The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards

SEE VIDEOS FROM THE
RONDO AWARDS CEREMONY
>> To see videos and photos from the 2022 Rondo Awards Ceremony go to
Rondos on YouTube
or to the
Rondo Forum
on the Classic Horror Film Board

>> See ALL of this year’s winners below:

‘Dune,’ ‘What We Do in Shadows,’ ‘Incredible Shrinking Man’ take top Rondo honors
Elvira’s memoir is Book of the Year;
Early Technicolor ‘Doctor X’ is Best Restoration;
Kier-la Janisse honored for ‘folk horror’ explorations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

By David Colton

CHFB News

   ARLINGTON, VA. – A stubborn pandemic for much of 2021 could not stop enthusiasm nor creativity as the horror film, journalism and convention worlds staggered back toward a monstrous form of normalcy. And with it came another strong year of voting in the (Gasp!) 20th Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards.

   Among top winners of the fan-based Rondo Awards, a global online ballot honoring the best in classic horror, science fiction and fantasy, were Denis Villeneuve‘s version of DUNE (voted Best Film), WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (Best Television Show),  the 1957 classic INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN  (voted Best Blu-Ray), and the 1932 early Technicolor DOCTOR X (Best Restoration).

   YOURS CRUELLY, a newsmaking memoir by horror host Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) was named Book of the Year, and BORIS KARLOFF: THE MAN BEHIND THE MONSTER, was voted Best Documentary.

   In addition, the Rondo Awards honored the tireless work by horror scholar Kier-la Janisse, whose WOODLANDS documentary and extensive Blu-Ray collection of 20 nature-fear films (ALL OUR HAUNTS), demonstrated that “folk horror” goes far beyond Bigfoot.

   And in a posthumous tribute, comedian and classic horror fan Gilbert Gottfried, who died last month, was inducted into the Monster Kid Hall of Fame.

   Almost 4,700 fans and pros voted online, continuing what has become the largest annual survey of classic horror fans and pros in history.

   The Rondo Awards, named after Rondo Hatton, an obscure B-movie villain of the 1940s, honor the best in classic horror research, creativity and film preservation. This year’s e-mail vote was conducted by the Classic Horror Film Board, a 27-year old online community.

    In individual categories, Evan Davis, who as Halloween Jack has overseen The Monster Channel, an online, 24/7 horror host site, was named Monster Kid of the Year (Rondo’s highest honor). Horror mythologist Frank J. Dello Stritto was voted Best Writer, Mark Maddox was voted Best Artist, Noufaux was voted Best Fan Artist, and Tom Weaver was tagged as Best Blu-Ray commentator.

 

   Beyond Gottfried, Rondo’s Monster Kid Hall of Fame inductees included French film historian Jean-Claude Michel, Hollywood lawyer Bela G. Lugosi, son of the famed Dracula horror star, artist and director Frank Dietz, film journalist and preservationist Laura Wagner, horror host Mr. Lobo, and trailblazing films-on-the-fringe and cultural critic Maitland McDonagh.

HERE ARE THE WINNERS IN THE
(GASP!) 20th ANNUAL
RONDO HATTON CLASSIC HORROR AWARDS

BEST COVER

CLASSIC MONSTERS OF THE MOVIES #25 by Daniel Horne

Runners-up: THE DARK SIDE #222 by Rick Melton;

LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS #46 by Mark Maddox;

SCARY MONSTERS #124 by Scott Jackson

Honorable mentions: RUE MORGUE #202 by John Pearson;

We Belong Dead #30 by Brux; Mad Scientist #34 by Jeff Zonow

BEST WEBSITE

 BLOODY DISGUSTING

Runner-up: Collinsport Historical Society;

Honorable mentions: The Monster Channel;

Dread Central; Dana Gould’s Hanging with Dr. Z;

OSI74; Dinosaur Dracula

 

BEST PODCAST

GILBERT GOTTFRIED’S AMAZING COLOSSAL PODCAST

Runners-up: Terror at Collinwood;

Borgo Pass Horror Podcast

Honorable mentions: Evolution of Horror;

Monster Kid Radio; Literary License Podcast;

Eldritch Review; Monster Party; Frankenstein Minute;

Post Mortem with Mick Garris; Colors of the Dark

 

 

FAVORITE HORROR HOST OF 2021

 SVENGOOLIE

Runners-up: Joe Bob Briggs; Elvira; Lamia

Honorable mentions: Mummy & the Monkey;

Mr. Lobo; Penny Dreadful; Vincent Van Dahl:

Drac & Counteess Carita; Count Gore de Vol

BEST EVENT

 A DARK SHADOWS CHRISTMAS CAROL, read by several

members of the Dark Shadows cast

Runners-up: Plan 9 Table Read (comedians streamed and on TCM);

Talking Kong (expert Steve Vertlieb on classic movie TV show);

Universal Monster Part (Dracula’s 90th Anniversary celebrated in Orinda, CA)

Honorable mentions:  Live at the Monster Bash: Frank Dello Stritto (Wizard of Oz), and Greg Mank (Werewolf of London); Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies

BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL OR COLLECTION

LUGOSI: THE RISE AND FALL OF HOLLYWOOD’S DRACULA

by Koren Shadmi

 Runners-up: JOHN CARPENTER’S TALES FOR A HALLOWEEN NIGH (Vol. 7;

MARK SPEARS’ MONSTER TRADING CARDS

Honorable mentions: NORSE MYTHOLOGY (Neil Gaiman, various artists); THE COVERS OF EERIE PUBLICATIONS

INDIVIDUAL RONDO AWARDS

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

KIER-LA JANISSE

   Like no other before her, horror scholar Kier-la Janisse in 2021 demonstrated  that so-called “folk horror” goes far beyond
the mythologies of Bigfoot and Loch Ness.In two seminal works, a weighty Blu-Ray collection of films called ALL THE HAUNTS BE OURS, which she helped assemble, and an in-depth documentary she directed, WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED, Janisse traces the deep roots of humanity’s natural fears — of forest beasts, of witches and sprites, and of all things supernatural, many hiding in plain sight. No Frankensteins are needed when owls are enough.

   In addition to her years of writings and her founding of the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies 12 years ago, Janisse is deserving of Rondo’s ‘Special Recognition’ for advancing horror scholarship and understanding.

MONSTER KID OF THE YEAR

EVAN DAVIS

 

  Whether known as Halloween Jack or Evan Davis, he is the energy behind the resurgence of The Monster Channel, which curates horror host shows 24/7 online, on Roku and wherever you can find it.
Not only that, his TV Guide-style listing span an entire week. It is no small task wrangling the often chaotic horror host world, but Evan has shown it can be done. ,For that and for his years of work at the Horror Underground, Evan Davis is Rondo’s Monster Kid of the Year!

WRITER OF THE YEAR

FRANK DELLO STRITTO

   Frank Dello Stritto, shown here with wife Linda, always adds a rich touch of whimsy to his serious classic horror research.  In a series of fact-packed fictionalizations of the legends of the Wolf Man and kindred were-things, the Pacific Island brethren of King Kong, and now the might-have-been journeys of the Mummy — old and new —  Dello Stritto breathes new life into the stories we thought we know so well. A lecturer, an historian and

a crackling good storyteller, he was voted this year’s Writer of the Year.

Runners-up: Rod Labbe,  Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, George Humenik, Tim Lucas, Gregory Mank, Kat Ellinger,
Gary D. Rhodes, Grady Hendrix, Patrick McCray

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

MARK MADDOX

   It’s another Rondo win for Mark Maddox, whose vibrant recreations

of classic horror, science fiction and television heroes and villains can be found on numerous magazines, books and Blu-Ray covers.
A popular personality at various conventions and festivals, Mark’s work has been consistently praised by fellow fans.

