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The iconic Hammer Films is kicking off 2025 in spectacular style with a cinematic revival of Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter, marking the studio’s first-ever 4K restoration. In celebration of the cult classic’s 50th anniversary, the newly restored version will screen across UK cinemas for one night only on 18th January 2025, with additional showings in select cities until the end of the month.

Directed by the legendary Brian Clemens, Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter was a bold departure from traditional horror fare when it debuted in 1974. Combining swashbuckling action with Hammer’s signature gothic sensibilities, the film starred Horst Janson in the titular role alongside Caroline Munro, Shane Briant, and John Carson. Over the years, its reputation as a post-modern, genre-defying gem has only grown, and this restoration promises to highlight its atmospheric charm and stylistic brilliance like never before.

This reimagined tale follows Captain Kronos, a former soldier turned professional vampire hunter,...

Reissued in a handsome new package, the sixth and final Hammer Frankenstein film is finally given its due as a work which may have seemed out of touch on release but which can now be appreciated independently of that context. It comes with a choice of two audio commentaries. Kat Ellinger's is endearingly heartfelt but somewhat repetitive, even early on; the other, however, is full of interesting little insights and anecdotes, reuniting start Shane Briant and Madeline Smith for the first time since the shoot was completed. There's relatively little overlap between the two.

In addition to this, the package includes a discourse on the film by David Huckvale which is informative rather than merely appreciative and will be particularly valuable to those approaching the film for the first time. Huckvale also addresses the music of the film in a separate featurette, using his piano to support his points,...

To mark the release of Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell on 29th August on Limited Edition Blu-ray, we’ve been given copy to give away to 1 winner.

When a young doctor, Simon Helder (Shane Briant – Time Traveller) is committed to an insane asylum where the legendary Baron Frankenstein supposedly perished after being found experimenting on stolen corpses, he is quickly taken under the wing of mysterious Doctor Victor (Peter Cushing).

But Simon quickly realises that there’s more than meets the eye with Doctor Victor, and that Frankenstein is alive and well and is continuing his macabre experiments…

Please note: This competition is open to UK residents only

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The Small Print

Open to UK residents only The competition will close 29th August 2022 at 23.59 GMT The winner will be picked at random from entries received No cash alternative is available Please note prizes may be delayed due...

Titan Comics' "Hammer Comics: Captain Kronos" #1, based on the 1974 horror feature, is written by Dan Abnett and illustrated by Tom Mandrake, with covers by Mike Perkins and Mandrake:

"...in the depths of Eastern Europe, the legendary vampire hunter, 'Captain Kronos', and his two assistants, 'Grost' and 'Carla', are called to help rid a town of its vampire plague.

"However, beneath the surface of the beleaguered town a malevolent force far more evil and deadly is awakening and it might just be the match of Kronos..."

The R-rated "Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter" (1974) was written and directed by Brian Clemens for Hammer Film Productions, starring Horst Janson, John Carson, Shane Briant and Caroline Munro.

"...debonair supernatural expert 'Captain Kronos' (Janson) and his hunchbacked assistant, 'Grost' (John Cater), meet their match when they encounter a village where vampires have been stealing the vitality of young women, leaving them elderly and decrepit.

"Armed with...

Titan Comics' "Hammer Comics: Captain Kronos" #1, based on the 1974 horror feature, is written by Dan Abnett and illustrated by Tom Mandrake, with covers by Mike Perkins and Mandrake:

"...in the depths of Eastern Europe, the legendary vampire hunter, 'Captain Kronos', and his two assistants, 'Grost' and 'Carla', are called to help rid a town of its vampire plague.

"However, beneath the surface of the beleaguered town a malevolent force far more evil and deadly is awakening and it might just be the match of Kronos..."

The R-rated "Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter" (1974) was written and directed by Brian Clemens for Hammer Film Productions, starring Horst Janson, John Carson, Shane Briant and Caroline Munro.

"...debonair supernatural expert 'Captain Kronos' (Janson) and his hunchbacked assistant, 'Grost' (John Cater), meet their match when they encounter a village where vampires have been stealing the vitality of young women, leaving them elderly and decrepit.

"Armed with...

