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The Horror Gallery
Dec. 8 Issue

Horror News

“The Godzilla Trailer Arrives This Tuesday Morning!”
by Ryan Turek December 8th 2013, 12:22 p.m.
Source: www.shocktillyoudrop.com

Casket Remains movie reviews:

In Holiday Spirit:
"Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993)
by Robert J. Meddings

Until Next Time...
By Robert J. Meddings

This is the end, but we will
convene once again under the
midnight moon. Bring your
pet familiars.

If you wish to send me a letter
to the editor, let me know. I'll
be more than happy to print it
for the next newsletter. I'll edit
only for good taste, grammar
and class. I welcome any opinions as you see fit to express them. However, if you decide to be very naughty, I'll have to send in my assistant editor to teach a lesson! She's in the picture above right! Her name is Eihi Shiina. You can call her Miss Nice Girl.

PM me when you want to shoot me an email. Best way is send me a message through my page on Upload Society, and it'll be the easiest way for me to get your horrifying confessions!

I hope I don't bump into any monsters in a dark alley somewhere! What is that creepy laugh I keep hearing in the back of my house?

Welcome to December's thrill-seeking, terrifying, twitch-inducing and tantalizing third issue of “The Horror Gallery.” Adding to the sensational spookiness of the issue, I'll be making this a little Christmasy to boot.

Because, well, we do all love the big guy in the red suit and the stocking hat. He gives us all presents and very nice ones too.

There are plenty of good things about the month of December. Though I'm not counting the several inches of snow we already got around here in Wisconsin. Apart from that, I do have some good news.

Let's jump into that, shall we?

This month serves as the very first appearance of the Horror Squad on Upload Society. They don't exactly have a page or anything here. Not yet anyway.

They do have a video up and running hereabouts via my own Mortalhellion page. A couple members of the Horror Squad and myself collaborated on a video review on a cartoon about four young detectives and a dog. Yes, everyone involved in making this video have a weakness: we all have a love for Scooby Doo.

All in all, it's the Horror Squad's video as they put it together. I did contribute fifteen minutes of footage and effects including a ghost. My friend C.A. Thomas also threw in a few comments as well.

I think it turned out super-well. It's a documentary styled video made by Horror Squad, Goreshack13, C.A. Thomas and myself. Everyone got to throw their two cents' worth. The video hit the Youtube website on Dec. 6. I take pride in having contributed to this video.

You can see it on Youtube when you go to the Horror Squad channel or on the Mortalhellion channel on Upload Society.

It's not the end.

We'll be doing a second, and longer, part of the video which will focus on the top ten monsters of Scooby Doo. I have noticed that we did focus more on the original run of the Scooby Doo series. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. The laugh track? It's classic. The comedy side? It's great. The creepy ghosts? I'm scared! Zoinks!

I'm looking forward to the top ten section of the video because I have no idea about what the other guys have picked for their top monsters. I've already added my top monsters for them, and talked about them a bit here and there for the video.

The second part will come out around mid-December just in time for the holiday cheers. You bet.

There's a real sense of innocence in watching the old reruns of Scooby Doo which transports you to a place of fantasy and grounded realism at the same time. You get the monsters, but they're not real. You get to scare the kids, but not traumatize them. Kids like a good scare.

I know someone who absolutely hates Scooby Doo with a passion. How can you hate something like Scooby Doo? It's mindboggling to me. That's the same as hating apple pie.

The Scooby Doo series does have wonderfully creepy stuff in it with the old houses, haunted mansions or awful swamps. Yet the fun part is tagging along with the Scooby gang and solve the mystery. It's always fun to watch. I think that particular someone I know who doesn't like Scooby Doo... well, he had an unhappy childhood.

It's amazing how a small-time TV cartoon has erupted into such a big phenomena with toys, books, videos, games, neckties. Hell, even the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer makes a reference when Xander calls her group the Scooby gang.

So there's plenty to look forward to with these two review videos, and Christmas is just around the corner. How about that?

Your host,
Bobby Meddings

We've been informed that this Tuesday, December 10th, Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures will premiere the Godzilla trailer at 10am Pacific/1pm Eastern. Naturally, you'll be able to see it right here ShockTillYouDrop.com at that time.

An epic rebirth to Toho's iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure pits the world's most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

Gareth Edwards directs the film which stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, Sally Hawkins, David Strathairn and Bryan Cranston.

Slated to open on May 16, 2014, the film is expected to be presented in 3D, 2D and IMAX in select theatres and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, except in Japan, where it will be distributed by Toho Co., Ltd. Legendary Pictures is a division of Legendary Entertainment.

"Careless Smoker Left Mom in Burning Home"
By Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia
Friday, Dec 6, 2013 | Updated 9:01 a.m. EST
Source: www.nbcphiladelphia.com

A man with a history of careless smoking while when drinking has been charged with endangering his mother after a cigarette caused a fire in their eastern Pennsylvania home.

Lower Southampton Township police say they deal with 54-year-old Dean Smith nearly every day for drinking issues and found him in the living room, still smoking a cigarette, when crews responded Sunday to a fire.

Police say Smith, 54, appeared oblivious to the smoky conditions around him and didn't move his mother -- who is in her 80s, deaf and uses a walker -- from the home despite being encouraged to do so by a 911 operator.

Instead, police say Smith laughed and said, “No, why would I do that? The fire is upstairs.”

Online court records don't list an attorney for Smith, who has been hospitalized while charged with 10 counts of reckless endangerment.

News of the weird
Dec. 8, 2013
Source: www.newsoftheweird.com

-- Latest Collateral Damage: (1) In October, a 28-year-old man, reeling from a domestic argument in Port Richey, Fla., put a gun to his head and, against his girlfriend's pleas, fired. As a neighbor across the street stood on her porch, the suicide bullet left the victim's head and made three wounds on the neighbor's leg, sending her to the hospital. (2) About a week later, on the Norwegian island of Vesteroy, a moose hunter missed his target but hit an obscured cottage in the distance, wounding a man in his 70s as he answered nature's call. He was airlifted to Ullevaal University Hospital in Oslo. [Tampa Bay Times, 10-17-2013] [NewsInEnglish.no (Oslo), 10-25-2013]

“Cannibal sandwiches sicken Wisconsin residents”
By M.L. JOHNSON, Associated Press
Source: www.sfgate.com
Updated 10:58 a.m., Sunday, December 8, 2013

MILWAUKEE (AP) — "Cannibal sandwiches," an appetizer featuring raw, lean ground beef served on cocktail bread, may be a Wisconsin tradition, but they are not safe, health officials said, noting that more than a dozen people became ill after consuming them last holiday season.

Health officials confirmed four cases tied to E. coli bacteria and 13 likely cases in people who ate the sandwiches at several gatherings late last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a report issued this week. The meat came from a Watertown market that later recalled more than 2,500 pounds of meat.

Cannibal sandwiches were tied to outbreaks in Wisconsin in 1972, 1978 and 1994.

The appetizer, also called "tiger meat," ''steak tartare" or simply "ground beef," is usually a simple dish of lean ground meat seasoned with salt and pepper on rye cocktail bread with sliced raw onion, said Milwaukee historian John Gurda, who served it at his 1977 wedding reception. Occasionally, a raw egg will be mixed with the meat.

Cannibal sandwiches have been a festive dish in German, Polish and other ethnic communities in the Milwaukee area since the 19th century, Gurda said. The 66-year-old said it was once common to see them at wedding receptions, meals following funerals and Christmas and New Year's Eve parties. The dish has become less common in recent years with greater awareness of the risks of uncooked meat and fewer people eating beef, but Gurda said he still runs into it.

"It's like a coarse pate and when you put the onions on, there's a crunch as well and that kind of cuts the softness," he said.

Keith Meyer, who runs L&M Meats, a Kenosha butcher shop started by his father, recalled his German grandfather and other "old guys" gobbling the ground beef when he was growing up. With his grandfather gone, Meyer's family no longer serves the dish, but the 57-year-old said, "It's really not that bad, if you get by the texture of it."

"It's like eating a cold hamburger that's a little on the raw side," Meyer added.

His butcher shop sells 50 to 100 pounds of freshly ground round on Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and perhaps a day before those holidays to people wishing to make cannibal sandwiches. Glenn's Market and Catering, the Watertown butcher involved in the recall, does a similar holiday business, vice president Jeff Roberts said.

Horror Spotlight:
TeyetheGreat
Edited by Robert J. Meddings

Starting in this newsletter, I'll be conducting a series of interviews with various members of the Horror Clan. This will consist a Q&A session. I'll come up with the questions and you'll just have to answer them. It's very simple. Don't be scared!

TeyetheGreat will be hitting it off with this interview. He's always been the genuine article, very decent and gentle guy. He's a southerner with a great sense of humor.

And his humor can also be very strange as you'll see in his videos he makes.

He's done a lot of videos that can be described as “unusual” and “experimental.” His material is never dull. Teye is known for “The Strangeman” series which is a panache to the old Doctor Who shows. He's also made a ton of creature features with a Lovecraftian tone to them. His other videos include “To Kill a Bogeyman,” “The Cosmic Man” and “I Dream of Saw.”

Here he is, TeyetheGreat...

1. What movie inspired you to make videos on Youtube and Upload Society? Or what was it made you decide you wanted to make movies?

Actually I made some crude movies before I ever thought about putting anything on Youtube. I just thought it was fun to do, but one day while on Youtube I came across a channel called Meoshabean1. She had some suspense horror shows up that she had put together well I watched some of them and thought this is great and it's what I like to do. Why not start putting some of my films up, so I put my first film up one that was not made for Youtube but family and friends, “The New Employee,” which I made along time ago and has been taken down and put back up many times.

2. What is your favorite actor in a horror movie? What is your favorite actress in a horror movie?

I’m O school so as a kid growing up my fav actors would be between well I never missed a Lon Chaney Jr. or Boris Karloff movie. I love the Alien and Halloween movies, so my fav actress between Sigourney Weaver and Jamie Lee Curtis.

3. What is the most frightening scene you've ever seen?

Well I’ll have to say when the Grudge Girl comes after someone. Those scenes that always freaks me out.

4. How has creating music for your videos helped you in expressing yourself? How did you learn to be musically creative?

Well I do some music that I think is fun and I do it honestly just to see what I can come up with depending on my mood is the direction the music will go. Most I try and find sounds I like or a part of a tune and try different mathematical patterns or order and when I finally get a piece finished you just have this feeling of delight even if no one else likes it. lol.

5. What other hobbies do you have other than horror movies?

I do like to collect a few toys Godzilla related and old radio shows from the 30s, 40s, 50s.

6. If you have a chance to visit Asia, what countries would you visit?

China. I would love to check out the food there and the culture, fascinating.

7. What is your dog's name? And how did you get him?

My dogs name is Didhebiteya. DiD for short, pronounced Did-he-bite-ya. I bought DiD at a local dog shop for $350.00. DiD is a Poochie.

8. Do you have a crush on anyone?

Yes, I do have a crush on the Vampire girl on US also known as Freebird and the Princess of Darkness.

To visit his pages, go to www.youtube.com/teyethegreat
And go to www.uploadsociety.com/teyethegreat

To be frank, I wasn't a big fan of Christmas movies. I'm even less a fan of Christmas horror movies. I have yet to see “Bad Santa” even though it's fairly popular. And that one is more like a dark comedy rather than horror. Gosh, I'm not really good at this.

Somehow, Christmas and horror doesn't mesh very well. There's already enough red to the colors of Christmas. Why add more red to it?

It's hard for me to think of a horror movie that has to do with Christmas. However, I'm sure you've heard of

“Nightmare Before Christmas.”

It's a musical fantasy film directed by Henry Selick. Tim Burton produced and co-wrote this fantastic Halloween farce.

A friend of mine once said about “Nightmare Before Christmas” that it lost its luster for him. However, I feel the film still holds up pretty well for me.

I do actually like this one quite a lot. And I still have a warm place for it in my heart. It's a stop motion cartoon. It's something of a rarity these days.

Why should you something as tedious as stop motion when there's today's cinema of digital video? It's easier to make digital. Much easier than practical methods.

Sometimes you want to make the work worthwhile.

When people hear the term stop motion, they might think of Ray Harryhausen's spectacular outings of moving monsters to the modern antics of “Wallace and Grommit.” More cheese, Grommit!

Yet whoever heard of a Christmas horror movie in a form of a cartoon? And that's exactly what director Tim Burton did. He went all old-school on us.

If anyone isn't familiar with the stop motion process, it's very long and tedious. This involves taking several freeze-frames of moving cartoon characters... one frame at a time. The illusion creates the idea that these characters move with a life of their own.

“Long and tedious” doesn't even begin to describe it. Sometimes the scene of a character moving his arm could take all afternoon to do in the film workshop.

Producer Burton sought to do this for “Nightmare Before Christmas” after this film process has been long abandoned.

It was a great success and the cartoon film held its own against regular mainstream movies. Both kids and adults liked it. I think there's a kind of charm seeing characters moving around in their own world. Especially if it's a world filled with gothic creatures and wonderful music.

This Burton film does have a stronghold in gothic influences. You can see that the characters of pumpkin men, vampires, monsters, werewolves and anything ghoulish has an influence on this film. You have

atmosphere, you have dread and you have the eye of the moon waiting in the midnight skies.

“Nightmare Before Christmas” becomes very iconic.

You know you're into a film filled with gothic cheer when the characters are singing the song, “This is Halloween” at the very start.

I've enjoyed the inclusion of Danny Elfman's music. It is very swift, almost sinister quality, and yet it ripples with a cheerful note in its own way. His music creates perfect timing with the cartoon movements. It adds to the child-like glee of the film.

Danny Elfman wrote the film score while providing the singing voice of Jack. Other voice talents include Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Ken Page and Glenn Shadix.

During the eighties, Elfman did a shitload of movie scores. Tons of them. He was all over the place doing stuff for Burton's “Batman” all the way to the theme of “Army of Darkness.”

The scenes involving the character Jack Skellington replacing all the goody Christmas toys with his own brand of toys is a riot. I do like the idea of Hallowing crossing over to Christmas with unpredictable results.

For example, Jack Skellington exchanges snakes for candy canes. In his own warped POV, he thinks he's doing kids a favor! He's really not a bad guy!

I do like the portrayal of Santa Claus in this film. He's jovial, happy and intelligent guy, though very blunt in his honesty. I enjoyed the way he scolds Jack for messing around with Christmas. This character of Santa could have been done wrong in so many ways. And yet, there's a right amount of depth even for a minor character such as he. Even the reindeer has personality.

One of the most iconic moments is Jack singing on top of the cliff that would branch out in front of the honey-dew moon, sitting in the background. That punctuates the whole of the film with a gothic mood... the singing, the cartoon movements, sends a shiver down me.

When I saw it for the first time, back in 1993, I still can feel the sweeping theatrical pull of the film taking me to another world. It's a world where monsters can co-exist together without ripping each other apart. And it's a place where love can find a home. It's a place where the moon doesn't need to be scary. You can look at the moon and say, “That's cool.”

Of course, it wouldn't be Burton's final trip to stop-action motion footage. He would come back to do the same for “The Corpse's Bride” and also “Frankenweenie.” Both of them are fantastic example of cartoon making for the gothic. I like them both. I recommend seeing them.

Who knows what else is brewing in Burton's mind? His thoughts are like a haunted house filled with so many dark rooms and wonderful ideas. I will always welcome Burton back to the familiar landscape of cartoon making. He should go back to it. I appreciate his efforts. So do a lot of other people.

“Nightmare Before Christmas” has become something of a cult classic. It should be cherished for what it is: an example that we can still step back into the past and do things the old-fashioned way. In this respect, stop-action motion is still very alive and kicking in today's world of cinema.

I wonder if Ray Harryhausen would have approved of Burton's occasional leaps to stop-action. I'm sure he did. I approve too.

It's become a cultural influence. A chain of Hot Topic or Spencer stores in many malls carry a shitload of “Nightmare Before Christmas” paraphernalia. You can see piggy banks, clothes, pens and school bags taking after the ghoulish images. It's everywhere. That's fucking awesome.

The film was well received. Rotten Tomatoes gave it 96% based on 72 reviews. It has been a delight for both audiences and critics.

Former film critic Roger Ebert gave a highly positive review. Ebert wrote that animated piece was “filled with imagination that carries us into a new world.”

Released on Oct. 29, 1993, just in time for the Halloween spirit, the film filled the theaters with great spooks and haunting imagination. It was made for 18 million dollars and gained $75,082,668. Not bad for a cartoon.

I'm glad to see that we, as a modern audience, still celebrate animation to this very day. Perhaps it might be awkward looking to some, and yet you can't take away the charm such art has.

Sometimes the old-fashioned ways still can cling to the heart. The soul of the film stirs with a gothic trend that's beautiful. It's a celebration of being different. And being different isn't always a bad thing.

It's X-Mas! Well, not yet...
By Robert J. Meddings

What are some good Christmasy horror movies?

Problem is, there aren't that many. You can probably count the number of movies made on both your hands. Worse, there aren't many that were made with merit.

It seems that Christmas horror movies are either too silly or too gory. There's never really one that seems to find the right kind of balance. As a result, they are misfires.

One of the worst samplings is the film “Jack Frost” which went overboard with all its effects/ideas. Not to mention an odd sex scene involving a carrot. I'm not even going into the movie for the sake of decorum. And yet, whomever the powers-to-be were, a sequel was made. Pass me the aspirins.

Other popular X-Mas movies might be “Silent Night, Deadly Night” which is a supposed to be a cult classic and well-known in the horror circles. I admit I haven't seen this film starring John Carradine. I should. I really should. Maybe.

I know of many Christmas horror stories that were done in comic book form. But movies? Why am I unable to think of any?

Well, I might recommend a few that may feed your horror veins and satisfy the Christmas Carol of fright for you. It's not a long list. So you should be able to write them down on a notepad.

The film “Gremlins” from 1984 by director Joe Dante and producer Steven Speilberg does hold many fond childhood memories for me. Maybe that's twisted. Could be Speilberg is like a twisted boy with a sick mind when he did this movie. That's okay.

Remember not to get them wet, feed them or leave the light on. Because the results can be very bad.

I think the old bat on the elevator chair on the stairs is a highlight. I laugh every single time.

The other one that I can recall is a short story from “Tales from the Crypt” (1972) with Joan Collins. She was a bit of all right back in the day. This particular romp was set during Christmas with Jingle Bell decorations, pine trees and a lot of horror.

Doctor Who fans might spot Tom Baker playing the lead in one of the solid stories in this film. Baker is the fourth, and longest running, actor to play the part.

It may be possible for horror fans to appreciate the creepy aspects of the various Doctor Who Christmas specials commissioned every year during the new series. The best of these would be “The Snowmen” which is about intelligent snow becoming a threat to 1800s Victorian England.

It involves monster snowmen, a terrifying governess and lots of atmosphere with the gothic setting in Victorian England that's rather good.

This 2012 Christmas show stars Matt Smith as the good Doctor and Jenna Coleman as Clara. The episode revisits an old enemy in the Great Intelligence while the winter season gets just a bit more nasty. Watch for the excellent Richard Grant as Simeon who projects Vincent Price in his acting.

However, watch for Matt Smith's final turn in the lead role in the upcoming 2013 Christmas special when he makes his final "bow." Sorry about the pun.

There you have it. A few Christmas horror stories that you can wrap up in a big box and bow. Remember not to open it until Christmas.

"YOUTUBE SUCKS DICK"
By Robert J. Meddings

Thinking back, Youtube used to be pretty good. You could make a video and attract a lot of attention if you did good work. You could get comments, ratings and the whole shebang.

Not anymore.

Nowadays, Youtube has decided to go commercial at the expense of creativity, character and anything else. To say the least, it's been a colossal shithole.

I think Youtube has made its last “fuck you” to everyone on the website this year. I can put it in two words: Google Plus.

What the ass-fuck is Google Plus? Why the hell should we care? And why are we forced to use it? The addition of Google Plus doesn't make a lot of fucking sense to me. I'm sure it doesn't make sense to a lot of other folks.

I find myself unable to reply to half the comments online, and I dislike the new Facebook styled comment threads. I've been bitching a lot lately about the loss of the custom-made background and interesting banners. Fuck you, Youtube.

I'm not sure what is going on with management or who's running the whole show. It seems they don't care about what people think of the site. The website has crumbled around with further lame decisions. One of them being you can't make a response video anymore.

There's no community in Youtube anymore.

Everyone else I've spoken or written to hates the new, mighty Youtube changes. I notice a lot of people simply stop going to Youtube. I don't blame them. It's quieter than the inside of a church on Youtube these days.

I could fart loudly and proudly on Youtube and no one would notice.

On the other hand, the new Upload Society has joined the public eye these last few months. It has so much to offer... new hope. It's bristling with creativity, bustling with energy. It's exciting.

There's so much more on Upload Society: backgrounds you can, comment threads that make sense, and video sections on your page. Many like-minded users can agree that this site is actually better.

It's good to see a website that tries. So far, it's been good despite a few glitches. I'm certain that Upload Society can iron out these minor defects. Aside from a few troll infestations, the website is good. You only need to get the troll spray for the unwanted guests.

I'm glad to see familiar faces on Upload Society, and that's a great sign. I also made a small donation to Upload Society to keep the engines going.

This has been a fucking rant.

Letters to the Editor
That web based newsletter was really, really good the Horror Clan is so lucky to have someone of your talent... the web based site is great I did like the photo’s that accompanied the articles... great idea makes the articles more interesting. I am really excited about your newsletter the Horror Clan is on its way to being the biggest and most popular group on US. I noticed we are working our way to the top spot and I think we are at number four right now. I think a small section that list all the members ever month I think would be great also... another thing would be to pick out one horror clan member a month and interview them for the newsletter... in doing this I’m just trying to figure away to get other clan members involved so more we come out to read the horror clan newsletter. At some point I would like to have a contest for horror clan members only to try and get more people to recognize and be active in talking among ourselves and reading your newsletter every month. I have not worked out the contest details yet or what it might involve. I'm thinking maybe you as judge cause I’m wanting more clan members to read that newsletter and send their on letter to the editors, perhaps the top three letters to you that you like will get prizes maybe top five. Still working on the details in my head... or perhaps they could do a paragraph article for the newsletter and you pick the top three or five winners and put their piece in. Not sure on any of this so if you have any suggestions let me know I’m just thinking out loud for now..

Teye The Great
Arkansas

The Horror Gallery
Jan. 11 Issue

The Horror Gallery
Dec. 8 Issue

Hajimemashite.

Watashi wa Robert J. Meddings desu.

Yuroshiku onegai shimasu.*

Yep, I introduced myself in Japanese. Not bad considering I've been teaching myself to speak the language for two months. I'm at the point where I can start putting together sentences. I think I still have a long way to go yet.

I've tried learning the Chinese language a few years back, but the tonal shifting of it left me cold. I didn't get very far into the Chinese language. However, the Japanese language seems easier for me.

In celebration of the Japanese culture, I'm going to dedicate this month's entire newsletter to the everything Japan.

More specially, Japanese horror.

Oh yes, there was a lot of it since the popularity of the Ringu films. There's no getting away from the old ghost story. Or Obake, if you're going with the Japanese spelling.
Now there are two different ways that Japan can go about horror. They can go super-serious in many films, or they can go the exact opposite way by getting crazy-corny, the top of the ridiculous.

Believe me, I've seen movies like “Tokyo Gore Police” to know that they can go to such extremes to entertain. The blood-splatter gore of the films can be very side-splitting in more ways than one.

However, I don't need to look any further than my first introduction to Japanese horror, or J-Horror for short.

It wasn't even a Japanese film, but an American one.

For those who might guess, the movie was called “The Ring” which starred Niomi Watts in a story that swept me into seeing, for the first time, the creepy dark-haired woman crawling across the floor like a slippery snake.

It was like watching a contortionist going into an epileptic fit, twisting, twisting like a rabid animal in darkness. Those Asian features of the woman made her look very alien.
I do remember leaving for home that night, always looking over my shoulder as I was driving the car back. I would look in the rearview mirror just to see if there's a creepy woman climbing out to choke the motherfucking life out of me.

You can safely say it scared the living shit out of me.

I wouldn't be totally afraid of Japanese horror if it weren't for the fine fact that I think Asian women are very beautiful in every sense of the word: gentle, lovely, fragile like a floating lilac. And yet seeing that creepy woman snaking out of the water well gave me a new meaning to horror.

I found that there is something sinister about that soul of darkness, this lurid sense of loneliness dragged by the moving ghost. It's very nerve-wracking.

My first official introduction to Japanese horror would be the Ringu movie, the first of its kind. The one that started it all, the whole wave of popular Japanese movies. Before Ju-On... before The Eye... there was Ringu.

I really believe that no one else can do the the ghost story as well as the Asian movie-makers. They understand the amount of atmosphere and mood needed to create a sense of the desperate. It is like falling into a gulf of blackness when you watch these Japanese movies.

However, there is a problem.

The United States just can't seem to stop ripping off Japan.

And the Americans seem to have a knack for doing endless remakes of Japanese horror films. It isn't right, I'll tell you. I suppose it's the revenge for Japan ripping off our car designs and making them better. However, in the case of movies, the American remakes aren't necessarily better.

I did get a little pissed off at the United States with the inability to come up with anything original.

Now, films like Ringu is the serious approach to the horror field by crafting a mood piece. It is like making a Pablo Picasso painting of horror.

What about the other extreme?

Well, I did see a little ol' movie called “Machine Girl” which is seriously fucked up. There's no other way to say it: that movie is sick.

And yet hilariously sick.

It is violence out of control. You got tempera jokes, maiming, shooting, and plenty of cute girls in school outfits.

Yep, Japan has everything I like in a horror movie: women and weirdness.
Indeed, “Machine Girl” will fuck your mind up. And maybe punch a hole in your guts too. And I'm being nice when describing these movies.

They made a lot of other crazy ass movies like “Tokyo Gore Police” and “Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl.” The titles alone will show that you about to embark on a whole new ballgame. These films explore a whole new level of sickness. As long as you have a good sense of humor about it.

I do believe, from the bottom of my heart, that Japan does know how to tell a good horror story. I don't see very many other people doing it better with the possible exceptions of South Korea, Spain and France.

However, you can deny the fact that it is Japan that began a whole different subcultural genre of horror. This new dynasty of horror films helped us to see horror in a different way, looking for more mood rather than gore.

It makes you feel like you're pushing back the curtains of darkness to reveal a deeper fear. That fear of loneliness, being so subtle, can drag you to a place in which you do not want to visit. Japanese horror reminds you of the things you should be afraid of.

And I do hope you enjoy this newsletter.

Oh yes, I hope you have a Happy New Year!

Arigatou Gozaimasu!**

Robert J. Meddings, your local writer and editor.

*Please to meet you.
I am Robert J. Meddings.
It is a pleasure to meet you.

**Thank you!

Horror News-Japanese Style

Residents to get compo after violent monkey rampage in Japan
Fri 11 Oct. 2013, 9:13 a.m.

Victims of an ill-tempered monkey which terrorised a town in western Japan are to be offered compensation, an official said.

More than 1,000 professional hunters, firefighters and police officers were mobilised to snare the piqued primate after it set upon 18 people during a 13-day rampage through Hyuga.

The wild macaque was finally cornered in a vacant house on September 9 after 280 people had spent the day searching for it.

The monkey was put down shortly thereafter.

The municipal assembly of Hyuga, in Miyazaki prefecture, unanimously approved a bill to offer 20,000 yen ($205) to each person the male monkey had attacked.

Patrols were continuing around the streets in case of further danger, the official said.

"But we have not found any other monkeys threatening our people," city official Kenji Yoshida said.

"The city has now returned to calm and normal."

Macaque monkeys are common in the wild throughout Japan, where the densely-wooded hillsides provide a habitat.

Japan chemical factory explosion kills at least five
More than 10 people also injured in blast at Mitsubishi Materials Corp plant in Yokkaichi City
By the Associated Press in Tokyo
theguardian.com, Thursday 9 January 2014 03.15 EST
Source: www.theguardian.com

An explosion at a chemical factory in central Japan has killed at least five people and injured more than 10 others, according to reports.

Police say the explosion occurred at Japanese metal and chemical company Mitsubishi Materials Corp's Yokkaichi plant on Thursday afternoon during maintenance.

Fire department officials say 17 people injured from the blast were taken to nearby hospitals.

Police say two were dead, while Japanese media including the Kyodo News agency put the death toll at five. Conditions of the injured were not immediately known.

