Movie Review: The House of Hammer: Volume 1

July 1, 2026 by Jon Kitley in Reviews: Movies and tagged AIP, American International Pictures, Bruce G. Hallenbeck, Chris Alexander, David Huckvale, David Pirie, Dick Klemensen, Hammer Films, Heidi Honeycutt, James Bernard, James Nicholson, John Gore, John Hamilton, John Logan, Jonathan Rigby, Mark McGee, Michael Gough, Roger Corman, Sam Arkoff, Steve Haberman, The House of Hammer, Vincent Price | Leave a comment

For decades, Hammer fans would get excited when the famous studio would get a new owner and we’d hear promises of a return of the name of Hammer. And then we’d wait. And wait. And nothing. Then another new owner, and the same would follow. But ever since John Gore bought Hammer Films, those promises has not only happened but have gone way beyond any fans’ dream. It started with the glorious 4K restorations of not only some of their most famous classic titles, but even some more obscure and non-horror titles that started Hammer on their path years before the gothic revival they started in 1957. And they continued on.

Then they started to announce titles that were not from the Hammer catalog but other British titles, acquiring licenses from studios like Tyburn, AIP, United Artists, and others. They are giving these films the same treatment and restorations as their own titles, giving movie fans a chance to see them like never before. Not to mention the extras included in the releases.

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Witches, Bitches and Banshees Now Available!

November 3, 2022 by Jon Kitley in Book News and tagged AIP, American International Pictures, Amicus, Die Monster Die, Dr. Phibes, Gordon Hessler, John Hamilton, Little Shoppe of Horrors, Tigon, Witches Bitches and Banshees, Witchfinder General | Leave a comment

Okay, so who needs another book on British Horror films? Specifically, one that titles that American International Pictures produced and/or released here in the states? I know, I know. We ALL do, right? We all know you can never have too many reference books in your film library, so now is your chance to add one more!

AIP was always known for their quick black and white low budget exploitation flicks on the 50s, but once they realized how much money they were making on Corman’s Poe features, they continued that trend, even having films produced across the pond, creating some of our favorite films, such as the Dr. Phibes films, Witchfinder General, Die, Monster, Die!, and so many other great ones.

In Witches, Bitches and Banshees: The British Films of American International Pictures, author John Hamilton spent over two decades doing research on these films, interviewing more than 60 names in the business that were involved, from “inside corporate AIP dealings as well as extensive behind-the-scenes coverage on the films”, all now encompassed in this 354-page hardcover edition. Includes a foreword by director Gordon Hessler and actress Valli Kemp.

You can order your copy directly from Little Shoppe of Horrors through their website HERE. The price is $55 plus $6.50 shipping, if you’re in the states. If you’re in the UK, Hemlock Books should be getting them in stock shortly. Otherwise, email Mr. Klemensen from LSoH for a shipping quote.

New Book on British AIP Films

April 2, 2022 by Jon Kitley in Book News and tagged AIP, American International Pictures, Hammer Films, John Hamilton, Little Shoppe of Horrors, Tigon, Witches Bitches and Banshees | Leave a comment

While there have been a few books that have covered the productions from American International Pictures, or AIP as they are better known as, but during their reign at the box office and drive-ins, there were 29 titles that were made in the UK, from making deals with Hammer Films, Tigon, and a few other production companies, to release the films over here in the states. Titles like Cat Girl (1957), Horrors of the Black Musuem (1959), Witchfinder General (1968), and The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971), plus many others. Now, being published through Little Shoppe of Horrors, author John Hamilton has spent over 20 years working on this volume that will cover 29 film titles, each with in-depth coverage, including over 700 images!

No real date set for this volume, but I know I will definitely be adding it to my library. The films that AIP presented to audiences during that era were some of the ones I grew up on, especially in the days of the VHS boom when so many titles were hitting that new market. When we get more details, we’ll post them here. In the meantime, if you’re interested, fire off an email to Little Shoppe of Horrors main man Richard Klemenson (klemdia@msn.com) to let him know you’re interested.

