The Kaiju Transmissions Podcast
Kaiju Transmissions Podcast 303 episodes Nov 5, 2026
Join hosts Byrd and Matt as they discuss giant monsters, tokusatsu, and Japanese fantasy films. The show also covers related comics, cartoons, toys, and books. Episodes explore everything from Godzilla and Gamera to King Kong, Ray Harryhausen, Ultraman, and more. It offers regular conversation for fans of kaiju and tokusatsu.
Episodes
GeGeGe no Kitaro in Live Action (2007-2008)!
For Byrd, Lux, and Kevin nurse their Halloween hangover by talking about two live action films from the 00s based on the long running yokai manga, GeGeGe No Kitaro. We've done Kitaro episodes every fall, but this is our first foray into the character's live action iterations, discussing 2007's Kitaro and 2008's Kitaro and the Millennium Curse, directed by Katsuhide Motoki and starring Eiji Wentz
Dracula and Frankenstein Go To Toei!
To celebrate Halloween, Byrd, Trev, Kevin and Lux talk about Toei Animation's Tomb of Dracula (1990) (aka Dracula: Sovereign of the Damned) and Monster of Frankenstein (1991) (aka Frankenstein: Legend of Terror), both collaborations with Marvel Comics to adapt their retrospective comic books. This pair of anime TV movies would also be the first animated films based on Marvel comic books. Monster
Daiei Gothic Vol. 2- The Demon of Mt Oe (1960), The Haunted Castle (1969), The Ghost of Kasane Swamp (1970)
Byrd, Lux and Kevin discuss three more gothic horrors from Daiei Studios (recently released in the excellent Daiei Gothic Volume 2 blu-ray set from Radiance Films). Daiei would often combine the period drama and folk horror genres to create a unique brand of gothic cinema that was a staple of their output in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Here we have three more classic horror films from the studio’s glo
Hiruko the Goblin (1991)
As our October horror viewing marches forward, Byrd, Matt, Lux and Kevin disusss Shinya Tsukamoto's 1991 film, Hiruko the Goblin. After Tsukamoto had an international breakout success with his indie Tetsuo The Iron Man, he was offered a much bigger budget to helm this adaptation of Daijiro Morohoshi's Yokai Hunter manga. This is a horror-comedy is about an evil entity that possesses a schoolgirl
Dark Water (2002 + 2005 Remake)
Byrd, Matt, Lux and Kevin keep the Halloween spirit by looking at Hideo Nakata's J-horror classic, 2002's Dark Water, as well as the 2005 Hollywood remake starring Jennifer Connelly. After the success of Ring and the global explosion of Japanese horror, Kadokawa tried to replicate their previous success by hiring Hideo Nakata (Ring) to direct another film based on a story by Koji Suzuki (Ring, Sp
Jigoku (1960) + News Roundup + Spoiler Free Godzilla Minus Zero Review
Byrd, Lux, Matt and Kevin kick off our October Halloween episodes with a discussion about Nobuo Nakagawa's classic Jigoku (aka Japanese Hell, aka Inferno, aka Sinners of Hell) from 1960. The film follows two friends who accidentally kill a yakuza in a hit and run. It just so happens that they're also surrounded by other horrible people and when they all die, they meet in the afterlife and have t
Brush of the God (2026)
Byrd, Tom, Lux and Kevin discuss Brush of the God, the first and only film directed by late kaiju suit maker Keizo Murase. The semi-biographical film tells of a recently deceased tokusatsu suit maker whose granddaughter is sucked into a fantasy world of fantastical creatures and has to fend off the fearsome Yamata no Orochi, all while learning more about her departed grandfather. Originally conc
The End of Oak Street (2026) (SPOILERS)
Byrd, Matt and Trev discuss the recent dinosaur film The End of Oak Street from writer/director David Robert Mitchell (It Follows). The film stars Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor as parents who have to protect their family from rampaging dinosaurs when their suburban neighborhood is inexplicably transported into the prehistoric age. We give our spoiler review of the movie (including unpacking th
G-Fest 2026 Recap
Byrd, Tom and Kevin discuss their experience at this past month's G-Fest convention. We discuss the guests, the panels, cosplay, the film festival (including our thoughts on Yoshikazu Ishii's new kaiju film Gladio). As always, we talk about our highlights from the weekend, some of the new things G-Fest introduced this year, and more! Relax and join the discussion!
