Tag Archives: Blood Freak

Movie Review: Blood Freak

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(1972)
Director: Brad F. Grinter & Steve Hawkes
Starring Steve Hawkes, Heather Hughes, Dana Culliver, Tina Anderson, Brad F. Ginter, Randy Grinter

If there ever was a movie that defines what a “turkey movie” is, this is it. This has to be one of the strangest and most bizarre pictures ever to grace the silver screen. It is one that while you’re watching it, you stop and wonder if what you’re actually seeing is happening. Or if you’re with others, look over to them to make sure they just saw the same thing!

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Turkey Day Approaches

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For any long-time followers to the Krypt know about my bi-annual Turkey Day Marathons, a celebration of some of the finer titles in cinematic history, the Turkey. No, not the “so-bad-their-good” films because as we all know, the only bad movie is a boring one. So says Stephen Thrower, and I’m a full believer in that statement. No matter what the budget is, how inept the acting might be, the incredible poor written script, if you’re entertained, then it can’t be a bad movie.

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Super-Horror-Rama Flips the Bird

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Next month, Super-Horror-Rama returns to Sideshow Gelato for another round of films that truly celebrate the Turkey. Not the one you eat, but the one you watch!

Each Thursday in November (except the 28th for obvious reasons), they will be screening a very special “bird” movie. On the 7th, it is the ultimate giant turkey movie, The Giant Claw (1957). Starring Jeff Morrow and Mara Corday, they have to do battle with a creature “as big as a battleship” and flying so fast that it doesn’t show up on radar. While everyone in the film is playing it completely straight, it might be due to the fact that they never saw the title creature until the film was released. But as cheesy as the creature is, the film is still a lot of fun.

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Turkey Day 2023 – 20th Anniversary Celebration

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Two Whole Decades of Turkeys. I started this crazy idea in 2003, rather than go out and battle the crazy shoppers on Black Friday, but to stay at home and watch some of the best in the worst cinematic achievement on film. Or at least that is how described it when I started. But something has changed over these past 20 years. Films that I even would call typical “so bad they’re good”, or bad but for all the right reasons, I’ve learned over the years how the terms “good” and “bad” are so damn objective. Kind of like food, it all comes down to one’s particular taste. There’re people that eat rotted fish head soup that might look at someone who doesn’t like they are the crazy ones. Same with movies.

For me, it has always come down to not being good or bad but if they’re entertaining. If the answer is yes, then they can’t be bad, at least not for that particular viewer.

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20th Anniversary of Turkey Day Coming

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Can you believe that it has been 20 years since I made the crazy decision to spend all of Black Friday watching some of the finest in cinematic shipwrecks? And what’s even crazier, is that now I am not alone in that celebrating. While it did start by myself in 2003, once we got to 2010, the number of people joining in had grew, as well as the number of films we’d get through. While we started with 4 or 5 titles, once we hit 7 features, it seemed that was the standard going forward. I think our record of attendees was at 14 or 15 people. To think back of when I started this idea, and then jump ahead two decades and realize that not only am I still doing it, but that a trusted group of people join me each and every time for this insane celebration.

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New Episode of Discover the Horror Podcast is Up!

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When talking Turkeys, the only bad movie is a boring one! And the films we discuss in this episode are anything but boring! We delve into the world of the Turkey! Films that may not be the best made in the technical aspect, or in the acting department, or even a cohesive story line, or could have you scratching your head wondering if aliens had created these films. But no matter what, they are damn entertaining.

Tonight, we discuss The Giant Claw (1957), Blood Freak (1972), and Creatures from the Abyss, aka Plankton (1994). With each of these films, there are moments where you will ask yourself, “just how did these ever get made?” I know we’re glad they did because we have all enjoyed them over and over again, for all their strangeness, oddness, or just downright craziness.

So sit back and enjoy some very intellectual discussions on some films that deserve your attention!