Hammer Comics' "Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter" #1, based on the 1974 cult horror feature, is written by Dan Abnett and illustrated by Tom Mandrake, with covers by Mandrake and Mike Perkins:

"...in the depths of Eastern Europe, legendary vampire hunter 'Captain Kronos', and his two assistants, 'Grost' and 'Carla', are called to help rid a town of its vampire plague.

"However, beneath the surface of the beleaguered town a malevolent force far more evil is awakening and it might just be a deadly match for Kronos..."

The R-rated "Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter" (1974) was written and directed by Brian Clemens for Hammer Film Productions, starring Horst Janson, John Carson, Shane Briant and Caroline Munro.

"...debonair supernatural expert 'Captain Kronos' (Janson) and his hunchbacked assistant, 'Grost' (John Cater), meet their match when they encounter a village where vampires have been stealing the vitality of young women, leaving them elderly and decrepit.

"Armed with his sword and formidable deductive reasoning,...

The House of Hammer was dilapidated and run down by the turn of the ‘70s; a modern purview had wormed its way into horror’s darkened crevices and Hammer had no choice but to adapt or perish. Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974), a grimy, bloody affair that was Frank’s last hurrah with the venerable house and Peter Cushing’s final bow as the Baron, is proof that even the final throes of their cinematic empire was filled with malevolent mirth.

Released at home in May with an American rollout in June, Hell received better notices than one might expect, or it at least found some interest; the injection of overt viscera into the somewhat staid stable told the world that Hammer was putting classical in the rearview to embrace the contemporary. It was also more than enough to kill the series, if not Hammer itself (at least not...

Hammer Comics' "Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter" #1, based on the horror feature, is written by Dan Abnett and illustrated by Tom Mandrake, with covers by Mandrake and Mike Perkins:

"...in the depths of Eastern Europe, legendary vampire hunter 'Captain Kronos', and his two assistants, 'Grost' and 'Carla', are called to help rid a town of its vampire plague.

"However, beneath the surface of the beleaguered town a malevolent force far more evil is awakening and it might just be a deadly match for Kronos..."

The R-rated "Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter" (1974) was written and directed by Brian Clemens for Hammer Film Productions, starring Horst Janson, John Carson, Shane Briant and Caroline Munro.

"...debonair supernatural expert 'Captain Kronos' (Janson) and his hunchbacked assistant, 'Grost' (John Cater), meet their match when they encounter a village where vampires have been stealing the vitality of young women, leaving them elderly and decrepit.

"Armed with his sword and formidable deductive reasoning,...

This week’s horror and sci-fi Blu-ray and DVD titles are an eclectic bunch, led by a pair of cult classics—Fright and Straight on Till Morning—which were both directed by Peter Collinson. Arrow Video put together a special edition release for Who Saw Her Die?, which this writer is really looking forward to checking out in the coming weeks, and Unearthed Classics is resurrecting Nightwish on both formats as well.

In terms of new films, The Velocipastor arrives on Tuesday on both Blu and DVD, and for those of you who missed it in theaters, Dark Phoenix rises again on multiple formats, and Clownado touches down this week on DVD as well.

Other notable releases for September 17th include The Night Sitter, D-Railed, The Bloody Ape, Return of the Scarecrow, and The Films of Sarah Jacobson: Mary Jane’s Not a Virgin Anymore & I Was a Teenage Serial Killer from Agfa.

While Scream Factory is bringing enough horror movies to Blu-ray this summer to keep you entertained after countless barbecues and bonfires, they also have a bunch of titles to look forward to this September, as they've now announced three more Hammer horror films coming to Blu-ray (including the Christopher Lee-starring Scars of Dracula), as well as 1972's Fright!

From Scream Factory: "If you’re a fan of Hammer Films (like we are) then save up for this Sept when we release three films from them on Blu-ray for the first time in North America! (**Correction: We originally included Fright as in the Hammer library. Our "Oops!" on that. Sorry! Its still releasing though.)

Scars Of Dracula (1970) - The legendary Christopher Lee is back as Dracula, bringing unspeakable horrors upon a local village that defies his evil reign. But when a young man and his luscious girlfriend unwittingly visit the Count's castle,...

Titan Comics' "Hammer Comics: Captain Kronos" #1, based on the 1974 horror feature, available September 27, 2017, is written by Dan Abnett and illustrated by Tom Mandrake, with covers by Mike Perkins and Tom Mandrake:

"...in the depths of Eastern Europe, the legendary vampire hunter, 'Captain Kronos', and his two assistants, 'Grost' and 'Carla', are called to help rid a town of its vampire plague.