Human Vapor (2026)
Byrd, Kevin and Lux return to discuss the recent Netflix mini series, Human Vapor, a reimagining of Toho's classic 1960 "mutant" film from director Shinzo Katayama (Gannibal, Missing) and writer/producer/showrunner Yeon Sang-ho (Train to Busan, Parasyte: The Grey). This version opts for a brand new story, although it still follows a man who has gained the ability to transform into gas and uses hi
20th Century Boys Trilogy (2008-2009)
Byrd, Kevin and Lux discuss Toho's live action adaptation of 20th Century Boys, the beloved manga by Naoki Urasawa (Monster, Pluto). It tells a story over several decades of a group of childhood friends that reunite when they realize a doomsday cult led by a masked leader named Friend is using elements from a story they wrote as children to carry out mass murder and position himself as a false sa
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters- Season 2 (2026)
Byrd, Matt and Kevin discuss the recently concluded second season of Apple TV's Monsterverse series, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. This season follows Monarch as they track the new monster, Titan X, deal with interference from the tech corporation Apex, and reckon with personal conflicts along the way. Godzilla and King Kong make their requisite appearances, and we also discover new things about
More Kongversation: Author Ray Morton Returns!
Byrd and Kevin welcome back returning guest and author Ray Morton to the show to talk about the newly revised and expanded second edition of his monumental book King Kong: The History of a Movie Icon! Originally published in 2005, the book covered all things Kong up to just before the release of Peter Jackson’s remake. More than 20 years later, the great ape is more popular than he’s been in decad
Troll 2 (2025)
After a lengthy hiatus, we return as Byrd, Lux, and Tom talk about the recent Norweigan film Troll 2! No, not THAT Troll 2, but the sequel to Netflix's 2022 film Troll. The film picks up with the characters from the prior film returning to research another giant troll that has been captured by the government. When that troll escapes, another troll appears, setting up for a climactic battle betw
Sadako vs. Kayako (2016)
Byrd, Kevin, Tom, and Lux (with a cameo from Trev) follow up our Ju-On mega-pod with the film that pitted Kayako against J-Horror's other top star, the Ring's very own Sadako. While the film was originally announced as an April Fool's joke, the online excitement over the possibility left Kadakawa-Daiei Studio no choice but to bring the monster fantasy match to life. They recruited J-horror veter
Ju-On (the Grudge): The First Four Films
If you just aren't ready for Halloween season to be over, join Byrd, Tom, Kevin, Lux, (and Trev, kind of) for a talk about one of Japan's biggest horror franchises, Ju-On (also known as the Grudge)! This introduced the vengeful ghost Kayako and her son Toshio to the horror world and they have since become some of Japan's biggest horror icons. The series by Takashi Shimizu originally started with t
Mad Monster Party? (1967)
Happy Halloween! Byrd, Lux, Tom and Kevin get together to discuss Rankin-Bass' stop motion Halloween feature, Mad Monster Party. Dr. Frankenstein (voiced by Boris Karloff) is about to retire and invites the classic monsters to his castle for a party where he will announce his successor. Among the guests are the Frankenstein Monster and his bride, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the Wolf Man,
Daiei Gothic! Ghost of Yotsuya (1959), Snow Woman (1968), Bride from Hades (1968)
Byrd, Tom and Lux discuss three classic horror films from Daiei Studios (recently released in the excellent Daiei Gothic blu-ray set from Radiance Films). Ghost of Yotsuya, Snow Woman, and Bride From Hades are all based on famous folk horror stories that have been adapted many times over the years (and would influence much of the J-horror movement later on). These three films take those stories
Hakaba Kitarō (2008)
Byrd, Lux, Tom and Kevin take a look at another entry in the prolific yokai franchise, GeGeGe No Kitaro franchise. This time we talk about 2008's Hakaba Kitaro, which was a darker take on the material. This changes Kitaro from a good natured yokai ambassador to a mischievous anti hero starring in downbeat morality tales. How did we feel it compared to other versions of Kitaro? Listen and find
