After a Spring hiatus, Byrd and Matt come back to discuss Jurassic World Rebirth, the newest entry in the Jurassic Park franchise directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla 2014, Monsters, Star Wars: Rogue One).  This entry follows a group of mercenaries (led by Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali) tasked with gathering dino DNA for medical research by going to an island used for genetic experimentation.  Along the way they meet up with a family they save during a Mosasaur attack.  We discuss an endless amount of dinosaur chase sequences, the rushed production of the film, Snickers wrappers, Lays potato chips, and the death of the "director as auteur" in blockbuster film making.  So how does this one compare to the last few entries?  Listen and find out!  

Byrd, Tom, Kevin and Trev discuss a trio of tokusatsu superhero films from acclaimed director Takashi Miike (Great Yokai War, Ultraman Max, Audition, Ichi the Killer).  First we have 2004's Zebraman, a parody of Japanese superhero shows that sees a father in a mid life crisis take up the mantle of the titular character to fight crime and fend off an alien invasion.  We then move onto 2010's gonzo sequel set in a dystopian future where Zebraman must face off against a power hungry pop singer.  We cap things off by discussing his 2009 adaptation of the popular anime series Yatterman, about a pair of superheroes and their giant robot dog who thwart the evil plans of the Donboro gang.  But first, Byrd reviews the recent official Godzilla Pop Up Book from Simon and Schuster Publishing.  Relax and join the discussion!

Byrd, Matt, Lux and Kevin discuss Shinji Higuchi's recent Netflix film Bullet Train Explosion.  Higuchi's latest revamp of an old tokusatsu IP is a remake/sequel to Toei's 1975 classic disaster film The Bullet Train.  Like its predecessor, the story revolves around a bomb on a bullet train, which will explode if the train slows down under 100kph.  Show how does Higuchi's latest fare in comparison to the original film and his other recent tokusatsu reboots?  Listen and find out!

Byrd and Matt reach back down into the bottom of the barrell to discuss three obscure recent King Kong knock-offs from China, made to cash in on the recent Monsterverse films.  In recent years, China has been churning out dozens and dozens of low budget straight to TV/streaming cheapie creature features.  For this episode we'll discuss 2021's Monster Island, 2023's King Kong vs Giant Serpent (aka Battle of Snakes), and 2024's KingKong is Coming Back.  In addition to offering our thoughts on the films, we also talk about China's recent b-movie boom.  Relax and enjoy the discussion!

Back from the holiday break, Byrd and Matt set their sights on Ray Harryhausen's classic series of Sinbad films; the 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1957), the Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973) and Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977) are still among the most celebrated fantasy films of all time.  After getting tired of monsters tearing down landmarks, stop motion animator Ray Harryhausen decided to make a different kind of monster movie by drawing inspiration from the Arabian Nights folktales of Sinbad, a sailor who would go on swashbuckling adventures and fight monsters, sorcerers and more.  We discuss the history of these influential films, and discuss how they hold up all these years later.  We talk Cyclops, dragons, centaurs, troglodytes, and more!  Relax and enjoy the conversation!

Byrd sits down with author Joseph Palinkas to discuss his new book, the History of Carnosaur.  The book covers the history of the  franchise, which was launched by Roger Corman to cash in on Jurassic Park.  We talk about the conception of the book, the background of the Carnosaur films, living through the post-Jurassic Park dino-boom of the 90s, the complicated rights issues keeping the films from rediscovery, differences between the film and the original Carnosaur novel and how we feel the films hold up today.  Relax and join the conversation!

Byrd, Lux, and Kevin nurse their Halloween hangover with another episode covering everyone's favorite yokai boy-hero Kitaro!  The long running franchise created by Shigeru Mizuki catapulted Japan's folkloric creatures into pop culture and still runs strong to this day.  We look at another sampling of GeGeGe No Kitaro material from over the years.  We discuss the first two episodes of the 1970s anime series, 2008's film Japan Explodes, and 2023's prequel film The Mystery of GeGeGe.  We discuss how the franchise has changed over the years, the lack of Kitaro media in the States, and what happens when someone spills their Game of Thrones in our Kitaro.  Relax and enjoy the conversation!

