go to this fall’s Drive-In Super Monster-Rama on Sept. 17th & 18th for their Giallopalooza, taking place at the Riverside Drive-in in Vandergrift, PA. The titles have have announced are some of the best of the sub-genre and are going to give fans a wide range of entertainment, from the over-the-top exploitation style of Sergio Martino (Torso & Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key) or classic giallo like masters like Dario Argento (The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, The Cat O’Nine Tails & Deep Red), Mario Bava’s (Blood and Black Lace), and Lucio Fulci (Lizard in a Woman’s Skin).

Mystery Photo 7-12

by in Mystery Photo

While last week’s photo was meant to be a little tribute to Jaws and the holiday weekend, I’m sure some could argue that using Lamberto Bava’s Devil Fish, aka Monster Shark and a dozen other titles, might not have been the best title! But as cheesy as the film is, you got to give credit to Bava for trying to do something a little different, and especially to the artwork used in promoting the film. I know I’d rush out and see it with those posters pimping it! Kudos to the following for sending in the correct title: Hoby Abernathy, Kevin Hart, Bob Hartman, and Erik Martin. Well done!

Now on to this week’s photo which is a favorite of mine. It might be pretty easy for most but I’m hoping that I just might stump a few of you. Plus, if you do know it, it will probably bring a little smile to your face. Sure, in a little deviant way, but still a smile! Remember, just send your answer to me here, at jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

Book Review: Tawdry Tales and Confessions

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Tawdry Tales and Confessions from Horror’s Boy Next Door
Published by Dark Ink Books, 2021, 398 pages
By William Butler

Being an avid collector of horror movie reference books, when an actor from the genre publishes his autobiography, I’m going to pick it up. Now I knew who Mr. Butler was since being about the same age, I was growing up watching the horror films that he was in early on in his career. So, I knew him from TCM3 and Friday 7, and the rest. Or at least I thought I knew him. I was already reading another book when my copy of Tawdry Tales arrived, so I was going to just quickly read the intro before filing it away with the numerous other volumes that I hope to get to one day. The next thing I know, I’m 50-pages deep into this book!

This book is simply amazing. If you grew up watching horror movies in the ‘80s, then this is like a walk down memory lane, except it is from the other side of the movie screen, getting to hear stories from the making of the films we loved. I had no clue that Butler worked in the makeup field, and I’m embarrassed as hell to admit that, especially when he worked on some of my favorite films! This once again proves my point that the more you read about the business and those who work in it, the more you will discover and learn to appreciate the people involved that are sometimes more talented and more involved in it than you realized or ever give them credit for.

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William Smith – Rest in Peace

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One of Hollywood’s biggest villain’s, William Smith, passed away last Monday at the age of 88. When I say biggest, I mean he was a big man and made even a bigger impression. He is one of these actors that could tower over you, smile at you, and still scare the crap out of you! I had the wonderful opportunity to meet him at the Cinema Wasteland show back in April of 2005, where we fans got to hear some great stories from him.

While I had seen him in previous movies and TV shows, like The Night Stalker episode called The Energy Eater (1974) or one of the many other appearances he made, it was the TV miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man that my parents would watch on a regular basis, where Smith played the character Falconetti, sealing his part as a heavy, one that he did so well. Years later, I would know him from earlier works like Crowhaven Farm (1970), The Thing with Two Heads (1972), or the wonderful underrated Grave of the Vampire (1972). Hell, he even played Frankenstein’s creature in an episode of Fantasy Island in 1981! A year later, he appeared as Conan’s father in Conan the Barbarian (1982).

But like most tough guys on the screen, Smith was a super nice guy and was such a pleasure to meet. You knew if you saw his name in the credits, it was going to be good. As I always like to point out, even though we’ve lost him to this world, we will always have his wonderful performances to remember him by. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family during this difficult time.