Gill-men Attack! Humanoids From the Deep (1980), Dragon Blue, (1996) and Monster Island (aka Orang Ikan-2024))
We kick off another spooky October at KT with Byrd, Kevin, Tom and Lux having a discussion of several films featuring murderous gill-men. Ever since 1954's classic Creature From The Black Lagoon, the trope of a murderous half man/half fish has been entertaining filmgoers on a semi regular basis. We take the opportunity to discuss three such films; Roger Corman's schlockfest Humanoids From The De
Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League (2025)
Byrd, Matt, Kevin and Lux come together again to talk about the recent anime film Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League. The sequel to 2018's Batman Ninja sees the Caped Crusader and his allies in an another dimension in which Japan is ruled by a Yakuza consisting of evil versions of his Justice League allies. The film sees director Junpei Mizusaki return, with new co-director Shinji Takagi (Ranma 1/2,
G-Fest 2025 Recap
Another year, another G-Fest in the books. Byrd, Kevin and returning guest Connor recount their experience at this years G-Fest convention. G-Fest XXX (!) was the thirtieth in the convention's long running history and as always we talk about the panels, the guests, and our overall opinions of how the show fared this year. We also touch on the film festival lineup including the recent Ishiro Hond
Godzilla vs. Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers II (Comic Book- 2024)
Byrd, Matt and Kevin discuss and review the recent comic book crossover Godzilla vs. Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers II (written by Cullen Bunn and drawn by Baldemar Rivas). The follow up to IDW and Boom!'s 2022 crossover once again sees the Power Rangers in a multiversal adventure as they once again cross paths with Godzilla and other Toho monsters as they go up against Rita Repulsa as she threate
Writing Godzilla's Biography with Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski (Live at G-Fest 2025)
Live from G-Fest 2025, Byrd moderates this in depth discussion with authors Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski (Ishiro Honda: A Life In Film) to discuss the stories behind the researching, writing, and publishing of their new book Godzilla: The First 70 Years: The Official Illustrated History of the Japanese Productions, a brand new Toho commissioned book dedicated to the history of the King of the M
Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)
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 experimentati
Takashi Miike Toku Heroes: Zebraman, Zebraman 2, and Yatterman + Godzilla Pop-Up Book Review
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
Bullet Train Explosion (2025)
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
Chinese Kongsploitation!
Byrd, Lux 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
The Harryhausen Sinbad Trilogy
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 d
The History of Carnosaur with Joseph Palinkas!
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
GeGeGe No Kitaro Sampler: The 70s, 00s and 2020s.
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 ani
Ring: The First Four Films
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 th
Wicked City (1987 Anime & 1992 Hong Kong Live Action)
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
The House Where Evil Dwells (1982)
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 o
Alien From the Deep (aka Alien From the Abyss) (1989)
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
Brutal Thrashing Kaiju Metal: Interview with Lord Kaiju of Oxygen Destoyer
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 m
Book Review: Godzilla Returns (1996)
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, th
The Podcast That Time Forgot: Dinosaurs, Doug McClure and Amicus!
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 adve
Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong (Comic Book Review)
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
Kaiju No. 8- Season 1 (2024) + G-Fest Recap
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 mou
Yokai, Yurei and More with Author Zack Davisson!