 Runners-up: Mark Spears; Scott Jackson, Daniel Horne, Dixie Dellacorte, Frederick Cooper, LJ Dopp, Rick Melton

FAN ARTIST OF THE YEAR

NOUFAUX

 The artwork of Adele Veness, also known as Noufaux, is wholly distinctive, combining the black-and-white menaces

of 1920s and 30s horror icons with the elegance of arts deco and nouveaux, and detailed pointillist-like inking.
She is the first to win the Fan Artist of the Year honor (also known as the Linda Miller Award), for two years running. Her work is available commercially and increasingly sought by magazines.Runners-up: Josef Mendez; Jerrod Brown, Lee Hartnup; George Chastain
Eric Swartz

THE MONSTER KID HALL OF FAME
New inductees

Jean-Claude Michel

A French horror and film historian of long-standing, Jean-Claude Michel
was the first foreign correspondent for Famous Monsters of Filmland, remaining with the magazine for many years.
He is well-known and well-regarded in Europe

for championing classic horror films (which were not held in high regard), an

for highlighting the horror and suspense films of
British actor Tod Slaughter, who was barely

known in the U.S. for decades. An early member of the Classic Horror Film Board,  Jean-Claude Michel continues to contribute to horror scholarship.

Laura Wagner

Laura Wagner is not only ‘Classic Images’ magazine’s book reviewer; she has spent  decades interviewing stars and almost-stars whom everyone has forgotten except for  their fans. In her books — that’s not her on the cover above — and articles for Classic Images and Films of the Golden Age
are more than nostalgia.  Laura makes careers and memories
meaningful and long-lasting.
One of the great preservationists of film history.

Bela G. Lugosi

Photo by Leo Verswijver

There were times when Bela Lugosi’s son, Boris Karloff’s daughter, and Lon Chaney Jr.’s grandson would dine together in Hollywood.
The trio of real ‘Monster Kids’ always caused a nervous buzz.
And indeed, Bela Lugosi Jr., as he is often known, has been channeling his father’s career for decades. A lawyer who helped enact the California

law protecting celebrity names and images, Bela Jr. has been a familiar
presence at conventions as he makes sure his father’s trademarks are

protected and cherished. A true son of Dracula.

FRANK DIETZ

If the Baby Boomer generation of ‘Monster Kids’ — and that’s who most of us are — has a creative heart, it just may be artist, animator, actor, screenwriter, director, and monstrous party planner Frank Dietz.
An artist at Disney studios, he taught young creatives the

secrets of lines and shadows. He helped Bob Burns pull off his historic Burbank Halloween displays, and has worked on projects ranging from the Lost Skeleton of Cadavra to Creepshow and I Hate Kids.
If classic horror had a renaissance, Frank led the way by ‘doing’ things.

MAITLAND McDONAGH

Author, editor and cultural critic Maitland McDonagh
was an influencer long before Tik-Tok.

As early as 1991, McDonagh explored the world of Euro horror
and giallo with her groundbreaking book, ‘Broken Mirrors/Broken Minds: The Dark Dreams of Dario Argento.’
She championed genre and almost-genre films as movie editor at TV Guide, helped Criterion with notes for Night of the Living Dead, wrote for Fangoria, and continues to explore the sometimes too obvious to see connections between horror, suspense and erotica. A trailblazer who makes a difference.

MR. LOBO

   For more than 21 years, Erik Lobo’s Cinema Insomnia has been a creative force in the horror host community, especially during the years when the format was close to disappearing.

Now his always curated site, OSI74 (which stands for Outer Space International), houses dozens of hosts permanently online. His programs and promos are clever and fast-moving, proving that short-attention span editing can co-exist with the friendliness of horror host studios. Longevity and

creativity have kept Mr. Lobo often ahead of the pack.

And finally, a sad induction of the late…

Gilbert Gottfried

    The no-holds-barred funnyman was not to everyone’s taste, but there was no doubt he knew his monsters.
In bits onstage or on his Rondo Award-winning Amazing Colossal Podcast with Frank Santopadre, guests could range from Rick Baker and Sara Karloff to author David J. Skal and Adam West.

Gottfried loved revealing the icky underside of celebrity, but he most of all respected the work, and he embraced Hollywood’s past even as he mocked its excesses. The world of monsters has lost a friend, or as Stephen King called him, “a national treasure.”

———-

As we always say, if you’ve gotten this far, you are a true Monster Kid.

Again, remember that winning is fun but the true value is in all the nominees and all their work. And thanks for being a part of the Rondo experience.

Rondo Awards copyright 2022 by David Colton

———————–

VOTING CLOSED:
HERE WAS THE OFFICIAL BALLOT TO VOTE
IN THE (Gasp!) 20^TH ANNUAL
RONDO HATTON CLASSIC HORROR AWARDS

VOTING CLOSED VOTING CLOSED VOTING CLOSED

Since 2002, the Rondos have been fandom’s only classic horror awards – decided by fans, for fans. Every nominee below is being recognized for significant achievements in 2021. By voting, you add your voice and make a difference.

HOW TO VOTE: Voting is by email only. Simply copy this ballot onto an email (cut-and-paste works fine), and mark your choices with an X, or use bold or a highlight color. We know that can be awkward so you can also just type your picks into an email.

>> Send the email to me, David Colton, at taraco@aol.com by Sunday night at midnight, April 17, 2022, in your time zone.

— One vote per person, please. Every email must include your name to be counted. All votes are kept strictly confidential. No emails nor personal information will ever be shared with anyone. And no, you do NOT have to vote in every category. Vote for one, all, or a few.

— IMPORTANT: Feel free to spread the word about Rondo, but please DO NOT mass produce votes, send duplicate ballots, or use vote-generating software. Suspicious ballots have been and will be rejected at the sole discretion of Rondo organizers.

Finally, thanks to the thousands who have voted every year. We look forward to hearing from you again. As the pandemic (hopefully), really eases this time, let’s make Rondo XX the best ever!

OFFICIAL BALLOT FOR THE (Gasp!)
20^TH ANNUAL RONDO HATTON CLASSIC HORROR AWARDS
–– This year’s awards are dedicated to Kathy Burns and Malcolm Gittins —

VOTING CLOSED VOTING CLOSED VOTING CLOSED

1) BEST FILM OF 2021
Due to pandemic, includes wide release, video-on-demand and streaming

— ANTLERS
— CANDYMAN
— THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT
— DON’T LOOK UP
— DUNE
— FREE GUY

— GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE
— GODZILLA VS KONG
— HALLOWEEN KILLS
— LAST NIGHT IN SOHO
— MALIGNANT
— NIGHT HOUSE

— NIGHTMARE ALLEY
— OLD
— A QUIET PLACE, Part Two
— SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
— ZACH SNYDER’S JUSTICE LEAGUE
— Or write in another choice:

2) BEST TV PRESENTATION

— CHUCKY, Bravo. The deadly doll is back. ‘We’re gonna party like it’s 1999.’
— CREEPSHOW, Shudder. Episodes in the EC vein.  ‘Naperville Ripper Still at Large’
 — DOCTOR WHO, BBC America. The Thirteenth Doctor battles enemies old and new. ‘Don’t blink!’
— EVIL, CBS. Mysteries with a supernatural twist. ‘If one word is spoken within the monastery walls, the demon will be out.’
— FEAR STREET,  Netflix. Teenagers battle a town curse in three eras. ‘Would you say he was more Dawn of the Dead, or Night of the Living Dead?’
— SERVANT, Apple TV+. M. Night Shyamalan’s look at a family’s odd nanny.  ‘She’s not the sweet child you think she is.’

