It’s that time again. It seems I have an 8-year cycle at my work life (in the really real world), and that cycle has come to an end. Next month, I start a new job that I’m hoping that has very little effect here at the Krypt, but we’ll have to wait and see. As you can see by the lack of updates lately, things have been kind of crazy here as of late, from the stress seeing if this new offer would be worth it, to all the other events and projects going on, let’s just say it has been a crazy month. And October might not be any better when it comes to being busy.
Continue readingTag Archives: Music Box Theatre
Music Box Loves Horror!
I know I’ve sang the praises of Chicago’s Music Box Theatre many times before here, but damn if they don’t make it hard living out in the suburbs when they program so much great stuff during this time of year that makes me want to rent an apartment or something for the month of October!
We already posted about the upcoming Music Box of Horrors, taking place on Oct. 21st, which we will be making our glorious return as a vendor there, but they have added a few more titles to the list. They will be screening Mike Mendez’s The Convent (2000), with Adrienne Barbeau, Dan Curtis’ haunted house epic Burnt Offerings (1976), with an all-star cast of Oliver Reed, Bette Davis, Burgess Meredith, and Karen Black, as well as Child’s Play 3 (1991). All three titles being screened from 35mm prints. Along with the other films already announced, Piranha II: The Spawning (1981), Casper (1995), and J.R. Bookwalter’s Ozone (1995), this is going to be another 24 hours of greatness. For all the latest info on this event, just click HERE.
If that wasn’t enough, they are also having their 31 Nights of Terror, with a huge selection of rare archival screenings, special guests, interactive events, fan favorites and much more. Here are SOME of the titles they have already announced.
Continue readingPraise for the Music Box Theatre
As I near my 6th decade on this planet, most of that being an obsessive horror fan, it’s really easy to slip into the grumpy old man mode these days, telling younger horror fans to get off my lawn. Even conventions are nowhere near what they used to be, with more about paying for overpriced autographs and collecting toys than caring about the actual movies themselves.
See how easy that was?
But the other night, I witnessed something that made this grinch of a horror fan’s withered heart grow 3 times in size.
The Music Box Theatre in Chicago is a place I’ve been going to for over 30 years, mainly for midnight screenings but also to some of their film series they’ve done over the years. Back in the ‘90s when I would go to something like a midnight screening of Lucio Fulci’s The Beyond (1981) or Toshiharu Ikeda’s Evil Dead Trap (1988), there’d be maybe 10 people there, and most of them snickering during the screening.
Continue readingHouse on Haunted Hill at the Music Box!
This Wednesday and Thursday, June 7th & 8th, not only do you have the chance to see William Castle’s 1959 classic film starring Vincent Price, but you’ll get to experience EMERGO!!! Just like Castle did when the film first premiered, you’ll see the terror come right off the screen! Plus, it is from a 35mm print!
If you’ve never had a chance to see this (or any Castle film) on the big screen, then you are really missing out because in an audience setting, it really is a whole new experience. Also, Castle super-fan Matt Harding will have pieces of his William Castle collection on display! You don’t want to miss this event.
For all the info, head over the Music Box Theatre’s website HERE.
Music Box of Horrors 2023 Announced!
Chicago’s own Music Box Theatre has announced the date for this year’s 24-hour horror movie marathon, which will take place from noon Saturday, October 21st through noon on Sunday. We have missed this the last couple due to scheduling conflicts but this year we will be making our triumphant return!
They have just announced the first 3 features to be playing at this year’s marathon: James Cameron’s Piranha 2: The Spawning (1981), J.R. Bookwalter’s shot-on-video Ozone (1993), and Casper (1995), with plenty more to be announced.
You can already get your ticket by heading over the Music Box Theatre’s website by clicking HERE. If you order your ticket now, before October 20th, they are only $30 ($25 for Music Box Members). The day of the marathon, tickets will be $35 ($30 for members). But remember, last year the marathon sold out, so if you really want to go, then I would advise buying your ticket sooner than later.
