Hammer Unleashes Dracula Uncut

September 2, 2026 by Jon Kitley in Misc. Ramblings and tagged Bruce G. Hallenbeck, Christopher Lee, David Huckvale, Dick Klemensen, Doug Bradley, Dracula, Hammer Films, Horror of Dracula, James Bernard, Janina Faye, Little Shoppe of Horrors, Michael Gough, Peter Cushing, Stephen Laws, Terence Fisher, Tony Dalton, Wayne Kinsey | Leave a comment

We all knew it was coming, but I don’t think we had a clue to the massive extent this release would be giving us. And yes, it is going to cost you over $100. But for 7 discs (!!!) worth of material, including a 4K restored version that has footage believed to be missing since its original release??? Honestly, as exciting it is going to be to see the missing footage, the massive amount of extras on this set is just mind-boggling. I know it’s been posted several times on Facebook and other places, but I’m going to list them below because it takes a while to go through them! Not only do you get almost 15 hours of new and archival content, but there is also a 200-page book, a 60-page House of Hammer comic reprint, a double-sided poster, and 8 replica lobby cards.

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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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Turkey Day in May-ish 2026

June 22, 2026 by Jon Kitley in Turkey Day Marathon and tagged Captive Wild Woman, Clu Gulager, David Warbeck, Evelyn Ankers, Frankenstein's Daughter, George Kennedy, Greydon Clark, Joan Crawford, John Ashley, John Carradine, Kent Taylor, Mark Polonia, Michael Gough, Peter Breck, Richard Cunha, Robert Hutton, Sandra Knight, Saurians, The Crawling Hand, The Vulture, Trog, Turkey Day Marathon, Uninvited | Leave a comment

This year’s Turkey Day in May marathon technically took place on the first Saturday in June, mostly because May was packed with other commitments. I knew I couldn’t skip it, but I couldn’t find a way to make it happen in May, so we broke tradition and held it in June. Speaking of tradition, we also had to swap my wife’s usual lineup of amazing pizzas for store-bought frozen ones. After dealing with mold remediation in our bathrooms, money was a little tight, so we took the cheaper route. But once the first movie started, I don’t think anyone cared!

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Hammer is Killing My Wallet!

March 28, 2026 by Jon Kitley in Misc. Ramblings and tagged AIP, American International Pictures, Christopher Lee, Cry of the Banshee, Curse of Frankenstein, Doctor Blood's Coffin, Hammer Films, Mark Jenkin, Michael Gough, Peter Cushing, Roger Corman, The House of Hammer, Vincent Price | 2 Comments

After years of complaining about Hammer Films getting a new owner and a promised reboot that never happens, I would almost say that I’m regretting that it is actually happening now. But I won’t. Because even though it’s costing me more and more money, I’m loving every minute of it! We all know the incredible special edition box sets they have put out on the first two Quatermass films, as well as The Curse of Frankenstein, as well as some other more rare non-horror titles, but now even releasing some non-Hammer but still British horror titles, such as Doctor Blood’s Coffin and Cry of the Banshee. Then there is their new documentary Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters documentary that his coming out. What more could we ask for? How about The House of Hammer: Volume 1?

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Hammer Presents More British Horror

December 20, 2025 by Jon Kitley in Misc. Ramblings and tagged Chris Alexander, Crucible of Horror, Cry of the Banshee, Gordon Hessler, Hammer Films, Hammer Presents, Kim Newman, Michael Gough, Vincent Price | Leave a comment

This is one thing I did not expect to happen but am thrilled at the aspects of it. Okay, maybe my wallet isn’t, but that’s a problem for Future-Jon to worry about! The new Hammer Films company, under the leadership of John Gore, has been making a lot of fans of the studio very happy with their amazing releases of some of their classic titles, such as the first two Quatermass movies, Captain Kronos, as well as The Curse of Frankenstein (1957). But now, not only are they going to continue to do that, but they are also going to be putting out other British horror titles from different studios under the banner Hammer Presents.

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DtH Podcast: Episode 61 – Norman J. Warren

January 10, 2024 by Jon Kitley in Discover the Horror Podcast and tagged 70s Horror, British Horror, Michael Gough, Norman J. Warren, Prey, Satan's Slave, Terror | 2 Comments

Satan’s Slave (1976), Prey (1977), and Terror (1978)

There are a lot of directors out there that might not have a huge filmography, or even be that well known to the general population of film fans, even in the horror genre. So, there is always room to discover them! In this episode, we take a look at three films by British independent director Norman J. Warren, who didn’t make a lot of films, but we feel the ones he did make, make him a worthy subject for us to discuss. Honestly, it might make sense to read a little about him before diving into the films, or at least, do it afterwards but I think he is a good example of knowing what he had to make what he did, for us, makes them a little more impressive. You’ll get blood, you’ll get nudity, and a lot more than you’d expect in these three very British tales of horror.

Films mentioned in this episode:

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Movie Review: The Legend of Hell House (1973)

March 31, 2020 by Jon Kitley in Reviews: Movies and tagged Clive Revill, Gale Hunnicutt, James H. Nicholson, John Hough, Legend of Hell House, Michael Gough, Pamela Franklin, Richard Matheson, Roddy McDowell, Shirley Jackson, Stephen King, The Haunting, The Haunting of Hill House | 5 Comments

Directed by John Hough
Starring Pamela Franklin, Roddy McDowell, Clive Revill, and Gale Hunnicutt, and Michael Gough

Strange that I have never reviewed this on here since it is one of my favorite haunted house movies of all time. This has been a constant battle with me, between this one and Robert Wise’s The Haunting (1963) for the top spot, but Hell House usually comes in second. This was also the very first VHS tapes I rented after buying my first VCR. I don’t remember when exactly was the first time I saw this, probably around the same time I saw The Haunting for the first time, thanks to my future wife, Dawn, and her mother. But I know I immediately fell in love with it. Continue reading →