Mystery Photo 10-5

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Welcome to October! It’s the month we’ve been waiting for! No more days of feeling you’re walking into an oven, not to mention being able to bust out our favorite horror hoodies! And of course, it’s the one month that we almost become “normal”. Then again, we all know how “boring” normal can get… But let’s get to business. Our photo from last week was from Frank LaLoggia’s directorial debut, Fear No Evil (1981), which is coming out in 4k from Vinegar Syndrome. And if you have seen LaLoggia’s second film, Lady in White (1988), also released in 4k by Vinegar Syndrome, then this month is the PERFECT time for it. It’s a great Halloween themed ghost story, fun for all ages. But we only had 2 correct answers sent in, Gary Miller and William Wilson. So, congrats to you both!

This week’s photo is a little bit more of a classic. You may or may not recognize the lady in the photo, but I’m sure you know of at least one of her films she made later in her career. But see if you can guess this one. Just remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And good luck!

Marjoe Gortner – Rest in Peace

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You couldn’t have grown up in the 70’s and ’80s, watching a lot of TV and movies, and not know at least the face of Marjoe Gortner. My first memory of his work was Earthquake (1974), which happened to be his first feature film that he acted in, which he turned out to be not so nice of a guy. But then between Food of the Gods (1976), Starcrash (1978), and Mausoleum (1983), and that crazy curly hair, he was always memorable. But sadly, it was announced that he had passed away at the age of 82.

Gortner had a very unusual upbringing, be a child evangelist at the ripe age of 4 years old and eventually had an Oscar winning documentary made on his life. But once he got into acting, his contributions to helping people and charities never stopped. Some of his performances were a bit over the top, but that probably came from Gortner’s own over the top personality. But no matter what, he always gave us entertainment. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family during this difficult time. Gone, but not forgotten.

And Even More Books

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I know. My Christmas list is going to be HUGE with all these titles coming out. Granted, I may need to add a new bookshelf as well. And maybe a place to put it too… But anyway, I recently came across these two titles from BearManor Media and since they are both on some Universal classics, I knew I had to post about them. And being they are written by Tom Weaver and Gregory William Mank, you know they are going to be packed full of great information.

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Movie Review: The Lost Patrol

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(1934)
Directed by John Ford
Starring Victor McLaglen, Boris Karloff, Wallace Ford, Reginald Denny, J.M. Kerrigan, Billy Bevan, Alan Hale

Here we go again. Another seemingly non-horror title, directed by none other than John Ford. So why are we reviewing this? Simple. Because it stars Boris Karloff, only a year before he appears in The Bride of Frankenstein. And the fact that not only is Karloff exceptional here, but it is also a really good and intense movie. It’s a simple story about an army patrol lost in the Mesopotamian desert during World War I, after their young commanding officer is shot by an unseen sniper, taking their orders and directions with him. Now the Sargeant, played by Victor McLaglen, is in charge, with no clue as to where they are or where they were going. They keep marching and come across an oasis, where there is a watering hole and plenty of dates to eat. Before the next morning, their sentry is killed and their horses stolen. As they wait, trying to decide what to do, they are slowly picked off by their unseen assailants.

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Mystery Photo 9-29

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Oops…Guess I forgot to post this yesterday!

Welcome to the last Monday before October! Let the celebration begin! Granted, that is probably one of the reasons for the lack up updates lately, just having so many things going on, or getting prepared for what’s coming. Last weekend we were at the Midway Drive-in for what possibly might be their last Dust-to-Dawn show, since the drive-in is now up for sale. And the weekend before that was HorrorHound Weekend. So, we’re trying to regroup and take the time to get ready for what’s coming next month. We have our last 2 events, Monster Bash and the Music Box of Horrors, as well as hoping to be able to enjoy the month as well! Now, down to the business at hand! The pic from last week was from Andy Milligan’s Guru, The Mad Monk (1970), which if you like Milligan’s work then you’ll enjoy this one. I know I did! Congrats to the following who sent in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Kevin Hart, Michael Pniewski, Bryan Senn, Mike Shields, Vincent Simonelli. Well done!

This week’s photo is a prelude to something coming . . . But take a look at the photo and see if you recognize where this shot is from. Just remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And good luck!

Mystery Photo 9-21

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A little late today with the update but still recovering from spending the day Saturday at the drive-in, which rained most of the day. But that didn’t stop fans from coming out to show support. Just loved it. But let’s get down to business. Last week’s photo was from Hammer’s Quatermass and the Pit aka Five Million Years to Earth (1967), which always has me trying to decide if I like Andrew Keir better as Prof. Quatermass or Brian Donlevy, which I usually go back and forth and never decide! Who cares, right? They both do a great job. Congrats to the following for sending in the correct answer: Dave Fronto, Kevin Hart, Vincent Simonelli, Ian Sutherland, and Todd Warren.

On to this week’s photo. Take a gaze at this couple and see if you can recognize which movie this is from. Just remember to send me your answer in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good luck!

