We have lost another character that is forever immortalized because of playing not just a zombie in George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead (1978). Jim Krut was known as the “helicopter zombie”, the one that stands up and has the top of his head chopped off from the helicopter blades. It’s a scene everyone remembers once they’ve seen it.
But it was all over the internet that Krut has recently passed away. He was a guest at the very first Cinema Wasteland show back in Sept. of 2000 and was such a friendly guy. He will be forever remembered to so many horror fans, both old and newer ones because of this one character. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family during this difficult time.
Monsters Unborn: The Lost Universal Monster Remakes Published by Harker Press, 2026. 271 pages By Bruce Kilkowski Jr.
Every time fans see another remake/retelling/sequel/or whatever they are calling their version of one of the classic Universal monsters, some tend to groan, thinking, here we go again. But the funny (actually no so funny) thing what this picture probably went through to even get started. And in this new book by Bruce Kilkowski Jr., you will get a good idea what I’m talking about.
This book goes through a bunch of unmade sequels or remakes, and proposals that were all based on some of the classic Universal monsters, mainly the Bride of Frankenstein, the Mummy, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. We learn how the story of a particular project got started, by who, and who else was involved, such as the writer(s), possible director(s), producer(s), and even the makeup effects guys who were going to design the new look.
Partially Devoured: How Night of the Living Dead Saved My Life and Changed the World Published by Counterpoint, 2026. 313 pages. By Daniel Kraus
Back in 2015, before I read Gunnar Hansen’s book Chain Saw Confidential, I had asked myself the question, “did we really need another book on this film?” And after reading it… indeed we did. Especially when it is coming from a person that was there through the brutal shooting of it. And now we have another book, on another epically famous horror film, George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, but this time not written by someone directly involved. That little fact really doesn’t matter because within the 300+ pages of this book, you will learn more about Night of the Living Dead than you ever thought you could. About the movie, the people involved, and so much more. But author Kraus also shows us how and why this film was so important to him and why it made such an impact on his life. While me might not all go on to become professional writers, every fan will feel that same connection to film as he describes this one. So, no matter where our individual path in life takes us, we are the same.
When mentioning a variety of low-budget films in general, with real makeup effects and settings, Kraus writes, “The importance of art like this grows by the day. In a world where AI and CGI create seamless visual media, seeing those seams right where fallible human hands put them in everything – it’s proof of intent, of passion, of life itself.” That really hits home and I hope younger fans can understand that. The people involved in this little film believed in what they were doing. You have to remember, none of these people had a clue what this film was going to become over the next half a century! Kraus goes on to say, “Call it Don Quixote Disease. Or just call it the American spirit. It’s not the finished product that matters, it’s the chase of it. Night of the Living Dead is a literal and symbolic chase all the way through, and that’s why I love it.” I think that’s why a lot of us horror fans are as passionate about these as we are. We know there is something more than just cheap thrills.
We all have those film titles that we personally think are classics of the horror genre. But George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (1968) truly is one of them that very few would disagree. Not only did it create a whole new sub-genre of films, but close to six decades later, the film is still a powerful tale, hitting many different triggers for the viewer. Sure, it is a zombie film, but there is so much more going on within that 90+ running time.
Coming out this December from Titan Books and author Simon Braund, we are getting Night of the Living Dead: The Official Story of the Film. This book is the “official retrospective” of the film, giving the readers a look into how a small group of independent filmmakers created one of the most influential horror films ever made. Through interviews, we get to hear from different cast members and from the production crews on how it got made. From getting investors, finding locations, to even getting a bunch of people to appear as the title creatures, all outside of the normal Hollywood system, shows the talent and devotion these people had.
(1987) Directed by Michael Gornick Starring George Kennedy, Dorothy Lamour, Lois Chiles, Tom Savini, Holt McCallany, David Holbrook, Frank Salsedo, Daniel Beer, Page Hannah, Tom Wright, and Joel Silver
One of the things that I really love about revisiting films, especially ones from decades ago that I’ve always considered “just okay” then realizing that I am seeing them much differently this time around. It might have something to do with age, becoming more of a seasoned lover of cinema, or just having more of an understanding of what goes into making a movie. I’m not trying to sound like I know everything or am some intellectual film scholar, but I do know that I see and understand film a lot more than I did 38 years ago when this film came out.
