Author: Jon Kitley

I started Kitley's Krypt back in October of 1998, using Microsoft Front Page. Over the years, that program had been updated until 2003. But now, with Windows 8, it no longer works and I've been force to change this website into a blog. I'm hoping to give the same info and spirit here as I did there. I'm a life long horror fan that hopes to spread my passion to others, in hope that they Discover the Horror of the genre, as I still do. I also write for HorrorHound Magazine (where my column won a Rondo Award in 2013 for Best Column) and Evilspeak magazine. You can also see me at about a half dozen conventions throughout the year.

Episode 20 – Remakes and Re-Imaginings

June 29, 2022

A single word that will bring a look of hatred, disgust, or simply end the conversation: remakes. When brought up, many fans will immediately say “they suck” and move on. But do they all suck? Sure, we can all point out an example or two that we think of as abominations, but you can’t lump all of them together. Because when you start to think about it, there are plenty of good remakes… and a few that we think are amazing! In this episode, we delve into this perennially controversial subject. We’ll cover some of our favorites as well as ones that we feel missed the mark, and even try to figure out what makes a remake successful or… well, not so successful.

Episode 19: Cronenberg

June 15, 2022

The Brood (1979), Videodrome (1983), The Fly (1986). These are the three favorites of one of the most unique directors working today. If he didn’t create the term “body horror”, he sure did redefine it. Especially in those earlier films in his career, there was always something dwelling deep within the flesh, working its way out, through the blood and plus. Tune in and hear our thoughts on our three Cronenberg favorites and such fun topics like fly politics, literal handguns, and redefining what a messy divorce looks like.

Films mention in this episode:

Atrium (2018), Black Christmas (1974), The Brood (1979), Cigarette Burns (2005), Curtains (1983), The Dead are Alive! (1972), The Dead Zone (1983), The Exterminator (1980), The Fly (1986), Ghostbusters (1984), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Nightbreed (1990) Rabid (1977), Scanners (1981), Shivers (1975), Stripes (1982), The Thing (1982), Videodrome (1983), The Void (2016)

Episode 18: Horror Toys!

June 2, 2022

Toys. Not for just kids anymore, are they? Especially when you’re talking about toys created from our nightmares and the countless horror films that we have devoured in our lifetime. It is amazing the amount of horror toys that are out now, as well as the wide variety of them too! From our favorite monster characters, to the classics, to the obscure, they are out there. Listen in to hear about the ones we “grew up with” as well as a little history lesson, especially about the Living Dead Dolls!

After you listen, head back here and let us know what some of your favorite horror toys are!

Movies mentioned in this episode:

Alien, The Black Hole, Candyman, Clash of the Titans, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Dune, Escape from L.A., Escape from New York, Erotic Rites of Frankenstein, Evil Dead, The Exorcist, The Fly, Friday the 13th, Forbidden Planet, Frankenstein, Groovie Goolies, Hellraiser, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Jaws, London After Midnight, Mad Doctor of Blood Island, Masters of the Universe, The Munsters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Nekromantik, Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Shawn of the Dead, Sleepaway Camp, Star Wars, Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Texas Chainsaw Massacre II, Tombs of the Blind Dead, Toxic Avengers, Transformers, Virus, Wishmaster, The Wolf Man

Episode 17: Hammer (Is It) Horror

May 18, 2022

Never Take Candy from a Stranger (1960), The Damned (1963), Plague of the Zombies (1966). These are the three titles covered in this episode, as well as a little discussing on what can be considered “horror” when talking about the famous Studio that Dripped Blood. While some of these titles don’t immediately come to mind when you think of Hammer Horror, digging a little deeper, you might discover it to be there after all. After all, isn’t the whole point of being a horror fan is to go beyond the borders? You never know what you might find and even might be surprised.