Mie prefectural police say investigators suspect a hydrogen explosion caused by chemical reaction when plant workers were rinsing heat exchange equipment at a silicone plant on the complex in Yokkaichi City, about 220 miles (350km) west of Tokyo.

Sakurajima volcano of Japan: No explosions since 26 Dec but ash venting
Monday Jan 06, 2014 15:45 PM
Source: www.volcanodiscovery.com

No significant discrete explosions have been reported since 26 Dec, which is one of the longest periods without vulcanian explosions in recent years.

The volcano, however, is still erupting. It produces low-level ash plumes, in an often near-continuous fashion.

This could suggest that the

Double click here to edit this text.

conduit is currently relatively open and allows magma to rise and degas efficiently without building up large pressure, during deep-seated strombolian activity.

Information about the volcano: Sakurajima (also spelled Sakurashima or Sakura-jima, 桜島 in Japanese) volcano in southern Kyushu is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and one of the few that are at present in constant (persistant) activity. Its ongoing typical activity range from strong strombolian to large ash explosions every 4-24 hours.

The volcano is located across Kagoshima Bay only 8 km east of the city of Kagoshima with a population of half a million. Sakurajima's eruptive history has been recorded since the 8th century. It has frequently deposited ash on Kagoshima, and due to its explosive potential, considered a very dangerous volcano and closely monitored.
The largest historical eruptions of Sakurajima took place during 1471-76 and in 1914.

Japanese "Snowpiercer" trailer offers up plenty of new footage on
Jan. 8, 2014
by: Kevin Woods and Robert J. Meddings
Source: www.joblo.com

We've been writing about SNOWPIERCER for so long that my anticipation for the film is now to the point that I'd trek through the desolate, snow and ice-covered wasteland of the film just to check this badboy out. C'mon Weinsteins...give us SNOWPIERCER already (preferably the director's cut!).

Today we have a new Japanese trailer for the Bong Joon-ho helmed flick that offers up plenty of new footage, which only makes our excitement to see SNOWPIERCER grow to a fever pitch. Everything we've seen from this film has looked nothing short of amazing and this new trailer absolutely sells me on it.

In a future where a failed global-warming experiment kills off most life on the planet, a class system evolves aboard the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe via a perpetual-motion engine.

Editor's note: In addition to the film's horror budget, Chris Evans of Captain American will be leading the cast of stellar actors. Also stars John Hurt who has recently portayed the “forgotten” Doctor in the fiftieth anniversary of Doctor Who in November.

To see the Snowpiercer trailer, please to go: http://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/japanese-snowpiercer-trailer-offers-up-plenty-of-new-footage

You can also check out the Snowpiercer film on Youtube as well.

SNOWPIERCER stars Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, Ewen Brewmner, Alison Pill, John Hurt and Ed Harris.

Horror Spotlight:
HouseofKarloff1985
Edited by Robert J. Meddings

1. What are your favorite horror movies?

Favorite Horror films are Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, Son of Frankenstein, Dracula, Dracula's Daughter, The Mummy's Ghost and the Creature From The Black Lagoon Trilogy (1956's The Creature Walks Among Us is SO UNDERRATED!!!)

2. What is your earliest memory of a horror film? What age were you when you thought, “Horror is cool.”

The earliest memory of seeing a Horror film and thinking it was COOL was back in September 1981 when I saw Frankenstein for the first time on Boston's WLVI Channel 56's Creature Double Feature celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the film.

3. Which actors of horror do you remember the most from your childhood days?

Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Peter Lorre, Lon Chaney, Sr. and Jr., Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

4. What is the first Asian horror film did you see? Did it scare the living shit out of you?

The first Asian Horror film I saw was 1977's "House" aka Hausu on IFC back in 2009 and JUMPED out my bed when the girl got eaten by the piano.

5. Which Asian horror film is the most representative of the horror field for you?

Definitely "House" The style of filmmaking is hard to describe. The best way I can is a "Scooby Doo" episode on Acid.

6. Are you into Japanese anime? Why?

HELL YES!!! I love the style of animation and the detail put into the characters, music and story. The older films like Dirty Pair, Akira, Ghost In The Shell and Vampire Hunter D and its sequel feel that it is the Japanese equivalent to the Disney films of the 1930s and 40s.

7. What is the best present you ever got when it came to DVDs?

That would have to be the "Spider-Man: The '67 Collection" love OLD SCHOOL Animation.

8. Do you have any other family members that are into horror like you? Or are you the lone wolf in your family?

I am the only one in the family that likes everything the Universal Monsters to Friday The 13th.

9. Would you like to appear in a Mortalhellion production someday? Or a Teye film? Or perhaps one of Randle71's or DonkeyChewingHorror films? Or anyone I'm not thinking of at the moment?

I would love to appear in all of the above providing I have the funds to do the travelling.

10. What kind of movie would you make if you were to direct, write and edit it?

Definitely a Giant Monster that is an HOMAGE to classics like Godzilla, Gamera and Gorgo.

11. Do you like going to horror conventions?

Never been to any Horror conventions, but would love to go to one if it was nearby.

12. Do you have a crush on anyone?

I have a MAJOR CRUSH on Drew Barrymore, considering she comes from the Famous Barrymore family.

13. Why do I HATE YOUTUBE?

Simple... Other than they are trying to be a Facebook Clone, the constant changes with the website, the glitches, doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT THE TROLLS. And the Content ID BS. IT CAN LITERALLY DRIVE YOU MAD WITH THEIR IMPROVEMENTS.

Perfect Crazy
By Robert J. Meddings

A part of the Japanese culture, a very big part of it, is the anime.

You can go anywhere in Japan and you'll find Magna books or any graphic novels on the shelves in book stores or even at the airport. The Japanese are not afraid to admit that they are a culture of geeks. And, in turn, these novels get transformed into anime by further treating them as a work of art.

This form of animation is called Japanese anime which, in many ways, is the absolute art: it remains solid in clarity and beauty, an amazing feat.

One of the finest examples of anime horror would be a psychological thriller called “Perfect Blue.”

This is a 1997 Japanese animated piece directed by Satoshi Kon and written by Sadayuki Murai. (Based on Yoshikazu Takeuchi's work). Junko Iwao provides the acting talent for Mima Kirigoe, a member of a Japanese pop-idol, all-female group called Cham.

Like so many talented singers, she follows an acting career. Or she tries to. Of course, some fans don't like her sudden decision especially a whacked out stalker named Me-Mania.

Throughout the film, the very idea of illusion and reality becomes blurred. So much that the woman lead falls into a crazy wonderland of the strange and grotesque. And yes, there are definitely some horror elements.

And what an exceptional film it is especially when it only lasts 85 minutes, being relatively short compared to standards today.

Somehow the woman lead sinks deeper into the art industry, falling into so many mirror images and finding her privacy is invaded by a stalker.

She feels like she's being followed, and her mind is fixed on this obsession of a man stalking her every step of the way. The prison she lives in becomes her prison. The room she is in becomes a hellhole.

Everywhere the crumbling mirrors and glass breaks apart around her, as if her state of mind is becoming a ruin. It's a brilliant horror film that borrows very much from the Hitchcock works.

One of the most famous scenes is the one where the woman is relaxing in the bathtub while the horror of it seems to engulf her. This is very much a woman's movie... the very idea of a woman can get lost in the sea of the city. Being dragged into all its glitz and glamor.

The animation is gorgeous with layers of complexity melting between the varies storyline, and it is if you're courting a maze of ideas that drags you down into a roller-coaster of psychological horror.

What if Alfred Hitchcock was Japanese and grew up learning the craft of anime? What would be the results? The film “Perfect Blue” would certainly be the result. This film owes greatly to the film “Psycho” with the knife-wielding motherfucker.

I really do love this anime piece and have a copy of it on my shelf. It's amazing.

According to Wikipedia, the film Perfect Blue “was critically well received in the festival circuit, winning awards at the 1997 Fantasia Festival in Montréal, and Fantasporto Film Festival in Portugal... Time included the film on its top 5 anime DVD list, and Terry Gilliam included it in his list of the top fifty animated films.”

So this film should be considered seriously by any animation enthusiast and the anime fans as

well. It would be a worthy attempt to understand, dissect and dig deeper into the story that has so much to offer. It is a psychological acid trip that will fuck your mind up!

Oh yes, it'll fuck you up for sure. But you'll enjoy it. Don't be worried. Just keep the lights on, and the doors shut, and maybe you won't be too scared of this little horror gem.

Lunch Time!
By Robert J. Meddings

I'm sure there is a lot of things a horror movie can do with chopsticks. Or Ohashi as the Japanese would call them.

Well, you could stab someone in the eye with chopsticks in a horror movie. If it's sharp enough, you can probably use one as a poison dart too.

I can't imagine anyone being asshole enough to use chopsticks this way. For the most part, chopsticks are very dignified part of the culture. You only have to learn how to use them, coax them and treat them as an extension of yourself.

There are definitely some good uses for chopsticks. And I'm here to show you how to use them.

Just try NOT to stab yourself with a chopstick like this poor soul did. (pictured, right).

Photo by Rip The Heart Out

Remember how you hold up a pen when you're writing on paper? Of course, you do! Think of it as your friendly neighborhood chopstick when you're holding it the next time.

That's basically how you hold the lower chopstick of the two. By laying down flat between your finger and thumb.

Now, here comes the tricky part. The second chopstick tends to be a little difficult to piss around with. Just hold it at a higher angle, and you should be able to hold both chopsticks with some practice.

Like the Japanese language, I've learned how to teach myself chopsticks. The best way to do this is by approaching it with a very unorthodox way: using a bowl of peas.

Yes, you should try to pick out each pea out of the bowl when you're first learning how to use chopsticks. If you want to eat the peas, that's fine too. The important thing is that you're getting some practice lifting the peas with the chopsticks.

It'll give you some skill and coordination. You'll have a lot of practice before you tackle some of the crazy stuff like noodles and rice.

It'll a while learning this. It took me about a week and a half before I became adept with the chopsticks. Then, when it comes to chopsticks, you'll be able to use them anywhere! Japan. China. South Korea. Thailand. The Philippines.

You can impress your friend with your newfound skills.

I know I did impress my Chinese friends several years ago when I was in Guangzhou, being in the southern part of China. I really felt like I belonged to the culture, being polite and decent. I also used chopsticks in Japan as well, a wonderful place of dignity, always offering very good manners. And manners are everything in Japan.

Interestingly enough, I do recall the Japanese woman Mariko Yashida from the 2013 “The Wolverine” movie when she was scolding Logan (Hugh Jackman) about his disrespect towards the chopsticks. And no, he wasn't using his claws! Snitck!

He would stab them into the food and leave them standing. She would lay them properly down on the table. The aristocratic woman, played well by Tao Okamoto, teaches Logan about manners.

A couple days ago, I read more about the attitude towards why chopsticks shouldn't be left standing in food. This reminds the Japanese of DEATH, because the chopsticks look like sticks of incense used in funerals. Now I completely understand why the woman was so pissed off about Logan's dysfunctional use of chopsticks. There's a reason for it.

So just put your mind to it, and you'll do all right. Remember they're fun to use, and can be easy once you get the drift of it. Next time, when going to a Chinese restaurant, ask the nice waitress for chopsticks. And wow your friends as you them an art form of eating food.

Now I'll paraphrase the eleventh Doctor from the Doctor Who series: “I like chopsticks. Chopsticks are cool.”

Cool they are, indeed.

Casket Remains movie review:
"Audition" (1999)
Happy Cuttings
By Robert J. Meddings

Sometimes you need a different perspective from a foreigner... to help you understand the world around you.

Sometimes you need to get a different point of view from someone on the beauty in love. That's where a film like “Audition” comes in.

It's got a different hook on everything, especially the birds and the bees. Just don't use someone like director Takashi Miike as your matchmaker.

Anyone who's familiar with Miike knows his stuff isn't for the faint of heart. Expect a lot of gore, blood and pointy things. Yes, Miike likes to play with sharp things.

His films are like a dissection of horror. And the film “Audition” is no exception. I think it's his best work to date because it feels like his most personal effort. It's the one where he actually went out of his way to create a very human story.

The film is based on Ryu Murakami's novel, and adapted into a screenplay from Daisuke Tengan. This story goes for the throat.

Best of all, Miike created something much deeper than that. The film is a psychological study on loneliness, and how much people would do to fight that loneliness. For some, like Eihi Shiina's character, they would go out of their way.

This “crippling” love story is very slow, building up a swinging mood that clocks above you like a pendulum waiting to strike at you inch by inch. It doesn't take you for a roller-coaster ride, but it nags you, sometimes cuts you with an unexpected surprise.

Make no mistake. It is an excellent horror film, and I consider it one of the best to come out of Japan. This film takes its time, and it should. No horror should be rushed.

The coldness in the people in “Audition” is purposeful, suggesting that there is much distance between them. We might go to late night clubs, or go to the local bar to get buzzed. In the end, we are always very alone with our thoughts.

How many people do you know go on the internet for dating? I admit that I have gone that route several times, without much success. Searching for the ideal woman on the computer is difficult.

So, in the end, we all become numbers. We are reduced to mere pictures and numbers and brief descriptions.

In a similar fashion, the protagonist (Ryo Ishibashi) of the film does something different by setting up auditions. Women come in to conduct interviews, being grilled with questions, ideas and thoughts. The man goes through a lot of women in the auditions, presenting themselves as the perfect woman.

Far across the horizon, the protagonist thinks he found the right women. She seems gentle, a fragile soul who is like a ballad dancer. She doesn't look like she could hurt a fly.

I'll tell you something about Eihi Shiina. She's a beautiful woman with thrusting cheekbones, a long stare in her eyes, and the frame of her features that is otherworldly. You get the idea that this girl doesn't want to tell you everything.

You get an idea of what kind of person she is. You see her apartment, all kinds of dull. You see that she is ordinary.

Yet, all the more parlaying in horror, is this bonfire of Shiina who is a monster. She keeps a man in a bag while you watch a scene with her waiting for a phone call from her potential date. It's one of the creepiest scenes I've ever seen. Sure, it scared the shit out of me too.

This girl is a different entity, a freak. When she smiles, it is like she is counting the ways to kill you slowly, and horribly.

That makes her very dangerous, and a kind of girl that you have to watch out for. You know she is terrifying from the first time you see that scene. What kind of maniac would keep a captive man in a bag? Apparently a lonely one.

This is where the film becomes psychological horror, having all the trappings of tension that beats like a throbbing heart.

A kind of love story that spills like a river of blood.

I did see “Audition” only once. It is such a masterful film that takes you on a tour guide through horror... that I really only need to see it once. Any more repeated viewings may diminish the wonderful impact the film has on me.

I do love this film. I own a copy of it. I will not watch it again.

It smashes your senses like a blunt instrument. It hits you with a glaring blow which reminds you that, yes, this is a horror film. Especially the last half hour which is a grand grandiose of macabre.

“Audition” is devised in the way of a classic horror story... an ascending struggle in mood, a rising note of discomfort and the orchestra of horror which is saved for last. It leaves you screaming, or even walking out of the room.

The blossoms from a cocoon of repulsion, ugliness and terror. The last half hour of the film might be called torture porn if it were not so deftly handled by Miike. You really don't see a lot of gore in it. You don't see gushing bursts of red.

The film penetrates the viewer's thoughts by using the imagination. I won't say much about the last chapter except that it involves piano wires and a cute girl saying, “Deeper, deeper, deeper!” Or, in her original Japanese words, “Kiri, kiri, kiri, kiri!”

Yes, indeed, the film is notorious for the horrifying final cuts, and I do mean that literally. Very few people can't flinch from these scenes, often making us feel very vulnerable. Because we are so very fragile in every way.

The film ranked number eleven on the US TV channel Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments. It received high marks as number 14 on Bloody Disgusting's top twenty movies of the 2000s. I don't even count Rotten Tomatoes website.

On the ComplexPopCulture website, authors Matt Barone and Jason Serafino put this film as number five on the top fifty most disturbing films of all time. They wrote, “...we don’t suggest checking out this movie if watching dismemberments and eye torture doesn’t bring sadistic glee to your life.”

Some people left the theaters while this film was being shown on the big screen. Some people were given barf bags. Even a horror fan, being director/musician Rob Zombie, was fucking freaked out because it got too much for him. Same goes for John Landis and Ehi Roth. That's awesome.

And yet, I don't blame any of them.

It is the technique Miike used in these scenes that shows that he doesn't have to go overboard. And that he used everything to the imagination, making it a hundred times worse for us. That's fucking with the psychology of the mind.

Did I walk out on the movie? No, I did stay. But it was very difficult to

watch. This is really more of a horror ballad. It springs a few notes, and catches you while you're falling. Or screaming.

Certainly “Audition” is one of the most bone-chilling examples of its genre, showing us that Miike is capable of true art as a director. It's a setting for mood, and we learn about the characters as they develop throughout the story, coming together in some bizarre love story.

So it's horror with a touch of sadism. I wouldn't recommend seeing this with your girlfriend or boyfriend. Not unless your significant other is into that kind of shit.

I also wouldn't recommend eating something while you're watching “Audition.” That's just an accident waiting to happen.

So “Audition” becomes representative of Japanese horror, and remains one of the most stunning ever made. More to the point... this film cuts deep, really deep.

Extra Horror Fest News:
Watch for TeytheGreat's new video "The Telepath Project" which showcases the talents of Hannah Knox from the Sweet Pea Productions and also yours truly, Robert J. Meddings in a guest appearance.

His video branches off from an original story I wrote called "The Death of Jason." I'm rather glad Teye did this. It really shows how much creativity he has.

Also stay tuned for a new video from NightFrightFigures which hits the screen on Jan. 9. It's called "NightFrightFigures DVD Reviews"! Please check it out. He gives you an idea of what his interests are when it comes to the horror and science-fiction genres.

Also HouseofKarloff1985 regularly posts videos on his channel. One of his latest videos cover the "Akira (1988) 25th Anniversary" review. Catch it on his Youtube channel.

The Horror Gallery
Feb. 11, 2014 Issue

Do you ever get that feeling that you're being followed?

Maybe you can feel the long, hard stare of someone peering at you through the forest while you take that dangerous short cut back home?

You can hear the whisper of movement catching up, like a shadow creeping along until you have to look over your shoulder. And no one's there.

The 1980s.

It's the decade of the slasher movie. Never mind it's the time of Michael Jackson, Saturday Morning Cartoons or the cold war.

It's a time when the glitter of knives and the steely grin of edges flash in the air. And the wail of screams which follow. Always the trademark. The imagery of metal tearing flesh into skin would be a staple of drive-in theaters and late night shock TV.

The very definition of “slasher” brings to mind the victim, usually a woman, being stalked by a crazed psychopath carrying a knife. Sometimes it would be set in the woods or perhaps a lonely log cabin in the middle of nowhere.

Sounds familiar?

It wouldn't be until “Friday the 13th” that the slasher film would be popularized to the gore-fest that it is known today.

I admit that I'm not a big fan of slasher movies, possibly due to the lack of characterization or the usual damsel in distress idol being in the center of the film.

Maybe it could be just mindless violence.

And yet, in the 1980s, it became a staple everywhere you went. Never mind that the slasher film may have been born with “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” but it was “Friday the 13th” which brought it to popular culture.

Everyone knows what Jason's ski mask looks like, and they always associate the machete with the near seven-foot giant with a killer streak.

Chi chi chi!

Even Arsenio Hall interviewed Jason at one time even if the conversation was one-sided!

I did like the very first “Friday the 13th” for its psychological tendencies. And it's one of those rare times when in both instances the killer and the victim is a woman.

Of course, the film industry became engulfed by the hurricane of slasher movies which terrorized the public's fears. This tidal wave of madness.

However, Jason Vorhees wouldn't be alone in his tyrannical reign in the movies. There are others who came before him.

You got Michael Myers from the “Halloween” movies who carried on the tradition of carrying a knife while stalking teenagers. Myers would go through his victims like one goes through his junk mail.

You got Freddy from “Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984) who brought fear through dreams, becoming a nightmare of horror.

Why are slasher films so popular?

I couldn't tell you why. People seem to enjoy the slasher film for different reasons: it has an exceptional body count. Maybe people get nervous when they watch ten people get bumped off like names being crossed off a Christmas list.

Double click here to edit this text.

Maybe viewers like shouting at the TV screen or the movies, “Don't go in that room!”

It could be that it's a pretty good date movie to get your loved ones to hold each other tighter on the sofa.

It's safe to be scared in your own living room.

So if you can guess the theme of this month's newsletter, you might be right. We'll be celebrating different slasher films old and new. And I'll be doing a movie review of a slasher movie that took me by surprise. And there will be, of course, the horror spotlight.

Yeah, I'll be your tour guide through the strange and impossible of slasher films, and take a nostalgic trip into the blackest night. I tend to feel that unease when the darkness can engulf the night, the moon and everything else.

Nope, gonna be no Valentine's Day newsletter this time. Not gonna happen.

Do you ever notice that slasher films tend to be grow more elaborate and extreme with every passing sequel? Yeah, that does happen a lot.

So I'll quote some sound advice from fellow geek Randy Meeks when it comes to The Rules of slasher movies:

1. You may not survive the movie if you have sex.

2. You may not survive the movie if you drink or do drugs.

3. You may not survive the movie if you say "I'll be right back," "Hello?" or "Who's there?"

Oh yes, what fun it is to ride on that gore festival of knives, girls and blood. And yet, at the end of the 1980s, it may have been considered something of a fad. Were they finally putting in the final nail to the coffin that was slasher films?

Wait until the “Scream” movies hit the screens in the 1990s.

Your host and editor,

Robert J. Meddings

The Horror News

Sightings of a Donkey!
By Robert J. Meddings, Feb. 11

Yes, it's Donkey in the news, and that's DonkeyChewingHorror. Indeed, he's come back from the grave to rejoin the rest of the human race.

I imagine him chugging his way through the dirt with a garden trowel, little by little, until he's able to break through the ground. His fingers dipping through the graveyard stench of old

stones and haggard trees.

For several months, he's forged ahead to work a couple of jobs while paying off the rent, making ends meet and getting over that financial hurdle.

Not anymore.

With one of the jobs being dropped, he'll be returning to the legendary video making that he's known for. His affinity for gore, and more gore, will see no shortage once he gives back to the community his spectral gifts of horror.

So go ahead and stop by to say howdy to him. Don't worry, he won't bite... much. Maybe he'll just kick a little. He is a donkey.

Make him feel at home on his page, and let him know that you're still around and pining for him to make a video. It's been far too long without his great videos hitting the screens. Without him around is like having a beer can without the beer.

You just need him to compliment the horror factor on the internet. He's also the original founder of the Horror clan.

Sure, he's got a warped mind. And that's why he like the guy. He's a imaginative bloke who likes to take a dance with the macabre.

We're glad to have you back again, Donkey.

Now go make a goddamn video!

Déjà Vu!
By Robert J. Meddings, Feb. 11

It's true. Yes, it's happened again.

We, as a group, decided to create the Horror Clan's group page again on the Upload Society site. It'll be an invite-only page once it gets popular enough.

For the longest time, we've been plagued by shitty-ass trolls who keep coming through this page like it's a revolving door. It seems endless. And they bring nothing to group other than general idiocy that doesn't belong here.

Every time we see a troll coming through like a rude French waiter, it's like déjà vu. Yep, it's that bad.

It's been going on for far too long now.

Teye will be piloting the groups' new page while Donkey will remain the original founder. This way, by redoing the page, it'll give Teye a better chance in getting rid of needless trolls who try to sneak their way in like dirty pests.

Of course, FrightNightFigures will be the guardsman for the group as he's on the lookout for trolls from afar.

Once the group settles into the exclusive mode, the mindless drivel of trolls will be less of a pain. We'll be able to get rid of them faster than you can swat a fart.

So fuck the trolls. Fuck 'em in the ear. Fuck 'em in the ass too. They're not wanted here since they're like a rash you don't want to itch.

We'll need to make this group page much stronger, and more positive. We're able to welcome those who are creative, thoughtful and good company. We're closing the gates to unnecessary drama.

And that's it.

If you're looking for the group, you can check out the “groups” tab at the top of your page and click on it. You can search through the number of groups pages until you find “The Horror Clan.”

Teye, as the guy in charge, has a lot of kind words to say about the current staff of the Horror Clan. It goes something like this. Take it away, Teye: “Mortalhellion - Editor and Chief of the Horror Clan newsletter. This is one thing that sets us apart from the other goups and adds a spark of greatness to the horror clan, we are all so lucky to have you on board with your masterful work. Nightfrightfigures - The Regulator. All unknown members will be checked out and must be approved by the regulator before coming into the Horror Clan... Nightfright can spot a troll a mile off. Glad he’s on our side. RussellStudio’s - our Chief in charge of all Horror Clan artwork. We are all so thankful for our banners. What would we be without those banner? [It'll] be just an ordinary channel. Donkeychewinhorror - Our original founder of the Horror Clan who without his insight on starting the clan none of us would be here as a group. Thanks Donk...”

If you have any questions, or concerns, about suspicious activity, please refer to TeyetheGreat so he can get right down to the matter.

We're here to have fun on this website. Not to bicker.

Trolls, beware.

“Get him”- Pregnant Vet's Plea as Reward Offered to Catch the Cambridge Slasher
By Raymond Brown, Jan. 7, 2014, source: www.cambridge-news.co.uk

A reward of £2,000 is being offered to snare the Cambridge slasher who left a vet scarred for life on the anniversary of her mother’s death.

Hayley Baker (pictured) was attacked a year to the day after her mother was killed in a car crash and had just returned from scattering her ashes in Guildford, Surrey, when the beast struck.

The 29-year-old veterinary surgeon was walking to her home in Hertford Street when a man ran past her and slashed her face.

Edited by Robert J. Meddings

Now the Crimestoppers charity is offering a £2,000 reward to help catch the slasher who attacked pregnant Hayley.

Speaking last night from abroad, Hayley said: “I didn’t know they were going to do that. That’s absolutely brilliant. Anything that can help catch whoever did this would be brilliant.”

The vet had to undergo surgery after the attack which left her with a scar down her cheek.

She said: “I am doing OK and the surgery has worked out brilliantly. I am holding up well and the baby is doing well too.”

Hayley was attacked as she walked home along Hertford Street at 8.30pm on Thursday, December 12, by a man wearing black.

She said: “I had just come back from Guildford where I had been with my brother to scatter my mum’s ashes. She was killed in a car crash a year before on that day – so December 12 has not been a lucky day for us.”

The knifeman – who is thought to be in his 20s – ran off into the darkness after the incident.

Detectives carried out stop checks in the street where the attack happened a week after the incident in a bid to jog the memories of potential witnesses.

The force has a dedicated team working on the investigation.

New Year Celebrations Bring Gory End
Bangalore, Jan 1, 2014, source: www.deccanherald.com

They are stabbed to death over petty issues just after midnight

Umesh Kunna, a BCom graduate unemployed youth from Muneshwara Block in Peenya, was brutally stabbed to death just outside his house over a petty dispute during the New Year party.

Police said Kunna was part of a small street gang of unemployed youth who indulged in petty crimes. They had rivalry with another gang whose members are suspected to have murdered Kunna. The rivalry was developed over playing cricket and misbehaving with girls.

Although no member of either gang was a rowdy sheeter, most of them were wanted in petty crimes. Even Kunna was an accused in attempt to murder and assault cases booked at Peenya police station.

On New Year’s eve, Kunna and his friends arranged a small party in their locality and invited the members of the rival gang led by a man named Jeevan alias Appi.

The party went on well until Kunna and Jeevan picked a fight over some old rivalry. Kunna then took out a knife and tried to assault Jeevan. But Jeevan and his sidekicks suddenly snatched the knife from Umesh and stabbed him many times in the stomach and neck, killing him instantly. The gang then fled.

Peenya police have booked a case of murder against Jeevan and others. A senior officer said that the suspects had been identified and police had certain information on their whereabouts. They would be arrested soon, the officer added.

Horror Spotlight:
Randle71

Edited by Robert J. Meddings

Randle71 needs no introduction. Actually, I'm giving him an introduction anyway. I consider him to be the best actor on Youtube when it comes to playing Jason. Way he moves like a giant, his towering height, and forceful gait, he makes an impressive Jason.

Randle71 likes playing roles in a mask, and he points out at one time that he “felt more comfortable behind the mask.” However, he did expand on other roles such as Sheriff Hoyt where he was seen without a mask.