Byrd, Trev, Lux and Kevin take a deep dive into Sadako's well to discuss the first four Japanese theatrical films in the Ring franchise: Ring (1998), Spiral (1998), Ring 2 (1999) and Ring 0: Birthday (2000).  In addition to a lively talk about all four films and the film makers involved, we discuss the origins of the series as a series of novels by Koji Suzuki, the birth of the J-Horror boom at the turn of the century, and how the Ring franchise became a global phenomenon, making Sadako one of the most iconic movie monsters of all time.  So kick back, enjoy the conversation and try to pass this podcast to someone else within 7 days!

Our October horror shows roll on as Byrd, Tom, and Kevin are joined by Chris Marti (musician alias "Cosmic Monster" and co-writer of The Author vs. the Werewolf) to discuss the fantasy/horror of Wicked City!  Based on a series of novels by Hideyuki Kikuchi (Vampire Hunter D), Wicked City is about the rift between humanity and a secret society of interdimensional demons.  We start with 1987's cult classic anime film from Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Ninja Scroll, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust) and move onto 1992's live action version produced in Hong Kong (co-produced by Toho).  Both adaptations are bonkers, so we have a lot to discuss including the anime's problematic sexual politics, phallic tentacle creatures, spider women, handover era Hong Kong cinema, sentient pinball machines, horny elevator monsters, and more.  But first, we discuss the recent passing of legendary Showa era monster maker Keizo Murase.  Relax and enjoy the conversation.

Byrd, Tom and Lux are back to take a look at the 1982 semi-obscurity The House Where Evil Dwells. This haunted house shocker is a co-production made with assistance from the legendary Toei studios. It was directed by Kevin Connor (The Land that Time Forgot) and stars Edward Albert, Susan George, and the incomparable Doug McClure. Based on an unpublished novel of the same name, it tells the story of an American family that moves to Japan and the vengeful ghosts that inhabit their house (and bodies). There's killer crabs, zen monks, Sentai on the TV, and more in this oddity that blends American and Japanese ghost movie tropes. Relax and enjoy the conversation!

Byrd, Tom and Trev kick off our annual October horror series with the Italian creature feature Alien From the Deep, directed by Antonio Margheriti (Cannibal Apocalypse).  Although seemingly made to cash-in on both Aliens and the Abyss, the actual plot is anything but.  It tells the story of some Greenpeace activists who attempt to expose a corporation for illegally dumping radioactive waste into a nearby volcano.  But the radiation has attracted a giant alien who has started wreaking havoc in the area.  We have pervy snake farmers, industrial espionage, a giant claw with a mind of its own, and some neat miniature effects in this silly 80s obscurity.  Relax and join the fun!

Byrd and Lux sit down with guitarist/vocalist Lord Kaiju, founder of the kaiju themed heavy metal band Oxygen Destroyer.  We discuss his roots as both a kaiju and metal fan, how he came up with his brand of death-thrash, the strength of the Seattle rock music scene, how the Gamera trilogy helped him, and of course their new album Guardian of the Universe (out now!). Check out Oxygen Destroyer's music and merch here: https://oxygen-destroyer.bandcamp.com/album/guardian-of-the-universe

Byrd, Kevin, Lux and Tom go back to 1996 to talk about Godzilla Returns by Marc Cerasini, the first novel in a short lived series of books by Random House.  In the mid-90s, Random House signed a deal with Toho and released books for different age groups.  This would include children's picture books, children's novels by Scott Ciencin, and young adult novels by Marc Cerasini.  Long out of print, these books have become almost a thing of myth, and have developed a nostalgic cult following over the years.  We'll talk about the first book in the line, as well as give our memories of being young Godzilla fans in the 90s, and how Godzilla merchandising has changed over the years.  So how does the first book hold up in 2024 without the nostalgia glasses on?  Listen and find out! 

Byrd, Matt, Lux and Jared discuss four British sci-fi adventure films featuring b-movie actor Doug McClure fighting all sorts of giant rubber beasts!  We discuss three Edgar Rice Burroughs adaptations from Amicus Productions- This includes the lost world dinosaur escapades The Land that Time Forgot (1974), its sequel The People That Time Forgot At the Earth's Core (1977), and the hollow earth adventure At The Earth's Core (1976).  We follow that up with the non-Amicus, non-Burroughs underwater actioner Warlords of Atlantis (1979).  All four films (from director Kevin Conner) are nostalgic cult classics to this day.  We talk Amicus history, talk derpy dinos, Caroline Munro, a hammy Peter Cushing, hypnotic bird-lizards, and more!  