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 C
Ultraman Rising (2024)
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 t
Parasyte: The Grey (2024)
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
Ape X Mecha Ape: New World Order (2024)
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
Time of the Apes (1987)
With a new Planet of the Apes movie in theaters, Byrd, Tom and Kevin decide to take a look at Japan's attempt to cash-in on the franchise. This Sandy Frank Entertainment-produced compilation film was made up of footage from Tsuburaya Productions 1974-1975 series, Time of the Apes, about a group of children and a scientist who find themselves shot forward in time to a future taken over by apes. W
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
Byrd is joined by Lux, Tom (of the Final Forum Dragonball Podcast), and Trev (of the Failure to Franchise Podcast) to talk about the new film Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire! This new entry in Legendary Pictures' Monsterverse is another crossover between the two monster icons, as they go up against the threat of the evil ape Skar King and his army of apes and the frost monster Shimo. Along the w
Godzilla (1998) Retrospective w/ Failure To Franchise Podcast
Our pals Trev (frequent KT guest) and Chris over at the Failure to Franchise podcast had Matt and Byrd on their show to discuss Godzilla 1998! We discussed how it came to be, memories of living through the marketing and release of the film, the backlash to it, and the lasting effects it had on the franchise. Did the movie impact the series for good or bad? Is it as bad of a movie as people say?
The Whale God (1962) + News Roundup
Byrd and Matt discuss Daiei's 1962 period monster movie, The Whale God (aka The Killer Whale). Directed by Tokuzo Tanaka (Zatoichi series), with a script written by Kaneto Shindo (Onibaba, Kuroneko) based on the novel by Koichiro Uno, it tells the story of a whaling village in the early Meiji period being terrorized by a gigantic whale. Two men, Shaki (Kojiro Hongo of the Gamera films) and Kishu
Translating the Original Godzilla Novels with Jeffrey Angles!
Byrd, Kevin and Justin interview poet and Japanese literary translator Jeffrey Angles about his recent translations of Shigeru Kayama's 1955 novelizations of Godzilla '54 and Godzilla Raids Again (now available for the first time in English via University of Minnesota Press). We talk about Angles' interest in Japanese literature, his love of Edogawa Ranpo, the tightrope of maintaining an author's
Monarch: Legacy Of Monsters (Season 1- 2023-2024)
Byrd, Matt and Tom discuss Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, the recent MonsterVerse spin-off series on Apple TV+. The story flashes between the 1950s and the 2010s as it follows the founding of the Monarch organization (introduced in 2014's Godzilla reboot) and two siblings trying to untie their family's mysterious history with it. Join us as we discuss the shows pros and cons, the charm of Kurt and
Rogue Stars! Gorath (1962) and Warning From Space (1956)
Byrd and Lux ring in the new year by talking about two Showa-era "colliding worlds" epics. First is Daiei's Warning From Space, the first Japanese science fiction film made in color. It tells of a race of cyclops starfish aliens who warn humanity that a planet called Planet R is on a collision course with the earth. After that we discuss 1962's Gorath (technically a New Years movie!), Ishiro Ho
Godzilla Minus One (2023)- Kaiju Sized Roundtable Discussion
Byrd, Matt, Kevin, Lux, Trev, and Tom assemble for a sprawling mega-sized, in depth review of Godzilla Minus One. Toho's latest entry in the franchise is a reboot taking place in the 1940s, as Japan rebuilds after World War 2. It follows Koichi, a former kamikaze pilot with survivor's guilt and PTSD as he struggles to find his lot in life and confront his trauma, as the H-Bomb mutated dinosaur ca
The Fantasy Films of Takashi Yamazaki + Godzilla Day 2023