Whether it's a wolf, the grim reaper, Jason or anything else, he's always up for the part. He has a great love for video making, and continues to show his affection for it by making cameos in other people's projects.

He's still one scary guy.

1. What are your favorite horror movies?

[Randle71] My favorite films are the Shining, The Evil Dead, and most of the Friday the 13th films.

2. Since you worked with director Shelby Knox and actors Hannah and Nate Knox on many occasions, what have you learned from them as an actor?

I've learned that I need to keep the mask on and don't speak! lol. The Knoxs are very good actors. I'm not. :)

3. Do you have a favorite outing from the Friday the 13th series?

My favorite Friday the 13th film is part six “Jason Lives”!!

4. When I watch your movies on Youtube, I feel like I'm watching a slasher movie from the eighties. Do slasher movies have a big part in the way you make movies?

80s Slasher films are the best and yes they do indeed influence our films.

5. Have you ever seen the Friday the 13th TV series which has nothing to do with Jason Vorhees? Can you comment on this TV series?

The only thing I can say about the TV series is I thought the redhead girl was pretty. :)

6. Did you know this year is the 60th anniversary of Godzilla with an American-Japanese movie coming out? Do you have any childhood memories of Godzilla?

Memories of Godzilla, yes. I remember watching the cartoon as a child.

7. Who is more scary... Jason or Leatherface?

Jason is more scarier by just a little bit. :)

8. I've read many times that you admire Tom Baker's work on Doctor Who especially since many of his episodes are homages to horror films. Why is he your favorite actor to play the Doctor on Doctor Who?

Tom Baker's Doctor Who: He's the one that I grew up watching as a child. He's just very funny and quirky.

9. Are there any future projects planned for you and the Knoxes?

Future projects we're trying to finish this Jason short film. We've been working on for almost a year. Ha ha! Who knows if we will make anything else? :)

10. What did you enjoy the most about working on the movie “Death of Jason” which you collaborated with myself?

Death of Jason - I just enjoy being out there filming being with friends and family. Oh by the way, great script, my friend. :) I loved doing all the battle scenes with Shelby and Hannah and all the killing scenes of course!

11. Do you have any hobbies other than watching/making horror movies?

Hobbies - I love NFL football and I also collect John Wayne films on DVD AND Blu ray. I also love being outside in the yard or woods. :)

12. Do you have a crush on anyone in real life or the movies?

My crush... oh yeah, Jessica Biel! She's hot as hell!!

13. Should there be another Jason movie in theaters?

A new Jason film... yes I think there should be another one. I love all the Jason films, well, part nine kinda sucked balls :)

“Die, Monster, Die!”
By Robert J. Meddings

Who's more scary in the movies?

Jason, Leatherface, Michael Myers or Freddy? They all have their cinematic presence, and towering height in fear.

They all have something else in common.

The inability to fucking die! What's up with that? No matter how many times you put them down like a dog, they keep coming back like a bad penny. They just don't stay down!

Look at those fuckers! I bet they're partying like they're going downtown while racking up the scores! I bet they're comparing how many victims they've bagged... look at the picture to the right and tell me they don't enjoy a good laugh over it!

How many times have Jason died since he got his supernatural powers? Well, enough times to fill a cemetery. And they do offer an interesting explanation in the movie series as to why this guy keeps cropping up from the grave.

That's why we'll never see the end of Jason.

Now, Michael Myers is also known as the Bogeyman in the original “Halloween” movie, a reference to such a being who lives in darkness. A being who can't ever die.

In the first outing, as you remember, Myers has been shot half a dozen times by Dr. Loomis with a revolver. None of which seems to extinguish the Bogeyman who vanishes like a shadow in the night.

So Michael Myers have some inherent skill to avoid death like the plague, never seeming to die in consequential films. What the fuck's up with that?

Perhaps Michael Myers, like Jason, has found a way to miss the first class ride to hell itself, forever wandering the eternity. Were they rejected by hell? Were they cast out by heaven? So now they must walk the earth for the rest of their unnatural lives?

Didn't Freddy die a number of times in his movies, never finding the time to meet his maker? Instead he laughs at death while claiming more teenager souls like the sick fuck he is. Freddy comes back to haunt everyone over and over again.

Always invading people's nightmares. So this guy Freddy might be the most perverted of the horror icons group. Of course, that's debatable.

I don't even recall Leatherface ever dying in any of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies. Though you could help me with that one. Did he? I don't know.

Maybe I'll turn to resident expert on Leatherface... Nate Knox who has played Leatherface several times on Youtube. Maybe he's got an answer, eh? Knox says, "Leatherface is a bad dude. And misunderstood but that's another story. He isn't indestructible like Jason. He can and has been injured. He surely can be killed. That's why I like the character."

The supernatural element of each character here might be a tad overused to the point where the plot breaks. However, being in the 1980s, the slasher films were a box office success, and they're going to keep bringing the bad guys.

We do love our bad guys, don't we?

Well, if they did kill off the main bad guy, there couldn't make any more movies. So they have to devise a way to keep bringing him back no matter how far-fetched the idea.

Yes, sir, that's how the supernatural explanation must come into play.

It could be possible that these different entities could come from the same family. Might be possible they all are bred with the gene that causes them to stave off death. You can kill them a hundred times, a thousand, and it doesn't do any good.

Or maybe they found the Holy Grail and hurried off with it?

So the next time you're watching a slasher movie, count how many times the bad guy dies. It might be interesting to note that he's got more lives than a cat.

If you're going to do a supernatural explanation, then you will have to come up with an idea as to why they keep coming back.

I might postulate an idea that the killer's blade, his knife, might be a catalyst for the reason why the killer keeps coming back. His knife, or machete or anything else might be the tool to keep the bad guys alive...

It is like a singing tool of blood, soaking up the life energy of the victims and passing it on to the likes of Jason or Myers. It's a plausible explanation. If you're looking for a supernatural reason.

So part of what makes them scary is that you don't understand the killing... that these terrifying icons are the gods of war. They relish in the blood-letting, and swim in the rivers of red in their movies. Only to come back into the pool of death again.

It's this cold-hearted superstition in horror that drives the darkness in the slasher movies. Knowing that your enemy will never falter, you have to keep running for your life.

You really don't need to go back to the basics when devising a slasher movie since the basics are already there: You can't kill evil. It's as simple as that. It's like you're trying to kill the devil.

No matter how hard you try, it's not going to happen. You can't bump off evil. Just ask Leatherface, Freddy, Myers or Jason.

You just can't kill evil. This storm of violence is an oncoming horror. It keeps pressing darkness away. How can you stop darkness when there's never enough light?

So we return to the fatal question at the start of the article. Who's more scary? Is it Jason, Leatherface, Freddy or Myers? Well, I got a nifty answer for you.

They're all pretty scary!

Jason Randle was good enough to send me along this photo. It was one of two pictures sent to me.

The other one was a picture of Jason in a mist of flames which was pretty cool. I chose this one to show the gigantic sense of humor that our good pal Jason has with the clown...

This picture could definitely garner a caption: "Jason on a Bad Day... Could only get worse!"

Casket Remains movie review:
"You're Next" (2011)

"What a Cut-Up!"
By Robert J. Meddings

Every once in a while, a film comes along and breaks the mundane chain of the stereotypical. No doubt slasher films have its share of copycats.

One such film that caught me off-guard completely by surprise was “You're Next” from Lionsgate Films productions.

Actually, I never saw the movie in the theaters, being a late-comer. I always heard good things about it, and good folks were raving left and right about it. I know that NightFrightFigures gave the movie 5 out of 5, and Mike of DonkeyChewingHorror loved it to pieces.

And yet, I never went out to see it. Not for the longest time. Though part of it might be due to the low income, having a lack of job. I suppose all my time is put into looking for work, missing all the good times.

Well, that's not entirely it. I think it was part of the mind-set I had about this type of film, kept thinking to myself, “It's another one of those slasher movies.”

Boy, I couldn't be more wrong.

I bought the movie for really cheap a few weeks ago, wanting to spend the evening while watching a movie I haven't seen before. Eating some Asian food while keeping my eyes glued to the TV.

“You're Next” was that movie.

Now it started out as a typically violent way of picking off the helpless victims like someone blowing out the birthday candles.

Then there's that 1977 song "Looking for the Magic" by the Dwight Twilley Band which I couldn't get out of my head!

Yet, as I watched the film, I grew impressed with the way the plot unravels... showing the complexities that rises above the usual slasher flick. It was so layered with interesting plot leads that it was almost like a Whodunnit mystery.

The story hooked me, and the bizarre family plot reminds me of Machiavellian play where there's so many traps, backbiting, and backstabbing along the loved ones.

The film “You're Next” is a treat treat.

While I do agree with some critics who stated the film could be funnier, I'm not sure how much funnier it could get because of the grimness of the film's relentless murder mayhem. Well, some critics complain that the acting isn't very good.

Well, piss on the critics. I loved the fact “You're Next” takes the familiar conventions of the slasher film and takes it to another level. It sticks to you like a knife to a gut wound. And make you realize... oh yeah, I didn't see that coming.

It's a wicked plot.

I loved that the film makes me think, and the filmmakers took me on a little tour guide to one of the most bizarre families in America

So the story is so interesting that you'll be worrying about who's next.

Yes, that's the lovely and delicious Barbara Crampton playing the mother of the family, Aubrey Davison. She's so lovely in her older age, looking like a doll, that the make-up artists had to apply make-up to her so she could look like someone in her fifties.

She's best known for the Re-Animator movie which gave her fame in the “getting head” scene. Crampton isn't given much to do in the film, but she's a delight to see since she's not done movie in ages. She's a welcome sight.

By the end of this film, you realize that's more of a mystery show than a horror film. Or it's a combination of both. Well done!

Now I want to talk about the lead role in the film.

They were able to find the right woman for the part, athletic, strong and none too coy. Sure, she's a normal girl. And that's why you're led to believe that she could be any one of the possible victims in the film.

Sharni Vinson plays the lead role of Erin, finely lined features with a flourish of dark hair that stretches like midnight. There's more to her than meets the eye.

After the dinner scene, you realize that she has a dark past that she never told anyone. And it's a great twist for a woman character which I really love. She's not a bad girl... just a strong, feisty woman who can take charge through all the hellish carnage.

Vinson's character reminds me of another woman character from the excellent Joe R. Lansdale story “Incident On and Off a Mountain Road.” The girl in that story is able to hold her own against a beast of a man... and using her surroundings to her advantage.

She was an able opponent for the creepy Moon Face who roams through the forest like a human hound. I see a lot of this character in Erin as well played by Vinson (pictured below right).

We, as the audience, learn that Erin has a dad who was a survivalist nut. That's an important part of the story which weighs in the psychological tension of the film. And adds another page to the possible crazy side of Erin.

You'll know what I mean if you saw this movie already. There are times when I think she's fucking crazier than the family is. So yeah, she's what you would call a femme fatale.

She's not the type of girl who's going to lay down and take a beating.

There's a kitchen scene when she takes a blender to a guy's brains, giving them a whirl, and drives a knife into a woman's head straight from the top. Then tell me if you don't think Erin is fucking nuts too.

So there's that idea of putting a psycho nut in a group of people who are already nuts to begin with. And that shakes things up a bit. Exploring Erin's character is a great way to understand the person's will to survive.

Plus, she's a badass.

She's fucking hot too!

Yet, it might be the very nature of the human animal. It's the will to survive, and this is what the film is about. How to avoid being “next.” This is what lures me into the story, exploring the savagery of the primal rage.

Seeing someone like Erin and placing her in a modern world... you wonder if she's really fit to stroll around with other people. Though she does know how to take care of herself.

I did enjoy the performances of A. J. Bowen as as the asshole brother Crispian Davison and Nicholas Tucci as the bigger asshole brother Felix Davison. I must include Wendy Glenn who's great as another femme fatale Zee, a Gothic queen.

I think they all did great jobs, and also must add that I do like the idea of keeping the killers masked throughout the whole of the film. I think it's far more creepy without knowing what the murderers look like.

I don't know if “You're Next” reinvented the slasher genre like “Scream” did in the 1990s, but it does play around the conventions very much. The number of plot twists make it a lot of fun.

There's a great bit with the delayed cell phone message finally getting through to the police. And it fits very nicely into the end of the story.

“You're Next” debuted in 2011 at the Toronto International Film Festival, opening up in public theaters afterward. The film did receive generally positive reviews from critics and audiences alike.

Is it a good date movie? Maybe it is. Is it a good movie for a horror fan to see? Yes, I think so.

So I do like the film for its alarming creativity, and it's a good payoff at the very end of the film... which I'm not going to reveal to you. So it does take a lot of twists and turns just like you're going into a crazy maze of secrets.

What secrets are these? Who are the culprits. And why does that damn song “Looking for the Magic" keeps going and going in a loop in my head?

Am I being a good boy for suggesting you should go see this movie? Probably not. It's pretty violent. Though that's typical coming from America. Wow, a good movie from the States!

Between you and me, I think you ought to see it whether you might like it or not. Heh. Heh. Go ahead, check it out. What can be worse?

Don't worry. You might be next!

Extra Innings
Addition to the Newsletter:
By Robert J. Meddings

We got a growing community right here in the Horror Clan group page. So far, we have 23 members, and 40 videos added. And it's still growing.

We're already a few places from the first page again.

There's a few newbies in the horror clan, and some of them can do with an introduction. My friend Wade Walker just opened up his page recently. He's worked with me before playing my alter ego in "The Impossible Killer." I plan to work with me on two more videos this year. I'm looking forward to it.

Another new member is someone called Floridakisses3, and here she is in her own words:

"I may not know much about what to do here yet, but I'm a horror fan through 'n through. I myself worked in the horror field for close to over ten years...in a haunted theme house. First it was the Greenhouse of Fear where I met the crew from Jackass and Michael Jackson was honored to walk through as well. Now it's called Nightmares. I'm not working this year... I am taking a brake but they are open for Valentine's Day as a valentine horror house. I will place the website when I remember and if I feel safe. I was a witch for two years, a vampiress in a coffin for a number of years, a tour guide, a victim and lastly but least a deranged nurse in a morgue where I stood in a morgue set up in a field by myself waiting for groups to come in a hayride to walk in our horror houses. Was not easy a lot of drunks grabbing noses and other parts, but overall fun. Well that's a little about me"

So go ahead and say hi to her.

And now, I'll add one last thing for those who are big fans of slasher films. And there are many good ones you can check out on the Youtube or Upload Society websites.

TeyetheGreat did a couple of slasher videos that are connected to each other. The most recent one is called "To Kill a Bogeyman" which is a great piece about a copycat killer.

You can check out on Randle71's page a slasher film he worked with the Knoxes called "Crystal Lake" which still has my vote for the most gruesome death thanks to Nate Knox's participation.

You can check out the film "Leatherface" which is on Nate's page 77leatherface77, a nice homage to one of the most recognized icons from Texas Chainsaw Massacre. No doubt Nate is phenomenal in playing his favorite horror character Leatherface... complete with a real chainsaw.

There is a great short movie called "The Whispering Mask" which comes from South Korea from all places! And I really do like Asian horror very much, and it's nice to see some easterners participating in making short films for wider audiences. It's definitely a slasher movie.

Sure enough, even I made a venture into the slasher film with "The Impossible Killer" which explores the psychological horror of a man coming to terms with his alter ego. This is one of my favorite efforts.

So there are definitely a lot of crazy people out there making slasher films. It's cheap, fun and delivers a lot of great scenes. We're so lucky to have a lot of great independent filmmakers.

Until Next Time...
By Robert J. Meddings

Her name is Béatrice Dalle from the French film "Inside". She's pictured on the right side above. She's a certifiable nut, a slasher girl you don't want to get on the wrong side. Heh, heh. So she's got a fondness for sharp things as you can see here.

You can call her Miss Nice Girl too!

PM me when you want to shoot me an email. Best way is send me a message through my page on Upload Society, and it'll be the easiest way for me to get your horrifying confessions!

I hope I don't bump into any monsters in a dark alley somewhere! What is that creepy laugh I keep hearing in the back of my house?

The Horror Gallery
March 8, 2014 Issue

Boom! Boom! BOOM!

Those giant footsteps trample buildings and houses like they're cardboard boxes, wrecking the city with a monster's greeting.

It welcomes the city with fire, throwing the people into despair as it creates a wall of flames which spills everywhere.

Boom! Boom! BOOM!

The the recognizable wail comes from the two million year old dinosaur who tears the place apart with savage hands. It is a beast who glowers, stomps and throws an angry fit. Tokyo, Japan once again falls victim to the stampede.

Godzilla would come home again, and again.

If any of you good folks have seen a Godzilla movie, and I'm sure you have, I figure you know exactly what I'm talking about. The giant monster smashing the city with a mean streak.

Maybe you saw a movie like this when you were a kid, or maybe you passed over some when you were an adult.

Even if you haven't seen a Godzilla movie, you know what it is. This giant monster is a pop icon.

This month Horror Gallery celebrates the milestone of Godzilla who hits sixty years next month. While on March 2, the original “King Kong” movie in all its stark savagery celebrates its eighty-first birthday, being a bit older. The only difference is that Godzilla lays claim to a long-running series.

Damn, these monsters are getting really old, aren't they? Maybe Godzilla's next movie should be set in a nursing home! He could get angry and smash up a nursing home, making mince-meat out of it! Now, that'll make a pretty good story.

So what does any of this has to do with horror, you might ask me?

Well, a lot!

The very idea of Godzilla starts out with an atomic bomb going off, echoes of destruction taking lives and turning cities into dust. Screams of countless lives wakes Godzilla from his long sleep only to wreck havoc on humanity.

Godzilla creates wreckage which turns Tokyo upside down very much like the damning horror which took the life of Hiroshima. You also have the sorrowful horror hanging over memories of Nagasaki and the Lucky Dragon 5. Such things still haunt the Japanese people in the 1950s... And this giant lizard is a living reminder of a nuclear bomb walking around.

So, yeah, Godzilla is a horror story for sure.

Just watch the very first Godzilla movie from 1954 directed by Ishirō Honda, being the original Japanese version, and you'll see it's one of the most stellar examples of horror. The monster looks terrifying in it, burning buildings and twisting trains into pretzels.

It is such a sordid destruction that there are definitely horror elements in the countless deaths involved. You'll only have to see the scene with the people laying in refuge camps like abusive victims from a very abusive relationship involving a two hundred foot monster.

I still consider 1954's “Godzilla” to be one of the finest films ever made, reminding us of how small we are on this planet earth. How could you go wrong with a monster movie?

Whatever else, the film inspired a number of monster films creating the longest serving series with a giant lizard in cinema history. It ran for twenty-nine movies, and another one coming along this year directed by Gareth Edwards. This giant lizard has been a busy actor.

So the original Godzilla was pretty scary. There was another film called “Giant Monsters All-Out Attack” where the jolly green giant looked a helluva lot more sinister. Those pale, white eyes makes him look visibly scary, making him none too friendly. Damn, he was frightening in that one.

I'm certain those white eyes without the pupils, looking like cosmic storms, scared little kids. It was good to see the Millennium series returning Godzilla to his roots by making him a horrifying presence.

There are so many things that pays homage to the Godzilla monster... you might recall the recent film “Pacific Rim” which owes a great deal to the monster mayhem. Hell, the film even dedicates itself to Ray Harryhausen and Ishirō Honda who has left giant footprints in movie-making. Honda was the grandfather to Godzilla, creating his legacy.

I also wrote a recent story which pays tribute to Godzilla for the sixtieth anniversary. Yep, Godzilla doesn't look a bit old, does he? I guess that radiation keeps you young, eh? It is called “Kaiju,” which is a Japanese word for monster movies.

My own tribute was written in three parts, being point-of-views from a comic book (Magna) seller, a telepathic girl and a solider with a big beef with Godzilla.

I guess it's my own way of saying “thank you” to the giant monster, doing 30,000 words of homage. I thought it turned out rather good, enjoying the different views from each character in a motif inspired by William Faulkner.

So there you have it. This mighty, monstrous issue of The Horror Gallery speaks for itself. The entire issue will be dedicated to the big guy, and we'll jam-pack it with plenty of facts, details. Everything is going to be larger-than-life, believe me.

For the very first time, I'll have a very special guest writer Byron Orlock from the HouseofKarloff1985 channel who will be contributing the history of the movie series. Orlock is far more knowledgeable about this stuff than I am, so I'm glad he's on board to give us a overview of the Godzilla mythos.

We'll have a giant-sized interview with four Horror Clan members, including myself, discussing their views, topics and interests. Maybe we might have some disagreements, but we all love the Big Guy!

So when you hear earthquakes approaching, and the building starts to shake, it might be a good idea to run for your life!

So I'll catch you the next time. Enjoy this massive issue that makes a huge departure, and maybe you might find out a thing or two about the Big Guy. What's not to like? He's big, green and spits fire all over the place. Wouldn't you like him for a friend?

Er, um, maybe...

Your Host,
Bobby Meddings

The Horror News Edited by Robert J. Meddings

Godzilla trailer: new footage of 2014 film released
By Rachel Stewart
6:05PM GMT 25 Feb 2014
Source: /www.telegraph.co.uk

This week has seen various teasers for the upcoming Godzilla film released online, leading up to today's second full trailer. First there was a new poster, showing a retreating Godzilla towering over an apocalyptic cityscape, followed by a rather disappointing international trailer, which included the same footage as the first trailer, released at the end of last year.

On Monday Empire magazine's front cover revealed the first full-length image of Godzilla. Gareth Edwards, the film's British director, told the magazine: "Trying to get the face right was the main thing. I guess he's got more of a bear's face, or a dog's. We also used eagle. There's a lot of nobility in an eagle. It made him feel very majestic and noble."

Later on Monday Legendary Entertainment released an audio clip from the $160 million film, allowing fans to hear Godzilla's roar for the first time, and today the much-anticipated trailer with new footage was released.

Godzilla opens in UK cinemas on May 16 in 3D, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen Juliette Binoche, David Strathairn and Bryan Cranston.

Editoral note added from Wikipedia: The film is a co-production of Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures and will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures worldwide, except for Japan where it will be distributed by Toho. It is the second Godzilla film to be fully filmed by an American studio, the first having been the 1998 film of the same name.

Obits: Harold Ramis: “Ghostly Frights and Laughs”
By Robert J. Meddings

It's an easy thing to be overshadowed, and that's exactly what happens here. One of the most established comedians Harold Ramis (pictured far right in photo) passed away on February 24, 2014.

Since the Godzilla movie will come out in less than a month, it is almost certain that Ramis will be completely forgotten already. It's unfortunate this should happen.

So let's recap some of the things he's done.

Some of us may not realize he's done a lot more than just appear on the screen. He did a lot behind-the-scenes stuff as well.

His writing and directing credits include golden oldies such as Caddyshack (1980) and National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) and who can forget the wonderfully surreal film Groundhog Day (1993) which stars Bill Murray? You may see Ramis in an early movie role in “Stripes” playing alongside... Bill Murray again.

Damn, he did a lot of stuff.

Ramis contributed greatly to the series SCTV, in which he was a lead writer. He also performed on both TV and in films as usually the quiet comedian who rarely hogs the spotlight. He was also one of the writers for the film National Lampoon's Animal House (1978).

For me, I would always remember him in the two big movie productions “Ghostbusters” (1984) and its sequel as the braniac member of the team Egon Spengler. He played a very affable character both times.

He is delightfully a father figure, always slightly older, but also a mentor to his colleagues. The film “Ghostbusters” broke new ground for comedy by being a blockbuster horror film as well.

So you want a comedy, who are you going to call? Harold Ramis!

Gruesome murder of students in Yobe
By Wale Odunsi on February 25, 2014
Source: http://dailypost.com

Five young boys laid in a pool of their blood. It appears the students throats were slit. Some others were shot, according to sources.

DailyPost report that Islamic militants from the Boko Haram sect carried out the attack early Tuesday morning, has been confirmed by the military.

It said the incident took place on “student hostels” but has yet to give further details.

Teachers at school told the AP news agency that as many as 40 students had been killed.

Reacting, Yobe military spokesman Captain Lazarus Eli told AFP early Tuesday afternoon that “Details are still sketchy due to lack of telephone access, and it is still not clear how many students were affected in the attack.”

As at the time of filing this report, effort to reach Capt. Eli to get the actual death toll proved abortive as calls to his mobile line went unanswered

The incident occurred hours after President Goodluck Jonathan defended the army’s record, saying it had achieved some successes against Boko Haram.

He said the militants had been contained to a small area of north-east Nigeria close to the border with neighbouring Cameroon.

Since the beginning of the year, Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, three states under emergency rule have witnessed killing of at least 500 lives.

Dozens killed in China knife attack
By Press Association, 1 March 2014 7.03pm. Updated: 2 March 2014 1:58am.
Source: www.sundaypost.com

The Xinhua News Agency did not identify who might have been responsible for the attack at the Kunming railway station in Yunnan province, but said authorities considered it to be "an organised, premeditated, violent terrorist attack".

In an indication of how seriously authorities viewed the attack, one of China's deadliest in recent years, the country's top police official, Politburo member Meng Jianzhu, was on route to Kunming, the Communist Party-run People's Daily reported.

The violence in Kunming came at a sensitive time as political leaders in Beijing prepared for Wednesday's opening of the annual meeting of the nominal legislature where the government of President Xi Jinping will deliver its first one-year work report.

A Xinhua reporter on the scene in Kunming said several suspects had been "controlled" while police continued their investigation of people at the station. The reporter said firefighters and emergency medical personnel were at the station and rushing injured people to hospitals for treatment.

The authorities said five suspects were shot dead but that their identities had not yet been confirmed, Xinhua reported. Overall, 28 people were confirmed dead and 113 injured, it said.

Horror Spotlight:
Godzilla

Edited by Robert J. Meddings

Wanting something out of the ordinary, I thought it would be fun to do an interview with as a group effort. In the first part of the interview, I ask three different Horror Clan members different questions: NightFrightfigures, TeyetheGreat and Byron Orlock from HouseofKarloff1985. In the second part, Horror Clan extraordinaire Teye ask me a few questions in return.

All in all, I thought it worked out really well. As you'll see my questions will be in yellow and everyone else's are in their respective colors. Roll it out...

1. If you were in charge of a Godzilla movie, what kind of monster would you have him fight? It can be anything from giant spiders to scorpions... what monster would you have him battle?

[NightFrightFigures] Megalon to fight Godzilla.

[HouseofKarloff1985] If I were in charge of making a Godzilla movie I would come up with the concept of having him fight a cross between the following insects... The body of Aspiga (The Giant Spider from Son of Godzilla) The wings and flight ability of Kamacurus (The Giant Mantis from Son of Godzilla) mixed the speed with the legs from a Black Scorpion and defense with the poisonous tail.
(I realize that this is similar to MegaGuirus but this concept is WAY COOLER!!!)

[TeyetheGreat] I think a rematch with King Kong is in order. Godzilla has become too big for his britches and King Kong has been the only one to whoop his ass. So Godzilla needs to get this monkey off his back and prove he is the absolute badass on the planet again and the rumor is King Kong says, "Bring it".

2. Do you have a favorite childhood memory of Godzilla?

[NightFrightFigures] The movie I remember most as a child it’s Godzilla vs Megalon also had Jet Jaguar in it.

[HouseofKarloff1985] My fondest childhood memory of Godzilla was in October 1980 when I was almost six years old at the time is when I saw 1974's "Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla" on Boston's Creature Double Feature that ran on WLVI 56 ( North Boston ) from 1973 to 1986.

Being a Star Wars fan and obsessed with robots I thought MechaGodzilla was the COOLEST thing I had ever seen in my life, The design of him reminded me a Giant Samurai Warrior going into a final battle for the last time against an onslaught of opponents...

The only scenes that scared me is when the MG broke Anguirus' jaw and when Godzilla tore off his Cyborg opponents head. At my age I had never seen anything like that before and I was hooked on the Big guy.

[TeyetheGreat] Yes, the movie "Destroy All Monsters" was one of my all time fav's... I wanted to watch that one over and over. It really made me love those monster movies.

3. Why do you think Godzilla is labeled “king of the monsters”? Why is it that Godzilla still resonances today? Why he is still so popular ever after six decades?

[NightFrightFigures] Home team player Godzilla was he protected Japan’s. That’s his place.

[HouseofKarloff1985] Personally I feel that Godzilla is the "King of The Monsters" because despite the overwhelming odds when faced with multiple opponents and is on the verge of death He STILL KICKS ASS & TAKES NAMES while earning the respect of the other Kaiju.