New Little Shoppe of Horrors Coming Soon!

September 30, 2020 by Jon Kitley in Misc. Ramblings and tagged Bruce G. Hallenbeck, Christopher Wicking, David Gee, Don Houghton, Dracula A.D. 1972, John Hamilton, Little Shoppe of Horrors, Revenge of Frankenstein, Satanic Rites of Dracula, The Creeping Flesh, William Stout | Leave a comment

Coming in November, issue #45 of Little Shoppe of Horrors will be unleashed to the world! This time, their cover story is all about the making of The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958), Hammer’s sequel to the film that helped put them in the big league, written by Bruce G. Hallenbeck. Hallenbeck’s work is always so informative and entertaining so I can’t wait to dig into it!

There will also be coverage on the making of Amicus’ The Creeping Flesh (1973) in an article by John Hamilton entitled The Creature Walks On the Earth, as well as David Gee’s Dracula and the Modern Age, which is about Don Houghton, who wrote the screenplays for some of the later Dracula films that took place in a modern setting, such as Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972) and The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973).

Then there is more of the usual great stuff in there, such as more Hammer Diaries of Christopher Wicking, more History of Horror Film Fanzines, book reviews, and so much more, with a stunning front cover by William Stout.

You can order your copy by visiting their official site HERE. They don’t have it up on their site just yet, but keep checking back. And if you don’t have all of the back issues, then why not order a couple of those as well! These are essential reading for your Hammer (and other British horror films) history lessons!

Double Dose of LSoH!

September 29, 2019 by Jon Kitley in Misc. Ramblings and tagged Art of Little Shoppe of Horrors, Blood Beast Terror, Hammer Films, John Hamilton, Little Shoppe of Horrors, Peter Cushing, Robert Flemyng, Tigon Productions, Vernon Sewell | Leave a comment

The latest issue of the always amazing Little Shoppe of Horrors is now available for order! In this issue, #43, the spotlight is put upon the little British shocker from Tigon Productions, The Blood Beast Terror, starring Peter Cushing (which he called the worst film he ever appeared in) and Robert Flemyng. The issue will have a making of article by John Hamilton, interview with the director Vernon Sewell, as well as a follow up to the last issue with a piece on Children of the Damned.

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2016 Year in Review – Part 4: BOOKS!

January 4, 2017 by Jon Kitley in Year End Reviews and tagged Anders Runestad, Antonio Lázaro-Reboll, David Hajdu, Francesca Boreti, Jack H. Harris, Jackey Neyman Jones, John Hamilton, Mark Thomas McGee, Michael Sevastakis, Nicholas G. Schlegel, T.S. Kord, Vanessa Morgan, Welch Everman | Leave a comment

gromit-reading For those who might not know (meaning this must be your first time at the site since I’m always going on about it), but I have a lot of reference books on the horror genre and those that have worked in it. While I try to read as much as I can, with everything else going on, it is so easy to slip by and not get any reading done. So last year I set a goal for myself to get through at least 12 books during the year, figuring a book a month on average would be a good start. At the end of that first year, I think I was one title away from hitting that goal. But this year, I blew by that goal, actually hit a grand total of 14 different titles.

They were: Spanish Horror Film by Antonio Lazaro-Reboll, Ten Cent Plague by David Hajdu, Cult Horror Films by Welch Everman, The Unholy Three by John Hamilton, Father of The Blob by Jack H. Harris, Katzman, Nicholson, Corman: Shaping Hollywood’s Future by Mark Thomas McGee, I Cannot, Yet I Must By Anders Runestad, The Supernatural Cinema of Guillermo del Toro Edited by John W. Morehead, Sex, Sadism, Spain, and Cinema by Nicholas G. Schlegel, Giallo Cinema and Its Folktale Roots by Michael Sevastakis, It Came from the 80s by Francesco Borseti, Little Horrors by T.S. Kord, Growing up with Manos by Jackey Neyman Jones, and When Animals Attack edited by Vanessa Morgan.