— MIDNIGHT MASS, Netflix. A priest shakes a village’s faith. ‘God still has a plan, and death isn’t part of it anymore.’
— THE SQUID GAME, Netflix. Players must choose self-preservation to survive. ‘You have a reason to leave this place, but I don’t.’
— THE WALKING DEAD, AMC. Negan’s former life is tragically revealed. ‘I am starting to think that I am capable of damn near anything.’
 — WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, FX. The vampires say farewell to one of their own. ‘How am I gonna eat if I don’t prey on people, dummy?’
— YELLOWJACKETS, Showtime. Teen terror on an island lasts generations. ‘Hiding in the tree, she watches me at night.’
— Or write-in another choice:

3) BEST BLU-RAY OF 2021

— THE AMAZING MR. X (1948; Film Detective)
— AN ANGEL FOR SATAN (1966; Severin)
— DEAD AND BURIED (1981; Blue Underground)
— DEAD ZONE (1983; Shout!)
— DOCTOR X (1932 Technicolor; Warners Archive)

— FRANKENSTEIN’S DAUGHTER (1958; Film Detective)
— THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN (1957; Criterion)
— ISLE OF THE DEAD (1945; Warners Archive
— KING KONG (1976; Shout!)

— MILL OF THE STONE WOMEN (1960; Arrow)
— MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD (1935; Kino)

— THE POSSESSION OF JOEL DELANEY (1972; Imprint)
— SECRET OF THE BLUE ROOM (1933; Kino)
— TOMB OF LIGEIA (1964; Kino)
— THE VAMPIRE LOVERS (1970; Shout)
— Or write in another choice:

4) BEST BLU-RAY COLLECTION

–ALL THE HAUNTS BE OURS: A Compendium of Folk Horror (15 discs, Severin). 20-film collection includes numerous rarities, companion material and video extras.
— THE DUNGEON OF ANDY MILLIGAN 1967-1982 (8 discs plus CD, Severin). 14 films, some restored for first time; numerous shorts and special features.
— THE EUROCRYPT OF CHRISTOPHER LEE 1962-1971 (9 discs, Severin) 6 films highlighting Lee’s European horror films; numerous extras.

— HAMMER HORROR: Four Gothic Horrors (Imprint) Countess Dracula, Twins of Evil, Hands of the Ripper, Vampire Circus.
— HAMMER VOLUME SIX: Night Shadows (Indicator). Includes Captain Clegg, Phantom of the Opera, Nightmare, Shadow of the Cat.
— KOLCHAK: THE NIGHSTALKER: The Complete Series (1974-1975; Kino). Twenty episodes remastered, along with 21 commentaries.
— THE MONSTER COLLECTION (Music Box Films). Two special effects documentaries, The Frankenstein Complex, and Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters; plus bonus disc.

— NIGHT GALLERY: Season One (Kino) All seven episodes with commentaries.
— SILVER SCREAMS CINEMA (Imprint) Phantom Speaks, Return of Ape Man, She Devil, Unknown Terror, Vampire’s Ghost, Valley of the Zombies
— THE SHERLOCK HOLMES VAULT COLLECTION (1931-37; Film Detective). Fatal Hour, Triumph of Sherlock Holmes, Silver Blaze, Study in Scarlet
— UNIVERSAL CLASSIC MONSTERS: Icons of Horror Collection in 4K: Dracula, Frankenstein, Wolf Man, Invisible Man offered in 4K.
— Or write in another choice:

5) BEST RESTORATION OR UPGRADE

— AN ANGEL FOR SATAN (1966; Severin) First official release, including restored audio.
— DARK EYES OF LONDON (1939; Network) Remaster from original elements.
— DEAD & BURIED (1981; Blue Underground). 4K upgrade.
— DEMENTIA 13 (1963; Vestron) Francis Ford Coppola’s director’s cut.

— DOCTOR X (1932; Warner Archives) Technicolor restoration, along with B/W version.
— ELVIRA’S HAUNTED HILLS (2001; Shout!) 4K scan from original negative.
— EYES OF FIRE/CRYING BLUE SKY (1983; Severin) First release along with longer alternate version.
— THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER (1928) Restoration of silent by Richard Moses, music by Jay Woelfel; streamed on Silent Film Channel.
— FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN (Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein; 1973; Vinegar Syndrome). Freshly scanned and 4K; colors brighter; 3-D version included.

— THE INVISIBLE MAN APPEARS (1949, Arrow). First U.S. release of Japanese sci-fi.
— THE KINDRED (1987; Synapse) Restored and uncut from original negative.
— KING KONG (1976; Shout!). Includes complete expanded TV version.
— KRAMPUS: The Naughty Cut (2015; Shout) Restored scenes and adult language.

 — MILL OF THE STONE WOMEN (1960, Arrow). Italian, American and French cuts included.
— NIGHT GALLERY (1969; Kino) Restored two-hour pilot episode.
— SANTA SANGRE (1990; Severin). 4K restoration of Alejandro Jodorowsky classic.
— SKINNED DEEP (2004; Severin) Reassembled scenes from uncut negatives.
— TIH-MINH (1919; Gaumont) Six-hour crime serial reconstructed and restored.
— Or write in another choice:

6) BEST DVD EXTRAS

— THE ATTIC EXPEDITIONS (2001, Severin). Online reunion with cast including Jeffrey Combs, Wendy Robie, Alice Cooper.
— DARK EYES OF LONDON (1939; Network). Kim Newman, Stephen Jones discuss Lugosi’s UK work.
— DOCTOR X (1932; Warner Archives): ‘Monsters and Mystery: The Horror Films of Michael Curtiz,’ directed by Constantine Nasr.

— F.P.1. DOESN’T ANSWER (Kino): Includes U.S. version with Conrad Veidt.
— FRANKENSTEIN’S DAUGHTER (1958; Kino) ‘Richard E. Cunha: Filmmaker of the Unknown,’ resurrects unseen film bio Cunha sent to Tom Weaver.
— GRIZZLY (1976; Severin). Nightmare USA author Stephen Thrower documentary on director William Girdler.
— HAMMER HORROR: Four Gothic Horror Films (Imprint): Three visual essays by Kat Ellinger among numerous features.
— INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN (1957; Criterion) ‘Auteur on Campus: Jack Arnold at Universal’ documentary directed by Daniel Griffith.

— THE KINDRED (1987; Synapse). ‘Inhuman Experiments: The Making of The Kindred.’
— THE MEDUSA TOUCH (1978; Imprint). Visual essay by Ian McAnally on ‘Welsh Wizard’ Richard Burton.
— NOSFERATU IN VENICE (1988; Severin) ‘Creation is Violent – Anecdotes From Kinski’s Final Years’ directed by Josh Johnson.
— SHE FREAK (1967; AGFA/Something Weird) Compilation of David Friedman trailers.
— THE VAMPIRE LOVERS (1970; Shout). New commentaries video features.
— Or write in another choice:

>> VOTING CLOSED VOTING CLOSED <<

 7) FAVORITE COMMENTATOR OF 2021 (Below is a representative sample. Put an X by your choice or feel free to WRITE IN your favorite).

— Craig Beam (Night Gallery)
— Paul Castiglia (Haunted House episode, Abbott & Costello Show)
— Travis Crawford (Demons 2)
— David DelValle (Trog, Mystery of Edwin Drood)
— Samm Deighan (Switchblade Sisters)
— Kat Ellinger (The Seventh Seal, An Angel for Satan)
— Lee Gambin (Day of the Animals; Possession of Joel Delaney)

 — Gary Gerani (Night Gallery pilot; Dark Intruder)
— Michael Gingold (Dead Zone)
— Troy Guinn, Rod Barnett (Black Candles)
— Steve Haberman (Isle of the Dead, Mad Love)
— Bruce G. Hallenbeck (Capt. Kronos, Vampire Hunter)
— Justin Humphreys (Flight to Mars)
— Troy Howarth (Dead & Buried)

 — Tim Lucas (Night Gallery; Mill of the Stone Women)
— Constantine Nasr (The Vampire Lovers; Night Gallery)
— Kim Newman, Stephen Jones (Vampire Circus; Twins of Evil)
— Amanda Reyes (Night Gallery; Phantom of the Mall)
— Kelly Robinson (Ingagi)

— Jonathan Rigby & Kevin Lyons (Hands of the Ripper, Countess Dracula)
— Alan K. Rode (Doctor X)
— David Schecter (various soundtrack commentaries)
— Michael Schlesinger (Secret of the Blue Room)
— Nathaniel Thompson (Dead & Buried)

— Richard Harland Smith (Last Man on Earth; Prophecy)
— Tom Weaver (Incredible Shrinking Man; Frankenstein’s Daughter)
— Emma Westwood (Prophecy)
— Taylor White (Night Gallery)
— Or write in another choice:

8) BEST INDEPENDENT FILM OF 2021
Includes festivals and streaming channels.