Steve Hawkes – Rest in Peace

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Steve Hawkes - RIPIf ever there was a film that would be at the top of a cult and/or exploitation genre, or especially a Turkey Day festival, it would have to be the 1972 film Blood Freak. I mean, where else could you find a movie about a Turkey-Headed, blood-drinking, religious-backed horror film, than in this must-be-seen-to-believed film. Unfortunately, Steve Hawkes (real name Steve Sipek), co-writer, co-director, co-producer, and star of this film has passed away.

He starred in a couple of Spanish made Tarzan films back in the late ’60s and early ’70s, the last of which he was severely burned on the set. After his film career ended in the mid-’70s, he would later start an animal refuge. In July of 2004, he was in the news when one of his Bengal tigers was shot and killed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission after it had escaped. He was seen on the news openly weeping, blaming the officers for “murdering” his pet.

While he never had a huge career in film, it is because of Blood Freak that most fans of the cult, exploitation, and horror genre will remember him for. And because of this film, he WILL always be remembered. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family during this difficult time.

2017 Year End Review: Final Thoughts and Misc. Memories

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Like any passage of time, there are bound to be good memories and bad ones. I would like to think that focusing on the good is the best thing to do, or for the bad ones, try and learn from it and take something positive from it. For example, all the great talent we lost in the last year, be thankful that we still can revisit them any time want by just popping in that DVD or Blu-ray.

After years of trying to get a screening of Mariano Baino’s Dark Waters in Chicago, it finally happened when it was part of the Music Box of Horrors. It had a good reception and writer/director Baino was there to experience the film’s very first screening in the Midwest! Thanks again to Will Morris getting it included in the lineup and Ryan at the Music Box for making it happen. And of course to Mariano and the wonderful Coralina for coming out, making this event even more special. It really was a highlight of my year.

Music Box Memories

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Monster Bash 2017 Report: Part 2 – Blaisdell, Blood Freak, and Books!

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While wandering through the dealer room on Saturday before the show opened, I came upon an art print that blew me away. It was a collage of all the different creatures/monsters that were created by low budget monster maker Paul Blaisdell, which even included a couple of images of Blaisdell himself. If you’re not familiar with highly underrated talent then you have some homework to do! He created a bunch of different creatures for the low budget AIP features back in the ’50s, with very little time and money. But he always came up with some interesting monsters and aliens, like we’ve never seen before. He worked on titles like It Conquered the World, Invasion of the Saucer Men, The She-Creature, and a few more. So to see him and his work highlighted in this beautiful piece of art made my heart swell. I can now proudly say that it is now framed and hanging in my office. The artist is Scott Jackson and has been doing this kind of work for quite some time. He had some other great prints for sale, including a stunning one from The Picture of Dorian Gray, with him standing in front of is decayed portrait. Definitely will be picking that one up from him in the future. You can check out his work at his site HERE.

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Monster Bash 2017 Report: Part 1 – The Journey Begins

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MB Banner 2017

This year’s Monster Bash, held once again in Mars, PA, was their 20th Anniversary show. I can’t express how sad I am that I had only started coming to this show a few years ago. For years, I put some serious thought into setting up as a vendor there, but I always talked myself out of it because of the distance being too far and if it would really be worth it. Now, with this show becoming one of my favorite stops on our Kryptic World Tour, I realize just how I wrong I was.

This time out, I would be making the 500 mile journey to the show on my own, since my wife Dawn is taking care of her father. It sucks having to do the show alone, but there are certain things in life that are way more important, and family is one of them. It’s only a couple of hours past where we go for Wasteland, so it should be that bad. Though, looking at the weather in the area for that Friday, it was calling for rain…all…day…long! I’ve never had to unload for a show in the rain and was not looking forward to it. I decided to leave after work on Thursday, drive to Cleveland area and then stop for a few hours of sleep, then drive the last couple of hours the next morning to be there by 8am for set up.

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