He resonates today because in this era of All countries ready to NUKE each other off the map because some feel their ideas are better than others and what we need to do is put aside our differences and in the words of the late Rodney King "Can't We All Just Get Along?"

The best way to describe why Godzilla is still so popular after 60 years is best summed up by Raymond Burr's speech in the U.S. version of The Return of Godzilla aka Godzilla: 1985: "Nature has a way sometimes of reminding man of just how small he is. She occasionally throws up the terrible offspring of our pride and carelessness to remind us of how puny we really are in the face of a tornado, an earthquake or a Godzilla. The reckless ambitions of man are often dwarfed by their dangerous consequences. For now, Godzilla, that strangely innocent and tragic monster, has gone to earth. Whether he returns or not or is never again seen by human eyes, the things he has taught us remain."

[TeyetheGreat] The Japanese people loved him so and they wanted to make him a star. They saw he had a small following and they had a base from which to make him bigger than life. Little did they know he was going to be as big as he was they thought, "Yeah we can make a small profit on this lizard."

4. Do you prefer Godzilla as the good guy like so many of the 60s and 70s movies? Or do you prefer him as a bad guy like so many of the movies from the mid-eighties to the 1990s or the Millennium series?

[NightFrightFigures] Only Godzilla would protect Japan.

[HouseofKarloff1985] To me Godzilla from the 1960's through the 1970's was an interesting idea and unfortunately some fans are still divided over this and when he entered his Bruce Lee / Kung Fu era that drove a lot of fans CRAZY... When Ishiro Honda came back to direct 1975's Terror of MechaGodzilla to make him serious again it was too late.

When Godzilla came back in 1984 for his 30th anniversary to me it was the right time to remind people of the 1980's in the threat of Nuclear Annihilation between the U.S. & Russia his message of being a metaphor resonated the political climate of the times.

His return to being an Anti-Hero defending his homeland in 1989 with Godzilla vs Biollante was good idea and no matter how bad the plots of the 90's films were and recycling plots from the 60's movies they were enjoyable...

As far as the Millennium films go Godzilla's personalty goes it ranges from Savior to Atomic Menace because all of them were direct sequels to the 1954 Gojira.

[TeyetheGreat] I have grown fond of him being the good guy even though he was terrific as the mean motherfucker.

5. Would you visit Japan to see the old Godzilla stomping grounds? (Or “Gojira” as the Japanese would pronounce it!)

[NightFrightFigures] I would fly to Japan to see where all the scenes were done and yell “Godzilla” out loud!!!

[HouseofKarloff1985] The answer is HELL YES!!! If I ever had the time and money I would love to visit each area that Godzilla went to... Maybe someday need to add that to my Bucket List.

[TeyetheGreat] Yes, I would to visit Japan and get the big guy's autograph.

AND NOW...

[TeyetheGreat] What was your fav villain that Godzilla battled?

[Robert J. Meddings] That's a tough question because there are so many brilliant battles. I thought the battle between Godzilla and Biollante was really good because they're so evenly matched. You got a giant plant and a giant lizard going at each other. That would be my favorite battle because it's so very original.

I must admit that I think King Ghidorah is the most frightening creature because he's more powerful than Godzilla is. So anyone versus Ghidorah is okay in my book!

[TeyetheGreat] When the new Godzilla movie comes out what are you hopes that they will do with the new Godzilla?

[Robert J. Meddings] Don't fuck it up! That's my hope with this new movie.

If they fuck it up, I'll get Godzilla to stomp on them and eat them like pretzels! Then he can take a huge radioactive dump on them too!

I've already noticed that they're doing a remake of the 1954 version which doesn't make me happy at all. I prefer original stories because there are a hundred thousand stories out there waiting to be told, and the American studios decide on doing a remake. Such arrogance. Current director Gareth Edwards says in an interview, “It's an origin story.” That says it all.

I'll still see the movie because I want to reserve my opinion of it. I just hope they have an interesting new villain and an original story. Though we might as well throw in the towel. Fuck remakes. We'll just have to see what happens...

[TeyetheGreat] Who does Godzilla better the Americans or the Japanese?

[Robert J. Meddings] The Japanese does it much better. It's their creation, and they do make many interesting new stories such as you see in the Hensei series in the 1990s and also the Millennium series. So it's the Japanese who should keep making Godzilla movies, not Americans.

It's the same as America trying to do Doctor Who back in 1996 which was fucking awful. I think McGann was a great Doctor, and the TARDIS set was awesome. I think the story was piss. Keep the British doing Doctor Who in England where is should be.

Just like keep making Godzilla in Japan where it should be. Americans needs to keep their damn mitts off everyone else's property!

“King of the Mountain”
By Robert J. Meddings

He's right at the top. Seems like it, doesn't it? Who knows why he's such a pop icon? He's right up there with Michael Jackson, the Beatles and Betty Crocker.

Anyone understands the iconic image of Godzilla in a heartbeat: his mighty, towering figure hovering over Tokyo, a bully who gets his kicks out of beating up little people.

And yet, he stretches the imagination of so many people, and you'll be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't know who Godzilla is.

Who wouldn't know who Godzilla is? Unless you're a damn Commie!

He's in a fuckofalot of merchandise. First, it's the movies. Then it's toys, comic books, novels, TV show cartoons, and so on. For a Big Guy, he gets around a lot.

There's even a song about him by Blue Oyster Cult, a metal riff that bounces between cheers and hoorahs as the band sets a tune while screaming, “Oh no, they say he's got to go/Go go Godzilla!/Oh no, there goes Tokyo/Go go Godzilla!” It's a great tribute to the giant wrecking machine.

The popular image of Godzilla stretches far and wide in the media landscape, reaching the far corners of everyone's imagination. There's an amateur filmmaker

Marv Newland who made a short cartoon in 1969 called “Bambi Meets Godzilla.” Which is hilarious.

You may have seen it before on late night TV film festivals well before the days of the internet. If not, you might want to check it out on Youtube. It's worth the trip.

So wherever you go in the publishing world, Godzilla is most likely there. The cultural impact Godzilla makes is certainly catastrophic.

I remember Godzilla from way back when I was probably six years old. Yes, it's that long ago. Many a weekend I catch a Godzilla flick on a Saturday matinee on TV. Why not? There are worse ways to spend the afternoon.

When I was kid, Godzilla seems to make the world much bigger for me.

Honestly, I don't remember the first movie I saw with Godzilla in it, but I'm sure it's one of the Honda films from the original series. Though it's badly dubbed for the Saturday afternoon viewing pleasure. (In my older years, I come to apprecaite the original voices instead).

Highlights might be the costumed goofballs colliding into each other like earth-shattering clashes. As a fire-breathing monster who can move kingdoms, Godzilla was like a force of nature to me when I was a wee boy.

What kid wouldn't like to be Godzilla?

So here's a chance for a kid to be large, gigantic and making noise while he becomes a whirlwind of destruction. I couldn't tell you how many times I spent an afternoon building a city out of cardboard boxes only to be trampled on in the end.

What kid wouldn't like that shit?

He's such a pop icon that anyone can recognize the reptile giant from miles away.

Godzilla became a pervasive presence in the entertainment field while leaving a trail of footsteps. You can feel his presence... literally.

There's even an old Nike's commercial where Godzilla plays football with a rather oversized NBA player Charles Barkley.

Godzilla throws on a pair of shades. What the fat fuck? They look good on him though.

Though Godzilla loses the game in the damn commercial. In my version, Godzilla would simply stomp on Barkley before turning the entire city into ruins. That's my version, and I stick by it. At least they're pals in the end of the commercial.

If I'm not mistaken, Godzilla has a footprint in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Yep, he's making tracks. It gives you an idea of how popular he is, being so recognized. What a fine superstar he is!

What's my earliest memory of Godzilla? I do remember getting a toy figure of him from the Shogun Warriors toy-line back in the late seventies. It was licensed by Mattel Inc. Mostly, they were giant robot machines with neat designs and a great array of weapons.

As I kid, I chose Godzilla (pictured, right) to take back home. Well, it's Godzilla! He comes with a tongue that looks like fire and has a detachable fist that shoots out like a missile. Who the fuck's idea was that? I don't remember him ever shooting his fist or fist-fucking anyone in his movies.

There were plenty of complaints about it from the parents. I was once hit in the face by the spring-action fist. Not a lot of fun. I remember throwing on some Masking tape to make sure it stayed on, then painting the tape green afterward. Not a bad job for a kid.

My cousin got himself the Rodan creature from the same toy-line, which was also cool because he had a giant wingspan. The red color was spastic too.

I don't remember what happened to my Godzilla toy. I can only bet mommy deary sold it at the rummage sale. When I was walking around window-shopping at the Wizard World convention six years ago, I saw the toy was being sold for $200. That was outside the box. On EBAY, the fucker is being sold for $2,500 still intact inside the box.

Good going, mom.

So Godzilla is everywhere. He prevails in all forms of media from comic books to video games, bumper stickers to magnets. I'm betting there are people who have a Godzilla tattoo! Godzilla puts a stamp on everything.

You can't go anywhere without seeing the giant monster. And what a monster he is! There's been a Marvel Comic book series that ran for two years back in the late seventies in which I remember very well.

Several more comic book runs were made including the current IDW Publishing which sparked several mini-series and at the moment an ongoing saga. You can tell that Godzilla makes a big splash in comics.

He's even got his own theme song which has been around for sixty years now. From the Japanese composer Akira Ifukube, the music gave an orchestrated sense of doom. And it fits the savage character to the tee.

Since then there were numerous variations of the theme including one scored by Neil Norman and his Cosmic Orchestra in the late seventies. Maybe the music might sound a little different, but it's always recognizable.

So you get the idea.

Godzilla is a force to be reckon with in the movies.

We're treated to a gallery of monsters thanks to the Godzilla series, and the world of imagination ripples with tremendous mish-mash of destruction and horror. And the films capture this approach every time.

So yeah, if you get Godzilla mad, he's going to fuck up everything. And he might even step on your car.

Godzilla always make that poignant statement in Japanese culture, and he remains a milestone in the media on both sides of the Pacific. If you hear him make his shrill cry, you know it's Godzilla coming.

I can imagine the kids in Japan shouting, “Are wa oni desu!” Which means “That's a monster.” And Godzilla is certainly one. In each and every one of us, we always have an inherent curiosity for monsters.

It's been a monster movie bash for six decades now. Twenty-nine movies later, and hundreds of destroyed buildings, Godzilla is still going strong.

I don't think he'll be going anywhere soon!

So say Happy Birthday for the big fella. Maybe he might light all the birthday candles with a ball of fire? Sixty years old and counting. Not bad for a monster who expected only to star in one movie in the mid-fifties.

Today he's still serving us the same scares after all this time.

Keep stomping away, Godzilla. You're making waves.

Special Guest Writer

Byron Orlock

"Godzilla’s 60th Anniversary and How the World Has Changed Since His Debut "
By Byron Orlock

In November 1954 Gojira was released by Toho Pictures Limited, A Sobering look at life in Post-War Japan. The brainchild of Ishiro Honda, Eiji Tsuburya, and Akira Ifukube created a story about a Centuries Old Prehistoric Creature awakened from its slumber only to wreak havoc on Japan leaving a wave of death & destruction.

Now first things first, this will be a somewhat detailed synopsis of each movie,

They will be focusing on my personal thoughts on each entry in the series focusing on The Era’s of Showa, Heisei and the Millennium. And with some help from Wikipedia of course…

Now onto the first Era of Godzilla which is the Showa which ran from 1954 to 1975,

When producer Tomoyuki Tanaka was coming back to Japan after his meeting with an Indonesian Film Company for a film project that had fallen apart, As the story goes he was looking out his airplane seat window staring at the ocean wondering to himself “What if a Giant Monster that had been asleep for centuries only to be awakened by a Nuclear Blast to wreak havoc on Tokyo??”

Now when he got back to Toho Studios in Japan he immediately contacted Science fiction and horror novelist Shigeru Kayama was hired to write the original story, the story went through several drafts before it was handed over to The screenplay was written by Takeo Murata and Ishiro Honda. In Kayama's draft, originally entitled Kaitei ni-man mairu kara kita daikaijû (lit. "The Giant Monster from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"), and then later renamed G-Sakuhun (lit. Project G, with the G standing for the English word for Giant), Dr. Yamane was the antagonist and was seen as a mad scientist wearing a cape who lived in a gothic style house.

Godzilla's first appearance was to have him rise from the sea at night and destroy a light house. This was an obvious homage to The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. Murata and Honda altered and changed a few things from Kayama's draft and added new elements, like the love triangle between Emiko, Ogata, and Dr. Serizawa. Dr. Yamane was changed from a mad scientist to an acclaimed paleontologist who seeks to study Godzilla rather than destroy him. Godzilla itself was changed from Kayama's initial wild beast that came ashore to feed on live animals.

The opening scene of the Eiko Maru being obliterated by Godzilla's first attack and later scenes of survivors of other attacks being found with radiation burns were inspired by the U.S. testing of a hydrogen bomb on Bikini Atoll. A real Japanese fishing ship, the Lucky Dragon 5, was overwhelmed when the U.S. Castle Bravo nuclear test had a yield of 15 megatons rather than the planned 6 megatons. Military personnel, island natives and several Lucky Dragon 5 crew members, persons believed to be in a zone of safety, suffered from radiation sickness and at least one died six months later. This created widespread fear of uncontrolled and unpredictable nuclear weapons, which the film makers symbolized with Godzilla.

The actual event played a major role in drawing attention to the hazards of nuclear fallout, and concerns were widespread about radioactively contaminated fish affecting the Japanese food supply.

When a Japanese fishing boat is attacked by a flash of light near Odo Island, another ship is sent to investigate only to meet the same fate, with only a few surviving. On Odo Island, a village elder blames their poor fishing on a sea monster known as "Godzilla" and recalls that in earlier times native girls were sacrificed to appease the giant sea monster. Word gets out and a helicopter arrives on the island with curious, but skeptical, reporters. Frightened natives perform a night-time ceremony to keep the monster away. However, that night, while the natives sleep, a storm arrives and something else comes with it, bringing death and destruction. A boy sees the cause during the midst of the destruction.

The next day, witnesses arrive in Tokyo. Archeologist Kyohei Yamane suggests that investigators be sent to the island. On arrival, Yamane finds giant radioactive footprints, and a trilobite. When an alarm sounds, the villagers arm themselves with sticks and various weapons and run to the hills, only to be confronted by Godzilla, who is revealed to be an enormous dinosaur-like creature. After a quick skirmish, the villagers run for safety and Godzilla heads to the ocean.

Yamane returns to Tokyo to present his findings and concludes that Godzilla was unleashed by a nuclear explosion. Some want to conceal that fact, fearing international repercussions. Others say the truth must be revealed. They prevail and Godzilla's origins are announced to the public. Ships are sent with depth charges to kill the monster. When that fails, Godzilla appears again, frightening patrons on a party boat, and causing nationwide panic. Officials appeal to Dr. Yamane for some way to kill the monster, but Yamane wants him kept alive and studied.

Meanwhile, Emiko, Yamane's daughter, decides to break off her arranged engagement to Yamane's colleague, Daisuke Serizawa, because of her love for Hideto Ogata, a salvage ship captain. Before she can do that, Serizawa tells her about his secret experiment. He gives a small demonstration, using a fish tank in the lab. Shocked, Emiko is sworn to secrecy and never gets a chance to break off the engagement. That night Godzilla climbs from Tokyo Bay and attacks the city. Though the attack is over quickly, there is much death and destruction. The next morning, the army constructs a line of 40-meter electrical towers along the coast of Tokyo that will send 50,000 volts of electricity through Godzilla, should he appear again. Civilians are evacuated from the city and put into bomb shelters.

As night falls, Godzilla does indeed attack again. He easily breaks through the electric fence, melting the wires with his atomic breath. A bombardment of shells from the army tanks has no effect. Godzilla continues his rampage until much of the city is destroyed and thousands of civilians are dead or wounded. Godzilla descends unscathed into Tokyo Bay, despite a squadron of fighter jets' last-ditch attack.

The next morning finds Tokyo in ruins. Hospitals overflow with victims, including some with radiation poisoning. Witnessing the devastation, Emiko tells Ogata about Serizawa's secret Oxygen Destroyer, a device that disintegrates oxygen atoms and organisms die of asphyxiation, and that it accidentally created a new energy source. She hopes that the two can persuade Serizawa to use it to stop Godzilla.

When Serizawa realizes Emiko has betrayed his secret, he refuses, and Ogata and Serizawa fight and Ogata receives a minor head wound. As Emiko treats Ogata's wound, Serizawa apologizes, but he refuses to use the weapon on Godzilla, citing the public bedlam his weapon could cause. Then a newscast shows the devastation Godzilla has caused. Choirs of children are shown singing a hymn.

Finally realizing this, Serizawa decides he will use the weapon once and then its secret must be destroyed for the good of humanity. He then burns all his papers and research. Emiko breaks down and cries when she sees this, as she understands that Serizawa is sacrificing his life's work and himself to stop Godzilla.

A navy ship takes Ogata and Serizawa to plant the device in Tokyo Bay. They don diving gear and descend into the water, where they find Godzilla at rest. Ogata returns to the surface as Serizawa activates the device. Serizawa watches as Godzilla die then tells Ogata to be with Emiko. At the cost of his own life, Serizawa cuts his own oxygen cord so his knowledge of the device cannot be used to harm mankind. A dying Godzilla surfaces, lets out a final roar, and sinks to the bottom before completely disintegrating.

Although the monster is gone, those aboard ship mourn the unexpected loss of Serizawa. Godzilla's death has come at a terrible price and Dr. Yamane believes that if mankind continues to test nuclear weapons, another Godzilla may appear again one day.

Godzilla's climactic attack on Tokyo was meant to exemplify a rolling nuclear attack, like Hiroshima and Nagasaki, only much more slowly. Honda had plotted it this way, having been shocked by the real devastation of those cities.

The film initially received mixed to negative reviews in Japan. Japanese critics accused the film of exploiting the widespread devastation that the country had suffered in World War II, as well as the Daigo Fukuryū Maru (Lucky Dragon) incident that occurred a few months before filming began. Ishiro Honda lamented years later in the Tokyo Journal, "They called it grotesque junk, and said it looked like something you'd spit up. I felt sorry for my crew because they had worked so hard!

However as time went on, the film gained more respect in its home country. Kinema Junpo magazine listed Gojira as one of the top 20 Japanese films of all time, while a survey of 370 Japanese movie critics published in Nihon Eiga Besuto 159 (Best 150 Japanese Films), had Godzilla ranked as the 27th best Japanese film ever made.

Now when the film was successful the executives at Toho immediately green lit a sequel which several fans of this franchise are divided over almost 60 years later…

In Godzilla Raids Again released in 1955, two pilots named Shoichi Tsukioka and Koji Kobayashi are hunting for schools of fish for a tuna cannery company in Osaka. Kobayashi's plane malfunctions and is forced to land near Iwato Island, an uninhabited strip of rocks formed by volcanic eruptions. Tsukioka then looks for Kobayashi and finds him safe, with only a wrist sprain. While talking, the two men hear some strange sounds and find two monsters fighting. Tsukioka immediately recognizes one of the monsters to be Godzilla. The two monsters then fall off a cliff, into the ocean.

Tsukioka and Kobayashi report to the authorities in Osaka, and find out that the other monster Godzilla was fighting is

Anguirus. A group of scientists with the two pilots research Anguirus in a book written by a Polish scientist. Godzilla and Anguirus lived around the same time millions of years ago, and there was an intense rivalry between the two monsters.

Archaeologist Kyohei Yamane, who experienced Godzilla's attack in 1954, is also present at the meeting, and shows a film (composed of clips from the 1954 film) of the original Godzilla attacking Tokyo. He confirms that this Godzilla is a second member of the same species, and that it and Anguirus were probably brought back to life by the same hydrogen bomb tests that awoke the original Godzilla.

Yamane states that there is no way to kill Godzilla, and that Daisuke Serizawa, the inventor of the Oxygen Destroyer, had died and burned the formula. Yamane, though, suggests that the military should use flares on Godzilla to attract the monster away from the shore. Godzilla becomes angry when he sees lights because the hydrogen bomb's bright explosion had awakened and mutated him.

Godzilla arrives on the shore of Osaka. While a blackout of all city lights is enforced, jets are sent to shoot flares from their planes to lead Godzilla away from the shore. Godzilla sees the flames, and, as Yamane predicted, starts to leave.

Meanwhile, a prison truck transports dangerous criminals to another part of the country. All of the criminals, using body language, convey to each other that the cover of darkness caused by the city's blackout provides a great opportunity to escape from prison. The prisoners beat up the two policemen guarding them inside the truck, and run away. A few of them find a gasoline truck, and use it to escape. The truck crashes into an industrial building and starts a massive fire.

The fire, much brighter than the planes' flares, attracts Godzilla back to the shore of Osaka. A few minutes later, Anguirus swims to shore and attacks Godzilla. The two creatures fight an intense battle, while destroying several buildings, including the tuna cannery that Tsukioka and Kobayashi work for. In the course of the battle, the criminals are drowned in the subway when it is flooded by the thrashing of the two monsters. Godzilla finally bites Anguirus's neck, and throws him upside down into a moat near Osaka Castle. Godzilla then fires his atomic ray at Anguirus, burning him to death in the ruins of the famed castle.

Tsukioka and Kobayashi are transferred to a Hokkaido plant. During a company party, Tsukioka and Kobayashi are notified that Godzilla destroyed one of the company fishing boats. The military and Tsukioka begin a massive search for Godzilla. Tsukioka spots Godzilla swimming to the shore of a small, icy island. He notifies the cannery, and Kobayashi takes off in his plane to switch shifts with Tsukioka.

Kobayashi dives his plane towards Godzilla to distract him from walking back into the ocean. Tsukioka, who has transferred to the air force,travels on a jet with an old college friend. They drop bombs on Godzilla but are unsuccessful. Godzilla then wades towards shore. Kobayashi dives towards Godzilla again but Godzilla fires his atomic ray on Kobayashi's plane. The plane then crashes on an icy mountain, killing Kobayashi.

Tsukioka is devastated but realizes that the military can shoot missiles at the mountain, and bury Godzilla in an avalanche, thereby freezing him to death. The jets fire their missiles, and bury Godzilla in snow and ice up to his waist.

The jets return to base to reload, and Tsukioka is authorized to fly in his own jet. The jets return to the icy island, only to find that Godzilla is digging his way out of the previous avalanche. They fire a fresh round of missiles at the mountain, triggering a new avalanche, burying Godzilla up to his neck. Tsukioka then fires his own missiles, burying Godzilla completely, thereby finishing the job. The men return home and receive the homage of a grateful nation, and Tsukioka and the woman he loves are at last able to go forward with their lives in peace.

Unfortunately the film was a major disappointment due to the fact that the characters are EXTREMELY BORING AS HELL, Also when the monsters are off screen the film comes to A SCREECHING HALT… Plus Eiji Tsuburaya’s FX Team wasn’t given enough time to “Fine Tune” the SFX and there were problems with one of the high speed cameras resulting in the monster battles looking something out of a Benny Hill skit from the 1960s. (CUE THE “YAKETY SAX” THEME)

Now after a 7 year hiatus it was decided to bring back Godzilla from his hibernation just in time for Toho’s 30th Anniversary Celebration in 1962 with new foe… King Kong

Mr. Tako, head of Pacific Pharmaceuticals, is frustrated with the television shows his company is sponsoring and wants something to boost his ratings. When a doctor tells Tako about a giant monster he discovered on the small Faro Island, Tako believes that it would be a brilliant idea to use the monster to gain publicity. Tako immediately sends two men, Sakurai and Kinsaburo, to find and bring back the monster from Faro Island.

Meanwhile, the American submarine Seahawk gets caught in an iceberg. Unfortunately, this is the same iceberg that the mutant dinosaur Godzilla was trapped in by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces back in 1955, and the submarine is destroyed by the monster. As an American rescue helicopter circles the iceberg, Godzilla breaks out and heads towards a nearby Arctic military base, attacking it. The base itself is ineffective against Godzilla. He continues moving inland, razing the base to the ground, and sends the tank armory up in flames. Godzilla's appearance is all over the press, making Tako furious.

On Faro Island, a giant octopus attacks the native village. The mysterious Faro monster is then revealed to be the giant gorilla, King Kong and he arrives and defeats the octopus. King Kong then drinks some red berry juice, becomes intoxicated, and then falls asleep. Sakurai and Kinsaburo place Kong on a large raft and begin to transport him back to Japan. Back at Pacific Pharmaceuticals, Tako is finally glad because Kong is now all over the press instead of Godzilla. Mr. Tako arrives on the ship transporting Kong, but a JSDF ship stops them and orders them to return Kong to Faro Island. Godzilla had just come ashore in Japan and destroyed a train, and the JSDF doesn't want another monster entering Japan. Unfortunately, during all this, Kong wakes up from his drunken state and breaks free from the raft. Reaching the mainland, Kong meets up with Godzilla in a valley. Tako, Sakurai, and Kinsaburo have difficulty avoiding the JSDF to watch the fight. Eventually they find a spot. Kong throws some large rocks at Godzilla, but Godzilla shoots his atomic breath at Kong's chest, forcing the giant ape to retreat.

The JSDF desperately tries everything to stop Godzilla from entering Tokyo. In a fielded area outside the city, they dig a large pit laden with explosives and lure Godzilla into it, but Godzilla is unharmed. They next string up a barrier of power lines around the city filled with 1,000,000 volts of electricity (300,000 volts had been tried in the first film, but failed to turn the monster back). The electricity is too much for Godzilla, who then moves away from the city towards the Mt. Fuji area. Later at night, Kong approaches Tokyo. He tears through the power lines, feeding off the electricity which seems to make him stronger. Kong then attacks Tokyo and holds Fumiko, a woman from a train and Sakurai's sister, in his hand. The JSDF explodes capsules full of the berry juice from Faro Island and knock out Kong, while Fumiko's boyfriend Kazuo rescues her. The JSDF then decides to transport Kong via balloons to Godzilla, in hope that they will fight each other to their deaths.

The next morning, King Kong is dumbo-dropped onto the summit of Mt. Fuji from the balloon air-lift, meets up with Godzilla, and the two begin to fight. Godzilla has the advantage at first, eventually knocking Kong down with a vicious drop kick, and battering the gorilla unconscious with powerful tail attacks to his forehead. When Godzilla tries to kill Kong with his atomic breath, an electrical storm arrives and revives Kong, giving him the power of an electric grasp.

The two begin to fight again, with the revitalized Kong swinging Godzilla around by his tail, shoving a tree into Godzilla's mouth, and judo tossing him over his shoulder.

The brawl between the two monsters continues all the way down to the coastline. Eventually the monsters tear through Atami Castle and Kong drags Godzilla into the Pacific Ocean. After an underwater battle, only King Kong emerges from the water and begins to slowly swim back home to Faro Island. As Kong swims home, onlookers aren't sure if Godzilla survived the fight, but speculate that it was possible.

The film had its roots in an earlier concept for a new King Kong feature developed by Willis O'Brien, animator of the original stop-motion Kong. Around 1960, O'Brien came up with a proposed treatment, King Kong vs. Frankenstein, where Kong would fight against a giant version of Frankenstein's monster in San Francisco. O'Brien took the project (which consisted of some concept art and a screenplay treatment) to RKO to secure permission to use the King Kong character. During this time the story was renamed King Kong vs. the Ginko when it was believed that Universal had the rights to the Frankenstein name (they actually only had the rights to the monster's makeup design). O'Brien was introduced to producer John Beck who promised to find a studio to make the film (at this point in time RKO was no longer a production company).

Beck took the story treatment and had George Worthing Yates flesh it out into a screenplay. The story was slightly altered and the title changed to King Kong vs. Prometheus, returning the name to the original Frankenstein concept (The Modern Prometheus was the alternate name of Frankenstein in the original novel). Unfortunately, the cost of stop animation discouraged potential studios from putting the film into production. After shopping the script around overseas, Beck eventually attracted the interest of the Japanese studio Toho. Toho had long wanted to make a King Kong film and decided to replace the Frankenstein creature with their own monster Godzilla. They thought it would be the perfect way to celebrate their thirtieth year in production.

John Beck's dealings with Willis O'Brien's project were done behind his back, and O'Brien was never credited for his idea. In 1963, Merian C. Cooper attempted to sue John Beck claiming that he outright owned the King Kong character, but the lawsuit never went through as it turned out he was not Kong's sole legal owner as he had previously believed.