— THE ADVENT CALENDAR, directed by Patrick Ridgemont. Monstrous menaces intensify, day by day. See trailer here
— BRAIN FREEZE, directed by Julien Knafo. Horror comedy from Canada, fertilizer zombies plague a gated community. See trailer here
— CENSOR, directed by Prano Bailey-Bond. A film censor hunts down the source of a film, with shocking results. See trailer here
— THE CHANGED, directed by Michael Mongillo. Neighborhood finds imposters taking their place. See trailer here

— COME TRUE, directed by Anthony Scott Burns. Sleep study goes deeper than expected. See trailer here
— CRAWLER, directed by Joe Ripple. The late Don Dohler’s last independent film. See trailer here.
— FRIED BARRY, directed by Ryan Kruger. Aliens take control of hard-to-control loser. See trailer here
— HORROR NOIRE, anthology of six tales from black directors. See trailer here

— HOWL FROM BEYOND THE FOG, directed by Daisuke Sato. From Japan, monsters battle land grabbers. See trailer here
— IT KNOWS YOU’RE ALONE, directed by Chris Alexander. An old phone washes up on shore. See trailer here
— JAKOB’S WIFE, directed by Travis Stevens. Starring Barbara Crampton, vampiric happenings in a small town. See trailer here
— KANDISHA, directed by Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury. A changeling demon stalks an abusive boyfriend. See trailer here
— THE LOCKDOWN HAUNTINGS, directed by Howard J. Ford. Tony Todd stars as pandemic has its own special horrors. See trailer here

— THE PHANTOM LAKE KIDS IN THE BEAST WALKS AMONG US, directed by Christopher Mihm. Neighborhood kids fight a hideous creature. See trailer here
— RED SNOW, directed by Sean Nichols Lynch. An injured vampire offers a chance for fame to a frustrated horror writer. See trailer here
— THE SADNESS, directed by Rob Jabbaz. A couple must escape a city filled with sadistic plague victims. See trailer here.

— THE STYLIST, directed by Jill Gevargizian. A lonely hairdresser does more than cut hair. See trailer here
— SAVE YOURSELVES! Directed by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson. Young couple shelter in the woods amidst an alien invasion. See trailer here
— TITANE, directed by Julia Ducournau. A woman’s head injury could be linked to brutal crimes. See trailer here
— WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING, directed by Sean King O’Grady. Family trapped by a tornado finds its own horrors. See trailer here
— Or write in another choice:

 9) BEST SHORT FILM

— THE BALLERINA, directed by Aaron Fradkin (8 mins). A dancer is haunted by her reflection. See film here
— BRACKISH, directed by Christa Boarini (8 mins). A menacing spirit from the mangroves in this folktale of the Americas.  See film here
— DAWN OF THE ATOMIC BEAST, directed by William Turner  (11 mins). Send up of 1950s 3-D, bubbles included. See film here
— GOOD HEAD, directed by Matt Servitto (29 mins) Getting fitted for a prop movie head goes horribly wrong. See trailer here

— THE GUEST: A Lockdown Story, directed by Andrea Lombardo (33 mins). A man finds an intruder in his house during Covid-19. See film here
— HUNGRY JOE, directed by Paul Holbrook and Sam Dawe. About a boy who just can’t stop eating. See film here
— KOREATOWN GHOST STORY, directed by Minsun Park, Teddy Tenenbaum (15 mins). Margaret Cho stars in tale of macabre marriage rituals. See film here
— THE MOST HAUNTED HOUSE IN VENICE BEACH, directed by Ansel Faraj (17 mins). A haunting memory of L.A. Venice Beach. See film here

— A NIGHTMARE IN THE SHOWER, directed by Shane and Aylward (19 mins). A disability doesn’t stop battling a radioactive menace. See film here
— THE THREE MEN YOU MEET AT NIGHT, directed by Beck Kitsis (13 mins). A woman walks home and must decide among three different men. See film here
— WHO GOES THERE? Directed by Astrid Thorvaldsen (23 mins). A stranger promises help, but with a price. See trailer here
— Or write in another choice:

10) BEST DOCUMENTARY

— BORIS KARLOFF: The Man Behind the Monster, directed by Thomas Hamilton. Actor’s biography includes numerous interviews, rare audio and vintage footage beyond Frankenstein. See trailer here
— CARL LAEMMLE, directed by James L. Freedman. Exploring the founder of Universal films and his work with Jewish refugees before WW2. See trailer here
— DARK SHADOWS AND BEYOND: The Jonathan Frid Story, directed by Mary O’Leary. Interviews and personal letters trace the story of television’s favorite vampire. See trailer here
— PENNYWISE: The Story of IT, directed by John Campopiano, Chris Griffiths. Examining the original Tim Curry adaptation of the Stephen King novel. See trailer here

— THE SLEEPER MUST AWAKEN: Making Dune, directed by Daniel Griffith. Tracking various attempts and the creation of David Lynch’s 1984 version. Available on Arrow Player
— UNITED STATES OF INSANITY, directed by Tom Putnam, Brenna Sanchez. The story of horror rappers Insane Clown Posse. See trailer here
— WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED, directed by Kier-La Janisse. (Severin) More than three hours and 50 interviews exploring the special world of folk horror. See trailer here
— Or write in another choice:

11) BOOK OF THE YEAR (non-fiction)
Note: Listed prices are often discounted.

— ALWAYS THE BRIDE: A Biography of Elsa Lanchester, by Victoria Worsley (BearManor Media, hardcover, 276 pages, $35). Owning a nightclub, marriage to Charles Laughton and, of course, screen immortality.
— BECOMING DRACULA: The Early Years of Bela Lugosi, Vols. 1 and 2, by Gary D. Rhodes and Bill Kaffenberger (BearManor Media, softcover, 447/436 pages, $38/$36) New revelations about Lugosi’s challenging journey to what became his signature role.
— BEHIND THE KAIJU CURTAIN, A Journey Onto Japan’s Biggest Film Sets, by Norman England (Aiwa Books, softcover, 250 pages, $27.99). A look at the Japanese movie industry, including the sets of Godzilla and Gamera.
— THE BODY SNATCHER: Cold-Blooded Murder, Robert Louis Stevenson, and the Making of a Horror Film Classic, by Scott Allen Nollen with Gregory William Mank (BearManor Media, softcover, 252 pages, $25). From Burke and Hare to Karloff/Lugosi.
— BORIS KARLOFF: The Man Remembered, by Gordon B. Shriver (BearManor Media, hardcover, 234 pages, $35) Revised and expanded biography includes numerous interviews with Karloff co-stars.
— THE BUCKEROO BANZAI COLLECTORS’ COMPENDIUM, by DeWayne Todd (Independent, softcover, 162 pages, $30). All about the marketing and promotional items surrounding the 1984 cult classic.