Byrd, Tom, Trev and Kevin discuss the recent DC/Legendary Comics' crossover.  The mini-series, written by Brian Buccalatto (Injustice, The Flash) and drawn by Christian Duce (Detective Comics, the Flash) sees the Justice League do battle with Godzilla, King Kong, and other titans ofthe Monsterverse after some multiverse tampering from the Legion of Doom.  What happens when Superman goes up against Godzilla?  What happens when Kong gets a Green Lantern ring?  All these questions and more are answered.  We'll give our thoughts on the comic as well as talk about some behind the scenes details, Godzilla crossovers we'd like to see, and more!   Relax and enjoy the conversation.

Byrd, Matt, Kevin and Lux discuss the recent anime adaptation, Kaiju No. 8, based on the best selling manga by Naoya Matsumoto.  The show is a co production between heavy hitters like Khara, Toho, and Production I.G., and directed by Shigeyuki Miya and Tomomi Kamiya.  It tells the story of a world where giant monster attacks are a regular occurance.  One evening a small creature flies into the mouth of a kaiju cleanup crew member named Kafka, giving him the ability to transform into the half human/half kaiju hero Kaiju No. 8!  But while Kafka attempts to join the anti-kaiju Defence Force, he struggles to keep his secret as the threats get bigger and bigger.  Join us as we talk about the show, but first, we give a brief recap of G-Fest 2024!

Byrd, Kevin and Justin interview author Zack Davisson (Yurei: The Japanese Ghost, Ultimate X-Men) about his new book The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Yokai.  We get into his research method and fascination with Japanese folklore, as well as how the book came about.  We also topics such as his translation work translating Japanese manga (most notably the work of Shigeru Mizuki), his work for Marvel Comics and Lucasfilm, and his previous books about Yurei and Kaibyo (supernatural Japanese cats), whether kaiju should be considered yokai, and more!  Relax and join the conversation!The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Yokai will be available July 2, 2024 wherever books are sold.

Byrd, Matt, Kevin and Lux discuss the recent Netflix animated film, Ultraman Rising!  The first American Ultraman production in nearly 30 years follows a baseball player named Kenji who moonlights as everyone's favorite silver giant Ultraman to defend the planet from giant monsters.  One day he comes in possession of a baby monster and has to adjust his life to being the creature's parent, while the KDF science team try to hunt it down.  In addition to our review, we discuss the film's early development as a non-Ultraman story and how it fared in being updated to be Ultraman, the problem with Netflix's approach to new releases, how it works as an entry point into the franchise, and more!  So how did this entry in the long running series fare?  Listen and find out!  

Byrd, Lux and Kevin discuss the recent Netflix series, Parasyte: The Grey, (directed by Train to Busan's Yeon Sang-ho). This Korean spin-off of Hitoshi Iwaaki's classic Japanese story follows a supermarket clerk named Su-in, who is partially possessed by a parasite named Heidi, as she teams with a gangster named Kang-woo to evade the rest of the alien body snatchers, as well as The Grey, a special ops unit tasked with exterminating all parasites.  How does the show live up to the rest of the franchise?  Listen and find out!  But first, we discuss the announcement of Grant Stupore (I Am Mother) as the director of Legendary's next Godzila/Kong film, as well as the news of Toho and Korea's Wow Point collaborating on a new Human Vapor tv series.  Relax and join the conversation!

Byrd and Matt discuss the Asylum's latest monster mockbuster, Ape X Mecha Ape: New World Order.  The third film in the "Ape vs." series sees the giant ape Abraham and his mechanical doppelganger Mecha Ape go up against Kulalu, a Cthulhu knockoff summoned by a doomsday cult to wipe out humanity.  How does this compare to other Asylum efforts?  Listen and find out!  But first Matt gets us caught up with his thoughts on Godzilla x Kong and gives an update on the state of the podcast.  Listen and enjoy the show!