Monster Bash Spring 2025

July 2, 2025 by Jon Kitley in Conventions and tagged Crawling Eye, Curse of the Swamp Creature, Daniel Roebuck, Dominique Lamssies, Dracula Prince of Darkenss, It Conquered the World, Larry Buchanan, Lon Chaney, Monster Bash, Monster Bash Conference, Pete Walker, Roger Corman, Scripts from the Crypt, The Comeback, Tom Weaver | Leave a comment

A few weeks ago, we made our annual trip to PA for the Monster Bash Conference, which we started attending way back in 2015. I can’t believe it’s been over a decade now, but we still continue to have so much fun there.

One of the reasons is some of the great items we find in the dealer room, most of which aren’t even something we’re looking for, but just happen to come across! For this show, since money has been a little tight as of late, my main goal was to try and not spend much at the show. I guess the key word there is “try”, because by Saturday, that was completely out the window.

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Monster Bash Approaches

June 4, 2025 by Jon Kitley in Conventions and tagged Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstsein, Classic Monsters, Daniel Roebuck, Dark Shadows, Frank Dello Stritto, Gregory Mank, John Russon, Land of the Lost, Lucy Chase Williams, Man Made Monster, Monster Bash, Monster Bash Conference, Sharon Smyth, Ship of Monsters, The Vampire's Ghost, Tom Weaver, Universal Classic Monsters, Universal Horrors, Zombies on Broadway | 2 Comments

In a little less than 3 weeks, we’ll be heading off to one of our favorite shows, the Monster Bash Conference, taking place from June 20th to the 22nd, in Cranberry Township, PA. While it might be a little smaller than some of the usual shows we attend, there is so much to do and see here, that it is always a great time. They have film screenings from Thursday night all the way through Sunday, going into the wee hours of the night! You’ll get the chance to see some classic horror films, usually screened from16mm prints, including titles like The Vampire’s Ghost (1945), Weird Woman (1943), Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932), the not-to-be-missed Mexican horror/sci-fi spectacular The Ship of Monsters (1960), Lon Chaney’s The Penalty (1920), Night of the Living Dead (1968), Man Made Monster (1941), Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), and Zombies on Broadway (1945)! These are the kind of titles that makes me wish I wasn’t vending, just so I can sit and watch movies all weekend!

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Movie Review: Monster from the Ocean Floor

March 15, 2025 by Jon Kitley in Reviews: Movies and tagged Anne Kimbell, Bob Baker, Film Masters, Floyd Crosby, Jonathan Haze, Justin Humphreys, Monster from the Ocean Floor, Roger Corman, Stuart Wade, Tom Weaver, Wyott Ordung | Leave a comment

(1954)
Directed by Wyott Ordung
Starring Anne Kimbell, Stuart Wade, Dick Pinner, Wyott Ordung, Inez Palange,
Jonathan Haze, David Garcia, Roger Corman

While this isn’t directed by Roger Corman, it is his first film as sole producer, and it was really a sign of things to come. While a lot of Corman’s earlier work might have involved cheesy monsters here and there, they were still entertaining. Watching them now, it gives me that nostalgic feeling of watching these as a kid, catching them on TV some Saturday afternoon. But watching them now, as an adult and a life-long student of movies, while I still get that same feeling as a kid, it also makes me appreciate the people involved a lot more. And Monster is a perfect example of that.

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Movie Review: Tormented

April 21, 2024 by Jon Kitley in Reviews: Movies and tagged Ballyhoo Motion Pictures, Bert I. Gordon, C. Courtney Joyner, Film Masters, Howard S. Berger, Joe Turkel, John Wooley, Juli Reding, Kevin Marr, Lugene Sanders, Mr. BIG, Richard Carlson, Susan Gordon, Tom Weaver, Tormented | Leave a comment

(1960)
Directed by Bert I. Gordon
Starring Richard Carlson, Susan Gordon, Lugene Sanders, Juli Reding, Joe Turkel

Director Bert I. Gordon, or known to most fans as Mr. BIG, got that moniker because of the unusual sizes of the subjects of his films, from giant grasshoppers, dinosaurs, spiders, and angry men. So, it was a quite the change of pace when he came up with this simple story about a ghostly revenge on a seemingly innocent man. While there is nothing giant here, Gordon still was able to pull off some of his unusual and interesting camera tricks, including a talking head sitting on an end table.