— THE CAREER THAT DRIPPED WITH HORROR, by John Stanley (Independent, softcover, 254 pages, $23.99). Hundreds of photos, interviews (Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, Carrie Fisher, others), and remembrances from West Coast’s second Creature Features host.
— CHANEY’S BABY: Lon Jr., The Wolf Man, 1948, and the End of a Dream, by Bill Fleck (Independent, softcover, 226 pages, $9.99). Triumphs, tragedy and report of a suicide attempt.
— CREEPY BITCHES: Essays on Horror from Women in Horror, by Alyse Wax and Rebekah McKendry (BearManor Media, softcover, 204 pages, $25). Actresses, scholars and writers explore the world of the feminine fantastique.
— DAMN DIRTY GEEKS: Talk Among Us (Independent, softcover, 264 pages, $33). Podcast veterans Jack Bennett, Frank Dietz, Rob Maynard, Scott Weitz and Frank Woodward on films that inspired them.

— THE DARK SHADOWS DAYBOOK, by Patrick McCray (Independent, softcover, 252 pages, $12.99). A fresh tour of the key moments in the eternal saga of the Collins Family.
— ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK: The Official Story of the Film, by John Walsh (Titan, hardcover, 160 pages, $47.99) Retrospective of 1981 film includes unseen artwork.
— FROM THE INNER MIND … TO THE OUTER LIMITS: Scripts of Joseph Stefano, Volume 1, edited by Dave Rash (Gauntlet Press, hardcover, 529 pages, $60) Scripts for six teleplays, plus two never produced episodes.
— THE GIALLO CANVAS: Art, Excess and Horror Cinema, by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas (McFarland, paperback, 258 pages, $45) How art and artists energize a murderous genre.
— GLAMOUR GHOUL: The Passions and Pain of the Real Vampira, Maila Nurmi, by Sandra Niemi (Feral House, softcover, 400 pages, $21.95). A photo-filled biography by Vampira’s niece.

— THE GREAT WAR and the Golden Age of Hollywood Horror, by R. Bruce Crelin (Midnight Marquee, softcover, 324 pages, $30). How WWI shaped the careers of James Whale, R.C. Sherriff, and J.B. Priestley and early horror cinema.
— HERE THERE BE MONSTERS, by Bryan Senn (BearManor Media, softcover, 476 pages, $47). Interviews and essays from Universal to Hammer and beyond.
— HOSTED HORROR ON TELEVISION: The Films and Faces of Shock Theater, Creature Features and Chiller Theater, by Bruce Markusen (McFarland, softcover, 251 pages, $39.95).Tracing the rise of late night ghoulish comforts.
— LANDIS: The Story of a Real Man on 42^nd Street, by Preston Fassel (Encyclopocalyp[se Publications, softcover, 148 pages, $9.99). The life and tragic legacy of the founder of Sleazoid Express.
— SCRIPTS FROM THE CRYPT Vol. 11: Mr. Sardonicus, edited by Tom Weaver (BearManor Media, softcover, 290 pages, $30). Close-up look at the Ray Russell/William Castle classic.

— SMOKE AND MIRRORS: Special Visual Effects B.C. (Before Computers), by Mark D. Wolf (BearManor Media, softcover, 272 pages, $43). A behind-the-scenes look at how movies made you believe before the days of CGI.
— TERENCE FISHER: Master of Gothic Cinema, by Tony Dalton (Fab Press, softcover, 504 pages, $34.95). An authorized biography of the Hammer director who sparked the second wave of classic horror.
— UNHOLY COMMUNION: Alice, Sweet Alice, From Script to Screen, by Troy Howarth (BearManor Media, hardcover, 304 pages, $39.95). The making of Brooke Shields’1976 debut.
— UNIVERSAL ‘40s MONSTERS: A Critical Commentary, by John T. Soister (BearManor Media, hardcover, 798 pages, $52) A huge exploration of the studio’s sometimes overlooked 1940s horrors.

— UNTOLD HORROR, by Dave Alexander (Dark Horse, hardcover, 152 pages, $39.99). Interviews with top directors about horror films that were never made.
— WARPED & FADED: Weird Wednesday and the Birth of the American Genre Film Archive, by Lars Nilsen, edited by Kier-La Janisse (Mondo, softcover, 416 pages. $35). How Austin’s Alamo Drafthouse sparked a two-decade restoration effort of near-forgotten films.:
— WHEN DRACULA MET FRANKENSTEIN: My Years Making Drive-In Movies with Al Adamson, by Sam Sherman (Independent, softcover, 378 pages, $29.95). Tales from the bargain side of filmmaking.
— YOURS CRUELLY, ELVIRA Memories of the Mistress of the Dark, by Cassandra Peterson (Hachette Books, hardcover, 304 pages, $29). Horror host’s personal and newsmaking autobiography.
— Or write in another choice:

12) BEST CLASSIC HORROR FICTION (Fiction that uses horror icons as jumping off points)

— ATTACK FROM THE ‘80s, edited by Eugene Johnson (Raw Dog Screaming Press, hardcover, 266 pages, $39.95). More than 20 gnarly tales of video monsters and more.
— BELA LUGOSI’S DEAD, by Robert Guffey (Macabre Ink, softcover, 264 pages, $17.99). A search for the lost Lugosi test footage from Frankenstein leads to an impossible choice.
— THE CLASSIFIED DOSSIER: SHERLOCK HOLMES & COUNT DRACULA, by Christian Klaver (Titan Books, hardcover, 432 pages, $19.99) The endless vampire and the Great Detective must join forces to defeat a fierce enemy.
— DRACULA NEVER DIES: The Revenge of Bela Vorlock, by Christopher R. Gauthier (Independent, softcover, 297 pages, $15). Alternate take on the life of a horror star from the 1930s to the 1950s.

— DRACULA OF TRANSYLVANIA, by Ricardo Delgado (Clover Press, hardcover, 560 pages, $45). An expansive retelling of the Bram Stoker classic, with illustrations.
— THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP, by Grady Hendrix (Berkley, hardcover, 352 pages, $26). A secret group of survivors must fight yet again.
— HORSEMAN: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow, by Christina Henry (Berkley, hardcover, 315 pages, $17). Villagers wave off the legend of a headless horseman as a myth. But then …

— THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF FOLK HORROR, edited by Stephen Jones (Skyhorse, softcover, 552 pages, $16.99). Anthology of old and new tales of what lurks in the darkness.
— MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW, by Stephen Graham Jones (Gallery/Saga Press. Hardcover, 416 pages, $26.99). A woman’s reverence for horror films becomes so intense that she hopes a slasher will come to town.
— THE PASSION OF THE MUMMY, by Frank J. Dello Stritto (Cult Movies Press, hardcover, 503 pages, $31). A fictional wrapping of the Mummy’s various incarnations, from Universal’s ancient Egypt to Hammer’s modern times.

— THIS THING OF DARKNESS, by K.V. Turley and Fiorella De Maria (Ignatius, softcover, 260 pages, $16.95). A fanciful interview with Bela Lugosi in 1956 leads a reporter to dark places.
— TURNING THE TIED, edited by Jean Rabe, Robert Greenberger (International Association Media Tie-in Writers, softcover, 453 pages, $19.99). Sherlock, Dracula, Frankenstein all figure in collection of stories by Max Allan Collins, Jonathan Maberry, Stephen D. Sullivan and others.
— Or write in another choice:

13) BEST MAGAZINE OF 2021

— Bare*Bones
— Cinema Retro (UK)
— Classic Monsters of the Movies (UK)
— The Dark Side (UK)
— Delirium
— Fangoria

— Filmfax
— Freaky Monsters
— G-Fan
— HorrorHound
— Horror Scholar Journal
— Infinity (UK)
— Little Shoppe of Horrors
— Mad Scientist

— Monster Bash
— Retro Fan
— Rue Morgue
— Scary Monsters
— Scream (UK)
— Screem
— Shock Cinema
— We Belong Dead (UK)
— Or write in another choice:

14) BEST ARTICLE (Please select two; one will win)

— ‘Child of Dark Shadows,’ by Kathryn Leigh Scott, FANGORIA #11. The disappearance and return of her soap opera co-star.
— ‘Christopher Lee’s Euro-Horrors,’ by John Martin, THE DARK SIDE #221. How the actor’s European projects helped define him as a horror icon.
— ‘Confessions of a VHS Box Thief,’ by Tomasz Ryan, SCARY MONSTERS #120. The thrill and guilt of stealing empty videotape boxes in the 1980s.
— ‘Dario’s Deep Designer Deaths,’ by Ian Taylor, WE BELONG DEAD #29. Argento’s murders were always in the most elegant settings.
— ‘A Dinosaur in New York,’ by Mike Hankin, INFINITY #36. Harryhausen expert on the making of Beast From 20,000 Fathoms.