In our lead up to Godzilla: Minus One, Byrd, Lux, Tom and Kevin examine more science fiction and fantasy films from director Takashi Yamazaki (Parasyte, Ghost Book, The Eternal Zero). Yamazaki made his first feature in 2000 and has been a consistent hit maker since, making some of the most successful Japanese films of recent years. For this episode, we discuss and review his debut coming of age/
Ghost Book (aka Yokaipedia) (2022)
If you think Halloween came and went too soon, Byrd, Tom, Lux and Kevin are here to help soothe your Halloween Hangover with some more yokai-centric madness, with Toho's 2022 fantasy film Ghost Book (aka Yokaipedia). Directed by Takashi Yamazaki (Godzilla Minus One, Eternal Zero, Parasyte 1 & 2), this adaptation of the "Ghost Book Obakezukan" picture books tells the story of a group of childr
The Tetsuo Trilogy
Our October horror series continues as Byrd, Tom, Lux and Kevin discuss Shinya Tsukamoto's cult classic Tetsuo trilogy! Tsukamoto burst onto the Japanese indie scene with the first film in 1989, cementing him as a master of surrealist outsider cinema, putting his name alongside directors like Sogo Ishii, David Lynch, and David Cronenberg, and also becoming an icon of the emerging Japanese cyberpu
Intro To GeGeGe No Kitaro
Byrd, Tom, Kevin, and Lux are back to give a crash course on Japan's biggest yokai franchise, GeGeGe No Kitaro. The franchise, created by famous mangaka Shigeru Mizuki launched Japan's yokai folk creatures into the mainstream, where they have been ever since. GeGeGe No Kitaro is about a yokai boy named Kitaro and his friends often trying to resolve a conflict between the human world and the yoka
The Manster (1959) & The Revenge of Dr. X (aka The Venus Flytrap) (1968)
Byrd, Tom, Kevin and Lux pair up two independent horror films made in Japan by American filmmakers, with a mix of American and Japanese cast and crew. First up we have the Manster, an early body horror film directed by Kenneth G Crane (the American version of Half Human) and starring Peter Dynely (Thunderbirds), Terri Zimmern Jerry Ito (Mothra), and Tetsu Nakamura (Mothra, Latitude Zero). It is
Parasyte- Parts 1 and 2 (2014/2015)
Byrd, Kevin, Tom and Lux are back with more Halloween chills and thrills to discuss Toho's two part live action Parasyte adaptation from director Takashi Yamazaki (Godzilla Minus One). Based on the popular body horror manga of the same name, Parasyte is the story of alien body snatchers who have come to earth to prey on humanity. A high school boy Shinichi has his hand possessed by one of the pa
Kuroneko (1968)
With Matt on an extended hiatus, Byrd brings in Lux, Tom and Kevin to ring in our annual October horror series of podcasts by talking about Kaneto Shindo's folk-horror classic, Kuroneko! Set in feudal Japan, it tells the story of a mother and her daughter in law who are raped and murdered by a troop of samurai. The two come back as ferocious bakeneko (ghost cat) yokai by making a deal with the u
Dragon Lizard Lord Super Monsters (1998-2000/2022) & Hammer of Draco: Wrath of Dragons (2017)
Byrd, Matt and Tom take a look at the completely baffling experience of the independent film Dragon Lizard Lord Super Monsters and the animated sequel, Hammer of Draco. In 2022, director Omar Sayyah cobbled together a series of Godzilla fan films he made in the late 90s, removed references to Toho's monsters, and dubbed them over to make the bonkers Dragon Lizard Lord, a film that defies descript
Gamera Rebirth (2023)
Byrd, Matt, Kevin and Lux come together to talk about the long awaited return of everyone's favorite flying turtle, Gamera! Gamera is back, this time on Netflix with the new anime mini-series, Gamera: Rebirth. Directed by Hiroyuki Seshita (Polygon's Godzilla trilogy), the show follows a group of kids in the summer of 1989 as they get wrapped up in kaiju attacks, conspiracies, and other wacky hij
Stop Mo-Dino Double! Dinosaurus (1960) and Planet of Dinosaurs (1977)
Byrd and Matt are joined again by author John LeMay (The Lost Films, Kong Unmade, Lost Films of the Lost World) to discuss two nostalgic stop motion dinosaur films, Dinosaurus (1960) and Planet of Dinosaurs (1977). 1960's Dinosaurus was directed by Irvin Yeaworth (The Blob, the 4D Man) and tells of a construction crew that awakens a brontosaurus, a t-rex, and a caveman. Planet of Dinosaurs is a
Reptili-cast!