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Movie Review: Devil’s Partner

January 2, 2024 by Jon Kitley in Reviews: Movies and tagged Alligator People, Charles R. Rondeau, Creature from the Haunted Sea, Devil's Partner, Ed Nelson, Edgar Buchanan, Film Masters, Horror, Horror films, horror movies, Jean Allison, Monster Party Podcast, Richard Crane, Roger Corman, The Filmgroup, Tom Weaver | Leave a comment

Devil’s Partner (1960)
Directed by Charles R. Rondeau
Starring Ed Nelson, Edgar Buchanan, Jean Allison, Richard Crane, Spencer Carlisle, Byron Foulger

This film was one that I remember seeing the poster art but never really knew the film. I’ve read that it was in public domain, but never remember seeing it on VHS. It wasn’t until I bought a bootleg DVD of it last year when I first saw it. And of course, since I bought that bootleg, now we have not only a legitimate release, but a beautiful 4K restoration on Blu-ray! You’re welcome.

Released in 1960, about a decade away from when movies, both theatrical and for television, loved to tackle the theme of the devil, selling one’s soul, and all the other mischievous things Old Scratch would get into. But here we have a very early film that not only tackles that subject but does it in a very strange and different way. The film starts with a very old man killing a goat, using the blood for a ritual, and writing a pact with the devil on a piece of animal skin, promptly dying. Right before he expires, we see a mysterious hand come into the frame to sign the contract. What a way to start the film.

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Beast from Haunted Cave Released by Film Masters

November 7, 2023 by Jon Kitley in Misc. Ramblings and tagged Beast from Haunted Cave, C. Courtney Joyner, Chris Robinson, Film Masters, Howard S. Berger, Larry Blamire, Roger Corman, Ski Troop Attack, Stanley, Tom Weaver | Leave a comment

Not sure when I first came across Beast from Haunted Cave, but when I had learned it was filmed in South Dakota, my birth state, and it was a low budget monster flick, I was in. We’ve reviewed the film previously here on the Krypt (just click HERE), but recently Film Masters have put it out on Blu-ray, along with in a double feature disc, so we wanted to mention it here again.

Bottom line is that if you like those low budget monster flicks, and unusual ones at that, then you can’t pass up this new release from Film Masters. Not only does the print look great, being a newly restored 4K scan from 35mm archival material, but you get a bunch of extras, including an early Roger Corman feature called Ski Troop Attack, which was an early WWII drama using the same locations that were used in Beast. This is a great example of what Corman was doing with very little money, a small cast, but making it work to put out an entertaining little film.

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McFarland Halloween Sale

October 3, 2023 by Jon Kitley in Book News and tagged Bryan Senn, Gregory William Mank, McFarland, McFarland Books, Mummy Movies, Tom Weaver | Leave a comment

We all know that McFarland puts out some amazing books, but they do tend to be on the pricy side. But during the month of October, they are having a 25% off sale on all their horror titles! I just pre-ordered Bryan Senn’s MASSIVE new book, Mummy Movies, which normally retails for $75, but with this sale, I got close to $20 off that price! So, if you’re looking to add a few more titles to your own library, now is your chance to pick up some great titles and save a little money as well.

The code is simple . . . just add in HALLOWEEN2023 in the promo code during check out and see the savings! Head over to McFarland’s site HERE to see all the amazing titles you can find. May I suggest the latest from Christopher Wayne Curry, The Incredibly Strange Features of Ray Dennis Steckler, where you can save $10. Or any number of titles from Tom Weaver, Gregory William Mank, Bryan Senn, or any other number of titles. Just do a McFarland search on my site to see all of their books that I’ve reviewed over the years if you’re not sure which one(s) to get!