— ‘Dracula’s House of Science,’ by Mark C. Glassy, SCARY MONSTERS #122-123. Was curing the monsters medical science or Universal quackery
— ‘The Ferrymen (and Women) of Fright,’ by David Dastmalchian. FANGORIA #11. Why horror hosts matter.
— ‘Filming Nemo,’ by Gregory Kulon, INFINITY #39. A deep dive into the earliest versions of Mysterious Island and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
— ‘Haunted Houses for Dummies,’ by George Humenik, SCARY MONSTERS #123. What makes an effective cinema haunted house.

— ‘Horror Business,’ by Rodrigo Gudino and Andrea Subissati, RUE MORGUE #200. Retracing the history of horror journalism and Canada’s long-running magazine.
— Horror Heads: The Men Who Ran Hammer,’ by Denis Meikle, THE DARK SIDE #216-218. Profile of James Carreras, Anthony Hinds and others.
— ‘In Search of the Elusive Monsters of Denis Gifford,’ by Alan Tromp, WE BELONG DEAD #28. A young man’s quest to see films mentioned in Gifford’s Pictorial History guide.
— ‘I Was a Middle-Aged Werewolf,’ by Paul Davis, FANGORIA #12. Up close with the transformation in An American Werewolf in London.

— ‘Karloff’s Monster or Lee’s Creature,’ by Nige Burton, CLASSIC MONSTERS OF THE MOVIES ANNUAL 2021. Comparing the two classic portrayals of Mary Shelley’s creation.
— ‘Kong ’76 at 45,’ by John Hovey, G-FAN #132. Reassessing the controversial remake.
— ‘Legend of a Blood Countess: The Legacy of Daughters of Darkness,’ by Kat Ellinger, SCREAM #69. How The Vampire Lovers proved not only Dracula can rule the night.
— ‘London After … No, the Remake,’ by Matthew E. Banks, WE BELONG DEAD #30. Re-examining Tod Browning’s Mark of the Vampire.

— ‘Lugosi’s Awful Doctor Orloff,’ by Brian J. Robb, THE DARK SIDE #223. Censors just one of the challenges in the making of The Dark Eyes of London.
— ‘Monsters on Parade,’ by Martin Arlt, MAD SCIENTIST #34. All about Toho’s kaiju celebration, Destroy All Monsters.
— ‘More Than a Normal Person Can Endure,’ by Jon Towlson, THE DARK SIDE #222. The makings and restorations of Doctor X and Mystery of the Wax Museum.
— ‘Of Monsters and Magic,’ by Michael Mezmer, SCARY MONSTERS #121-122. Magicians and charlatans in the horror films.

— ‘The Overlooked Library,’ by Don D’Ammassa, bare*bones #6. Unearthing the Hammer ‘Omnibus’ collections which adapted the studio’s horror classics.
— ‘Reflections of Fear: The Making of The Gorgon,’ by Joshua Kennedy, LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS #47.
— ‘Michael Ripper: Hammer’s Most Prolific Star,’ by Alex Hopkins, CLASSIC MONSTERS OF THE MOVIES #24. Career-spanning look at Hammer’s versatile actor.
— ‘No Death, Only Change,’ by Frank Dello Stritto, SCARY MONSTERS #121. Reincarnation in film goes far beyond the mummy films.

— ‘Repairing Lon Chaney Jr.’s Legacy,’ by David Rosler, filmsinreview.com A director questions the drunk-on-set reputation of the horror star.
— ‘Sam Katzman’s Cold War Creatures,’ by Stephen Bissette, SCREEM #39, An examination of the  paranoia and memorable images in Katzman’s 1950s sci-fi thrillers.
— ‘Say Her Name,’ Natalie Erika James, FANGORIA #12. How director Nia Dacosta guided Candyman through the pandemic.
— ‘The Secret History of Godzilla vs. Kong,’ by John LeMay, G-FAN #133. The legal and production hurdles faced by the 2021 epic.
— ‘Storm Clouds Over Collinwood,’ by Rod Labbe, THE DARK SIDE #219. A fan’s personal encounters with the Dark Shadows phenomenon.

— ‘Suspiria Retrospective,’ by Aaron AuBuchon, HORRORHOUND #90. Both versions of the giallo classic.
— ‘Twisted Roots of Folk Horror,’ by Andrea Subissati, RUE MORGUE #202. Examining the enduring power of folk legends in Severin’s major box set.
— ‘A Weekend with Barbara: A Tribute to Barbara Shelley,’ by Stephen Laws, LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS #46. Recalling a 25-year friendship with  late horror queen.
— ‘Who Will Be His Bride Tonight: The Making of Horror of Dracula,’ by Bruce G. Hallenbeck, LITTLE SHOPPE OF HORRORS #46. Extensive look behind the scenes of one of horror’s most important films (including more than a dozen artist interpretations).

— ‘Willis O’Brien: Triumph, Tragedy, and the Son of Kong, Parts 1-3’ by Greg Kulon, FILMFAX #157-159. Family nightmare that haunted O’Brien and production.
— ‘Woman Without a Soul: The Scandalous Second Life of 1914’s Lola,’ by Kelly Robinson, SCARY MONSTERS #122. One of the first film’s about a life restored.
— Or write in another choice:
(You can vote for two in the above category)

15) BEST INTERVIEW

— Axelle Carolyn (director, The Manor), by Chris Alexander. DELIRIUM #29.
— Elvira (Cassandra Peterson), by Sam Irvin, THE DARK SIDE #222.
— William Friedkin (The Exorcist), by Tony Earnshaw, THE DARK SIDE #223.
— Halloween Kills (cast and crew), by Jessica Dwyer, HORRORHOUND #91
— Brett Halsey (actor), by Paul Amundsen (FILMFAX #159-160)
— Kier-La Janisse (director, Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched), by Jay Kay. HORROR HOUND #91.