Special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya was planning on working on other projects at this point in time such as a new version of a fairy tale film script called Kaguyahime (Princess Kaguya), but he postponed those to work on this project with Toho instead since he was such a huge fan of King Kong. He stated in an early 1960s interview with the Mainichi Newspaper, "But my movie company has produced a very interesting script that combined King Kong and Godzilla, so I couldn't help working on this instead of my other fantasy films. The script is special to me; it makes me emotional because it was King Kong that got me interested in the world of special photographic techniques when I saw it in 1933."

Eiji Tsuburaya had a stated intention to move the Godzilla series in a lighter direction. This approach was not favoured by most of the effects crew, who "couldn't believe" some of the things Tsuburaya asked them to do, such as Kong and Godzilla volleying a giant boulder back and forth. But Tsuburaya wanted to appeal to children's sensibilities and broaden the genre's audience. This approach was favored by Toho and to this end; King Kong vs. Godzilla has a much lighter tone than the previous two Godzilla films.

And contains a great deal of humor within the action sequences. With the exception of the next film, Mothra vs Godzilla, this film began the trend to portray Godzilla and the other monsters with more and more anthropomorphism as the series progressed, to appeal more to younger children. Ishirô Honda was not a fan of the dumbing down of the monsters. Years later Honda stated in an interview.

"I don't think a monster should ever be a comical character." "The public is more entertained when the great King Kong strikes fear into the hearts of the little characters." The decision was also taken to shoot the film in a (2.35:1) scope ratio (Tohoscope) and to film in color (Eastman Color), marking both monsters' first widescreen and color portrayals.

Toho had planned to shoot this film on location in Sri Lanka, but had to forgo that (and scale back on production costs) because they ended up paying RKO roughly $200,000 (US) for the rights to the King Kong character. The bulk of the film was shot on Oshima (an island near Japan) instead. The movie's production budget came out to ¥5,000,000. Suit actors Shoichi Hirose (King Kong) and Haruo Nakajima (Godzilla) were given a mostly free rein by Eiji Tsuburaya to choreograph their own moves. The men would rehearse for hours and would base their moves on that from professional wrestling (a sport that was growing in popularity in Japan), in particular the movies of Toyonobori.

During pre-production, Ishirō Honda had toyed with the idea of using Willis O'Brien's stop motion technique instead of the suitmation process used in the first two Godzilla films, but budgetary concerns prevented him from using the process, and the more cost efficient suitmation was used instead. However, some brief stop motion was used in a couple of quick sequences. One of these sequences was animated by Koichi Takano who was a member of Eiji Tsuburaya's crew.

A brand new Godzilla suit was designed for this film and some slight alterations were done to his overall appearance. These alterations included the removal of his tiny ears, 3 toes on each foot rather than four, enlarged central dorsal fins and a bulkier body. These new features gave Godzilla a more reptilian/dinosaurian appearance.

Outside of the suit, a meter high model and a small puppet were also built. Another puppet (from the waist up) was also designed that had a nozzle in the mouth to spray out liquid mist simulating Godzilla's fire breath. However the shots in the film where this prop was employed (far away shots of Godzilla breathing his fire during his attack on the Arctic Military base) was ultimately cut from the film.

These cut scenes can be seen in the Japanese theatrical trailer. Finally a separate prop of Godzilla's tail was also built for closeup practical shots when his tail would be used (such as the scene where Godzilla trips Kong with his tail). The tail prop would be swung off screen by a stage hand.

The King Kong suit for this film has widely been considered to be one of the least appealing and insipid gorilla suits in film history Sadamasa Arikawa (who worked with Eiji Tsuburaya) said that the sculptors had a hard time coming up with a King Kong suit that appeased Tsuburaya. The first suit was rejected for being too fat with long legs giving Kong an almost cute look. A few other designs were done before Tsuburaya would approve the final look that was ultimately used in the film.

The suit was given two separate masks and two separate pairs of arms. Long arm extensions which contained poles inside the arms for Hirose to grab onto and with static immovable hands was used for long shots of Kong, while short human length arms were added to the suit for scenes that required Kong to grab items and wrestle with Godzilla. Besides the suit with the two separate arm attachments, a meter high model and a puppet of Kong (used for closeups) were also built. As well, a huge prop of Kong's hand was built for the scene where he grabs Mie Hama (Fumiko) and carries her off.

Suit actors Shoichi Hirose (King Kong) and Haruo Nakajima (Godzilla) were given a mostly free rein by Eiji Tsuburaya to choreograph their own moves. The men would rehearse for hours and would base their moves on that from professional wrestling (a sport that was growing in popularity in Japan) in particular the movies of Toyonobori.

During pre-production, Ishirō Honda had toyed with the idea of using Willis O'Brien's stop motion technique instead of the suitmation process used in the first two Godzilla films, but budgetary concerns prevented him from using the process, and the more cost efficient suitmation was used instead. However, some brief stop motion was used in a couple of quick sequences. One of these sequences was animated by Koichi Takano who was a member of Eiji Tsuburaya's crew. Eiji Tsuburaya and an octopus wrangler work with a live octopus among the miniature huts.

For the attack of the giant octopus, four live octopuses were used. They were forced to move among the miniature huts by having hot air blown onto them. After the filming of that scene was finished, three of the four were released. The fourth became special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya's dinner.

Along with the live animals, two rubber octopus props were built, with the larger one being covered with plastic wrap to simulate mucus. Some stop motion tentacles were also created for the scene where the octopus grabs a native and tosses him.

Overall this was a fun film and despite the Campy overtone and the Kong suit looked like it was covered in “Wet Matted Dog Hair” and Godzilla looked a little too “Kid Friendly” the SFX were a little disappointing despite Tsuburaya and his FX crew had been doing this for a while the model work and matte paintings were pretty good.

Now after the film being a hit in Japan there would be no rest for Godzilla with the next chapter in the franchise…1964’s Mothra vs. Godzilla

News reporter Ichiro Sakai and photographer Junko Nakanishi take pictures of the wreckage caused by a typhoon, uncovering a large reptile scale in the debris. Later that day a giant egg is discovered on the shore. The local villagers salvage it, and scientists come to study the egg.

While Sakai and Junko try to ask Professor Miura, one of the scientists, questions about the egg, an entrepreneur of Happy Enterprises named Kumayama scurries the scientists off and explains that he has bought the egg from the local villagers. Instead of letting scientists study the egg, Kumayama wants to make it into a large tourist attraction. Sakai, Junko, and Professor Miura are disgusted and believe that Kumayama has no right to keep the egg.

While the three are discussing the egg at a hotel, they discover Kumayama checking in. Sakai wonders if somebody else may be working with Kumayama and investigates the matter. Kumayama meets with Jiro Torahata, the head of Happy Enterprises.

As the two are discussing the billion-dollar tourist attraction the egg represents, two tiny twin girls known as the Shobijin, interrupt them. The Shobijin explain that they are from Infant Island and that the egg belongs to their god Mothra, who lives there. Torahata and Kumayama ignore the girls' pleas and try to capture them. The Shobijin escape the room and meet with Sakai, Junko, and Professor Miura outside the hotel. The girls beg them to bring the egg back too and the three promises to try as hard as they can to bring the egg back to Infant Island. The girls explain that if the egg is not returned, a larva will hatch and will cause destruction to its surroundings as it searches for food. When confronted by Sakai, Junko, and Miura, Kumayama offers to buy the Shobijin, disgusting Junko, Miura, and Sakai.

The Shobijin leave even though they could not get the egg back and thank Sakai, Junko, and Miura for their kindness. Sakai tries to write editorials but they fail due to lack of public interest. When the scale is found to be radioactive, the three test for radioactivity in an industrial area where it was found. The mutant dinosaur Godzilla suddenly emerges from Kurada Beach, where he had been blown ashore by the hurricane and buried under mud, and begins to attack Nagoya.

The editor of Sakai's newspaper believes that the military cannot do anything against Godzilla and discusses it with Sakai and Junko. Jiro, another reporter who loves to eat eggs, walks in and suggests that Mothra might be able to defeat Godzilla. Sakai and Junko are skeptical that the Shobijin would agree because atomic testing had destroyed most of their island, and they had failed to return the egg to them.

The two go to Infant Island anyway with Professor Miura. They are captured by the local villagers and are brought to the tribe’s chief. The three ask for assistance but, as expected, are refused because of the atomic testing and Japan's failure to return the egg.

The Shobijin are heard singing and everyone walks towards them. Sakai, Junko, and Miura ask the Shobijin for Mothra's assistance but they are also turned down. Junko then pleads to all the villagers that not everyone from Japan should be accused for what happened to their island. Godzilla is killing everyone and refusing their country assistance is wrong. Sakai then adds that "we're all human" and that everyone is connected and must help each other. Mothra's screech is soon heard and the Shobijin ask everyone to follow them. They convince Mothra to help Japan and the people that live in it, but the monstrous insect is old and weak. Even if Mothra defeats Godzilla, she will die.

The next day, Kumayama barges into Torahata's room and demands Torahata give him his money back that Torahata had recently swindled from Kumayama. They fight and eventually, Torahata is defeated by being punched in the mouth, and is bleeding. Kumayama crawls into Torahata's money cabinet and begins to steal the money from it. Torahata wakes up and sees Godzilla approaching the hotel. He then grabs a gun and shoots Kumayama in the head, killing him. Torahata is killed while escaping with his money when Godzilla destroys the hotel.

Godzilla walks towards the egg and tries to destroy it until Mothra shows up. The two fight a tough battle where Mothra seems to have the upper hand. While on the ground, Godzilla fires his atomic breath into Mothra's face and mortally injures her. Mothra dies with her wing resting on top of her egg while Godzilla walks away. The Shobijin then explain to Sakai, Junko, and Miura that the egg can be hatched today and begin to sing.

Meanwhile, the military tries to fight Godzilla by electrocuting him with "artificial lighting" but failed. Godzilla then melts the tanks with his atomic breath. The Shobijin continue singing and Mothra's egg finally hatches with not one, but two Mothra larvae.

The larvae follow Godzilla to Iwa Island and use their silk spray on Godzilla to trap him, sending him into the sea. The Mothra larvae and the Shobijin celebrate and return to Infant Island.

Now many fans consider this to be the highlight of the Showa films where Tsuburaya’s FX team is top notch with a highly designed suit and model work with the Mothra puppet that was combined with slow and fast camera speeds creating an exciting effect.

With the success of Mothra vs. Godzilla it was decided to give the King of The Monsters a new enemy that would transform his image from “Atomic Menace” to “Defender of The Earth” …

In Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster Police released in 1964, Detective Shindo (Yosuke Natsuki) is assigned to guard Princess Selina Salno of Selgina (Akiko Wakabayashi) during the Princess' visit to Japan, due to a suspected assassination plot. Although Shindo is smitten with Selina's photograph, her plane never makes it to Japan, as it is destroyed by a bomb en route.

At exactly the same time a meteorite shower draws the attention of Professor Murai (Hiroshi Koizumi), who along with his team of scientists strikes out into the wilderness to examine the largest of the meteors, which has magnetic properties.

To Shindo's surprise, the supposedly deceased Selina turns up in Japan, without her royal garb (including the golden bracelet that proves she is heir to the throne of Selgina), claiming to be from the planet Mars (in the English dub), and preaching to skeptical crowds of forthcoming disaster. To their surprise however, her prophecies begin coming true. First she predicts Rodan, thought dead in the eruption of Mt. Aso, will emerge from Aso's crater. Subsequently, none other than Godzilla will arise from the sea and destroy a ship. Both of these events transpire.

In the meantime, Selina's uncle (Shin Otomo), who was behind the assassination attempt, learns of her survival and sends his best assassin Malness (Hisaya Ito) to Japan to dispatch the Princess and steal the golden bracelet. Malness and his henchmen are stopped by Shindo, who was warned of their attempt by the Shobijin (Emi and Yumi Ito), who were in Japan appearing on a television show. The Shobijin had been scheduled to return to Infant Island aboard the ship sunk by Godzilla, but opted not to go after overhearing Selina's prophecy. A further attempt by the assassins is thwarted when both Godzilla and Rodan attack the city and engage in battle, forcing everyone to flee.

Convinced that Selina is insane, Shindo takes the Princess to see a renowned psychiatrist, Dr. Tsukamoto (Takashi Shimura), in the hopes of curing her. However, Tsukamoto can find nothing wrong with her, mentally or physically. He concludes she must therefore truly be possessed by a Martian as she claims.

As if emboldened by the doctor's diagnosis, Selina reveals her final prophecy—that Mars' once thriving civilization was destroyed by an evil, golden three-headed dragon named King Ghidorah, and furthermore that Ghidorah himself has already arrived on Earth. No sooner has she revealed this than Professor Murai and his colleagues at the meteor crash site receive a nasty surprise—the

"meteor" is actually an egg, which hatches into the fearsome King Ghidorah. Ghidorah begins razing the countryside.

To combat the combined threats of the three monsters, the Japanese government enlists the aide of the Shobijin to summon Mothra. Upon arriving on the Japanese mainland, Mothra attempts to persuade the quarreling Godzilla and Rodan to team up against the evil alien (which is translated to the humans by the Shobijin) but both refuse, with Godzilla stating they have no reason to save mankind as both he and Rodan "have always had trouble with men and men hate them" which Rodan agrees too. Despite Mothra stating that Earth belongs to them as well and that it is their duty to defend it, Godzilla and Rodan still refuse (with Godzilla apparently swearing at Mothra) and the pair refuse to forgive each other, wanting to continue their fight. Unable to convince them and despite being vastly overpowered, Mothra calls the pair of them "bullheaded" and resolves to fight Ghidorah by herself. Mothra engages Ghidorah and is continually blasted by his gravity beams. Luckily for Mothra, Godzilla and Rodan; impressed by her courage and selflessness; arrive to help and a titanic battle against Ghidorah begins. Meanwhile, Shindo and Dr. Tsukamoto are forced to protect Princess Selina as Malness and his men converge on Tsukamoto's clinic; they fend the killers off and escape into the mountains as the dueling monsters draw closer, so they can watch the battle from a safe distance.

The assassins attempt to follow, but a stray blast from Ghidorah buries their car in an avalanche. Only Malness remains uninjured enough to continue. He attempts to snipe the Princess from an elevated position, but only injures her. In her pain, she regains her memory and is no longer possessed by the Martian. Before Malness can take another shot, another stray blast from Ghidorah buries the assassin under a second avalanche. With the heroes thus saved from the human menace, they gather at a safe distance to watch the battle between earth's monsters and Ghidorah. After now gaining a clear advantage over Ghidorah, the three monsters coordinate their attack; Godzilla grabs hold of Ghidorah's tails while Mothra (riding on Rodan's back) sprays the three-headed dragon with her silk. Finally, Godzilla throws the alien beast off the cliff and the battered dragon flies off, back into outer space.

As Mothra and the Shobijin return to Infant Island while Godzilla and Rodan go their separate ways. Selina, having retained the memories of her time with Shindo, bids farewell to her guardian as she meets her bodyguards at the airport to return home.

Now personally I thought this entry was very interesting with its mix of “James Bond & Roman Holiday” combined with the monster action keeps the viewer highly entertained and rarely slows down for the viewer to catch their breath.

After this film was a hit, the brass at the studio decided to bring Ghidorah back this time with a little help from American Actor Nick Adams (1932-1968)

(Rebel Without A Cause- 1955, TV’s The Rebel 1958 to 1962 and 1965’s Frankenstein Conquers The World aka Frankenstein vs. Baragon- 1965)

In Invasion of Astro-Monster released in 1965, the film begins I n the late 1960s, a two-man spacecraft, crewed by a Japanese and American (Fuji and Glenn), approaches Jupiter's orbit to explore the newly discovered Planet X. The planet maintains a position directly behind Jupiter, leaving its surface in twilight, with just enough light to make it possible to navigate its surface.

After landing and disembarking, one of the astronauts and the ship vanishes, leaving the other to wonder where they have gone. Suddenly, a flat voice comes over the communications link and instructs the lone astronaut down into subterranean corridors to the office of the Controller of Planet X, where he finds his shipmate.

The spacecraft is safe, the controller assures them and indicates that their location is about to be attacked. The astronauts recognize the attacking monster is King Ghidorah, the three-headed space dragon. The astronauts lose contact with the Controller, but afterwards they are assured that Ghidorah, known to the Xians as Monster Zero, is gone.

The Controller asks for Earth's help: they want to capture Godzilla and Rodan, known to the Xians as Monster Zero-One and Monster Zero-Two. In return, Planet X will gift humanity with a wonder drug that can cure all diseases. The astronauts agree to return home with the proposal. As they lift off, they say on the radio to the Controller, "We're glad we found friends on Planet X."

Meanwhile, Fuji's sister's boyfriend, Tetsuo, has invented a personal alarm he thinks women could use if they're attacked. It creates an extremely loud noise that can be heard for a long distance. Tetsuo wonders, though, why no one is interested in buying it. Eventually, a Miss Namikawa makes an offer to buy the alarm as an educational device, though she keeps putting Tetsuo off on completing the deal. In truth, her boss wants the device and the plans destroyed.

Fuji and Glenn tell their superiors about the offer from Planet X. Scientists begin searching for Godzilla and Rodan. The Controller of Planet X suddenly makes an appearance on Earth, and both Glenn, who is dating Miss Namikawa and Fuji both become suspicious of Planet X. The Controller apologizes for his unannounced presence and offers to help locate the two monsters. Two Planet X spacecraft rapidly deploy to capture the two monsters.

Glenn, Fuji and Dr. Sakurai are invited to accompany the Controller back to Planet X, a trip that takes only a few hours; the Controller says that soon they'll be able to travel at the speed of light. When they reach Planet X, there is an immediate attack by Ghidorah, and the two monsters from Earth are released to battle him. Ghidorah is driven off and the Controller is extremely happy. He presents the astronauts with a box he says contains the formula for the miracle drug. He also gives the three men duplicate of their spaceship so they can fly home.

Back home the box is taken to a special meeting and in it is found a reel-to-reel tape. It is loaded to play, but when the speakers remain silent for a long period, some wonder if the systems are compatible. Finally, after a beep a voice states, "I am the controller of Planet X. To the people of the Earth. I command that you obey the following orders..." It is an ultimatum to surrender to Planet X or be destroyed by all three monsters.

The Xians soon arrive and destroy the gift spacecraft. They also threaten to release King Ghidorah, Godzilla and Rodan. Overly confident, the Xians show the world how they control the monsters through magnetic waves.

The Earth scientists know they can exploit this information and work rapidly to find a way to disrupt the waves. Meanwhile, Earth's armies fight the three monsters with conventional weapons as they destroy much of Japan.

Tetsuo, is unhappy his device is not being used, and he is unable to get Miss Namikawa to tell him what's happening. He decides to follow her, but is captured by Planet X soldiers. Glenn eventually discovers Miss Namikawa is from Planet X and all their women are virtually identical. Fearing what he knows, the Xians arrest him and put in the same cell as Tetsuo.

However, this proves to be their undoing as he and Tetsuo begin to cooperate. Before she is disintegrated by a soldier, Namikawa gives Glenn a letter in which she told him the weakness of the people of Planet X: the sound from Tetsuo's alarm. Tetsuo, who still has the prototype, sets it off. It paralyzes the Planet X soldiers, enabling Glenn and Tetsuo to escape.

They reach the space center scientists and explain about the alarm. Arrangements are made to broadcast it on all radio and television stations, but only when the magnetic disruption devices are deployed.

The three monsters are no longer under Planet X control, as their spacecraft explode as their crews try to escape the debilitating alarm noise. The invaders withdraw from the Earth. Meanwhile, Godzilla and Rodan attacks Ghidorah, forcing all three to fall into the sea. Ghidorah emerges and retreats to outer space, but Godzilla and Rodan never resurface, leading the humans to wonder whether King Ghidorah defeated them.

Glenn and Fuji are to be sent to Planet X again as ambassadors to seek peaceful relations.

What can I say about this entry? Quite simply despite the overall tone of the movie being a complete “RIPOFF” of 1955’s Earth vs. The Flying Saucers, the SFX and the suits used for the monsters are a complete step down from the previous films and would continue into the next entry with an Island feel to because Toho started to slash the budgets to save a lot of yen.

Now here is where the series begins to get “Trippy” with Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster released in 1966 and the plot for this WEIRD ASS Flick really says it all…

After Yata (Toru Ibuki) is lost at sea, his brother Ryota (Toru Watanabe) steals a yacht with his two friends and a bank robber, the crew runs afoul of the giant lobster Ebirah, and washes up on the shore of an island, where a terrorist organization manufactures heavy water for their purposes, as well as a chemical that keeps Ebirah at bay.

The terrorist organization, known as the Red Bamboo, has enslaved natives from Infant Island to help them, but the natives hope to awaken Mothra to rescue them.

In their efforts to avoid capture, Ryota and his friends, aided by a beautiful native girl, stumble across Godzilla sleeping within a cliffside cavern. The group devises a plan to defeat the Red Bamboo and escape from the island. In the process, they wake Godzilla using a lightning rod. Godzilla fights Ebirah, but the giant crustacean escapes. Godzilla is then attacked by a giant condor and a squadron of Red Bamboo fighter jets, but destroys them.

The humans retrieve the missing Yata, free the enslaved natives and Godzilla begins to destroy the base. Godzilla smashes a tower that has a self-destruct button that makes the island unstable. Godzilla fights Ebirah and defeats it, ripping off both Ebirah's claws and causing it to retreat into the sea. The natives summon Mothra to save everyone; however, Godzilla challenges Mothra when she gets to the island. Mothra manages to push Godzilla away and carry the people off. Godzilla escapes the island just before it explodes.

Boy is that an understatement… I honestly don’t which is worse, The so called plot with paper thin villains with the name of the Red Bamboo (What a name to strike FEAR in the hearts of your enemies), the bad costume that looks like a 5 year old constructed it out of Paper Mache and the SFX that were a JOKE In My Humble Opinion.

Hang on folks it only gets worse…

Well as the old saying goes it was only a matter of time before the inevitable with King Kong & Frankenstein before him but The King of The Monsters is about to become a Dad & It’s slightly better than the last entry but not by much though.

In Son of Godzilla released in 1967, a team of scientists are trying to perfect a weather-controlling system. Their efforts are hampered by the arrival of a nosy reporter and by the sudden presence of 2-meter tall giant praying mantises. The first test of the weather control system goes awry when the remote control for a radioactive balloon is jammed by an unexplained signal coming from the center of the island.

The balloon detonates prematurely, creating a radioactive storm that causes the giant mantises to grow to enormous sizes. Investigating the mantises, which are named Kamacuras (Gimantis in the English-dubbed version), the scientists find the monstrous insects digging an egg out from under a pile of earth.

The egg hatches, revealing a baby Godzilla. The scientists realize that the baby's telepathic cries for help were the cause of the interference that ruined their experiment. Shortly afterwards, Godzilla himself arrives on the island, demolishing the scientist's base as he rushes to defend the baby. Godzilla kills two of the Kamacuras during the battle while one manages to fly away to safety, Godzilla then adopts the baby.

The baby Godzilla, named Minilla, quickly grows to about half the size of his father, and Godzilla instructs him on the important monster skills of roaring and using his atomic ray. At first, Minilla has difficulty producing anything more than atomic smoke rings, but Godzilla discovers that stressful conditions (i.e. stomping on his tail or motivation produces a true radioactive blast. Minilla comes to the aid of Reiko when she is attacked by a Kamacuras, but inadvertently awakens Kumonga

(Spiga in the English-dubbed version), a giant spider that was sleeping in a valley. Kumonga attacks the caves where the scientists are hiding, and Minilla stumbles into the fray.

Kumonga traps Minilla and the final Kamacuras with his webbing, but as Kumonga begins to feed on the deceased Kamacuras, Godzilla arrives to save the day. Godzilla saves his son and they work together to defeat Kumonga by using their atomic rays on the giant spider. The scientists finally use their perfected weather altering device on the island and the once tropical island becomes buried in snow and ice. As the scientists are saved by an American submarine, Godzilla and Minilla begin to hibernate as they wait for the island to become tropical again.

This movie was filmed with a budget of around $900,000 and even though it does show

In some of the FX shots the Godzilla suit and the one created for his son are pretty good and a DRASTIC improvement over the last film and the wire work with Kumonga were very impressive and the musical score by Masuro Sato highlights the action very well.

In what was intended to be the last Godzilla movie Destroy All Monsters released in 1968, At the close of the 20th century, all of the Earth's kaiju have been collected and confined in an area known as Monsterland, by the United Nations Science Committee, in the Ogasawara island chain. A special control center is constructed underneath the island to ensure the monsters stay secure, and serve as a research facility to study them.

When communications with Monsterland are suddenly and mysteriously severed, and all of the monsters begin attacking world capitals, Dr. Yoshida of the UNSC orders Captain Yamabe and the crew of his spaceship, Moonlight SY-3, to investigate Ogasawara. There, they discover that the scientists, led by Dr. Otani, have become mind-controlled slaves of a feminine alien race identifying themselves as the Kilaaks, who reveal that they are in control of the monsters. Their leader demands that the human race surrender, or face total annihilation.

Godzilla attacks New York City, Rodan invades Moscow, Mothra lays waste to Beijing, Gorosaurus (wrongly identified as Baragon) destroys Paris, and Manda attacks London, which is set in to motion to take attention away from Japan, so the aliens can establish an underground stronghold near Mt. Fuji in Japan.

The Kilaaks then turn their next major attack on Tokyo, and without serious opposition, become arrogant in their aims, until the UNSC discover the Kilaaks have switched to broadcasting the control signals from their base under the Moon's surface. In a desperate battle, the crew of the SY-3 destroy the Kilaak's lunar outpost and return the alien control system to Earth.

With all of the monsters under the control of the UNSC, the Kilaaks unleash their hidden weapon, King Ghidorah. The three-headed space monster is dispatched to protect the alien stronghold at Mt. Fuji, and battles Godzilla, Minilla, Mothra, Rodan, Gorosaurus, Anguirus, and Kumonga (Manda, Baragon and an unnamed Varan are also present but do not take part in the battle). While seemingly invincible, King Ghidorah is eventually overpowered by the combined strength of the Earth monsters and is killed. Refusing to admit defeat, the Kilaaks produce their trump card, a burning monster they call the Fire Dragon, which begins to torch cities and destroys the control center on Ogasawara. Suddenly, Godzilla attacks and destroys the Kilaak's underground base, revealing the Earth's monsters instinctively know who their enemies are. Captain Yamabe then pursues the Fire Dragon in the SY-3, and narrowly achieves victory for the human race. The Fire Dragon is revealed to be a flaming Kilaak saucer and is destroyed. Godzilla and the other monsters are eventually returned to Monsterland to live in peace.

WOW!!!… What an improvement over the last 2 films, With a rather sizable budget that really show in the Monster Suits, SFX and a rousing musical score by Akira Ifukube, the film is the highlight of the Showa Era bringing back some of Toho’s Classic Monsters like Varan ( Even though in a cameo only at the end of the film ) and new costumes for Rodan and the other monsters it is a 1960’s Wrestling Pay Per View on STEROIDS with all of them joining forces to hand King Ghidorah’s ASS to him.

As the 1960’s came to a close it saw the release of All Monster’s Attack aka

Godzilla’s Revenge released in 1969 is another film in the series that still divides fans 45 years later…

Ichiro Miki (Tomonori Yazaki) is a highly imaginative but lonely latchkey kid growing up in urban (and at that time, polluted) Tokyo. Every day he comes home to his family's empty apartment. His only friends are a toymaker named Shinpei Inami (Eisei Amamoto) and a young girl named Sachiko (Hidemi Ito).

Every day after school, Ichiro is tormented by a gang of bullies led by a child named Sancho (Junichi Ito), whom Ichiro has nicknamed "Gabara." To escape his loneliness, Ichiro sleeps and dreams about visiting Monster Island. During his visit he witnesses Godzilla battle three Kamacuras and Ebirah, a giant sea monster. Ichiro is then chased by a rogue Kamacuras and falls into a deep cave, but luckily avoids being caught by Kamacuras. Shortly afterwards, Ichiro is rescued from the cave by Godzilla's Son, Minilla. Ichiro quickly learns that Minilla has bully problems too, as he is bullied by a monstrous ogre known as Gabara.