Haunting Films and Keir-La Janisse at the Music Box
Next weekend, at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago, there is going to be two screenings you don’t want to miss, with special guest presentation, Keir-La Janisse in attendance. Janisse is the author of House of Psychotic Women: An Autobiographical Topography of Female Neurosis in Horror and Exploitation Films, as well as the writer, director, & producer of the award-winning and freaking amazing documentary Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror (2021).
Continue readingJanuary Giallo at the Music Box
Back in January of this year, Chicago’s Music Box Theatre offered up a series of Italian films from the giallo sub-genre, giving fans a chance to see some amazing titles on the big screen. Next month, they are continuing that tradition, giving us 5 more titles, but not just from Italy this time, showing the international influence of this intriguing sub-genre. You’ll still get 3 titles from Italy, once again showcasing some of the best gialli from that country, but also one from Spain and even one from here in the US, starring a very famous actor/director. Check out the titles and the dates below and start making your plans. These will all be screening in the main theater, with 3 from 35mm and 2 from DCP. For all the latest info about this series, just click HERE.
Continue readingWhy We Need to See Films in the Theater
Last night, I ventured into Chicago to the Music Box Theatre for The Creepshow, a Stephen King film festival, where they had a bunch of King movies being screened over 3 days. Friday night, they were screening the original The Shining (1980) and Doctor Sleep (2019), which I had originally planned to go but didn’t make it. Which kind of worked out for the best, since I heard it sold out early in the day. But I did go last night because they were screening Creepshow (1982), which happens to be one of my favorite films of all time. They were also screening 1408 (2007), and Christine (1983), which we planned on staying for as well.
When we (myself and my partner-in-crime for the evening, Brian Martinez) drove up to the theater, we could already see a huge line outside the theater. I lucked out in finding a parking space right in front of the theater. Any locals know just how lucky you are when that happens. In fact, we were so excited, I completely forgot to pay the parking meter. So, after over 30 years of coming into the city for movies and such, I ended up getting my first parking ticket! But back to the real story.
Continue readingJoe Bob at the Music Box
On Tuesday, July 5th, Joe Bob Briggs will be at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre for a double feature to get that grey matter between your ears working in overdrive! They will be screening The Brain (1988), which stars David Gale (Dr. Hill from Re-Animator) and a giant brain that flies around eating people! This one is a real hoot! After that will be a screening of Frank Henenlotter’s Brain Damage (1989), about a worm-like parasite that drugs his hosts to get them to help him get food, which of course, is brains!
Tickets are $25 and Joe Bob will be there hanging out in the Music Box Lounge before and after each film, as well as selling exclusive merchandise and doing a meet-and-greet with autographs for ticket holders. For all the information, head over to the Music Box website HERE!
An Evening with Bigfoot at the Music Box
On Wednesday, July 13th, head over to the Music Box Theatre in Chicago for a rare treat, being able to witness two Bigfoot movies, two very different kind of Bigfoot movies, on the big screen. The fact that there is a whole sub-genre of Bigfoot movies is amazing enough, but getting to see these two rare films, both that are about as far apart as you can get, will be screening in one evening.
Presented by Shudder and starting at 7pm, you’ll first get to experience a comprehensive and exhaustive Sasquatch mixtape, featuring Bigfoot’s appearances in film and TV shows, ranging from documentaries, children’s films, to horror and X-rated titles. How’s that for just getting started?
The first feature will be Cry Wilderness (1987), which is basically a children’s Bigfoot story but unlike anything you can imagine. The second feature is Night of the Demon (1980), which definitely isn’t a kid’s movie, featuring the famous scene where a biker learns what happens when you piss on Bigfoot. This is from a recent 2K scan from a recently discovered 35mm answer print. Both films are screened from DCP and look amazing.
Also, to entice you even more, both Severin Films and Vinegar Syndrome will have Pop-Up Shops set up in the Music Box Lounge starting at 4:30pm and there until after the screenings.
For all the information, just click HERE.