— Jared Krichensky (designer of latest MegaGodzilla) by Colin McMahon, G-FAN #132/
— Lynne Lugosi Sparks (Lugosi’s granddaughter), by Don Smeraldi, SCARY MONSTERS #120.
— Ve Neill (makeup artist), by Meredith Borders, FANGORIA #10
— Ron Oliver (director of Prom II and III), by Michael Varrati, FANGORIA #10

— Lara Parker (actress on Dark Shadows), by Rod Labbe, RETROFAN #17.
— Daniel Roebuck (about The Munsters), by William Wright, ruemorgue.com
— Martin Stephens (child in Village of Damned), by Calum Waddell,  DARK SIDE #220.
— Oliver Stone (about his horror influences), by Michael Doyle, RUE MORGUE #200.
— Or write in another choice:

16) Best Column

— Asylum for the Psychotronic, by Ansel Faraj in WE BELONG DEAD
— Emma Dark’s Dark Corner, WE BELONG DEAD
— Deep Focus, by John-Paul Checkett, SCREEM
— Devil’s in the Details, by Stacey Ponder, RUE MORGUE
— Exordium, by Michael Gingold, FANGORIA
— Files from the Black Museum, by Paul Corupe, RUE MORGUE
— Grey Matters, by Richard J. Schellbach, Mondo Cult Online
— It Came from Bowen’s Basement, John Bowen, RUE MORGUE

— Kaiju Korner, by Mike Bogue, SCARY MONSTERS
— The Nasty Files by Iain Todd, SCREAM
— Kim Newman’s Dungeon, THE DARK SIDE
— Overlooked in Hollywood by Laura Wagner, FILMS OF THE GOLDEN AGE
— Ralph’s One & Only Traveling Reviews, by Richard Klemensen, LITTLE SHOPPE OF      HORRORS
— R&D, David J. Schow, BARE*BONES

— Rondo Remembers, by Ron Adams, MONSTER BASH
— Scene Queen, by Barbara Crampton, FANGORIA
— Strange Days by Jason Strangis, SCARY MONSTERS
— Trilogy of Terror by Jim Ivers, SCARY MONSTERS
— They Came from the Krypt, by Jon Kitley, HORRORHOUND
— Or write in another choice:

>> VOTING CLOSED VOTING CLOSED <<

17) BEST MAGAZINE COVER

bare*bones#6 Design by John Scoleri	Classic Monsters of the Movies #25 by Daniel Horne
The Dark Side #222 by Rick Melton	Delirium #27 by Ryan Brookhart

Fangoria #13 Design by Jason Kauzlarich	Fantastique Vintage Vol. 1 by John Capone
Filmfax #158 by Alex Schomburg in 1947	G-Fan #131 By Todd Tennant

HorrorHound #90 by Nathan Hanneman and Joel Robinson	Little Shoppe of Horrors #46 by Mark Maddox
Mad Scientist #34 by Jeff Zonow	Monster Bash #43 by Daniel Horne

Scary Monsters #124 by Scott Jackson

Rue Morgue #202 by John Pearson	Scream #64 Design by Imran Kelly
Screem #39 by Mark Maddox	We Belong Dead #30 by Brux

18) Best Website of 2021

— Anatomy of a Scream Horror from an inclusive perspective.
— BlackHorrorMovies   Too long ignored, revelations abound.
— Bloodbath and Beyond  Reviews, interviews, and unboxings.
— Bloody Disgusting  Tracking the latest across all horror platforms.
— Bloody Pit of Rod   Musings on monsters and horror.
— Collinsport Historical Society  Barnabas shall never die.

— Confessions of a Cineslut  Kat Ellinger explores the rare and unusual.
— Count Gore De Vol’s Creature Feature Dungeon offers films, interviews, contests.
— David’s Basement of the Bizarre  Just about every horror need.
— Diabolique  Online magazine includes Daughters of Darkness.
— Dinosaur Dracula A wild take on monsters and mayhem.
— Don O’Malley’s Breakfast Serial Show Vintage serials, some quite rare.

— Dread Central Horror’s front page.
— Dr. Gangrene’s Mad Blog  Deep dives into old horrors.
— Final Girl  Stacie Ponder’s cinema survival guide.
— The Frankenstein Lens  Monster scholarship, unseen photos and fun.

— Hanging with Doctor Z Dana Gould, in full Dr. Zaius makeup, interviews guests.
— The Homicidal Homemaker Where home economics meets horror.
— Horror Obsessive Genres, subgenres and more.
— It Came From … Musings from nostalgia curator David Weiner
— Latarnia Fantastique Euro and world horrors.
— Mondo Cult  Horror is just the beginning.
— Mondo Movie Massacre YouTube channel of Chicago Psychotronic Film Society.

— The Monster Channel Horror hosts and their movies, 24/7.
— Monster Manor Interviews and more with Boris.
— Noonan’s Sci-Fi Fun Club A fresh Facebook take on classic films.
— OSI74 Homebase for horror hosts old and new.
— Ravenous Monster Devouring all things monstrous.
— Ray Castile’s Basement of Horror All about the toys of yesterday and today.

— Scared Silly  Paul Castiglia’s tribute to classic horror comedies.
— Screaming Soup Animated reviews and madness.
— Trailers from Hell Joe Dante and friends talk over vintage trailers.
— Universal Horror & Classic Creatures A Facebook page with rare photos and more.
— Universal Monster Army  Ultimate destination for models, toys, collectibles.
— Video WatchBlog  Tim Lucas on the magic of cinema, music and life.
— The Vortexx  A gathering of horror hosts.
— Or write in another choice:

19) Best Podcast

— B-Movie Cast Long-running podcast still going strong.
— Borgo Pass Horror Podcast Universal horrors discussed in detail.
— Colors of the Dark  Rebekah McKendry and Elric Kane celebrate latest horror releases.
— Classic Horrors Club Deep discussions of Golden Age classics.
— Cult Radio a Go-Go  Pioneers of the horror-talk genre.
— DieCast Movie Podcast Steven Turek and friends dissect films old and new.

— Eye on Horror Writers from ihorror.com talk news and reviews.
— The Eldritch Review Discusses horror from the 1920s-1940s ‘and beyond.’
— The Evolution of Horror  Podcasts trace the roots and evolution of horror.
— Faculty of Horror Hosted by Andrea Subissati and Alexandra West
— Frankenstein Minute   Podcast now dissecting SON (1939) minute by minute.

— Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast Talk about monsters and creepy Hollywood.
— Horror Movie Podcast ‘Dead serious’ about horror.
— Literary License Podcast  Tracing the journeys from book to screen.
— Made for TV Mayhem Amanda Reyes tunes in television terror.
— Midnight Mass Cult films from an inclusive point of view.

— Monster Attack  Jim Adams’s podcast focuses on classic monster movies.
— Monster Kid Radio Derek Koch and guests discuss classic horrors.
— Monster Party Always something different when it comes to horror talk.
— Monsters By The Minute Season One Bill Mize tracks The Mummy.
— The Movie Crypt  Adam Green, Joe Lynch offer artist-to-artist’ talks.
— Naschycast  Troy Guinn, Rod Barnett discuss the films of Paul Naschy.
— Obscurities Debbie Rochon hosts talk of the odd and unreal.

— Post Mortem with Mick Garris Interviews with top fantasy creators.
— Ray Harryhausen Podcast Latest from the Ray Harryhausen Foundation.
— Record All Monsters  Robert Kelly heads discussions of kaiju and more.
— Steve & Crypto Show  On-the-news monster and pop culture talk.
— Terror at Collinwood Horror host Penny Dreadful dissects the series.
— Twilight Zone Podcast  There’s the podcast up ahead.
— Or write in another choice:

20) BEST EVENTS OF 2021

— AFTERNOON OF LIVING DEAD: Despite Covid and bomb scare, cast members from Night of the Living Dead appear at first CHILLER EXPO in two years.
— AX WOUND VIRTUAL FILM FESTIVAL: Nine days of panels, short films and audience participation.
— BOND CARS IN ATLANTA: Full-size replicas of James Bond cars on display at MONSTERAMA’s SpyCon2
— CREEPSHOW CREATORS: The Walking Dead’s executive producer Greg Nicotero and writer Frank Dietz preview Creepshow at WONDERFEST.

— A DARK SHADOWS CHRISTMAS CAROL: Collinsport Theatre of the Airwaves streams a reading by original cast members, including Lara Parker, Kathryn Leigh Scott, David Selby.
— HEATHER BUCKLEY HONORED: Film producer, writer and preservationist named ‘Patron of the Cinema’ by New York City’s Winter Film Awards.
— LIVE AT THE BASH: Authors Greg Mank (Werewolf of London), Frank Dello Stritto (Wizard of Oz), lecture at the Monster Bash.