Ichiro is then awoken by Shinpei who informs him that his mother must work late, again. Down on his luck Ichiro goes out to play, but is then frightened by the bullies and finds and explores an abandoned factory. After finding some souvenirs (tubes, a headset, and a wallet with someone's license), Ichiro leaves the factory after hearing some sirens close by. After Ichiro leaves, two Bank Robbers (played by Sachio Sakai and Kazuo Suzuki) who were hiding out in the factory learn that Ichiro has found one of their drivers licenses and follow him in order to kidnap him.

Later, Ichiro dreams again and reunites with Minilla. Together they both watch as Godzilla fights Ebirah, Kumonga, and some invading Jets. Then in the middle of Godzilla's fights, Gabara appears and Minilla is forced to battle him, and after a short and one-sided battle Minilla runs away in fear. Godzilla returns to train Minilla how to fight and use his own atomic ray. However, Ichiro is woken up this time by the Bank Robbers and is taken hostage by them for taking their stuff and as a means of protection from the authorities.

Out of fear and being watched by the thieves, Ichiro calls for Minilla's help and falls asleep again where he witnesses Minilla being beaten up by Gabara again. Finally, Ichiro helps Minilla fight back at Gabara and eventually Minilla wins, catapulting the bully through the air by a seesaw-like log.

Godzilla, who was in the area watching comes to congratulate his son for his victory, but is ambushed by a vengeful Gabara. Luckily after a short brawl, Godzilla beats down Gabara and sends the bully into retreat, never to bother Minilla again. Now from his experiences in his dreams, Ichiro learns how to face his fears and fight back, gaining the courage to outwit the thieves just in time for the police to arrive and arrest them. The next day, Ichiro stands up to Sancho and his gang and wins, regaining his pride and confidence in the process. He also gains their friendship when he plays a prank on a billboard painter.

Directed by Ishirō Honda, the film starred Tomonori Yazaki, Eisei Amamoto, and Kenji Sahara. The 10th film in the Godzilla series, this was also the first film specifically geared towards children. While credited with the special effects work, Eiji Tsuburaya was not directly involved with the production of this film. The "Special Effects Supervised by" credit was given out of respect, since he was still the head of the Visual Effects Department. The effects were handled by Ishirō Honda himself, with assistance from Teruyoshi Nakano.

Sadly after completeing this film Eiji Tsuburaya passed away in January 1970 while working on the latest chapter of the Ultraman saga and the plans for the next Godzilla movie.

The biggest problem a lot of fans have is that the film was intended for children and the fact that Director Honda had to rely on directing the SFX scenes and using stock footage to pad the runtime himself due to Tsubaraya’s declining health, Overall it is a fun film that is good way to introduce Godzilla to younger fans.

Next we enter Godzilla’s Bruce Lee Era of the 1970’s in which he was “Kung Fu Fighting” and unfortunately these films weren’t as “Fast as Lightening” at the Japanese & U.S. Box office.

In Godzilla vs. Hedorah aka Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster released in 1971, the microscopic alien lifeform Hedorah feeds on Earth's pollution and grows into a poisonous, acid-secreting sea monster. After it sinks an oil tanker and attacks Dr. Yano and his young son Ken, scarring them both, Hedorah's toxic existence is revealed to the public. Ken has visions of Godzilla fighting the world's pollution, and insists Godzilla will come to humankind's aid against Hedorah.

Hedorah metamorphoses into an amphibian form, allowing it to move onto land to feed on additional sources of pollution. Hedorah is confronted by Godzilla. Hedorah is easily overpowered by Godzilla and retreats into the sea. It returns shortly thereafter in a flying saucer shape demonstrating new, even deadlier forms which it can switch between at will.

Thousands of people die in Hedorah's raids and even Godzilla is overwhelmed by Hedorah's poisonous emissions. As hope sinks, a party is thrown on Mt. Fuji to celebrate one last day of life before humankind succumbs to Hedorah. Ken realizes that Godzilla and Hedorah have come to Mt. Fuji as well for a final confrontation.

Dr. Yano has determined that drying out Hedorah's body may destroy the otherwise unkillable monster. The JSDF swiftly constructs two gigantic electrodes for this purpose, but their power is cut off by Godzilla and Hedorah's violent battle. Godzilla energizes the electrodes with his atomic ray, dehydrating Hedorah's outer body. Hedorah sheds this outer body and takes flight to escape, but Godzilla propels himself through the air with his atomic ray to give chase. Godzilla drags Hedorah back to the electrodes and continues to dehydrate it until Hedorah dies. Godzilla tears apart Hedorah's dried-out body and dehydrates the pieces until nothing remains but dust.

With Ken calling after him, Godzilla returns to the sea, but not before glaring threateningly at the surviving humanity whose pollution spawned Hedorah. The question arises: Could it happen again?

This where things start to get really WEIRD for the series, First off we have an entirely new opponent (YES!) that is from outer space that is created from the toxic pollution from the humans of Planet Earth, Secondly we have a environmental message about “Saving The Earth” that seems to be a LITTLE HEAVY HANDED in the approach that is mixed with a bunch somewhat drugged out hippie teenagers holding a “Woodstock” style concert in the middle of a Giant Monster Battle… Not a SMART thing to do considering Hedorah can turn humans into bone from his Sulfuric Acid Mist.

Now getting that out of the way all I can say is what all Godzilla Fans want to scream “WHAT THE F@%#!!!” When during the climax of the film after the army uses two giant mirrors to basically French fry Hedorah only to have that plan fail and the enemy escape and having Godzilla use his Atomic Breath to turn himself into a Flying Rocket to catch him and here’s the kicker, the battle is highlighted with Mariachi Music…

I thought this was a Japanese Kaiju Movie NOT A FREAKING EL SANTO WRESTLING FILM!!! … It’s no wonder when Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka saw the finished film told

Director Yoshimitsu Banno that “He would NEVER be allowed to work on another Godzilla film again.”

Even though it was panned by critics and fans it made enough yen to go forward with the next entry in the series…

Godzilla vs. Gigan released in 1972, Giant insectoid aliens from a dying planet in "Space Hunter Nebula-M" plot to colonize the Earth. The aliens assume the forms of dead humans and work as the development staff of the peace-themed theme park, World Children's Land, the centerpiece of which is "Godzilla Tower". The Nebula-M aliens plan to use the space monsters Gigan and King Ghidorah, guided by two "Action Signal Tapes," to wipe out human civilization.

Manga artist Gengo Kotaka stumbles onto their plan after being hired as a concept artist for the park. When Gengo and his friends accidentally obtain one of the Action Signal Tapes and play it, Godzilla and Anguirus hear the signal and realize something is amiss. Godzilla sends Anguirus to investigate. When Anguirus approaches Tokyo, the Japan Self Defense Forces, misunderstanding the monster's intentions, drives him away.

Anguirus reports back to Monster Island, and Godzilla follows him back to Japan to save the Earth from Gigan and King Ghidorah. The aliens attempt to kill Godzilla with a lethal laser cannon hidden inside Godzilla Tower, but Gengo and his companions destroy the tower along with the aliens. After a lengthy fight, Godzilla and Anguirus force Gigan and King Ghidorah back into space and then Godzilla and Anguirus swim back to Monster Island, but not before Godzilla turns around and gives a roar of triumph, thanking to his friends.

Continuing the environmental theme from the previous film this time with the alien invaders being Cockroaches From Outer Space who are looking to take over because they basically SCREWED UP their own Earth like planet to use our bodies as “Receptacles” so they can pass as humans.

This is where Toho really started to cut the budgets on the films using stock footage from “King Kong vs. Godzilla” and “Ghidorah, The Three- Headed Monster” The FX and the suits for Godzilla & Gigan were pretty good despite the fact you can see the Godzilla costume literally fall apart on screen since it had been used non stop since 1968’s Destroy All Monsters, This entry marks the final appearance of Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla who had played the title part and various other Toho monsters since 1954.

After the disappointing box office results the executives at Toho decided to release all of their suit actors from their contracts and hire younger performers to take over, The result of the next three films showed the careless mistake of the Brass at the studio by throwing everything out the window that made all of these films popular for nearly 20 years.

The next entry in the series Godzilla vs. Megalon released in 1973 as many fans call it today “The Bromance Godzilla film” since it has NO female lead characters in it at all.

The plot OH BOY IS IT A DOOZY!!!... For years, Seatopia, the undersea civilization, has been heavily affected by nuclear testing conducted by the surface nations of the world. Upset by this, they plan to unleash their civilization's god, Megalon, to the surface to destroy the world out of vengeance.

On the surface, an inventor named Goro Ibuki, his nephew Rokuro and their friend Hiroshi Jinkawa are off on an outing near a lake when Seatopia makes itself known to the Earth by drying up the lake the trio was relaxing nearby and using it as a base of operation (unknown to our heroes.)

As they return home they are ambushed by agents of Seatopia who are trying to steal Jet Jaguar, a humanoid robot under construction by the trio of inventors. However the Agents' first attempt is botched and they are forced to flee to safety.

Some time later, Jet Jaguar is completed but the trio of inventors are knocked unconscious by the returning seatopian agents. The agents's plan is to use Jet Jaguar to guide and direct Megalon to destroy whatever city Seatopia commands. Goro and Rokuro are sent to be killed, while Hiroshi is taken hostage. Megalon is finally released to the surface while Jet Jaguar is put under the control of the Seatopians and is used to guide Megalon to attack Tokyo with the Japan Self Defense Forces failing to defeat the monster. Eventually, the trio of heroes manages to escape their situation with the Seatopians and reunite to devise a plan to send Jet Jaguar to get Godzilla's help using Jet Jaguar's secondary control system.

After uniting with Japan's Defense Force, Goro manages to regain control of Jet Jaguar and sends the robot to Monster Island to bring Godzilla to fight Megalon. Without a guide to control its actions, Megalon flails around relentlessly and aimlessly fighting with the Defense Force and destroying the outskirts of Tokyo. The Seatopians learn of Jet Jaguar's turn and thus send out a distress call to the Nebula M aliens (from the previous film) to send Gigan to assist them.

As Godzilla journeys to fight Megalon, Jet Jaguar programs into a safeguard mode and grows to gigantic proportions to face Megalon himself until Godzilla arrives. The battle is roughly at a standstill between robot and monster, until Gigan arrives and both Megalon and Gigan double team Jet Jaguar. Godzilla finally arrives to assist Jet Jaguar and the odds become evened. After a long and brutal fight, Gigan and Megalon both retreat and Godzilla and Jet Jaguar shake hands on a job well done.

Godzilla returns to Monster Island, and Jet Jaguar returns to his previous, human-sized state and reunites with his inventors.

Everybody got that?? Now originally this was going to be a solo film for Jet Jaguar (Think a Bargain Basement version of Ultraman). But the execs at the studio didn’t think he could carry the picture on his own so Godzilla was added to the story,

Again Toho FX crews mined the vault for all of the stock footage including scenes from 1966’s The War of The Gargantuas and Ghidorah yet again which ponders the following question…

HOW MANY FREAKING TIMES DO WE NEED TO SEE THE SAME VILLAGERS FROM 1964 RUNNING AWAY FROM THE MONSTERS???

At least the next two entries were a “Hail Mary” but unfortunately it was too late to save the series.

In Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla released in 1974 Our Defender of The Earth in which he fights a BRAND NEW ENEMY A Mechanical Cyborg Armed to The Teeth and is one of Godzilla’s Deadliest foes…

Strange events are taking place in Okinawa. An Azumi priestess has a terrifying vision of a city being destroyed by a giant monster. A type of metal not found on earth is discovered in a cave by a spelunker, Masahiko Shimizu, who takes it to Professor Miyajima for examination. An excavation led by Masahiko's brother Keisuke accidentally uncovers a chamber filled with ancient artifacts and a mural bearing an ominous prophecy: "When a black mountain appears above the clouds, a huge monster will arise and try to destroy the world; but then, when the red moon sets and the sun rises in the west, two more shall appear to save humanity." Keisuke is joined by archaeologist Saeko Kaneshiro, who translates the prophecy and takes one of the artifacts, bearing the likeness of the legendary monster King Caesar, to study. Two men stalk them, one who speaks to them and claims to be a reporter interested in the story, the other of whom attempts to steal the statue from them but fails and flees.

Before long, the first sign appears in the form of a black cloud that looks like a mountain. Godzilla (or so it seems) emerges from Mount Fuji and begins a destructive rampage, despite the fact that he has become tolerant of humans within the last few years. Anguirus, usually Godzilla's ally, confronts him only to be mutilated and forced to retreat, but not before inflicting a wound that exposes something shiny and metallic beneath Godzilla's skin. Keisuke arrives shortly after to make sure that his brother and the professor are out of harm's way and discovers another sample of the strange metal. Godzilla's rampage continues, but another Godzilla arrives and the two begin to fight. Soon, the challenger is revealed to be the true Godzilla, while the other turns out to be Mechagodzilla, a massive robot armed with advanced weaponry. The real Godzilla is severely wounded but inflicts some damage on the machine; both monsters retreat hastily. Miyajima hypothesizes, based on MechaGodzilla's advanced technology and composition of unearthly metals, that the robot is an alien super weapon.

Keisuke and Saeko take the statue of King Caesar back to the temple by cruise ship, but are confronted by the thief once again. During the fight, the stranger's head is wounded and the skin on half of his face melts away to reveal an apelike visage. The intruder attempts to kill Keisuke and nearly succeeds, but a bullet from an unseen gunman kills him and propels him overboard. Keisuke and Saeko catch a brief glimpse of the "reporter" once again. Meanwhile, Godzilla arrives on Monster Island during a thunderstorm and is struck by lightning multiple times, seemingly reinvigorating him.

Masahiko, Miyajima and his daughter Ikuko go to explore the cave where the metal was first found and are captured by the apelike aliens of the Third Planet from the Black Hole, who plan to use MechaGodzilla to conquer Earth. Their leader, Kuronuma, forces Miyajima to repair the robot.

While Saeko checks into a hotel and guards the statue, Keisuke goes to meet his brother at the caves and instead encounters the reporter, who explains that his name is Nanbara and he is actually an Interpol agent who has been tracking the aliens and believed Keisuke to be connected to them. Nanbara and Keisuke infiltrate the alien base and free the prisoners. The team then splits up, with Miyajima, Nanbara, and Masahiko returning to the alien base and deliberately getting recaptured by Kuronuma, while Keisuke and Ikuko pick up Saeko and the statue from the hotel.

In the early hours of the morning, a lunar eclipse results in a red moon and a mirage creates the illusion of the sun rising in the west. The team realizes that the time has come to awaken King Caesar. They meet with the Azumi priestess and her grandfather, and place the statue on a platform in the temple, revealing the monster's resting place. However, just then, Kuronuma dispatches MechaGodzilla. The priestess sings a hymn that awakens King Caesar, and Godzilla appears shortly afterward. King Caesar and Godzilla fight together, but they are no match for MechaGodzilla's vast array of weapons. Eventually, Godzilla uses the electricity stored in his body from the lightning to create a magnetic field that ensnares the robot, then removes its head, shutting off its controls. While the mortified aliens are distracted, Nanbara and the others free themselves, kill their captors, and sabotage the base, fleeing as it burns and collapses on itself. With the enemy defeated, Godzilla heads out to sea and King Caesar returns to its resting place while the heroes.

This entry was the 14th entry into the series and marked the 20th anniversary of the Godzilla franchise and after some rather lackluster films it was decided to give The King of The Monsters a new opponent in the form of a Bionic Clone ( More on that in a minute.)

The design for MechaGodzilla echoes the Samurai from Ancient Japan fully loaded with the latest alien technology with Lasers, Missiles and an Inpenetrable Force Field that can repel Godzilla’s Atomic Breath even with the help of the Royal Azumi Guardian King Caesar (or Seesar in the International English dub) it is a SFX Tour De Force that harkens back to the earlier films.

When the film was released in the United States in 1977 by Cinema Shares under the title “Godzilla vs. The Bionic Monster” was quickly changed within a week of the theatrical release when Universal Studios and their attorneys threatened to sue them
over the word “Bionic” which they had the copyright because of the 1970’s television

shows “The Six Million Dollar Man” & “The Bionic Woman. A Near Mint vintage poster that had the word “Bionic” in the title recently sold at auction for $25,000.

Also the filmmakers were capitalizing on the success of 20th Century Fox’s “Planet of The Apes” franchise with the aliens transforming into their Primate form when killed.

The film was an immediate hit and plans were put into motion to bring their Mechanical Monstrosity back for a sequel.

Now the 15th and Final Entry in the Showa Series Terror of MechaGodzilla released in 1975 Continuing after the end of the final film, Interpol agents, led by Inspector Kusaka, search for the wreck of Mechagodzilla at the bottom of the Okinawan Sea. Using the submarine, Akatsuki, they hope to gather information on the robot's builders, the alien simians. The Akatsuki is suddenly attacked by a giant aquatic dinosaur called Titanosaurus, and the crew vanishes.

Interpol starts an investigation into the incident. With the help of marine biologist Akira Ichinose, they trace the Titanosaurus to a reclusive, mad scientist named Shinzô Mafune, who wants to destroy all mankind. While Ichinose is visiting his old home in the seaside forest of Manazuru, they meet Mafune's lone daughter, Katsura. She tells them that not only is her father dead, but she burned all of the notes about the giant dinosaur (at her father's request). Unknownst to them, Mafune is still alive and well. He is visited by his friend Tsuda, who is an aide to the simian alien leader Mugal. He is leading the project to quickly rebuild Mechagodzilla. Mugal offers their services to Mafune, so that his Titanosaurus and their Mechagodzilla 2 will be the ultimate weapons. They hope to wipe out mankind and rebuild the world for themselves.

But things are complicated for both factions when Ichinose falls in love with Katsura and unwittingly gives her Interpol's information against Titanosaurus, the new Mechagodzilla, and the aliens. It's also discovered that Katsura is actually a cyborg, due to undergoing surgery and Mugal still has uses for her. Meanwhile, Mafune is desperate to unleash Titanosaurus without the aliens' permission, so he releases it on Yokosuka one night. By then, Interpol discovers that supersonic waves are the Titanosaurus' weakness. They had a supersonic wave oscillator ready, but Katsura sabotaged the machine before they could use it. Fortunately, Godzilla arrives to fight off Titanosaurus.

Later, when Ichinose visits Katsura, he is captured by the aliens. Tied up, Ichinose can only watch as Mafune and the aliens unleash Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus on Yokosuka, while Interpol struggles to repair their sonic wave machine and the Japanese armed forces struggle to keep the two monsters at bay. Katsura, while being controlled by Mugal, ignores Ichinose and controls both the dinosaur and the robot as they destroy the city.

Godzilla comes to the rescue, though he is outmatched by the two titans. While Interpol distracts Titanosaurus with the supersonic wave oscillator, Godzilla is able to focus on attacking Mechagodzilla. Interpol agents infiltrate the aliens' hideout, rescue Ichinose, and kill Mafune and many of the aliens. The remaining aliens attempt to escape in their ship, but Godzilla shoots them down. Katsura, while being embraced by Ichinose, shoots herself to destroy Mechagodzilla. Godzilla, with the help of the oscillator, defeats Titanosaurus, and heads back to sea.

Now this film marked the return of three of the “Founding Fathers” Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, Director Ishiro Honda and Composer Akira Ifukube…

The amount of violence in this film harkens back to the original Gojira with a Haunting Score by Ifukube that paints a somber picture with the sacrifice of Katsura Mafune brings back memories of Dr. Serizawa’s heartbreaking decision to end his life to save Japan and even though she has been turned into a Human Cyborg Hybrid she is able to break free of the Black Hole aliens control and regain enough of her humanity to save the people of Earth from a Horrible Fate.

This was the last hurrah from the Godzilla team and when the film was released stateside in 1978 by Bob Conn Enterprises it was heavily edited to remove all scenes of The Alien Leader whipping his troops and Katsura’s Suicide, At this time the Suitmation films had lost their charm and audiences were expecting Bigger Budget films with more advanced SFX and despite plans to have even more Darker Godzilla films eventually leading up to a battle with a “Fight To The Death” for Earth’s survival with The Devil himself.

It will be nine years before Godzilla will make his triumphant return to the Silver Screen… But will this Monster of the 1950’s be able to survive the “Decade of Decadence” of the 1980’s???

ONLY TIME WILL TELL…

Charred Remains Movie Review
"Godzilla" (1954)

"Original Roots"
By Robert J. Meddings

To Truly Understand the giant beast in all his glory, you'll have to go back to the original 1954 movie “Godzilla”... to his old stomping grounds.

This is one of my favorite Godzilla films, the one that started it all. You'll find that I've placed this movie on my top-ten favorite horror movies of all time. We owe a lot to it.

This is the one where Godzilla is a definite metaphor for the wreckage he ensues from his anger, leaving a fiery trail of destruction. Godzilla does to city what nuclear bombs do, making a giant crater of nothing.

Godzilla shows us what could happen if we're not careful with nuclear weapons.

That, in itself, is horror.

And yes, Godzilla reminds us of how many awful nuclear weapons we have in this world... enough to blow up the earth six times over. And anyone can aim at a city and make it a light show of it if they press all the wrong buttons.

We've already had the Cold War which lasted almost fifty years between the United States and Russia. Now, with North Korea being led by some nutcase, we may very well enter another Cold War if China's retarded cousin North Korea is making weapons.

The horror of nuclear bombs is always there.

That's why Godzilla remains relative to the current situations around us, and he continues to remind us that not everything is safe.

The original film was directed by legendary Ishirō Honda and featured great special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. The stark, chilling black and white film makes the monster look more frightening, showing a much darker side to the monster movie.

It was a brilliant allegory.

And I don't count that fucking shitty version with Raymond Burr in it where he plays a character named Steve Martin, making me think of the comedian. Maybe they should make a movie called “Godzilla Vs. The Jerk!”

Christ, that Raymond Burr sticks his nose everywhere as a useless reporter. To make it worse, he comes back to reprise his role in a 1985 film.

Y'know, that prick-face movie critic Leonard Maltin gave the 1954 movie only two-and-a-half stars? What the fuck does he know about monster movies anyway, or did he even bother going deeper into the original story?

Maltin doesn't like foreign movies anyway, and he's got a major hard-on for anything American. He really doesn't understand anything regarding foreign films, and his reviews show what a dumb motherfucker he really is. I can't stand him, and would like to punch his face.

I would recommend seeing “Godzilla” in its original form because you'll see what a walking nightmare he is, a chilling manifestation of savage violence.

It's all there in the film from the gloomy shadows which hang over the city to the gigantic creature who stirs like the eye of the storm.

In a way, I really want to see the new film this year in 2014 in black and white because it really does sharpen the horror that surrounds us... creating a darkness.

It's too bad that director Gareth Edwards wouldn't consider it. I would be really impressed if the new movie was in B&W. Well, fuck it.

The characters in 1954's “Godzilla” are well-drawn as they react against the growing terror like real people, hanging in fear as if they're still afraid of the atomic bomb.

You'll have to understand where the Japanese are coming from... they have to live with this horror for many years after the bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The original “Godzilla” film keeps the human story intact, showing us a beautiful relationship between the young couple Hideto Ogata and Emiko Yamane, conflicted scientist Daisuke Serizawa and the older, fatherly Dr. Kyohei Yamane.

This group of characters make a perfect counterpart to the massive force of destruction that harbors Tokyo, Japan like a ravishing terror.

And the horror in the film?

How can you forget the scene where the city was burning wildly as the monster picks his way through, throwing his anger in fits of fire and power? You can hear the Japanese reporter call the city a “sea of flames,” creating a disturbing image.

Some of the characters do say “It is mankind's fault to create the atomic bomb.” We're reminded that our own technology can run away from us in irresponsible glee. That we, as people, are the means of our own destruction.

Who is the real monster here?

Godzilla?

Or us?

It's an interesting point to make while humanity plunges further into the depths of madness when Dr. Daisuke Serizawa (pictured) learns of even greater horror in a super-weapon devised. Granted, he wasn't intentionally looking for a weapon to build. He discovered it by accident.

It drove him mad.

At the very same time, he watches a woman he's in love with gradually go with another man. That part must drive him mad too. So he really has nothing left to lose.

Who could blame him? He's still haunted by the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs, and he doesn't want anything like this to happen again. Should the politicians get their grubby hands on the super-weapon, it makes a terrifying metamorphosis in the water while sucking out all the oxygen like a hungry beast.

Therefore, the coldness of super-weapon, and its implications, hangs over the characters. Should they use it? Should they not use it? The fear of nuclear war still arouses negative feelings in the Japanese, making them question themselves.

It is a lesson in unwanted destruction.

So what of Godzilla in this film? He's a harbinger of terror, carving a path of destruction wherever he goes.

The stark black and white perfectly captures the unrelenting monstrosity that walks the earth, making him look more like a lizard here. Yes, indeed, he is a god, perhaps a god of destruction.

He's one sonofabitch. Godzilla has never been meaner than here, a token to the rage that boils and stirs in the broken ruins of Tokyo, Japan.

You can feel your own blood crawl when you see the stunning shots of Godzilla lifting his foreign face, his prehistoric howl signaling the death-defying actions of a momentous bedl

You watch helplessly as he swats at the approaching military airplanes like flies, and how he uses railroad trains like toothpicks. The enormous dinosaur reassures us of the horror in atomic gloom.

Even in the end, not everything is all right. When the super-weapon finally gets rid of the mighty monster, it brings us to a familiar question that bothers all of us. Violence will always create more violence.

It lingers in our collective consciousness.

If we're not careful, we may fall victim like Godzilla in the very end of the film, reduced to bones or ashes. It's still a feasible possibility these days. We are our own worst enemy.

Godzilla shows us that war is always on the very edge of our everyday lives, leading to the stillness of violence that could abrupt anytime.

He takes on the role of our tour guide who takes us by the hand as we go sight-seeing in a world of destruction.

Yes, indeed, Godzilla bears too much destruction to be let loose in the world. Imagine if there are more than two or three bombs going off, or all of them? It scarcely bares thinking about, putting us all in a very fragile position.

Since we continue to make weapons, there's always that offhand chance that our world will plunge into chaos. The constant reminder of Godzilla is in our very hands at all times. And that may be the saddest thing of all.

Byron's note: This is a photo of Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla (1974) where Godzilla & King Caesar (Or Seesar) are handing MG's ASS to him and just right before Godzilla rips off MG's head.

Charred Remains II:
"Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla" (2002)

“Double Jeopardy!”
By Robert J. Meddings

and "Tokyo SOS" (2003)

If you ask me which Godzilla movie is my favorite, it'll be a struggle for me. I'll have to think about it and say, “Sou ne.” I hate to give a cop-out answer and tell you I like all of them.

It is true that I like the majority of the monster movies from the Godzilla series. They're fun, imaginative and horrifying stuff.

Of course, I do consider 1954's “Godzilla” to be a cinematic masterpiece that's hard to beat. I still rank this chapter as one of the greatest monster movies ever made.

I'll have to cheat a little when I tell you which one is my favorite movie, because I'm going to pick a two-part movie that tells a three hour story. I'll have to turn to the Millennium series for this entry.

Yes, I'm cheating a little bit. My favorite movie is “Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla” and the following chapter “Tokyo SOS.” Watashi wa oni eiga ga suki desu! (I like monster movies!)

What I like about these films is that they don't forget old history. In both instances, they tie the plot to the old 1954 film to create an important plot point: using the original Godzilla bones to build a super robot.

It's a brilliant stroke of genius.

I love the storytelling in this. For the film “Tokyo SOS,” they go back to the 1964 fourth Godzilla movie with Mothra. And they use a storyline from an old movie to help them tell a new story.

A double dose of genius right there.

So this is the backbone of the two movie epic that serves as a bridge for the Millennium series and the old Honda series. I love this kind of storytelling when they respect old history.

Now before I plunge into the story itself, I want to make an interesting point. There are not a lot of strong women characters in the old Godzilla series. That's about to change with “Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla.”

She's smart, sexy and got a lot of tough, and she represents the female characters very well. I think she's a highly original character who plays a crucial role in duking it out with the giant lizard.

Konojo wa kuwaii desu!

Enter a mazor-cannon technician Lieutenant Akane Yashiro who fails in her attempt to kill the mighty beast during her first battle with it. One of her team members were killed in an accident, leaving her scarred with an awful memory.

Soon the army makes her a scapegoat to lay the blame on her, forcing her to work behind the desk instead of the field.

She's really well played by Yumiko Shaku (pictured, left)who harbors a strong presence. She can kick my ass any day, and I'll like it!