"However, beneath the surface of the beleaguered town a malevolent force far more evil and deadly is awakening and it might just be the match of Kronos..."

The R-rated "Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter" (1974) was written and directed by Brian Clemens for Hammer Film Productions, starring Horst Janson, John Carson, Shane Briant and Caroline Munro.

"...debonair supernatural expert 'Captain Kronos' (Janson) and his hunchbacked assistant, 'Grost' (John Cater), meet their match when they encounter a village where vampires have been stealing the vitality of young women, leaving them elderly and decrepit.

"Armed with his sword and formidable deductive reasoning, Kronos begins to solve the macabre mystery, with evidence pointing to the aristocratic 'Lady Durward' (Wanda Ventham) and her family as prime suspects..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Captain Kronos- Vampire Hunter"...

Iconic Hammer actresses Martine Beswick, Veronica Carlson and Caroline Munro. (All photos copyright Adrian Smith. All rights reserved.)

Retro-active: The Best From Cinema Retro's Archives

(The following article was originally run in November, 2014)  

By Adrian Smith 

With around sixty special guests in attendance, the Westminster Central Hall on Saturday the 7th of November was packed to its domed roof with excited Hammer film fans.

Familiar faces including Caroline Munro, Valerie Leon, Madeline Smith and Martine Beswick were providing some glamour, but the organisers managed to make the event extra-memorable by securing the presence of Edina Ronay, George Cole, Freddie Jones and others who had not signed autographs at a fan event before. At times queues to meet them ran out of the building and down the street! Other rare UK appearances were made from Veronica Carlson and Linda Hayden, flown in from the Us to meet their fans. It was...

“If a movie makes you happy, for whatever reason, then it’s a good movie.”

—Big E

*******Warning: Review Contains Spoilers*******

By Ernie Magnotta

If there’s one thing I love, it’s 1970s made-for-tv horror films. I remember sitting in front of the television as a kid and watching a plethora of films such as Gargoyles, Bad Ronald, Satan’s School for Girls, Horror at 37,000 Feet, Devil Dog: Hound of Hell, Scream Pretty Peggy, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, Moon of the Wolf and The Initiation of Sarah just to name a few. Some of those are better than others, but all were fun.

When I think back, there have been some legendary names associated with small screen horrors. Genre masters John Carpenter (Halloween), Steven Spielberg (Jaws), Wes Craven (Nightmare on Elm Street), Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and Joseph Stefano (Psycho) all took shots at television...

To celebrate the brand new 2-disc DVD and single-disc Blu-ray (for the first time ever in the UK) release of Hammer's classic Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell, Icon Home Entertainment have released a clip to whet your appetite.

Hear the monster's anguished wails right here!

Synopsis:

Convicted of bodysnatching and using the body parts of his ill-gotten cadavers for research, Dr. Simon Helder is sentenced to five years in an insane asylum. On arrival, he recognises the penitentiary’s resident surgeon as none other than the infamous Baron Victor Frankenstein, who has been hiding out there and continuing his research into the reanimation of corpses under the pseudonym of Dr. Carl Victor. Recognising Helder’s surgical skills, Frankenstein enlists the young doctor as his assistant under the pretext of their tending to the medical needs of their fellow inmates. But the reality of the situation is far more sinister.

Stars: Peter Cushing, Shane Briant, Madeline Smith, David Prowse, John Stratton, Michael Ward, Elsie Wagstaff, Patrick Troughton, Philip Voss, Bernard Lee | Written by Anthony Hinds | Directed by Terence Fisher

I often pride myself on the fact that I grew up on Hammer films and many of my favourite moments have come from actors such as Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. As I watched most of the movies for the first time as a child there were some that never really connected me that much, one of them being Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell. As I’ve grown older though and more mature I’ve discovered that the movies I felt were the weakest of Hammer’s collection of horrors are often their strongest. Now that Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell is making its way to Blu-ray, this is my chance to revisit it and give it a second chance.

By Marcy Papandrea, MoreHorror.com

On the third week of January in my wonderful city of Melbourne, Australia I got to experience my very first Horror Convention, Oz Horror Con 2013. It may very well have been the first of it’s kind for the country, at least in recent years. Horror for some reason is a genre that seems to have very little outlets here, it has always been a task to find like-minded people and find places that seem to know their stuff.