McFarland Book Sale!!!

November 20, 2022 by Jon Kitley in Book News and tagged Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Christopher Wayne Curry, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Gregory William Mank, Laird Cregar, McFarland, McFarland Books, Ray Dennis Steckler, Tom Weaver | Leave a comment

In our never-ending pursuit of learning more about the horror genre, we have many volumes from McFarland in our library. They have such a wide variety of subjects, from critical essays and academic studies overviews of different sub-genres, and plenty of amazing biographies.

Going on right now, McFarland is not waiting until Black Friday to start their online sales but have started offering 40% off ANY title!!! Just head over to their website (by clicking HERE) and start choosing titles. When you get to the check out, add in HOLIDAY22 for the code and it will take off the 40%. That’s damn near half price folks! I know McFarland can be a bit pricy so now is your chance to save some series dough! The sale goes from now until Monday, November 28th, so don’t wait too long!

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Opinions, Opinions, and More Opinions

April 6, 2021 by Jon Kitley in Book News and tagged 40s Universal Monsters, Bryan Senn, Dario Lavia, Fantastic Films of the Decades, Golden Horrors, Gregory William Mank, Harry H. Long, Henry Nicolella, Hollywood Cauldron, John Brunas, John T. Soister, Michael Brunas, Silent Screams, Steve Haberman, Tom Weaver, Tome of Terror, Troy Howarth, Universal Horrors, Wayne Kinsey | 2 Comments

There is a new book that just came out called 40s Universal Monsters: A Critical Commentary, covering all of the monster films that Universal put out during that decade. Author John T. Soister had published a similar book back in 2001 covering the Universal films of the 30s, entitled Of Gods and Monsters: A Critical Guide to Universal’s Science Fiction, Horror and Mystery Films, 1929-1939. Now, along with contributors Henry Nicolella, Harry H. Long, & Dario Lavia, they take on the ’40s, covering 66 titles from The Invisible Man Returns to Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein.

But what does have to do with opinions? Hear me out. Looking through my own library, I have several books that deal with the early days of cinema. If we’re talking about the silent era, we have Silent Screams by Steve Haberman, or Wayne Kinsey’s entry in his incredible Fantastic Films of the Decades series, as well as Troy Howarth’s own series, Tome of Terror, who has covered the decade of the ’30s as well. Kinsey is already up to halfway through the ’40s with his ongoing series. But then I also have Universal Horrors by Tom Weaver, Michael and John Brunas, Soister’s aforementioned Of Gods and Monsters, Mank’s Hollywood Cauldron, Senn’s Golden Horrors, and even a few others titles. Then we move into the ’50s and beyond with multiple titles in each of those as well.

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McFarland Book Horror Sale!

October 3, 2020 by Jon Kitley in Book News and tagged Gregory William Mank, McFarland, Paul Blaisdell, Tom Weaver | Leave a comment

McFarland has published a ton of different books on the horror genre, quite a few of which I’ve reviewed here on this site. Typically they are a bit on the pricy side, but now is your chance to save some big bucks this horror season because they are having a huge sale. You can now get 40% off each and every one of their huge selection of titles, if you order before Friday, October 16th. Use the coupon code HORROR to get your discount.

They have so many titles that I would consider must have for any library, such as Gregory Mank’s Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff: The Expanded Story of a Haunting Collaboration, with a Complete Filmography of Their Films Together. Normally priced at $40, for $24! Or what about learning about the underrated and talented Paul Blaisdell in Randy Palmer’s excellent biography Paul Blaisdell, Monster Maker: A Biography of the B Movie Makeup and Special Effects Artist. Normal price is $20 and now you can get it for only $12! Or want to learn everything you need to know about The Creature from the Black Lagoon and its sequels? Then pick up Tom Weaver’s The Creature Chronicles. Normally priced at $40, now you can add it to your library for only $24. Not to mention so many other great titles they have listed. Just click HERE to start browsing. Pick up a few for yourself for the Halloween season, or, with the other holidays coming up and you have a horror fan that you need a gift for, now is the time to save some $$.