Yashiro can hold her own in the film, roughhousing politicians who get under her skin and her co-workers who get on her bad side. She's a loner, someone who prefer to do things her own way.

I also like that Yashiro is given an important role as being given the chance to pilot the MechaGodzilla machine, offering a chance for her to redeem her past

mistake. This young soldier is willing to turn things around by going shoulder-to-shoulder with Godzilla.

Interestingly enough, if you watch closely, Akane Yashiro comes back to the second film “Tokyo SOS” for a pivotal cameo when she speaks honestly with current pilot Akiba while they look onto Kiryu, the machine who is the mechanical opposite of Godzilla.

I like her character a lot and it's too bad that she never returned to the series for another full-on film. Instead, we learn that she was assigned to America for flight training. It's as if she's passing the baton to the new crew.

She still looks super hot in military clothing. This woman can order me around in the kitchen anytime she wants, and I'll like it!

I think the human side of the story is really terrific. Yashiro has an inner conflict that keeps her going: she's haunted by the death of her colleague from the first battle.

It gives her no solace to fight Godzilla again, her anger boiling. At one point, she calls Godzilla a “lizard bastard.” There are many times when Yashiro takes charge of a situation, doing things herself.

She is supported by a scientist named Tokumitsu Yuhara, played delightfully by Shin Takuma who reminds me of what might happen if Chow Yun-Fat decided to do comedy. The actor is very charismatic and funny.

His estranged daughter Sara Yuhara in the film forms a sort of family bond with Yashiro, a little awkward, and yet heart-warming nonetheless. This is a nice human story which parallels with the ongoing battle that hovers over them like a black cloud.

Sara carries a potted plant that reminds her of her mother. Yashiro tells her that it's not a good idea to cling to memories.

Perhaps Yashiro is talking about her own memory of her colleague being killed? By being in a family atmosphere like this, is Yashiro becoming more human in her feelings? It's a nice subplot that gives the Yashiro character more depth.

Now there's another reason why I like this movie greatly. And it has everything to do with how they approached the Kiryu machine. Let me make a point here.

If you were to ask NASA to put a man on Mars, they'll tell you that you're nuts. Or if you send a man into deep space, NASA will say, “No thanks.” Y'see, NASA likes to send probes first because it's less dangerous.

NASA wants to approach their situations in the safest possible manner before taking on the idea of putting someone in deep space.

Same thing here. You have to be nuts to send some people to fight a gigantic monster who can smash buildings and breath radioactive fire. No thanks, not for all the Yen in Japan.

The Kiryu machine is piloted by Yashiro from a nearby aircraft, allowing her to fight the monster at a safe distance. This is very plausible.

That's more like it. I can accept this idea because there are a lot less dangers involved without sending someone to the middle of a conflict.

And the battle scenes are fucking awesome here.

When Yashiro locks horns with Godzilla, she makes a pretty sweet move by using partial thrusters to throw the robot's weight around. She pilots Kiryu by slamming it into Godzilla.

I love it.

All the fight scenes are great in both films, choreographed with expertise while you get into the monster mash. Not only you have Kiryu, but also Mothra in the second film. It's great to be crashing into a party like this.

That party crasher is Godzilla's infamous roar which seems to awaken Kiryu's instincts, creating a lot of problems for the fight. How could brother turn on brother to the death?

Though the first war between Kiryu and Godzilla becomes a tie, as admitted by Yashiro. She does take on the job of fighting herself when she finds her way into Kiryu's cockpit, piloting the machine manually.

Double click here to edit this text.

She is able to fend off the giant, unhappy lizard, but at great costs to the city's damages. Tuckered out, the behemoth returns to the seas for a little rest. He's badly wounded.

And Kiryu is wildly damaged including the super-weapon Absolute Zero.

The story is only halfway done.

“Tokyo SOS” focuses on a technician Yoshito Chujo who must find his place in a crowd of soldiers and fighters, seeing that he hasn't seen much action. He's not even a field agent.

He likes to fiddle around with scientisy things and wears a baseball hat. Another outsider, he is.

When ridiculed by his teammates, Chujo must find a place for himself amongst the warriors who will fight the giant monster who can cut a city down in half. Chujo isn't a fighter at all, or has any special skills.

And yet he does proves that you don't need to be a marital arts expert or a hotshot pilot to get the job done. And so he finds himself in hot water when the battle ensues.

Professor Shinichi Chujo who is played by a much older Hiroshi Koizumi, reprising his role from the 1961 original “Mothra”. While he's in only “Tokyo SOS,” it still serves as part of the old history mixing in with the new. It's a nice way to develop Yoshito Chujo's character.

There is the welcome return of Mothra. Also Mothra's twin fairies, the Shobijin. Only they dress a little sexier here in their red clothing. Woo-hoo!

The battle scenes continue in this film, creating a whole epic story that encompasses this movie and the prior one. I enjoy the fact that they make so many great continuity points, making in every sense a full-blown tale.

The final fight is in a lot of ways a sad one. You throw in Mothra and the two larvae creatures, and the battle takes on a whole new Kaiju level. Godzilla's roar awakens Kiryu once again, only this time he finishes the job by bringing the giant lizard with it to a watery grave.

Godzilla kicks ass here, and keeps cashing checks. Not only does it take the metal giant Kiryu to fend him off, but also Mothra. Also the army, the scientists... you get the idea. Godzilla isn't anyone who's going to back down so easy.

If he's angry, he'll make sure to plow right through Japan. Has anyone spoke to him about taking some anger management courses?

What I like about both films is that it is a continuing saga, creating a worldly epic of giant proportions. I do enjoy the three-hour romp that can easily take up an afternoon of viewing pleasures.

There was never two movies that share so many things in common. What else do they have in common that deserves mention?

1. Kiryu, the giant robot beast which fights the Big Guy.

2. Prime Minister Hayato Igarashi played by familiar actor Akira Nakao.

3. His second-in-command General Dobashi played by Koichi Ueda also comes back alongside the PM.

4. Akane Yashiro, who's in both movies.

5. Absolute Zero. Which is mentioned numerous times in “Tokyo SOS.”

Lastly, Godzilla remains the center star of the show. He's big, mean and one sonofabitch you won't want to mess around with. He's the reason why people come to the movies because they want to see a monster smash things apart.

Godzilla is more of a savage beast here, toiling between buildings like a wrecking ball. In the film “Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla,” the large beast is portrayed as more of a lizard. The way he moves in the water makes him look very sinister... shooting through the seas like a bullet.

His large, massive frame taunts and twists with reptilian glee, showing the rest of Japan that he's out for blood.

What makes this movie for me is the continuity they include in the storyline, bringing back old history to create a new idea. The Japanese filmmakers really do Godzilla justice, showing us that they can tell a good story that feels like a punch through the wall, or several walls when Godzilla is concerned.

Yep, Godzilla is no one to piss around with.

These films will tell you that. There is only one King of the monsters, and his name is Godzilla. Eat your heart out, ya big lizard!

Until Next Time...
By Robert J. Meddings

This month, I have a temporary assistant editor. His name is Gamera, pictured on the right side above. He's a real asshole. You wouldn't like him.

Your grandfather didn't like him. Neither did your uncle. Let's say Gamera isn't a real family guy. Moreover, you shouldn't leave any Japanese girls in his care. You don't know where he's been.

I mean it. He puts all the other assholes to shame, so you better not get on his bad side. He's mean, and he'll laugh at you.

He's my personal bodyguard for this month. Now he's asking me for extra pay, so that's how big of an asshole he is. You can call him Mr. Asshole.

PM me when you want to shoot me an email. Best way is send me a message through my page on Upload Society, and it'll be the easiest way for me to get your horrifying confessions!

I hope I don't bump into any monsters in a dark alley somewhere! What is that creepy laugh I keep hearing in the back of my house?

New Members Join the Horror Clan!
By TeyetheGreat and Robert J. Meddings

We know the newest horror group members will be thrilled to see their names in the newsletter.

Here is a list of those that have joined since the last newsletter...

floridakisses3

David

EternityButterflies

NickNorthAble

devineangela

WadeWalker

Kekenutikeke

BrainRot

sindydoll35-P2

Dolly Dimple

Tara

So make sure to give them a warm welcome, and share your thoughts, opinions and feelings with the new members. Wade Walker is actually a long-time friend of Robert J. Meddings and the nephew of Bob Larson, one of the leads in the Two Bobs series! Wade Walker is an accomplished musician and will be working with Meddings on a few projects in the foreseeable future.

The nice change is there are more female members getting on board the Horror Clan membership. Will be doing an all-women's issue sometime in the near future, and if any woman is interested in taking part, please let the writer/editor Meddings know.

He'll be delighted to hear from you. Heh heh.

So far, there are 25 members in the group. And that's not a bad number at all!

Don't be too shy about knocking on their doors. So far, they like folks stopping by to say “howdy” and dropping a line. Nothing wrong with that. Some of the members were already veterans of the Star Trek parody called "Star Trek "I’ll See Your Princess And Raise You 2 Who’s." It's created by resident animator RussellStudios. They are Dolly Dimple and NickNorthAble.

RussellStudios made a great show of it, writing and producing a homage to Roddenberry's science-fiction creation. If you're a Trek fan, make sure to have your phasers on stun!

Check in Friday nights for regular videos from NightFrightFigures as he covers all topics of horror, always enthusiastic about the various things talked about. His radio-show voice and good humor creates a welcome atmosphere. It's almost like you're watching old late night TV movie festivals.

NightFrightFigures becomes your tour guide into the horror realm every weekend. So there's always something to look forward at the end of the week.

The horror group is really flying high right now and getting popular and much notoriety with everyone talking about all the talent we have in our group and RussellStudio’s short film featured on David's channel. We are loving it and everyone in the horror group is so awesome, and the guys and dolls that make up the core of the group are simply the best of the best. The Horror Clan is the really a big part of Uploadsociety. We bring so much to the site!

The Horror Gallery
April 8, 2014

There's going to be plenty of good stuff in this newsletter. So kick back with a gin and tonic, southern comfort, sake or whatever else gets your engines rolling.

There's an awful lot to celebrate the next month's release of the new Godzilla form. To honor the Big Guy's return, I'll be covering other monsters who chipped away at our imagination.

So why do monsters tickle our imagination so much?

It's rather hard to say, and not even the smartest rocket scientist might pinpoint the reason for it. Perhaps the answer is that we like the idea of being scared. Even if it's just a fun kind of scare. Our minds leap with fear when we something in the shadows, or towering over us in a giant fury. That's us. We're human... and we respond to our emotions.

Monster movies have a way of making us scared while we're still gently tucked away in the safety of our living rooms. We watch the movies at a safe distance.

Kids like monster movies because they have great imagination.

Perhaps it's the same reason why many kids like dinosaurs and are enthralled by the giant beasts that once walked on the earth like mighty kings. Dinosaurs seem almost mythic to us, reminding us that we, as humans, can be small in the universe.

So a lot of the children's fears get transferred to monster movies, watching them late at night or during the Saturday matinee while being thrilled at every minute of seeing monsters coming to life in a movie.

How could I ever forget that weird, strange monster was floating around with the all-gazing stare in the movie “The Crawling Eye”? Or the bizarre giant man who smashes buildings in the film “The Colossus of New York”? I remember being enthralled by the monsters from the Outer Limits series which look frightening against the black and white footage.

And who can forget the “Creature from the Black Lagoon” who sweeps the woman off her feet like a true romantic he is? And she was indeed a very lovely woman back in the day! Women and monsters seem to go hand in hand in the 1950s.

One of the things that makes me remember the movies so well is the strange music you hear from movies like “Not of This Earth.” It was a new kind of instrument that made this weird, throbbing sound. That crazy music instrument was called the theremin, originally known as the ætherphone or etherphone! And it was one of those things that kicks me down on nostalgia road.

Which movies frightened you when you were a kid? I would be interested to know. I think we all have our different fears, and some scare us more than others.

I used to be terrified by these Nazi zombies who walked around on the island in the movie “Shock Waves.” I used to be glued to the TV set when the unwholesome creatures would thread through the jungles like long shadows.

So, yeah, I was the child of monster movies too.

Older audiences like the monster movies because it makes them feel like kids again. Monsters do seem to have that affect on us.

We know they're not real and just as fake as Richard Nixon's politics were. But we remain captive in being scared... there's that dominating sense of adrenaline running high .

Monsters will always find a home in fear. And fear is such a big, big place. Do you think you can ever run from such fears? I don't think I can. Better to stay and fight those fears. And we do that while watching monster movies while knowing that they're not real.

That's what this issue is all about: Monsters galore.

So I'll have guest writer Byron Orlock rounding out his history on the Godzilla movies while some of my articles will focus on some of the more popular monsters who seem to still frighten us to this very day. Orlock's articles will be serialized in the next few months.

You may know Byron Orlock from his HouseofKarloff1985 channel where he reviews many different things from action figures to movies. His love for monster movies is well-known especially if he's got the Bride of Frankenstein being in center stage of his icon.

I'll be making a small tribute to Ray Harryhausen who made monsters a real thing in his movies, creating those wonderful effects that made me feel like a kid again. Every time. It's going to be almost exactly one years since he passed away. May 7, 2013 to be exact.

Sadly, he's no longer with us on this earth, but his movies are. And we're lucky to have such a wonderful talent who created some of the most memorable monsters.

Oh, let's not forget some of the reviews we'll be going through this newsletter. Plus there will be a couple of poems by the Vortex Man!

There will be, as always, the undeniable "horror news" straight out of the newspapers.

So it's going to be all in here in this issue, more jam-packed than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Let' me know when I'm scaring you too much.

Nah, I'm kidding.

Monster movies? Are we all too old for that shit? I don't think I'll ever grow out of them, and neither should a lot of people. To do so would lose a sense of wonder. Why not be a little scared even for a good time? That was what drive-thru theaters was used for.

Now we have our living rooms to be scared in. And that seems to be working out pretty well.

Your Host,
Bobby Meddings

Horror News
Edited by Robert J. Meddings

“Human skin book at Harvard found to be bound in sheepskin”
By Daniel Lovering CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (Reuters)
April 4, 2014
Source: www.newsblogged.com

– A 17th century book owned by Harvard Law School, thought to have been bound in human skin

because of an inscription that referred to a man “flayed alive,” has been shown through scientific testing to have been bound in sheepskin. The binding material of the Spanish law book published in 1605-1606 was determined after an analysis of nine samples of its front and back covers, binding and glue, Karen Beck, a rare books curator at Harvard Law School Library, said on Friday. The Harvard conservation scientist who conducted the testing used a technique for identifying proteins called peptide mass fingerprinting to differentiate the samples from other parchment sources such as cattle, deer, goat and human skin, Beck wrote in a post on the Harvard Law School Library blog. Curators, dermatologists and others had studied the book for years because of a suggestive inscription on its last page that reads: “The bynding of this booke is all that remains of my dear friende Jonas Wright, who was flayed alive by the Wavuma on the Fourth Day of August, 1632.

“Couple Who Claimed They Caught A Live Chupacabra, Chooses to have the Animal Euthanized”
By Charlene Sakoda
April 4, 2014
Source: Odd News

A Ratcliffe, Texas couple caged what they believed to be a legendary chupacabra. Jackie Stock told KAVU Newscenter 25 that her husband caught the mysterious creature alive on Sunday. "He saw this strange animal sitting up here eating corn," said Stock. “He called me to come and look, and I said, ‘Bubba that looks like a baby chupacabra.’”

The animal had a hairless back, large teeth, and an unusual growl. Some commenters speculated that the creature’s behavior of holding food with its front paws proved it was most likely a hairless raccoon or porcupine. They pointed to a November 2011 Vero News report about Florida’s Vero Beach Animal Control, which caught and identified another mysterious animal as a hairless raccoon. The South Texas creature appeared to have physical characteristics similar to the Florida hairless raccoon.

But Arlen Parma, a fellow Ratcliffe resident, refuted the notion that the Stocks’ animal was a raccoon saying, “You know I hunted coons you know, 20 years with dogs and all that and I ain’t never seen nothing that looks like that right there.” Parma added that the beast had a distinctive growl. “Coon don’t make that noise, or a possum. What makes that noise? I guess the chupacabra does. I don’t know,” Parma told the station.

Wildlife Diversity Biologist Brent Ortego from Texas Parks and Wildlife told KAVU, “The animal in the cage as best I can tell from the view is some form of a small canine.” Ortego believed that it was highly likely the animal

suffered from mange, which resulted in the animal’s hair loss. The biologist dismissed the theory that the animal was El Chupacabra and said, “It's never been proven to be a unique species. It was always something out there that allegedly either caused harm or threatened to cause harm to people or their livestock.”

“Mercy Killer who Smothered his Mother Walks Free from Court”
By Steven Morris
The Guardian, Thursday 20 March
Source: www.theguardian.com

A 50-year-old man has avoided jail despite confessing to police that he had smothered his terminally ill mother in a "mercy killing" as she lay suffering in a hospital bed.

Hope Harrison, 74, who had lung cancer, was thought to have died of natural causes until her son, Iain Harrison, told a psychiatrist and then police that he had killed her.

A judge allowed Harrison, from Weymouth in Dorset, to walk free from court after ruling he was "racked with remorse and guilt" and had suffered enough.

Judge Guy Boney QC said normal sentencing guidelines did not apply to the case. He said: "I take the view that you have suffered enough. This whole matter falls outside sentencing guidelines.

"She [Mrs Harrison] had very much reached the end of her natural life and had expressed the view that she wanted to die as soon as possible. It was an act of mercy."

Rather than giving him a custodial sentence, the judge imposed a two-year jail term suspended for 18 months.

Harrison was charged and admitted attempted murder. He was not charged with murder because it was not deemed possible to prove that his actions had actually caused her death.

John Locke, a senior crown prosecutor in Wessex, said: "It was possible to prove that he attempted to do so, based on his own admission."

He added: "This is a very sad case, where a son admitted carrying out an act because he could not bear seeing her suffering.

"As distressing as it is to see a loved one suffering and dying from cancer or a terminal illness, it is not for a person to decide when someone should die. Euthanasia is effectively murder and murder is a crime."

“Tesco Apologise After Complaints Horror Movie Dvd is too Graphic and Violent for a Family Store and Remove it from Shelves”
By Emma Glanfield
Published: 20 March 2014
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Tesco has apologised for stocking a violent horror movie in some stores and has removed it from shelves amid claims it was unsuitable for a family supermarket.

The high-street favourite decided to pull ‘The Hospital (2013)’, which is rated 18 by the British Board of Film Classification.

Tesco was alerted after a customer bought the DVD and, after watching it, complained there was no warning on the cover alerting to its “extreme violence and pornography”.

The DVD’s cover describes the film as creepy, violent, bloody and fun and it has been described as “the sickest film since Rosemary’s baby.”

However, Tesco reacted promptly to the complaint and immediately instructed for it be removed from all stores.

A Tesco spokesman said: “The Hospital is approved for general release and rated 18. However, on this occasion, we’ve made the judgement to remove it from sale.”

Customer Matt Holmes contacted the supermarket chain after purchasing the DVD for £8 in a store in Gloucester, Gloucestershire.

He said: “I love horror films and I am not easily shocked. But I wasn’t prepared for the graphic sexually violent scenes depicted in this film. The quality of the film was terrible in my opinion so I’m not sure why Tesco would want to sell it anyway. But it was the nature of graphic sexual violence which I found shocking.

“I would have no problem with the film being sold online or available for rent but I didn’t expect to see it for sale in Tesco.”

After being informed the DVD was being pulled from shelves, Mr Holmes said the supermarket chain had “done the right thing by removing it from sale so quickly.”

Horror Spotlight:
NightFrightFigures

Edited by Robert J. Meddings

One of the most loyal and longest serving members of the Horror Clan, NightFrightFigures reminds us how why we should be scared of horror movies. Using his theatrical and radio-like voice, he gives us video tours through his favorite horror movies with an added dose of heavy metal.

He sits with us today and answers the lucky 13 questions I'm about to put to him. Be afraid, be very afraid!

1. Which movie was it that turned you into a life-long horror fan?

“Burnt Offerings.” I hated the chauffer in the movie... creeped me out.

2. What are your five favorite horror movies and why?

My five movies:

“Scream” movie: Not knowing there were two killers.

“Poltergeist”: The spirt's under the house, haunting everybody and taking Carrie Ann.

“Shinning”: Here's Johnny! Best saying in the film and the two girls being hacked up.

“Buffy the vampire slayer”: I have every TV series Buffy kicking ass and Willow red head hot girl. You also have Spike and Angel.

“The Exorcist”: The head spinning green throw up best movie ever.

3. Have you decided to do radio with your theater-like voice?

Doing the radio talk show. I would like to do, but I need the help on getting it set up.

4. What are the things you like best about the Horror Clan?

The best thing I like about the horror clan is that we got it started and the progress we made and the cool friends I have made .

5. If someone has problems with a troll, what is your best advice?

Ignore them trolls, block them!

6. Who's more scary? Vincent Price or Robert England?

Vincent Price!

7. Are there any horror movies you are looking forward to in 2014?

1. The Mirror 2. The Quiet Ones 3. A Haunted House 2 4. Cotties 5. 13 Sins 6. Poltergeist 7. Tusk 8. The Human Centipede 9. Viy 10. Ghost 11. 7500

8. What do you think are the most important ingredients for a horror story?

Ingredients in a horror story is the victim.

9. Do you miss Youtube?

Miss youtube? Fuck no!

[Editor's note: Quite so. I agree. Fuck Youtube in the ear!]

10. You seem to like heavy metal bands a lot. Do you have any favorite bands?

AC-DC, April Wine.

11. Do you have any hobbies other than horror movies?

Other hobbies: Bass fishing. I was in a club for twelve years, made the top eight for State the last nine years in the club.

12. Do you have any planned videos?

I have plenty of planned video's in the making when I get a chance.

13. Is there someone out there in the movies or anywhere else you have a crush on?

The actress I like... Molly Ringwald is my babe.

What the Fuck is Wrong with Leonard Maltin?
By Robert J. Meddings

There. I said it.

If you don't know who Leonard Maltin is, that's all right. Don't worry about it. He's a long-time movie critic who doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground.

And yet he manages to crank out one of those gigantic books that looks like an encyclopedia every year. And they're reviews from the Hollywood blockbusters to some of the more obscure things to hit the screens. He also gives his reviews on the Entertainment Tonight shows.

I'm a big believer of the idea that opinions are like assholes. Everyone's got one. And Maltin is always the epitome of giving his opinion like the paid hack he is.

He's also one of the dumbest motherfuckers on the planet. Half of his reviews doesn't make sense, and he'd give good movies rotten ratings. That makes him the biggest troll ever to go to Hollywood movies.

Editor's note: Yes, I want to kick him!

He'd given one rather good monster movie “The Thing” from 1982 only *½ stars out of four. That says a lot, doesn't it? Sure, he doesn't like the movie, but it's no where as bad as he says.

From time and time again, he's admitted he has no love for horror movies. So what the fuck is he doing reviewing movies in the first place?

Yeah, he doesn't like horror movies. Shouldn't he review films objectively rather than crying about not liking violence or monsters? Oh, boo hoo! Cry me another river, Leonard Maltin.
He's got a face I want to punch. I'd like to also kick his head like a soccer ball.

Maltin is the worst kind of critic who doesn't know anything about horror movies. He complains about not liking the violence. Well, Mr. Critic, the violence in these films are fake. I hope he knows that.

Moving on.

So he gives the movie “The Thing” (1982) a very low rating. Why? He claims the film is unpleasant and relentless. What did he expect the alien monster to do? Hand out dandelions and sweets?

Maltin is completely wrong on his assessment of the film.

It's true that I'm no fan of gore either, but that doesn't mean I can enjoy a film like the original “Re-Animator” or “Dawn of the Dead” from 1978. I also happen to like “The Thing” as well.

Many might not know that I'm an English literature major who studied American writings. In my spare time, I read up on different classics by H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, M.R. James, Algernon Blackwood, and several horror stories by Robert E. Howard.

I also read the excellent short story called “Who Goes There?” by John W. Campbell from the 1930s on which both adaptations “The Thing from Another World” and “The Thing” were based on. Both films are excellent, though the later 1982s film is much more faithful to the original source, much closer to it.

The John Carpenter film is set in the cold abyss of a thousand winters, cut off from the rest of civilization. There's a loneliness in the blanket of whiteness that spreads for endless miles. Just like in the original story.

There's a sense of mystery in “The Thing” where you don't know who the alien is. So it becomes a whodunnit story.

The alien monster is a chameleon who hides in shadows, and you don't know who from who. That creates a passable tension in a film like this. What makes this scary is that the monster is fucking horrifying.

What it does is assimilates other lifeforms and in turn imitates them. Thus you have the theme of “Who Goes There?” And it keeps you guessing around every corner.

I think director Carpenter was able to make you feel very uncomfortable while watching this movie

and it still rakes the back of your head with stirring fear.

The scene where the three men are tied to the chairs while under suspicion is one of the creepiest scenes ever made... and the blood tests makes for one of the greatest scares.

That's what I love about this movie, Mr. Maltin. It's filled with brilliant practical effects... no CGI or help from the computer world. The film relies on skilled people in making the effects more organic, realistic. I doubt any current CGI could make the effects as creepy these days.

So there's plenty of great model world that was achieved... creating a monster through a shape of twisting, morphing ugliness. It's like no monster you've ever seen before. It really does seem like from another world.

What I thought might make a really cool twist for the story is Kirk Russell's lead character MacReady could have been the alien. That would have thrown everything off. Wow, think of how many people would have gone nuts to see a lead character getting bumped off in the same way Capt. Dallas was killed off in “Alien.”

Still, I would have given this calculating gorefest ***½ stars myself because it really remains true to the original source while creating a sense of discomfort. Not to mention the practical effects. So influential was this movie that you see an episode of the X-Files called “Ice” that was very similar to it.

Even the film's score by Ennio Morriconne was very unsettling, hearing that heartbeat of music crawling through that film like an orchestra of horror.

There's a great bit with Kirk Russell shouting to the monster, “Fuck you too!” It's a classic.

The cast ensemble is rather nice set of unknown actors with the possible exception of Kirk Russell and Wilfred Brimley. It really pays off because you're not thinking throughout the entire movie “Oh, that's Ben Afflick” when you're concentrating on the movie.

You got the last couple of survivors MacReady and Childs played wonderfully by Keith David. And even the last few scenes adds to an uncertainly that is as chilling today as it was thirty years ago. We can never be sure if the Thing is completely destroyed.

I do think the film is definitely grimmer and more gruesome than its 1950s counterpart, but the chilling setting and atmosphere works extremely well for this film. Seeing how the disturbing vivisection of human beings were made in this film, it reminds you that they are indeed tackling and dealing with something totally malevolent... something totally alien.

Leonard Maltin doesn't like horror movies.

Yeah, I get it.

Maltin gives a lot of excellent movies shitty reviews that don't make sense. Here's several movies he's jumped the shark on. He's given “Blade Runner” only *½ stars. What the fuck is wrong with him giving this film that has since become a legend in the making? He gave “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” ** stars. This film has some of the best action scenes and practical effects.

For some fucking reason, Maltin doesn't like foreign movies. So, like a big baby, he gave the excellent South Korean movie “Oldboy” only **½ stars. That “Oldboy” movie is on my top ten favorite movies of all time. Nope, not according to Leonard “I suck a lot of dick” Maltin.

One of the worst offenders was his giving “The Dark Knight” only ** stars while crying about the violent nature of the film. I think he's missed the point of this Batman film which is an exploration in violence in modern society. Oh, too dark? Wah. The title is called “The DARK Knight,” fool! It's is a very good film which creates a viable tension and deserves better. He's missed the point about “The Thing” being a horror film.

And yet, Leonard Maltin gave one of the worst movies called “Laserblast” **½, basically an el cheapo flick about some guy who got an alien gun attached to his arm, and he transforms into a green, stupid creature who blows up shit and gets killed in the end.

That's it.

And Maltin is saying that “Laserblast” is better than “The Dark Knight”?” He needs to rethink his reviews a little better.

This just makes him an asshole.

Well, he shouldn't be reviewing movies of any kind if he's going to whine “I don't like horror movies.” Well, fuck you, Leonard Maltin. And fuck your little dog Toto too!

Some people understand the fun of watching a horror film which brings them together to celebrate a burning question: How much do you like to be scared?