It was a great pleasure to attend this Convention, I felt at home there, alongside other fans of horror and stalls where I could look through DVDs of my below genre as well as stalls of books and all sorts of memorabilia.

The event was held at a really cool place called Donkey Wheel House, which had the perfect atmosphere for a horror event. The stalls...

Sylvia Kristel who starred in the 1974 erotic film Emmanuelle, has died from cancer at the age of 60. According to The Huffington Post, Kristel's agent Features Creative Management said in a statement Thursday that Kristel had died in her sleep last night after battling cancel for a few years. Just Jaeckin's Emmanuelle marked her breakthrough, which she followed with a sequel, and numerous TV movies. The actresses other roles included 1981's Lady Chatterley's Lover as Lady Constance Chatterley, alongside Shane Briant, Nicholas Clay and Anne Mitchell. In the same year, she starred in Alan Myerson's Private Lessons comedy with Howard Hesseman and Eric Brown.

Sylvia Kristel who starred in the 1974 erotic film Emmanuelle, has died from cancer at the age of 60. According to The Huffington Post, Kristel's agent Features Creative Management said in a statement Thursday that Kristel had died in her sleep last night after battling cancel for a few years. Just Jaeckin's Emmanuelle marked her breakthrough, which she followed with a sequel, and numerous TV movies. The actresses other roles included 1981's Lady Chatterley's Lover as Lady Constance Chatterley, alongside Shane Briant, Nicholas Clay and Anne Mitchell. In the same year, she starred in Alan Myerson's Private Lessons comedy with Howard Hesseman and Eric Brown.

French director Gautier Cazenave is set to helm "Sherlock Holmes vs. Frankenstein" for Marteau Pictures and Parkland Pictures says Screen Daily.

The story has sees Holmes and Doctor Watson travelling to Germany to investigate a strange case in the village of Darmstadt.

Cazenave penned the script while Shane Briant and real life baron Clement Von Franckenstein will star in the project. Shooting kicks off next year.

If Abraham Lincoln can take on vampires, then surely it’s acceptable for Sherlock Holmes to take on Frankenstein’s Monster, right? That’s the hope of the team behind the newly-announced film Sherlock Holmes vs. Frankenstein. Hmm…someone might want to show them the box office receipts from Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter before they get too much farther along in the production process… Shock Till You Drop (via Screen Daily) reports that Parkland Pictures is working to sell the project, which comes with French filmmaker Gautier Cazenave already attached to direct and a real-life Franckenstein (the proper spelling, apparently) set to co-star alongside Shane Briant. Sadly, there will be no Robert Downey Jr. appearance as Holmes in the film. How could this...

Read More...

According to Screen Daily, Parkland Pictures is creating and selling a project that pits two massive names in the annals of literature, Frankenstein and Sherlock Holmes, against each other. Aptly titled Frankenstein Vs. Sherlock Holmes, the film follows Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson’s investigation in Darmstadt. The film will star Shane Briant and Clement Von Franckenstein (seriously; his family inspired Mary Shelley’s novel), or so says Styd.

What can go wrong with such a brilliant idea?...

The Frankenstein monster has taken on many a foe in cinema, namely his creator.  Now, his world is colliding with Sherlock Holmes in, well, the aptly titled Sherlock Holmes vs. Frankenstein, says Screen Daily.

Parkland Pictures is shepherding/selling the project which has French director Gautier Cazenave attached.

According to the site, the film "sees Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson travelling to Germany to investigate a strange case in the village of Darmstadt." Shocker.  This shit writes itself.

Hammer vet Shane Briant - who appeared in Captain Kronos and Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell - is attached to star with Clement Von Franckenstein (apparently a real-life baron whose family name served as the inspiration for Mary Shelley's novel).

Read more...

With Josh Hartnett in the lead, I’ll be game for just about anything, and Singularity has always sounded like something to look forward to. The project has been in the works for quite a while, with Brendan Fraser previously attached, and this year it has finally come a hair’s breadth away from making it to the big screen.

Though plagued with financial difficulties that culminated in the film stopping just short of finishing production earlier this year, The Playlist reported back in February that Belgium’s Corsan Films, who first packaged and pre-sold the film, insist it will be on the market at Cannes this month.

