SO LONG, JIM KRUT

Your screen time may have been brief, but man, did it ever pay off in the original Dawn of the Dead! 

Tom Savini's grisly orchestration deserves credit for that moment, too, but your ambling motion sold the scare. 

Over the years, fans appreciated your openness and accessibility, and yes, when it comes to horror history, your on-screen demise holds up with the best of 'em, but we shouldn't mistake Dawn as your only feature, for you also made appearances in Deadlands 2: Trapped, Quattro and Serious Profession. 

There ain't no doubt that you're the stuff of classic legend, Mr. Krut. So long and thanks for the many frightful and heartfelt memories.🧟

TERRIFIC TEAM-UP IMAGE: SPIDEY & THE X-MEN

 

EIGHTH TOWER'S BLIND DEAD/DARK FICTION ANTHOLOGY: AN UPDATE

Hello, Bizarrechats readers! 

I have an update on Eighth Tower's upcoming Dark Fiction anthology, based on Amando de Ossorio's  Blind Dead franchise. 

According to Eighth Tower's CEO, Raffaele Pezzella, the book (yet to be titled) is scheduled for a November release. Considering the way time flies, that's not far off. 

I'm uncertain what my fellow authors are composing for this tribute, but my tale was inspired by an altered print of Tombs of the Blind Dead, when it received an opening narration that tied it to Planet of the Apes. 

My story is by no means a Blind Dead/Apes crossover, but its principal protagonist does sport a simian scowl, and he does, indeed, link to an evil faction of the Knights Templar. 

I'll share more details on the anthology prior to its release, but for now, it's just nice to know that this fascinating curation is moving along. ♞🦍 

FOR THE FUN OF IT:

 

COLLECTIBLE TIME: PRINTERVAL, CREEPY T-SHIRT

As fate had it, I came upon a lovely, Printerval T-shirt, one featuring Ben Oda's iconic logo for Warren Magazine's Creepy. 

Creepy (hosted by the odd yet erudite Uncle Creepy) was a comic curation created by the innovative Russ Jones. Horror, anthology fans will remember him as the scriptwriter for director David L. Hewitt's (Dr. Terror's) Gallery of Horrors. Both the comic and the movie are favorites of mine. I believe the Creepy-logo T-shirt celebrates my appreciation for such, or at least would among those inspired to engage me in a discussion on the matter.

Otherwise, Creepy might be mistaken for my personal label (i.e., the person I am), but I'm far from creepy. I'm a damn-dashing, cultivated gent who'll nonetheless look spiffy in this horror-homage apparel. 

To procure your own Creepy T-shirt (and look as spiffy as me), surf on over to 

https.www.printerval.com

HAPPY NATIONAL COLORING BOOK DAY 2026 (8/2)

 

GOODBYE, VINCENT PASTORE

Through your portrayal of Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero, you became a Sopranos legend.

Your cheerful, "wise guy" persona not only populated that television classic, but it visited an envious stretch of pulpy, quirky, profound and humorous movies, which include Goodfellas, Carlito's Way, Mickey Blue Eyes, Revolver, New Jack City, Witness to the Mob, The Family, Surviving Family, Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn, A Brooklyn State of Mind, Who Do I Gotta Kill?, Flodders in America, Dough Boys, Money Train, Manhattan Murder Mystery, A Slight Case of Murder, Who's the Man?, The Basketball Diaries, The Ref, It Could Happen to You, A Tale of Two Pizzas, The Deli, The Cookout, Good 'n Screwed, Deuces Wild, Black Roses, Awakenings, Men of Respect, The Hurricane, American Cousins, Serving Sara, This Thing of Ours, Riding in Cars with Boys, Remedy, Shark Tale, Bachelor Party Vegas, Under Hellgate Bridge, I'm in Love with A Church Girl, Mail Order Bride, College Road Trip and The Jerky Boys: The Movie. 

Beyond The Sopranos, you guest-starred on many enjoyable television productions (several of which were designated as either recurring, game-oriented or "reality"-based), including Blue Bloods, Bull, General Hospital, The Practice, Gravesend, (the new) Hawaii Five-O, Chase Street, Pair of Kings, Sherman's In Sanity, Grounded for Life, The Neighborhood, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Ed, Son of a Beach, Queens Supreme, Las Vegas, For Your Love, The Curse, Yellowjackets, Mad TV, Cyberchase, Comedy Central Roast, Hollywood Squares, Emeril, Celebrity Fit Club, Celebrity Apprentice, Celebrity Family Feud, Dancing with the Stars, Shark Tank, Famous Food, Gordon Ramsey's 24 Hours to Hell and Back, World's Smartest Inventions, Animals, Filmore! and Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

You truly were a good guy at heart, Mr. Pastore. In fact, you were quite gracious to my brother, Freddy, when the two of you crossed paths some years back. In my book, that holds a lot of weight and goes a long way. So saddened to hear you're gone, though, but to those who matter, you made an amiable and unshakable impression, for which you deserve unfeigned and enduring thanks.