— MICHAEL ROOKER in Hawaiian shirt takes charge during Q&A at HORRORHOUND WEEKEND in Cincinnati.
— MISKATONIC INSTITUTE OF HORROR STUDIES: Online studies of Hammer, voodoo, makeup and more from New York, Los Angeles and London.
— NIGHTMARE IN HUNT VALLEY: Robert Englund heads up Nightmare on Elm Street panel at MONSTER MANIA.
— PLAN 9 TABLE READ: SF Sketchfest/TCM present online reading with Bob Odenkirk, Bobcat Goldthwait, Dana Gould (as Criswell), Laraine Newman, David Koechner, others.

— RAISING THE DEAD: Virtual talk from University of Pittsburgh exploring George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead archives.
— SERLINGFEST: Daughter Anne Serling, expert Marc Zicree and others at Twilight Zone celebration in Binghamton, NY, Rod Serling’s home town.
— TALKING KONG: Expert Steve Vertlieb appears on Classic Movies with Ron McCloskey to discuss King Kong and gorillas in cinema.
— THE TRANSGRESSIVE URGE: Horror and Taboo in the 21^st Century. An online panel from FANTASIA 2021, hosted by Heather Buckley, with Douglas E. Winter, David J. Schow, Stephen Bissette, Christina Ward, David Kerekes and John Skipp.

— UNIVERSAL MONSTER PARTY: Scholar David J. Skal, horror host John Stanley celebrate Dracula’s 90^th anniversary at Orinda Theatre in California.
— THE WHISPERER IN DARKNESS: Live/virtual show off-Broadway by RadiotheatreNYC.
— WOMEN IN HORROR: Female Perspective. Online panel at Beyond Fest hosted by Clarke Wolfe, with Gigi Saul Guerrero, Axelle Carolyn, Marcella Ochoa, Lisa Bruce, Maritte Lee.
— Or write in another choice:

21) FAVORITE HORROR HOSTS OF 2021

— Al Omega (Creature Features)
— Arachna of the Spider People (Beware Theatre)
— Baron Mondo, El Sapo and Mittens (Nightmare Theatre)
— Big Chuck and Lil John (Cleveland)
— Bobby Gammonster (MonsterMovieNight)
— Bone Jangler and Nocturna (The Monster Show)

— Count Gore DeVol (Creature Feature)
— Deadwest (Screaming Soup)
— Drac and Countess Carita (Transylvania Tonight)
— Dr. Dread (John Murray)
— Dr. Fearless (David Dastmalchian)
— Dr. Gangrene (Cinetarium)

— Elvira (40^th Anniversary on Shudder)
— Gruesome Graves (Haunted Hotel)
— Halloween Jack (Haunted Theatre)
— Igorro (The Igorro Show)
— Ivonna Cadaver (Macabre Theatre)
— Joe Bob Briggs and Darcy the Mail Girl (Last Drive-In on Shudder)

— Karlos Borloff (Monster Madhouse)
— Lamia, Queen of the Dark (Horror Hotel)
— Lilith Von Bloodworth (Mondo Creepy TV)
— Lord Blood-Rah (Nerve Wrackin’ Theatre)
— Marlena Midnight (Midnight Mausoleum)
— Miss Misery (Movie Massacre)
— Mr. Lobo (Cinema Insomnia)

— Penny Dreadful (Shilling Shockers)
— The Mummy and the Monkey (Hairy Scary Hangout)
— Ritch & Triv (The Midnight Movie)
— Son of Ghoul (Ohio)

— Svengoolie (Me-TV)
— Vincent Van Dahl (Creature Features)
— Zelda, Bird & Theo (Off-Beat Cinema)
— Or write in another choice:

22) Best Graphic Novels/Collections of 2021

— THE ART OF ENRIC (FPG). Collection of Enric Torres-Prat’s work in comics, paperbacks, and magazines.
— THE AUTUMNAL: The Complete Series, by Daniel Krause and Chris Shehan (Vault). A daughter returns to the horrors of home.
— CLAN OF THE DEVIL: The Sawney Beane Saga, by Maurice Devereaux, and various artists. (clanofthedevil.com). Scotland’s secret cannibal cabal.
— THE COVERS OF EERIE PUBLICATION (Gwandanaland) The grisly covers of the company’s black-and-white horror magazines of the 1960s and beyond.
— CULT OF DRACULA Collected Edition, by Rich Davis (Source Point Press). A modern take on a timeless legend.

— DAMNED, CURSED, CHILDREN Vol. 1, by Howard Wong, Josh Stafford, Robin Simon Ng (Source Point). An unthinkable dilemma: Children on a murderous rampage.
— A DISGUSTING SUPERMARKET OF DEATH, by James C. Harberson III (Margosia). Collected stories of comedy, horror and madness.

— THE EPIC ART OF JOE SMITH, by Gary Gerani (Dreams and Visions). Poster artist who ranged from Dinsey to Gorgo concepts.
— THE ICE CREAM MAN, Vol. 6: Just Desserts, by W. Maxwell Prince, Martin Morazzo (Image) A ringing bell signals tales of the bizarre and bitter sweet.
— JOHN CARPENTER’S TALES FOR A HALLOWEEN NIGHT, VOL. 7, edited by Sandy King. (Storm King, softcover). Variety of creators offer chilling stories.

— LUGOSI: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s Dracula, by Koren Shadmi (Life Drawn). Fact-based graphic novel interpolation of Lugosi’s life and challenges.
— LUX ET UMBRA: The Monster Sketch Art of Frederick Cooper (Nitt & JibJib, softcover, 100 pages, $24.95). Black and white renditions of classic monsters, introduction by Joe Jusko.
— MARK SPEARS MONSTER TRADING CARDS (Spears Art) Painted cards feature 72 monsters.
— MONSTERS, by Barry Windsor-Smith (Fantagraphics). A collection of horror and grotesques, but family, too.

— NORSE MYTHOLOGY, Vol. 1, by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell, Mike Mignola, Jill Thompson, Jerry Ordway (Dark Horse). Legends of northern gods brought to life.
— AN OLD SCHOOL HALLOWEEN, by Jason Young (Oldtimes). History of Halloween costumes, toys and art.
— SHUDDER (Warrant). The renamed Creeps magazine carries on the tradition of EC and Warren horror.
— SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN, Vol. 3, by James Tynion IV, Werther Delledera (Boom!) Some monsters hide in plain sight.
— THOUGHTFUL CREATURES, by Steve Bissette. A 120-page sketchbook from the artist of Swamp Thing and others.
— Or write in another choice:

                                              WRITE-IN CATEGORIES

23) WRITER OF THE YEAR (Whose work stood out in 2021?)

24) BEST ARTIST OF 2021

25) BEST FAN ARTIST OF 2021 (The Linda Miller Award)

SPECIAL CATEGORIES: Your votes will help determine who receives these special awards:

26) MONSTER KID OF THE YEAR
This is Rondo’s highest honor: Who did the most in 2021 to advance the cause of classic horror scholarship, film preservation or genre creativity?

27) SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Who deserves recognition for achievements that may have been overlooked or don’t fit into other categories?
 

28) THE MONSTER KID HALL OF FAME
Name as many as six fans, pros, writers, artists, researchers, horror hosts or others who over the years have made a permanent mark on the world of classic horror appreciation.

See full list of Hall of Famers here.

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Whew! That’s it. If you’ve gotten this far you are a true Monster Kid.

>> VOTING CLOSED VOTING CLOSED <<

— VOTING TIPS: You can copy this ballot into an email and make your selections with an X, or in bold, or by highlight.  We know the ballot is awkward but a cut-and-paste into an email works fine. Or you can simply type your choices into the email.

— Remember, you do NOT have to vote in every category, and given this crazy year, write-ins are welcome.

Thanks to everyone for their patience. Please stay behind the mask until you feel things are safe again, and congratulations especially to all the nominees!

Rondo Awards copyright 2022 by David Colton