Mystery Photo 7-20

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Hope everyone is surviving this latest heat wave. I know parts have been absolutely brutal, so hang in there. Hopefully another month to go and we’ll get back to some cooler temps, as well as being closer to Halloween! Our photo from last week was from the 1927 version of The Cat and the Canary, and yes, there are a couple of versions of this title. But thinking of how great a time of being a horror fan is these days, you can get this film that is almost 100 years old on 4K! What a time to be alive! Congrats to the following for sending in the correct answer: Hoby Abernathy, Gregory Avery, Dave Fronto, Kevin Hart, Christopher Highland, Doug Lamoreux, Jeff Owens, Michael Pniewski, Bryan Senn, Mike Shields, Todd Warren, William Wilson.

This week’s photo is a little newer than 1927. There’s your clue! Just take a peek below and see what you can come up with. Just remember to send your guess to me in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And most of all, good luck!

Book Review: Monsters Unborn

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Monsters Unborn: The Lost Universal Monster Remakes
Published by Harker Press, 2026. 271 pages
By Bruce Kilkowski Jr.

Every time fans see another remake/retelling/sequel/or whatever they are calling their version of one of the classic Universal monsters, some tend to groan, thinking, here we go again. But the funny (actually no so funny) thing what this picture probably went through to even get started. And in this new book by Bruce Kilkowski Jr., you will get a good idea what I’m talking about.

This book goes through a bunch of unmade sequels or remakes, and proposals that were all based on some of the classic Universal monsters, mainly the Bride of Frankenstein, the Mummy, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. We learn how the story of a particular project got started, by who, and who else was involved, such as the writer(s), possible director(s), producer(s), and even the makeup effects guys who were going to design the new look.

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Criterion Releasing del Toro’s Frankenstein

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I can’t say I’m surprised to hear the news yesterday that Criterion will be releasing Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein on 4K and Blu-ray this October. They’ve released a lot of his previous films, and have always done such stellar work, so while I’m not surprised, I am damn excited about it. With a planned release on Oct. 27th, the 4K+Blu-ray set will be 4 discs, that will feature 2 versions of the film, both in 4K. It will have the theatrical version on one disc and a new 158-minute extended director’s cut of the film, called Frankenstein: The Reborn Cut, both with Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The Reborn Cut will have a new commentary by del Toro.

Other features on the set include:

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The 7th Voyage of Sinbad

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(1958)
Directed by Nathan Juran
Starring Kerwin Mathews, Kathryn Grant, Richard Eyer, Torin Thatcher, Alec Mango, Danny Green

Okay, so why are we reviewing a Sinbad movie here in the Krypt? Simple… it does have monsters! And more importantly, they were created and animated by the one and only Ray Harryhausen. It cannot be stated enough of what the impact of Harryhausen’s work had influenced not only the industry at that time, but all the people that would be so inspired by his work that they decided their future path would be connected somehow to what Harryhausen had started. So, while this film isn’t going to give you chills and goosebumps, I’m pretty sure it will still thrill you and just be in awe of some of the work that Harryhausen has given us. And now thanks to this incredible 4K that has just come out, along with a ton of extras, it’s going to help you fall in love with the master’s work, as well as still being so impressed with what he accomplished, I’m sure you’ll soon forget that it’s not a horror movie.

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Sam Neill – Rest in Peace

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Movie fans are definitely morning the passing of actor Sam Neill, who appeared in so many films, of all genres, and no matter what it was, it was always so entertaining to watch. He could play the bad guy that you would despise, or the hero that was out to save everyone. Most actors are always remembered from the first role that you remember him from, so for me, it was always the adult version of Damien Thorn from The Final Conflict (1981). Granted, he would go on to appear in quite a few other horror titles like Possession (1981), In the Mouth of Madness (1994), Event Horizon (1997), and of course the Jurassic Park films (yes, those are horror films).

So, we were very saddened to hear of his passing on the 13th. Such a talented actor, but one that never seemed to take himself too seriously. Our cinematic world has lost a real talent and a true icon. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family during this difficult time.

Mystery Photo 7-13

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After so many correct answers sent in for The Thing from Another World, it seems our last photo was a bit tougher, getting not one single guess. Hopefully that will get fixed soon, with the soon-to-be release of Severin Films Danza Macabra Vol. 5: The Spanish Gothic Collection. Because in that collection is the film from which this shot was taken from, the 1973 Leon Klimovsky film The Dracula Saga, which is a damn strange one, but damn entertaining. Better luck next time.

Speaking of which, we’re going back to another black and white one so maybe this might be a little easier. Sort of a famous title, if that gives you any ideas. Take a look below and see what you can come up with. Once you’ve got it, send me an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. And good luck!