Tim Curry & Gerrit Graham – Rest in Peace

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We lost two actors that were known for some of their roles in more than a few cult titles. Yes, we lost Tim Curry almost a month ago, but I was reprimanded last weekend for not posting about him when he did pass, and rightly so. Thanks for the reminder, Hannah! But then yesterday we also heard the news of Gerrit Graham passing away as well. Both actors had a very long career appearing in a wide variety of genres and roles. Curry, of course, will always be remembered for his incredible and daring performance in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), but also have horror and fantasy fans a treat with Legend (1985) and the first appearance as Pennywise in It (1990). And Graham… wow. He’s best known as Beef in Brian De Palma’s Phantom of the Paradise (1974) but also had so many roles where he gave us characters we loved to hate, or just laugh with, such as Son of Blob (1970), TerrorVision (1986), Chopping Mall (1986), and yes, even C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud (1989). Of course, one of my favorites is the space-horror parody he did called The Creature Wasn’t Nice (1981). If you’re a fan of the Airplane-syle humor, look this one up, if anything, for the alien doing a song & dance number, singing “I Want to Eat Your Face.”

But like all actors that have appeared in memorable roles in their career, it is us fans that are grateful to have these lasting performances on DVD, Blu-ray, or whatever format, so we can go back to them, time and time again, and remember how much joy they brought us, and how much they possibly even inspire us. They will never be forgotten. So, to quote the immortal Dr. Frank-N-Furter, “Don’t dream it, be it.”

NEW YORK – JUNE 05: Actor Tim Curry attends the 59th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall June 5, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
NOW AND AGAIN, GERRIT GRAHAM, 1999. ©CBS

Terror Tuesdays Returns to Sulzer Regional Library!

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Dr. AC (aka Aaron Christensen) and I will once again make it to the Sulzer Regional Library in Chicago for this year’s lecture series, where the library has been gracious enough to have us back each year to talk about the horror genre! Each Tuesday of October, we’ll be discussing a different topic dealing with the genre. In the past, we’ve covered different directors, women in horror, horror through the decades, and more. This time out, the subject is Houses of Horror: The Studios That Made the Screams! We’re going to delve into some of the studios behind the films we love, and what made them different or unique. Stop on by for the lecture and join in the discussion afterwards!

Starting on October. 6th, and going every Tuesday of the month, from 6:30pm to 7:45pm, there is a different lecture each week. Here’s a breakdown of what we’re covering each week.

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Books, Books, and More Books!

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I’m not sure what worries me more, the fact that I’m going to run out of room for all these books I want to add to my library, or just how the hell am I going to pay for all of them! I know I’ve stated before that if they stopped making movies now, I still wouldn’t be able to see them all before I’m gone. It’s really same for these books. With each movie offering you something we haven’t seen or experienced before, these volumes below, as well as so many more, are just waiting for you to read and absorb the knowledge within, which then in turn is going to help you see those films in a different light. It really is a never-ending path, and one I intend to continue to travel down as long as I can!

We have new books, updated and revised volumes, covering classic British horror films, horror in the USA, Lewton horrors of the ’40s, and much more. Take a look below and start that Want List or add to the one you’ve already started!

Bride of a Vault of Horror – Back in 2004, author Keith Topping gave us A Vault of Horror: A Book of 80 Great British Horror Movies from 1956-1974, which we reviewed HERE, and had a lot of fun with it. Then in 2024, he published a sequel, Return to the Vault of Horror, giving us reviews of another 58 titles of British horror films, following the same format and fun. Then last year, he switched to Science Fiction to give us Island of Terror (A Guide to 60 Great British SF and Fantasy Movies From 1936 – 1984). One would think that Topper has really kept himself busy, but apparently not. Because now we get Bride of a Vault of Horror: A Book of 72 Great British Films of Mystery and Suspense from 1933-1986! Taking a little different direction on the sub-genre but still covering plenty of horror titles and more here. Within the 600+ pages, this volume covers titles such as The Ghoul, Hell is a City, The Flesh and the Fiends, Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb, The Shuttered Room, and many more.

This is coming from Telos Publishing at the end of October, priced at £24.99 or $33.40. You can head over to their website by clicking HERE.

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Movie Review: The Bad Seed

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(1956)
Directed by Mervyn LeRoy
Starring Nancy Kelly, Patty McCormack, William Hopper, Henry Jones, Evelyn Varden, Eileen Heckart, Joan Croydon, Gage Clarke, Jessie White, Paul Fix

I am amazed more and more by this film, every time I watch it. I’m astonished and shocked at the subject matter for starters. For a movie to be made dealing with a very young female sociopath that possibly murdered a fellow classmate, delving into the whole theory of mental illnesses and the debate of “nature versus nurture,” is a shocking theme to be tackling at any time, but especially for 1956. Then you discover it was based on a stage play from 2 years earlier, which had huge success, running over 300 performances. The play was based on a book of the same name, written by William March, which came out the same year it was adapted for the stage. The film follows the book and stage play, for the most part. But the ending is quite different, but we won’t go into that so we’re not giving away any spoilers.

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