Byrd and Matt are joined by author John LeMay (The Lost Films, Kong Unmade, Lost Films of the Lost World) to discuss Denmark's entry in the giant monster genre, 1961's Reptilicus! This co-production between Denmark's Saga Studios and America's AIP has a strange history, having filmed two versions with (mostly) the same cast for both countries. We discuss both versions, trouble behind the scenes,
The Valley of Gwangi (1969)
Byrd and Matt talk about Ray Harryhausen's classic dinosaur Western, the Valley of Gwangi! It tells the story of some showmen and a scientist who go on an expedition into a valley in Mexico to find a prehistoric miniature horse. What they also find is a flesh craving Allosaurus. They bring it back to put it on display for the public and well... things don't go so well. We'll discuss the histor
Meg 2: The Trench (2023)
Byrd, Matt and returning guest host Trev take the dive into the trench to talk about Meg 2! In this sequel, we not only have a giant Megalodon, but also a bunch of other hungry prehistoric beasties trying to eat Jason Statham and friends. It is also the first big blockbuster from British indie horror darling Ben Wheatley. We'll give our thoughts on the film, the career of Ben Wheatley, the tepi
Shin Kamen Rider (2023) + Oppenheimer (2023)
Shin Kamenheimer! We are joined by Kevin and Lux to discuss Hideaki Anno's new film Shin Kamen Rider, the latest entry in the "Shin" series of reboot films. The film works as a retelling of the classic story of Takeshi Hongo's transformation into everyone's favorite Karate Bugman, Kamen Rider! We discuss the trouble behind the scenes of the film, how we feel it works as a reboot of the classic
G-Fest 2023 Recap + Kaiju News Roundup
Byrd and Kevin (with bystander Lux Edwards and sort of Matt) give a rundown of this year's G-Fest convention (which took place this past July 14-16). We talk about the panels we both held and witnessed, the guests, and other highlights. We also review the films we saw at the film festival, including Yoshikazu Ishii's Yuzo the Biggest Battle in Tokyo, Mike Cheslik's Hundreds of Beavers, Kiyotaka
Ultraman and Godzilla Go To San Francisco with Bob Johnson!
We're joined once again by special guest Bob Johnson (SciFi Japan, Planet 8 Podcast, Bay Area Film Events) for another interview, this time discussing not one but two weekend long tokusatsu film festivals happening this summer in San Francisco. Bob has organized UltraFest coming to the 4 Star Theater from July 21-23rd and GodzillaFest, coming to the Balboa Theater from August 18-20th. Bob talks
Skull Island (Animated Series, 2023)
Byrd, Matt and Kevin discuss the brand new Skull Island animated series. Made for Netflix by Legendary and Powerhouse Animation Studios (Castlevania) and developed by writer Brian Duffield (Underwater, Love and Monsters), the series follows a group of shipwreck survivors trying to survive on King Kong's home island. How does the series fare as the first animated series and television venture for
Space Monster Wangmagwi (1967)
Byrd, Matt and Kevin discuss the South Korean obscurity, 1967's Space Monster Wangmagwi! Made (cheaply) to compete with the same year's Yongary, Wangmagwi has been a rarity up until 2023 when it got its first home video release (in any country!) via SRS Cinema in The United States. The film was thought lost until the Korean Film Archive started doing rare showings at festivals in the 2000s, whic
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) Audio Commentary
We are joined once again by our Kaiju Masterclass co-conspirator, writer Patrick Galvan (SyFy, Our Culture, Ruan Lingyu: Her Life and Career), this time for a full audio commentary for 1991's Godzilla vs King Ghidorah! This 90s rematch between Godzilla and his arch-nemesis has plenty of fans, but it's often considered one of the more confusing and sloppy films in the franchise. However, we belie
Them! (1954)