Movie Review: Night of Bloody Horror

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Night of Bloody Horror (1969)
Directed by Joy N. Houch. Jr.
Starring Gerald McRaney, Evelyn Hendricks, Gaye Yellen, Herbert Nelson, Lisa Dameron, Charlotte White, Nick Krieger

This is a title that I remember renting back in the VHS days and wondering what the hell was going on in the film. Not because it was an intricate or confusion plot, but because it was so damn dark! I honestly didn’t remember any of the film from back then. It’s been released on DVD before, but the quality always looked the same. When this new Blu-ray from Leomark & Shoreline Entertainment came out, I figured I’d give it a try. Unfortunately, it looks exactly the same. Dark as hell. Any time there are night shots, you can barely see anything. Even indoors, the lighting isn’t the greatest. Very disappointing. But let’s get to the actual movie.

This is the first film directed by Joy N. Houch Jr., who would go on to direct other grindhouse and drive-in fair like Women and Bloody Terror (1970), which has one hell of an exploitive title, The Night of the Strangler (1972), which starred Mickey Dolenz from The Monkees, The Brain Machine (1972), which stars James Best, and Creature from Black Lake (1976), which is probably his best film, as well as his best known film. So, I’ll have to give Bloody Horror a little bit of a break since it was Houch Jr.’s first feature, and maybe he didn’t realize what filming at night meant needing lights.

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Book Review: Partially Devoured

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Partially Devoured: How Night of the Living Dead Saved My Life and Changed the World
Published by Counterpoint, 2026. 313 pages.
By Daniel Kraus

Back in 2015, before I read Gunnar Hansen’s book Chain Saw Confidential, I had asked myself the question, “did we really need another book on this film?” And after reading it… indeed we did. Especially when it is coming from a person that was there through the brutal shooting of it. And now we have another book, on another epically famous horror film, George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, but this time not written by someone directly involved. That little fact really doesn’t matter because within the 300+ pages of this book, you will learn more about Night of the Living Dead than you ever thought you could. About the movie, the people involved, and so much more. But author Kraus also shows us how and why this film was so important to him and why it made such an impact on his life. While me might not all go on to become professional writers, every fan will feel that same connection to film as he describes this one. So, no matter where our individual path in life takes us, we are the same.

When mentioning a variety of low-budget films in general, with real makeup effects and settings, Kraus writes, “The importance of art like this grows by the day. In a world where AI and CGI create seamless visual media, seeing those seams right where fallible human hands put them in everything – it’s proof of intent, of passion, of life itself.” That really hits home and I hope younger fans can understand that. The people involved in this little film believed in what they were doing. You have to remember, none of these people had a clue what this film was going to become over the next half a century! Kraus goes on to say, “Call it Don Quixote Disease. Or just call it the American spirit. It’s not the finished product that matters, it’s the chase of it. Night of the Living Dead is a literal and symbolic chase all the way through, and that’s why I love it.” I think that’s why a lot of us horror fans are as passionate about these as we are. We know there is something more than just cheap thrills.

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World Tour Continues in August

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While we have a bit of a break here in July, we are definitely going to be busy next month. Actually, on July 31st, we head to our only local convention, Flashback Weekend, which Chicago’s biggest and longest running area horror convention. We’ve been to everyone of their shows since they started back in 2002 and always have a fun time.

Once again, they have a huge guest lineup, from a bunch of guests from the Scream series (David Arquette, Marley Shelton, Dermot Mulroney, Roger L. Jackson, Celeste O’Connor, Joseph Whipp, Jeremy Conner, Kraig Dane, Noah Garrett), to David Naughton and Griffin Dunne from An American Werewolf in London, Tom Atkins, Jason Lively and Jill Whitlow from Night of the Creeps, and Dick Warlock, Susan Shoop, Ana Alicia, Gloria Gifford and Alan Howarth from Halloween 2, and from the first two Silent Night Deadly Night films, Robert Brian Wilson and Eric Freeman, to Jane Levy from Evil Dead (2013), Quinn Lord from Trick ‘r Treat and Spencer Charnas from Ice Nine Kills.

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DtH Episode 126: Twice Told Tales – Toolbox Murders

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The Toolbox Murders (1978) and Toolbox Murders (2004)

In this Twice Told Tales segment, we take a look at a film and its “remake”, which can be about as far apart as you can get. Some might say a remake in name only. But nonetheless, two films that while are different, do have some similarities, even if it might be behind-the-scenes information. But what you do have is one very uncomfortable exploitation film and a more modern tale with a supernatural slight to it. Or does it? Both of these films are products of their time, in what they are showing us, what they are trying to tell us, and what they feel the need to show us. 

The one thing they do have in common is the way of people are killed. Novelty or highly creative, that is up for you to decide. As to what you think of the original and if the second one is an actual remake, or just a cash grab. But if they are both entertaining, does it matter?

Films mentioned in this episode:

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