The Kaiju Transmissions Podcast

Garuda (2004)

Byrd and Matt wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving with a review of the 2004 Thai film, Garuda!  (Look, there aren't a lot of movies about giant birds so this was the best we could do this time).  We discuss the film's themes and give our full review, as well as its oddly popular status as a "kaiju" movie.  But first, we talk about the news of Godzilla vs. Kong's delay and Marvel's upcoming Ultraman comics.

Monsters, Mayhem and Mythbusting: Interview with Monster Maker Steve Wang!

For this very special edition of the podcast, we are joined by director and prolific special effects legend, Steve Wang!  Steve directed the Guyver 1 and 2 (among other films) and has created special effects and monsters for Predator, Evil Dead 2, the Monster Squad, Beetlejuice, Gremlins 2, and WAY more.  Steve joins us for a candid discussion where he talks about a variety of topics, including his early love for monsters, breaking out with Predator, quitting the first Power Rangers movie, the hardships of the Guyver films, his work on the 1998 Godzilla movie, transitioning into directing, producing Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight and more!  We also bust some LONG standing myths about Robocop, Ultraman, and Primus (yes, the band)!

Alternative Japanese Vampires and Frankensteins (The Last Frankenstein, Marebito, Vampire Girl vs Frankenstein Girl)

Byrd, Matt and Tom have a cure for your Halloween hangover with this look at several Japanese films that took a different approach to two of the most famous monsters of all time- vampires and the Frankenstein monster!  First up, we have the 1991 oddity The Last Frankenstein, based on the stage play of the same name.  Then we have Takashi Shimizu's surreal 2004 low budget Marebito.  And finally, we have the insane crossover, Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl, directed by exploitation mavericks Yoshihiro Nishimura and Naoyuki Tomomatsu.  Along the way, we discuss monsters watching porn, hollow earth theory, the Shaver mysteries, ganguru culture, and laffy taffy.  Join us and get through your post-Halloween blues!

Haraguchi Horrors! (Mikadroid, Sakuya Slayer of Demons, Kibakichi)

For another October horror edition of the podcast, Byrd, Matt and Tom discuss the directorial work of Japanese special effects maverick, Tomoo Haraguchi!  Primarily known as a makeup artist and monster maker on films such as the Heisei Gamera trilogy, Ringu 0, Ultraman Mebius, and others, he also directed a handful of horror films.  We discuss his straight to video debut Mikadroid: Robokill Beneath Disco Club Layla, his Yokai spectacle Sakuya: Slayer of Demons, and his Yokai westerns Kibakichi and Kibakichi 2.  We also discuss his prolific career, partnership with Shinji Higuchi, and more!  But first, Byrd reports back from the Nightmares Film Festival in Columbus, we discuss our October horror viewings, and we follow up on some confusion on Beware the Blob!

Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch

Welcome back to another October horror edition of the show.  Byrd, Matt and Tom delve into the snake girls of famed manga writer Kazuo Umezu.  We take a look at two adaptations of Umezu's "snake girl" stories.  Daiei's 1968 horror film Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch (directed by Gamera creator Noriaki Yuasa!), as well as "Snake Girl," an episode of the 2005 anthology television series, "Kazuo Umezu's Horror Theater" directed by exploitation guru Noboru Iguchi.  We also discuss Umezu's original manga stories that inspired these obscure kid friendly horrors!

Beware the Blob!

First up for our October horror series this year, Byrd, Matt and Tom discuss everyone's favorite hungry glob of goo, the Blob!  We discuss the original 1958 indie sensation, its completely bonkers 1972 sequel Beware the Blob, and the gore drenched 1988 remake from Chuck Russel and Frank Darabont.  We discuss the history of all three films, the real life inspiration for the Blob, and the canceled Blob films that almost were (including remakes from Rob Zombie, Joe Lynch and Simon West).  Enjoy the conversation!

Legend of Dinosaurs & Monster Birds (1977) with John LeMay! (Commentary)

Byrd and Matt are joined by author John LeMay (The Lost Films, Kong Unmade) for a special audio commentary for Toei's 1977 oddity, Legend of Dinosaurs & Monster Birds.  Inspired by the success of Jaws and a recent upswing in sea monster sightings around the globe, the film was touted as one of the most expensive Japanese productions ever made, only to become widely regarded as one of the absolute worst Japanese monster films ever made.  Join us as we watch the film and grill John on being an uber fan of this film, as well as discuss its inception, fun trivia factoids, and more!

Unmade King Kong Films with John LeMay!

Byrd and Matt are joined again by author John LeMay to discuss his new book, Kong Unmade.  The book covers the proposed/canceled King Kong films, including Universal's Legend of King Kong, Willis O'Brien's King Kong vs. Frankenstein, the original screenplays for the original 1933 film and Peter Jackson's remake, and less discussed projects suc has Abbott and Costello Meet King Kong, Funimation's animated Kid Kong, Mario Bava's Baby Kong, and more!  Byrd also contributed an essay for the book that covers the early career of Willis O'Brien and the making of 1925's "proto-Kong" film The Lost World!  Join us as we chat about all of the above and more!

Godzilla's Revenge 50th Anniversary Retrospective w/ Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski (Live at G-Fest 2019)

At this panel from G-Fest 2019, Ishiro Honda biographers Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski (authors of Ishiro Honda: A Life In Film) took a look at the making of Godzilla's Revenge.  The authors offer a critical examination of Ishiro Honda's most misunderstood entry in the Godzilla franchise.  Topics discussed include the origin of the film, Ishiro Honda's direction, the cast, special effects sequences, and more.  Enjoy!

Thanks to Ed and Steve for allowing us to release this audio and to Christopher Marti for recording it.

Dawn of the Monsters with 13AM Games and Seismic Toys!

Byrd and Matt are joined by special guests, game creator Alex Rushdy (of 13 AM Games and Seismic toys) and Chris Oglio (of Seismic toys) to discuss the upcoming independent kaiju video game, Dawn of the Monsters, and its accompanying vinyl figure.  We talk about what goes into creating an independent video game that can get wide distribution, the monsters and gameplay, and what it takes to start an independent toy company and get a figure made, and their plans for the future.  Kick back and enjoy!