These are the titles mentioned in the episode:

Cross of the Devil (1975), The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), The Damned (1963), The Ghost Breakers (1940), Horror of Dracula (1958), I Walked with a Zombie (1943), Never Take Candy from a Stranger (1960), Night of the Living Dead (1968), Plague of the Zombies (1966), Paranoiac (1963), The People Who Own the Dark (1976), The Quatermass Xperiment (1955), The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988), To the Devil a Daughter (1976), White Zombie (1932)

Episode 16: Moments of Gore with Special Guest Gore Artist Putrid!

May 4, 2022

When most horror fans they first get into the genre, they tend to look for the juicy, red, and meaty stuff . . . the gore. Okay maybe not all horror fans, but a lot of us. Always looking for the next over-the-top or extreme, or just being dazzled by the top-notch gory makeup effects that were bursting out from the screen, we ate that shit up! In this episode, we highlight some of our favorite moments of gore from our journey into dark recesses of the genre. Joining us on our journey through the gore-soaked trenches is the incredible artist Putrid!

Putrid has been consistently killing it when it comes to his incredible gore-filled artwork. Highly influenced by the late Bernie Wrightson, Putrid’s style continues to astound, disturb, and downright gross-out his fans. Enjoy!

These are the films mentioned and/or discussed during this episode:

Episode 15: Bert I. Gordon!

April 20, 2022

Tune in to this GIANT episode when we discuss Mr. B.I.G., the one and only Bert I. Gordon, and we discuss three of his films: King Dinosaur (1955), The Cyclops (1957), & Food of the Gods (1976).

Known for films that featured giant monsters, such as giant grasshoppers, spiders, teenagers, and rats, he usually had some sort of small threat that is made larger with either shooting them on smaller sets or super imposing them over a back projector screen. Fun usually ensues.

Movies we mentioned in this episode:

Episode 14: Reference Books!

April 11, 2022

Before the Internet, horror reference books are where you’d go to learn about the genre. Whether it was film and video guides, biographies, or just general information titles, we learn about new titles as well as learn more about the ones we already knew. And it is still as effective today!

In this episode, we cover some titles that were essential to us, as well as some of our favorite titles today. Listen to the episode, take notes, and start to build your own library which will definitely help you along your journey in Discovering even MORE Horror!

Books Mentioned in this episode:

Episode 13: Joe D’Amato with Aaron Crowell

March 28, 2022

Have you seen Emanuelle and the Last Cannibals (1977), Beyond the Darkness (1979) Anthropophagus (1980), or Absurd (1981)? These are the four films from the one and only Aristide Massaccesi, better known as Joe D’Amato! Joining us in this fun discussion is HorrorHound’s Managing Editor, Aaron Crowell! D’Amato’s films were known to be outrageous, filled with some unbelievable gore as well as sleaze and pure craziness. I mean, when is the last time you saw a guy feasting on his own guts?!?!?

Episode 12: Ghoulish Gary Pullin

March 10, 2022

Horror art has become more and more these days, with the whole Mondo movie poster movement, as well as just more of an appreciation of what some of these talented artists are creating.

If you know horror art, you probably know Ghoulish Gary Pullin, and even if you don’t know his name, you know his work. From Rue Morgue magazine to posters to album covers and more, Gary’s signature style is everywhere you look in our little fandom community, so we talk to him about his career, the nature of horror art, and various other odds and ends.

The following titles were mentioned in this episode!

Episode 11: Made for TV Horrors

February 23, 2022

Did you know that once upon a very earthy time, major broadcasters made films specifically to be shown on TV, and that of the thousands that were made, a whole bunch were horror films? On this episode, we transport you back to a time of shag carpet, rotary phones and pants-wettingly scary films with commercial interruptions. In this episode, we are discussing A Cold Night’s Death (1973) starring Robert Culp and Eli Wallach, Dan Curtis’ The Norliss Tapes (1973), and Tobe Hooper’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot (1979).

Click on the link below and give a listen! And please let us know what you think! You can post a comment below, or through our other social media outlets, like Facebook or Instagram!