The question we’re now faced with though, getting this first promo and on-set video, is whether Neve Campbell is still a part of the film. For a few possible explanations of why she unfortunately isn’t seen here, keep reading.

Both...

Cinema Retro has received the following notice concerning developments for official web sites dedicated to the late Ingrid Pitt:

Official Ingrid Pitt Fan Club (Pitt of Horror) News Update It has been decided to continue the Official Ingrid Pitt Fan Club as a memorial to Ingrid. A Club President has been appointed, Bob Lee, and a Vice President, Edward Morley. Ingrid’s niece, Simone Horsley, will return as Club Secretary and Administrator.

In future the Quarterly Newsletter will be produced and edited by Broadcaster and Journalist, Barry McCann (mailto:bmnw12865@blueyonder.co.uk) and his Deputy will be Karen Whitney. (kwhitney@nbnet.nb.ca) In future the Newsletter will be produced electronically. Make sure that Barry has your email address. Any problems please let Barry or Karen know.

The aim of the Fan Club is to encourage members to take part in social activities such as trips to locations like...

The Classic Horror Campaign is proud to present “The Return of the Horror Double Bill” in association with the Roxy Bar & Screen, London.

This event will take place on Sunday 26th June starting at 3pm and will feature the iconic Val Lewton classic “Cat People” followed by the bizarre cult favourite “Scream & Scream Again”. The screenings will be accompanied by retro trailers and some fantastic free horror giveaways courtesy of Scream horror magazine and Metrodome film distribution.

The screening will take place at the Roxy Bar & Screen on Borough High Street in London close to London Bridge and tickets cost just £5 per person. This unique and popular venue is the perfect setting for these events which celebrate classic horror in the tradition of the BBC’s much missed horror double bill seasons of the 1970s and ‘80s.

The Classic Horror Campaign was set up in order to persuade the BBC...

Peter Jackson A series of small news bits concerning Peter Jackson's The Hobbit hit the web over the past 24 hours and I figured I'd give you a large rundown beginning with an update from actor Ian McKellen's website confirming the actor's return to Middle Earth as Gandalf. The information says filming will take over a year, beginning in New Zealand in February 2011 and that the "first draft [of the script] is crammed with old and new friends, again on a quest in Middle Earth."

Moving on, Total Film offers up this first look at the Shire as depicted on the New Zealand set of The Hobbit.

Photo: Total Film The Shire, of course, will be the starting point of the story before Bilbo (Martin Freeman) takes off on his series of adventures with the inhabitants and creatures of Middle Earth. Speaking of Freeman, he tells the BBC he's already been fitted for Hobbit make-up saying,...

The first (and unrevealing) photo from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part One, and a new photo of Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn.

There's also the first photos of Robert Pattinson and Christoph Waltz in costume for Water for Elephants, a new shot from Scream 4 and set photos of Nicolas Cage doing motorcycle stunts for Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.

Posters for From Prada to Nada, The Green Hornet, Unknown, Apollo 18, Just Go With It and The King's Speech.

"James Gunn's "Super", the superhero comedy with Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler and Nathan Fillion that was one of the big surprise hit panels at Comic Con this year, has finally scored a release date - April 1st..." (full details)

"Summit Entertainment is in talks to acquire Michael Alan Lerner's action-thriller spec script "Game Theory" which follows a college professor and game...

Shane Briant is reportedly circling a supporting role in The Hobbit. According to The One Ring, the British actor has auditioned for the part of the Mayor of Michel Delving in director Peter Jackson's upcoming Lord Of The Rings prequel. "I'm hoping to be in The Hobbit. Wouldn't that be nice? I auditioned for that. It's supposed to be the ridiculous Mayor of... something or the other... the Shire," Briant (more)...

November 2, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Bollywood babe Bipasha Basu is going international with Abhay Deol as both of them will be seen in a Hollywood film titled ‘Singularity’. The dusk beauty will be acting along with international actors like Josh Hartnett, Chris Pine, Bond girl Olga Kurylenko, Shane Briant and Christopher Egan.

The Akrosh girl will reportedly play a very important role in the film, which will be directed by Roland Joffe. Abhay’s role is not confirmed yet. Joffe has earlier directed films like ‘The Killing Fields’ and ‘City of Joy’.

The actress flew to Brisbane recently to start shooting for first schedule of the movie. Speaking about getting the.