We finally take our first step into the vast "giant bug" subgenre with the granddaddy of them all, 1954's classic Them! Along with the Beast From 20,000 Fathoms and Godzilla, this film helped kick off a new era of atomic monster film, warning the public about the threat of nuclear weapons. Written by Ted Sherdeman (Latitude Zero) and directed by Gordon Douglas (Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye), it tells t
Power Rangers: Once & Always (2023) + Smoking Causes Coughing (2022)
Byrd, Matt, and guest host Trev (Days of Future Podcast, Failure To Franchise) run through a superhero double feature. First up is the recent Power Rangers reunion special from Netflix, which sees many of the original Power Rangers team return to face a robotic reincarnation of their arch enemy, Rita Repulsa. We'll talk about how nostalgia drives the narrative, the lack of certain prominent cast
Godzilla vs. The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (2022) Comic Review
For our first comic book review, we are joined by Trev and Tom to talk about IDW/Boom Studio's crossover comic miniseries, Godzilla vs The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, written by Cullen Bunn (Deadpool, The Sixth Gun, Godzilla: Cataclysm) and drawn by Freddie E Williams II (Batman/TMNT). When Rita Repulsa decides to go to a universe without the Power Rangers, she gets more than she bargained for
Ape vs. Mecha Ape (2023)
We are joined by Tom and Trev to tackle another Asylum movie, this time with the sequel to 2021's Ape vs Monster. Ape vs. Mecha Ape brings the giant ape Abraham face to face with a mechanical doppelgänger that is carrying nuclear weapons. Can an ape stop a mecha ape?! Can Tom Arnold help from the comfort of his desk? We answer these riveting questions and more. But first, we have discuss the
Half Human (1955)
We are joined by our Kaiju Masterclass partner, writer Patrick Galvan (SyFy, Our Culture, Ruan Lingyu: Her Life and Career) to discuss Ishiro Honda's banned 1955 film Half Human (aka The Beastman Snowman). Made immediately after the original Godzilla, the film tells the story of a mountain expedition to search for the abominable snowman (and a sleazy promoter looking to kidnap the creature). The
Thai Double Feature: The Lake (2022) and The Beast Below (2022)
We look at not one but TWO recent giant monster films from Thailand. Although not known for giant monster cinema, last year saw two giant monster movies come from the Land of Smiles. The Lake is the story of a giant creature terrorizing the rural countryside in search of its missing young. The Beast Below is a more light hearted fare about a giant lizard under the desert that starts picking off
Diving into THE LAKE with with Director Lee Thongkham!
We are joined all the way from Thailand by a very special guest, film director Lee Thongkham! Lee takes us behind the scenes of his new independent giant monster film THE LAKE, a Thai/Chinese co-production about a giant creature rampaging the Thai countryside in search of its offspring. We get the details on Lee's inspirations for the film, the mythical and religious symbolism, working the film
The Asylum’s Destroy All Monsters! Armageddon 2025 (2022) and Megaboa (2021)
Byrd, Matt, Tom and Trev are back in the Asylum, this time reviewing their 25th anniversary film, 2025 Armageddon! Aliens invade our world by sending the Asylum's giant monsters to attack Earth. We have Mega Piranha, Mega Shark, Crocosaurus, Megaboa, Sharknado, Transmorphers, zoombies, and more causing mayhem. Does this live up to the hype? Listen and find out! But first we play a bit of Asyl
Shin Ultraman (2022) Giant Size Roundtable
Byrd and Matt are joined by guest hosts Tom (Final Forum - A Dragonball Podcast), Kevin (Maser Patrol), Lux (of metal bands Soulmass and Wraithstorm), Connor (Easter's Kaiju Kompendium blog) for a giant round table discussion on Tsuburaya's recent reboot, Shin Ultraman! The film was directed by Shinji Higuchi and Hideaki Anno, following up their massively successful Shin Godzilla (2016). We'll
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