I know I’ve mentioned Chicago’s Music Box Theatre many, many times here on the Krypt. The main reason is because it has given audiences some amazing experiences over the years and is a theater that I’ve been attending for about 30 years. From some incredible midnight screenings, film festivals, premieres with special guests, to their 24-hour marathons that they’ve been presenting for 20 years, they continue to give audiences truly great cinematic experiences. And now, they will be able to add even more to that.
For as long as I can remember, they have always had the two screens, the larger 700-seat theater and the much smaller 70-seat theater. But coming next year, they will have a third theater auditorium with 115 seats. Now, that may not seem like a big expansion but understand that it allows the theater to help screen and promote more of what they have been doing over the last decade or so. They obviously screen some first run titles, sometimes even in 35mm, like they did last year with Robert Eggers Nosferatu, but they also run a lot of independent and unique films that might not have the chance to screen at most cineplexes and national chains. With all the different film series they have, giving cinephiles a chance to see films they missed decades ago, like the recent Gene Hackman series, or newer titles that might not ever had the chance to hit the regular larger cineplexes.
Another lost for fans of George Romero’s Dead films. Anthony Dileo, who played Miguel Salazar in Day of the Dead (1985), the stress-ridden private who isn’t handling the zombie invasion too well, has passed away. I had the honor of meeting him at a couple of cons over the years and he was always so excited to meet fans of the film. While it is great to have been a fan for so long, it is also getting harder to hear of all the passings of the great talent from films that I grew up watching over the years. The only glimmer of positivity in that is that they will constantly be remembered, each and every time one of their films are played.
Dileo had a small role in Romero’s 1981 film Knightriders and would have small roles in a couple of other Romero projects, such as Monkey Shines (1988), Two Evil Eyes (1990), and even as an uncredited zombie in Tom Savini’s Night of the Living Dead (1990).
Our thoughts go out to his friends and family during this very difficult time. Gone, but never forgotten.
This weekend, we’ll be heading back into Chicago for this year’s 24-hours of insanity, known as the Music Box of Horrors. This annual event is one that I look forward to every year and it just keeps getting better and better, as well as more popular than ever. The fact that this year’s marathon sold out before maybe even half of the titles had been announced is just insane! That tells me that the Music Box programmers have not only continued to have a solid lineup each and every year, but that they’ve built up the trust of the fans that will buy their tickets right away, not knowing or caring what the lineup is going to be, because they know it will be worth it. This year is no different.
Of course, we will be set up there in the lounge, pimping our usual wares of horror reference books, urging fans to dive deeper into this wonderful film genre that we all love. Might have some new and interesting titles for you to peruse so make sure you stop by our table and check it out. Or, just to say hello and chat. We love nothing more than talking about horror films!
This year’s Music Box of Horrors is taking place on Saturday, October 19th, giving fans another 24 hours of non-stop movies and madness! They have just announced first four titles that will be screening at this year’s marathon, and once again, they are starting out with some great titles.
The biggest title probably is Jaws (1975), which I know everyone has seen and probably multiple times. But how many times have you seen it on the big screen? With a packed audience?
I know that that title is how I felt leaving the Midway Drive-in in the wee hours this morning. I’m going on about 3-4 hours of sleep as I write this, so I apologize for any typos or ramblings that don’t make much sense, but I wanted to get this posted. Yesterday, we were at the Midway Drive-in in Sterling, IL for their Dust to Dawn Romero Fest, where they screened George Romero’s zombie trilogy, Night of the Living Dead (1968), Dawn of the Dead (1978), Day of the Dead (1985), as well as The Crazies (1973) to round out the night. Honestly, I think The Crazies fits perfectly into that series since while they might not be zombies, the themes are pretty close and still very effective.
