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 $$.

Buyer Beware!

October 14, 2019 by Jon Kitley in Book News and tagged BearManor Media, Carlton Books, David Colton, Rondo Hatton, Rondo Hatton: Beauty Within the Brute, Scott Gallinghouse, Scripts from the Crypt, The Brute Man, Tom Weaver | Leave a comment

Everyone reading this knows I tend to collect horror reference books. More than your average fan. And because of my love of them, I always like to help promote them as well, either through reviews or just letting my followers know about upcoming titles that might be of interests.

In the past, I’ve made posts about some books that publishers like to re-issue every couple of years, but change the title and cover a little to make it seem like its a new book. For example, Carlton Books have re-issued their Horror! title that was first published in 2006, at least 3 different times, all with a new cover and all with a slightly different name, adding a few pages at the end to “update” it to the current year. Sure, newer fans aren’t going to have the previous release, but at least they could do is state that it is an updated edition. Continue reading →

Weaver and The Brute Man

July 17, 2019 by Jon Kitley in Book News and tagged Andrew J. Fenady, BearManor Media, David Colton, Gary D. Rhodes, George Chastain, Robert J. Kiss, Rondo Hatton, Scott Gallinghouse, Scripts from the Crypt, The Brute Man, Tom Weaver | Leave a comment

scripts from the crypt brute man In the latest volume of Tom Weaver’s Scripts from the Crypt series, No. 10 will cover the 1946 film The Brute Man. By Scott Gallinghouse, Dr. Robert J. Kiss, George Chastain, David Colton, Andrew J. Fenady, and Gary D. Rhodes, they give us a look into not only this film, it’s production and release, but there is also a biography chapter on Rondo Hatton himself.

Hatton, who became a B-Movie villain due to his particular looks that were caused by acromegaly, a disease that causes disfigurement in the hands, feet, and face. He appeared in films such as The Pearl of Death (1944), House of Horrors (1946), and his final film, The Brute Man.

It will be a very interesting read to learn more about this film, but especially more about Hatton himself. I’m sure he’d be thrilled to know that his name and likeness has become synonyms with Monster Kids around the world because of the Rondo Awards!

This has been released by BearManor Media and is available in a hardcover edition ($39.95) or a paperback edition ($29.95). You can order your copy at their website HERE.

Upcoming Shows

May 28, 2019 by Jon Kitley in Conventions and tagged A Nightmare on Elm Street, Alicia Witt, Beverly Washburn, Bruce Campbell, Cerina Vincent, Christopher Neame, Fred Dekker, Gregory Mank, House of the Gorgon, Lance Henriksen, Martine Beswicke, Melinda Clarke, Monster Bash, Night of the Creeps, Ricou Browning, Robert Englund, Robert Kurtzman, Sam Raimi, Sharyn Moffett, Tom Atkins, Tom Weaver, Tony Todd, Troy Howarth, Veronica Carlson, Virginia Madsen | 1 Comment

Now that Cinevent is in the books, lets look ahead to our next two shows coming up real soon.

Next month we head to Mars, PA, once again for the Monster Bash. Damn, do I just love this show. They have a great guest lineup this year, including Ricou Browning, the last living classic Universal monster! Their other guests include: Beverly Washburn, Martine Beswicke, Veronica Carlson, Christopher Neame, Sharyn Moffett, Cortlandt Hull, Kris Yeaworth, Tom Savini, and John Russo. They also have a few notable authors there, another reason I love this show, such as Troy Howarth, Frank Dello Stritto, Tom Weaver, Gregory Mank, Deborah Painter, and Robert Michael Cotter. Continue reading →