It'll be a long time before Maltin will realize his mistakes, but he's an incredibly big-headed movie critic that he will keep telling people not to go see a movie because he doesn't like horror movies. That doesn't sit well with me. He should have a love for all movies. He'll need to go back and reevaluate a lot of his claims because some of his stuff does tarnish the reputation of a movie. His word does cause many people not to see a particular film.

I think most horror enthusiasts agree that the film “The Thing” makes for a very frightening chapter, teaching us a lesson on difficult trust issues. I'm not sure if I'll be able to sit in the theaters with the dimmed lights when audiences saw it for the first time in 1982.

Should Maltin appear in horror movies himself, he'd be like the Ghoul of Ghostly Dumbness. He'd be so scary that I'd run from him at every twist and turn down the hallways. He'd be so frightening that I'd be shitting bricks and my hair would be turning white. He's the arch-fiend of mediocrity. All he has to do is give a movie like “The Thing” *½ stars and I'll flee like fuck.

I do believe that Leonard Maltin is an excellent film historian, and he knows his movies backwards and forwards. He should go do some history on films because he can tap into the movie nostalgia movies very well.

Leave the horror movies alone for the rest of us movie lovers.

Poems from the Underworld
By Del Hilling A.K.A. Vman

"It was the war that brought us together"
By Del Hilling
Unholy fallen seed. No escape your my destiny.
It wasn’t just love but a treaty written thousands
upon thousands of countless Eons ago.

Ancient powers of darkness had beached me and this
would be all that I would know. I had a talent for
enticing and attracting the supernatural. Maybe it was my
perception of the arcane reality before me. The way my mind
had woven together the cryptic elements of nature. In a way
it was my own fault for it had become our engagement.
And in the end would seal any escape from
this untimely and yet so tangible frightening danger.

So now we are tighter..... two souls almost one....
Is that what the war wanted??? Is that what we had to become...
In order to satisfy the parliamentary facets of ambiguity?

As this gauntlet became one. And the intermingling of a
conclave of clandestine unities were undone.
Beyond marriage beyond blood oath! Beyond souls that were
seared. We were literally ordained and fused by greater powers
in which we had no say in. This was the War the true war.
This would be the battle. In which we had met. This would be
the forefront of our unending and incorruptible corruptions of
untellable unquantifiable debts.

"Hatcheteer Trixter Urban Legend" (Short tale of HORROR)"
By Del Hilling

It was a late night in this huge party town. Three days before Halloween. Everyone knew it had been
ten years to the date that the mysterious Hatcheteer Trixter made his way through town killing those
three people. But not only did he kill them. He would resew their heads back on to different bodies.
A weird twisted way he saw the World.

Playing God in his sad and sadistic ways.

A lot of people didn't seem very worried. It was almost like they had forgotten that he was never found.

The rumor was they had caught the man a strange loner living on the outskirts of town in a van.
He was one of those welfare fraud men on the run and that was about the only thing they could get him on.

The fact that he was truly the Hatchet Trixter Fix'errr. Was still up in the air and yet to be seen.

I was driving home down the road after I had finished work. When suddenly this lady darted out in front of my car covered in blood she blurred by my car. And at her foot heels. Was this ghastly looking man wearing a very creepily realistic looking mask with worms and spiders swarming upon it.

I slammed on my breaks and jumped out of the car. Not sure why I would dare play hero. But luckily for me I had a side arm. So I cocked the trigger and ran into the underbrush after this phantom chasing this poor damsel in distress.

It was dark in the woods time was around 8:30 p.m. I heard her scream then I tripped over a huge tree root and fell to the ground. As I fell I squeezed the trigger and the gun went off. And I heard
another voice yell in horrific pain. Must of been that strange masked ghoul chasing her perhaps????

I then reached in my coat pocket and found a nice bright key chain pocket light. I found the trail in the dark forest and scanned for a body. All I had seen was a trail of blood that continued
up and over the hill. I was wondering what the hell am I in for if I keep following this chase???

But my gut told me to do so regardless.

I walked up over the hill and down into a lower culvert and began to cross a small stream. I again
heard the lady scream. And then I heard what sounded like something chopping through a tree trunk.
My flash light began to fade and go dim. And I was like no not now not here in the middle of these woods!!!

Then it went off completely. And it was just then something was thrown at me. And I felt it hit my legs and land between my feet. Something the size of perhaps a basketball or such. I screamed..... And turned and began to run in what I thought was the direction of the path I followed earlier.

As I ran that way I recalled a lesson from the past in science. They say theories on decapitation seem to be that the last thing you feel upon your neck is a cold sensation of the blade. Before he severs through into the spinal column. It was at that next brief split second I felt the most icy bone chilling sensation before all went completely black....... delete...on of the blade. Before he severs through into the spinal column. It was at that next brief split second I felt the most icy bone chilling sensation before all went completely black.......

Editor's note:

Here is VortexReturns' page...

http://uploadsociety.com/user/VortexRETURNS!

https://www.facebook.com/vortex.atfatal

Review:
"A Long Way to Hell"

By
Robert J. Meddings

Oh, everywhere you go, you'll run into monsters. They are the genuine namesake of everyone's nightmares.

What are monsters other than the symptoms of our fears? They represent what is dark and dirty in our modern society, reminding us of our darker sides.

You should look no further than “John Constantine: Hellblazer” which made its chilling debut in 1987. This long-running comic book series explored the gothic traditions in modern London. In some ways, the series began with an archetypical monster itself: hunger.

And so the first story was ideally called “Hunger.” Simple, yet effective. And such a seething feeling of creepiness dripped into the story like a sopping menace.

And that hunger could become the worst enemy the world has to face. The angry god creeps across cities like a shadows, and the emaciated images of corpses after hunger strikes is one of the more gruesome sight-seeing tours the comic series ever took us.

Jamie Delano was in charge as the tour guide of poetry and words as he describes to us in loving detail the horror of today's world. John Ridgway provided us with moody arts that offered a shackled glimpse of horror choking civilization with its gripping hunger.

Adding to everything, like the icing on a cake, was Dave McKean's cover art which gave the series a personality, making it different from all the other books on the shelf. It was amazing art.

You'll see the starvation has been a widespread problem in Africa, and the awful despair in which tackles this country in the form of a dark cloud. And Mnemoth is a lord of flies that feeds on people, a powerful monster that moves like a sickness.

That hunger is some mad god.

This is the world we were introduced to in the
FIRST story of the series.

The “Hellblazer” series is almost like seeing a Hammer Horror production coming to life in comic book form. You have everything you ask for in a Englishman's horror story... gothic settings, painted landscape of shadows, a world filled with poverty after the downfall of western civilization.

This is where John Constantine meets his match as he fights a different kind of horror in Mnemoth. This monster kills its victims by sucking the skin and life out of them, leaving them as thin corpses. They become just skin and bones.

That, in itself, is a great symbolism because writer Delano and artist Ridgway are letting us know about what hunger can to do us.

It becomes really striking imagery for this comic book at this time by using “hunger” to create a sense of impending doom in London and New York City. By using the backdrop of normal places, the hunger of Mnemoth takes on a greater contrast.

New York City has become a place filled with decay: porn shops, run-down streets, old subways and decrepit buildings and 1980s

counterculture where there is happy trend of people
supposedly making money thanks to the trickle-down economics bullshit.

And Mnemoth is more than happy to lay waste this city with its hunger.

Not only that, we are invited to see Southern Sudan where the cradle of humanity is found... and we follow the exploits of John Constantine in detective mode... being portrayed here as a working class Englishman who dabbles in the occult.

However, it is learned that in a remote village the African voodoo magician has trapped the Mnemoth creature in a child and used the boy as a sort of capsule to keep the demon hidden like a ship in a bottle. They sealed the demon with tattoos filled with ritual spells, locked away behind that spiritual key. John Constantine's old friend Gary Lester inadvertently released the monster as if he was pulling the cork out of the genie's bottle.

Bad things begin to happen to the western world when the cloud of flies escape to wreck havoc. This story is a terrifying and brilliant way of starting off the British inspired comic series with an added soaring touch of David Chroenberg in the art.

And so we get some bug-loving issues in the first story, and the real sense of weirdness in it that sets “Hellblazer” apart from the regular superhero comic books. It became the go-to

place for horror stories on a monthly basis. What a great book to read for a horror fan such as myself.

Delano is one of those writers who's able to bring so much prose crammed into a comic book... here you really get a sense that you're reading a novel in art form. This writer has a great command of the English language, a very skilled poet. So many words and images breath in the story while Delano takes us on the initial tour of the underworld.

It is gruesome.

It is wonderful to see a horror book not being afraid... sprawling pages spit at us with the same vein as EC books... reminding us that comic books can indeed be gruesome stuff.

Sure, it was Alan Moore who created the John Constantine character when he started out in the Swamp Thing series as a supporting character. Writer Delano painted us the background world of Constantine by giving us his friends, family and the strange world in which he inhabits.

Delano gave the surefire background to this mysterious figure of the occult: Constantine has a good friend in Chas, sister Cheryl and niece Gemma. Already, he seems to jump out of the pages as an interesting character.

He's portrayed as a chain smoking, trench-coat wearing investigator whose English charm was used to disarm his opponents and, on many occasion, the ladies. He was a great trickster who would use his smarts to get around a problem.

He's the type who might not win a battle against the devil,

but steals the devil's cigarette pack just to spite him. That's the kind of character Constantine is. Always being someone who laughs in the face of hell itself.

Even in the first book, you get a hint that Constantine was rocking the cradle with his girlfriend Emma... so young, divine, a goddess of beauty. When Constantine tries to sexually touch her, she tells him, “Don't be silly. No touching!”

And he goes ahead and tries anyway like an awkward fool. She's a ghost anyway, but that wasn't going to stop him.

Yes, Constantine, you're a total bastard.

In the second comic book of the first self-contained story, the title is “A Feast for Friends” which is a very nice, if imposing, signal for the horror to come.

There is his friend Gary Lester who was with Constantine during the punk rock days. We are cordially invited to visit the strange man named Papa Midnight, a large African-American who towers with a ghoulish grin and walks around like a shadow of authority in New York City.

So we get our glimpses of the world in which John Constantine blazed through. And it's a scary place.
Together, they would stop the creature Mnemoth from spreading its plague through New York City by using witchcraft and a dry sense of humor.

God help us all. Maybe.

Constantine was able to stop the threat of the monster with his usual ways: betrayal, trickery, deceit and pulling the rug from under his opponents like a sly bastard he was. Right from the very start, Constantine used his friends as shields and threw them aside. What a nice guy.

He believes in saving the greater good of the human race by sacrificing the few. Constantine and friends were able to trap the demon once again by plugging the bottle. It wasn't a happy ending. And This anti-hero Constantine was left to trail-blaze his way through the occult world with guilt in his soul for the next twenty-five years in comics.

It's interesting to note that Delano got away with a lot of adult content and really pushed the envelop of comics at the time.

His characters often swear in his stories by saying “sonofabitch,” “arse” and “Christ” a few times, getting by the Comics Approval Code who would have undoubtedly thrown a shit fit had they known about it.

It was brave of Delano to keep peeling away the adult themes in a very skillful manner, giving us a side of comics we don't always see.

Which meant that fifteen-year-old kids like me at the time could get my grubby hands on some horror stories, and “Hellblazer” became a far cry from the days of superhero monopoly in the comic book. I didn't much care for seeing caped crusaders or reading about men of steel who could go faster than a speeding bullet.

For the first time, I was able to read a book that took advantage of creating mood and atmosphere. It was where I could dig into the gothic world.

It's a good throwback to the likes of “Tales from the Crypt” or “Vault of Horror” from the EC days, and the art of Hellblazer really called to mind the old art of the 1950s where you saw added shadows intruding into the background settings.

You get a chill every time you saw how dark the art could be, offering a mouth-savoring beauty of gothic themes . Was Hellblazer becoming the counterculture of the superhero scene by clinging to the dark nature of horror stories? It sent goosebumps in a comic book world not used to this sort of thing.

I liked it.

And we were all the richer for it with Delano's striking pose as the words hang with a perfect guidance in peeling back the fears of the modern world. His crawling words and gift in imagery lent the Hellblazer series right from the start. It was always good stuff.

The original run of Hellblazer starting with the first story taught a vivid lesson in good writing, original ideas and beautiful art. I was rarely disappointed in the series.

I do miss that.

So just go back to read the fist story of the Jamie Delano/John Ridgway run and you'll understand how horror was made to cinch with the comic book form. This world was bathed in horror enough to choke us with awfulness.

I really do like the way New York City was plagued by this storm of flies that hovered like a terrible blot. It was a magnificent image. The idea of some black hunger could engulf New York City with a terrible appetite was great. It was like watching a city being sucked dry.

There were tons of other gruesome images that gripped the mind of this gentle reader. There's a bit of cannibalism being attempted on a woman dining in a restaurant when a fat man went on a rampage.
Also the image of the priest shouting with hatred at the stoic cross in the church made for some very fine images. It's almost as if Delano was casting out religion in the very first story.

One of the most terrifying images was the page where you see Gary Lester in the bathtub being covered with flies everywhere as if the room became alive with the stink of death. And you read how Lester cries, “Help me, John.” There's almost a sickening display of childishness here.

“Hellblazer” taught us that there are always monsters in the world, and they follow us like shadows in the dark. They cling to our fears while they hang on the walls like long fingers gripping. And they repel us like a storm of flies that becomes a seething demon frothing in the modern world like a beast.

One thing about the “Hellblazer” series: it remained loyal to the writers through the all time. It was an experimental book for writers. They could play with ideas and concepts and not be worried about being tied down by constraints.

Already, the book was exploring on several adult themes that you wouldn't ordinarily see in comic books in those days. You have to deal with the devil when reading this book, and find your way through the dark alleys of writing.

And you hit a gold mine when you're reading a book like “Hellblazer,” the treasure trove of British horror.

Yeah, that's the Constantine I remember in the old days. The guy who's willing to go into the furthest reaches of hell against his better judgment. He fought his way through the trenches of darkness by using his wit and smarts, shrugging it off as he was thrust into a world of despair.

This book was a grindhouse for horror, a charnel house for ideas of the macabre. It was like seeing echoes of horror running at us with the speed of a steam engine... slow, yet exciting. Poetic, and yet contemporary. It was Raymond Chandler meets Clive Barker captured in still art.

It became a refuge for horror fans. And the first story was a great taste of things to come. We are suddenly pulled into a different type of place against our wishes.

This was a book that was not afraid to push the boundaries. This first story of Mnemoth grabbed us by the arm and pulled us down screaming into a place of horror. And we were slam-dunked in the middle of gothic trends. It was a place of horror. And we're no worse for a ride into darkness.

Yes, it's true that the world is filled with monsters. But sometimes, if you read well enough, you'll find that Constantine can be at times the greatest, most selfish, monster of them all.

British horror told us that we, too, can fight demons all around us, and also ourselves. And still win. If we're lucky enough.

Recommended reading which includes the John Constantine character:

"Helblazer: Original Sins" graphic novel by Jamie Delano and John Ridgway.

Hellblazer TP Vol. 2 "The Devil You Know" by Jamie Delano and Richard Piers Rayner and other artists.

"The Horrorist" by Jamie Delano and David Lloyd.

"The Trenchcoat Brigade" by Jamie Delano and John Ridgway.

And many more trade paperbacks...

It seems that South Korea has been cranking out a lot of good stuff these days. One could almost say it's the new Hollywood.

Though there's a big difference. South Korea is Hollywood of the old days... they're making a lot of original films without going crazy with the big budget. This is what Hollywood should be. And yet we have filmmakers like Michael Bay putting out awful, yet successful, movies.

And South Korea has a director like Bong Joon-ho.

He's a different kind of director who knows how to make an excellent, yet successful, movie. His 2006 film “The Host” provides an interesting political statement while making a monster movie that thrills the audience.

This is one of the most poplar and well-made monster movies in recent years.

Bong Joon-ho came up with the idea for the film when he saw a deformed fish in the Han River, mapping out his ideas in his head before creating a film about wrongful pollution.

It's a brilliant film.

What works is using the film to center around a very dysfunctional family while they respond in kind to the monster who kidnaps a member of their family. To say the least, all hell breaks loose.
That's what happens when a monster decides to fuck with one of the family. Then it just fucks with the rest of the family too.

Charred Remains Review:
"The Perfect Host"

By
Robert J. Meddings

And boy, is that family dysfunctional. So many problems splitting the family apart even when the head of the family, the grandpa, couldn't hold them together.

The father wonderfully played by lead actor Song Kang-ho is a lazy putz. He farts, belches and could be your best pal when playing video games. Surprisingly, he has a daughter who's more mature than he'll ever be.

The beautiful and talented Bae Doona plays the sister archer who takes her anger out on things with a bow and arrow. She's an eccentric youth like her brothers. There is the second brother who's too busy making money. These people aren't the sharpest chopstick in the drawer.

They can't stand one another. This family is far from perfect. I don't see how they can make it through the day.

I admit it. This family is fucked up.

Ah, such wonderful family values.

It's a welcome film that takes the monster movie format and pushes it just a little bit further. It's a very basic conflict that carries the movie... sort of like seeing the Man Vs. Nature theme in any of the Jack London stories. Only this time it's Monster Vs. Family.

Though director Bong Joon-ho and crew has a lot of fun with the film.

All the while you have to remember the film is R-rated, meaning that it's intended for adult audiences. Some of the story explores child isolation... or loneliness. Being cut off from the family which may very well be the biggest fear in Asia.

The one thing that brings the family together is when the daughter becomes a captive of this strange creature that leaps and swims in Han River like a predator.

One of the best scenes in the film is during the memorial in a mass funeral, the family goes hysterical over the loss of the young daughter Park Hyun-seo. Their fanatic crybaby fits is a highlight in the film as they share the pain in loss.

It's a perfect example of how they collaborate in a streak of zaniness.

Let's talk about the monster. That's what the movie is about, right?

I admit that I like monster movies since I was a lil kid. Never outgrew the stuff, and always let the monsters take the front seat in the movies because, well, they always seem out of this world.
You never really see much of the monster except in glimpses and snatches of movement in dark corner. So it really does leave more to the imagination which makes it all the more scarier. It's like the film works on the theater of the mind.

I do admire the approach in film making with ”The Host.”

I'll mention the film “Alien” here because it does take the same approach of making only a few visible snatches of the creature while keeping it in the shadows. It seems the alien creature melts into the shadows like a whisper, and will attack from the hallowed gulfs of horror.

Almost as if the Alien and the Host could be distant cousins in the way they operate, keeping itself out of sight while snaring its victims away like a primal beast.

The Host crawls through the sewers connecting to the Han River like a menace

staying in the shadows which becomes its home. It hugs the walls like a creature in a cocoon, ready to leap on someone like it's an evening snack.

It was a good move on the writer and director's part to keep the creature in check. Using only subtle visual glimpses seem to work in the audience's favor as they're oddly fascinated by this creeping, seething intruder who lingers like a large spider-turned-fish that strives in the cement tunnels like a moving dark blotch.

This giant beast litters its home with skulls, and bones. It slithers and howls with frightening silence. It's a lesson of horror in films.

After finding out what happened to Park Hyun-seo, the family goes out of their way to stomp the living shit out of the monster. It's something not even the army or the government had the balls to do.
So what's the moral of this story? Don't piss off a crazy family.

There's a real interesting plot point being played out in the end of the film where the family pushes all their differences aside to work together. They're willing to do anything, ANYTHING, to save the their little girl from the very jaws of hell itself.

They prove very resourceful in their own ways, being very creative. And while there is indeed a sad ending, the film does have a very poetic triumph in the end that reminds us of the mortality we have. That's the drive which propels people to go forward in their lives, and not dwell in the past.

There's that theme of loneliness again which becomes the greatest enemy of the world. Should a family hate each other so much that they remain on their islands of loneliness? That, in itself, sounds very tragic.

You'll find that the one of the leading actors in South Korea Song Kang-ho has been in a lot of other excellent films. You may have seen him as the Weird guy in the Asian western “The Good, The Bad and the Weird,” and he was no stranger to the horror movie in “Thirst” about a a priest turned vampire. They're worthy films to see with Kang-ho in it.

Also Bae Doona is an impressive presence in this movie. She offers a very strong woman lead which is great. I used to know someone who bitched constantly about women being stereotyped as archers in films. Well, he's wrong as usual. The archer character is essential to this film, and certainly one of the most fierce opponents.

You can also see Doona in the film “Cloud Altas” who's very beautiful in, well, nude. Though she's a terrific actress who I like to see more of in future Asian cinema. Some critics complain that she's got a big nose and got crazy eyes. Those critics are assholes. I think she's hot and talented.

According to Wikipedia: “The Host received screenings on several film festivals. In addition to its opening in Cannes, among the most prominent were the Toronto, Tokyo and New York film festivals. The film swept Korea's Blue Dragon Awards : The Host received five awards.”

Interestingly enough, you'll see “The Host” has garnered a 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes website, a website I generally dislike. However, you can see how well received it is. Also director Quentin Tarantino lists the movie on his top twenty best movies since 1992. There's a lot to like in a film like “The Host.”

Hard to believe movie critic Leonard Maltin gave it a *** rating. Maybe he's not so much a schmuck after all? I still want to kick him. The film still deserves just a little higher rating.

So the film has a sort of rebirth in the end, finding some happiness out of the sadness that dwells in each and every one of of us. Why let old wounds buy you? If you're looking for happiness, maybe you should look for it no matter what?

It's a movie that's more than a horror movie. It deconstructs the idea of the family and examines it through cinema eyes. What we see, under the microscope, is the fascinating study on what makes a family tick. And ticked off.

That's the interesting thing about the father played by leading actor Song Kang-ho who brings a sort of vulnerable side to his character. Will he remain true to his word in the end of the story? Will he become more responsible of himself and his family rather than slink back to laziness again?

It's hard to tell.

However, one thing is very certain. There is no doubt that the father is a good man, not a perfect one. And that might be the best he can do.

There are a lot of decent people in the world who

who is willing to make good even if they make a lifetime of regrets. So the very idea of the film may be the heart of the heart, especially in a family, might not be something to mess around with.

It's a powerful thing that binds a family together, and that can be a very overwhelming thing. In this one, family seems to take winner all.

Oh yes, don't forget that. Even if they are a wacko bunch.

The Monster Lives Amongst Us:
"The Return of Godzilla"

By
Byron Orlock

Now as the 1980’s came around after Economic Turmoil of the 1970’s the United States was given a new hope of prosperity with then newly elected President Ronald Reagan turning around the country with new jobs the possibility of a brighter decade, But in the background there was relic from the past still haunting the world… The Cold War which was heating up again between the United States & the U.S.S.R.

Sounds like a perfect climate for everyone’s favorite Movie Monster from Japan to return doesn’t it???

The next film in the series and kick starting the Heisei Era from 1984 to 1995 is The Return of Godzilla released in 1984 celebrating Godzilla’s 30th Anniversary is the 16th film in the series, and is an interesting chapter that brings The King of The Monsters into the era of Ronald Reagan, Flash Gordon, Miami Vice, & The Second “British Invasion”.

Our film starts with A Japanese fishing vessel is trying to find its way to shore in a horrible storm while near an uninhabited island, when a giant monster appears and attacks the boat. A few days later, reporter Goro Maki finds the vessel intact but deserted. As he explores the vessel, he finds all the crew dead except for one young man called Hiroshi Okumura, who has been badly wounded. Suddenly a giant sea louse attacks but is eventually killed with some difficulty.

In Tokyo, Okumura realizes by looking at pictures that the monster he saw was a new Godzilla. However the news of Godzilla's return is kept secret to avoid panic until Godzilla attacks a second time and destroys a Soviet submarine. However, the Russians believe the attack was orchestrated by the Americans, and a diplomatic crisis ensues which threatens to escalate into war. The Japanese intervene and finally announce that Godzilla was behind the attack. The Japanese arrange a meeting with the Russian and American ambassadors and, after some debate over the issue, Prime Minister Mitamura decides nuclear weapons will not be used on Godzilla even if he were to attack the Japanese mainland, an announcement that the Russians can't come to terms with. The Japanese Self-Defense Forces are put on alert and search for Godzilla.

Soon, Godzilla appears on an island off the coast of Japan, determined to feed off a nuclear power plant there. When Godzilla attacks the facility and feeds off the reactor, he is distracted by a flock of birds, and leaves the facility almost as quickly as he arrived. Okumura and his friends realize that Godzilla reacts to the same signal as birds, and Professor Hayashida decides to use this method to lure Godzilla away from Tokyo. Meanwhile, the Russians have their own plans to counter the threat posed by Godzilla, and a Russian control ship disguised as a freighter in Tokyo Harbor prepares to launch a nuclear missile from one of their orbiting satellites should Godzilla attack.

Godzilla is later sighted at Tokyo Bay, forcing mass evacuations out of the city and a state of emergency is declared. The JASDF attacks Godzilla with Mitsubishi F-1 fighter jets, but their missiles are useless against him. Godzilla then proceeds to the coast, where the waiting army, equipped with tanks, rocket launchers and soldiers armed with Howa Type 64 assault rifles, proceeds to fire on Godzilla, but they are quickly subdued. Meanwhile, one of the crewmembers aboard the damaged Russian vessel goes against Japan's wishes, and fires a nuclear missile at Godzilla before succumbing to

his injuries. Godzilla then proceeds towards Tokyo's business district, wreaking havoc along the way. There, he is confronted by four laser-armed trucks known as Hyper Laser Cannons, and then the Super X, a piloted VTOL craft constructed in secret to defend Tokyo in case of emergency, in particular a nuclear attack.

Because Godzilla's heart similar to a nuclear reactor, the cadmium shells that are fired into his mouth by the Super X seal and slow down his heart and Godzilla falls down unconscious. Unfortunately, the city is faced with a greater threat when the countdown ends and the Russian missile is launched from the satellite, leaving the Japanese government and people helpless to stop it. However, the Americans intervene and shoot down the missile with one of theirs before it can hit Tokyo. Unfortunately, the atmospheric nuclear blast creates an electrical storm, which revives Godzilla once more.

Godzilla has a final battle with the Super X, eventually damaging the aircraft and forcing it to make an emergency landing where he destroys it by toppling a building on it. Godzilla continues his rampage, until Professor Hayashida is successful with his invention and uses the bird call device to distract him.

Godzilla leaves Tokyo and swims across the Japanese sea to volcanic Mt. Mihara, where he notices the signal device. As he walks towards it, he falls into the mouth of the volcano where he is surrounded by detonators, which are activated by Okumura, creating a controlled volcanic eruption that traps Godzilla for good, except that it doesn't.

The screenplay was first written in 1980, but as an entirely different film. Godzilla was to fight a shape-shifting monster named Bagan, and the Super X played a much smaller role. Among the SDF weapons in this script that made it to the big screen were the Water Beetle (an underwater

mech) and the Giant Basu (which is equipped with a giant arm to capture submarines).

Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka offered Ishirō Honda a chance to direct this film, but he strongly rejected the offer, because of what came of Godzilla in the 1970s, and his belief that Godzilla should have been permanently laid to rest after Eiji Tsuburaya's death, at this time, he was busy assisting his friend Akira Kurosawa with films he was directing, such as Kagemusha and Ran.

Veteran Godzilla actor Akihiko Hirata, who appeared in several past Godzilla films (best known of his role of Doctor Serizawa from Godzilla) was slated to play Professor Hayashida; however, he had died from throat cancer before production began. Yosuke Natsuki, another veteran, took the role instead. Stuntman Kenpachiro Satsuma (who previously played Hedorah and Gigan in the original Godzilla films) played Godzilla for the first time, as a replacement for another stuntman who backed out at the last minute.

Aside from being heavy, the suit was very dangerous (it was not only built from the outside in, but not made to fit him), and Satsuma lost a lot of weight during filming. This mildly mirrored what Haruo Nakajima went through when he played Godzilla in the original 1954 film. Subsequent Godzilla suits worn by Satsuma were much safer and more comfortable, as they were custom-made to fit him (even though the suits still had some dangers of their own).

The lifelike animatronic Godzilla prop used in close-up shots is the 20-foot (6.1 m) "Cybot Godzilla." It was heavily touted in the publicity department at the time, even though it was not used in the film as extensively as promoted. A full-size replica of Godzilla's foot was also built, albeit all of the scenes in which it is used were removed from the American version (the sole exception being a shot of the foot crushing a row of parked cars during the attack on the nuclear power plant).

Prior to New World Pictures' release of the film, Toho had the film dubbed in Hong Kong. This "Toho international version", titled The Return of Godzilla is uncut and was released in the United Kingdom in the 1990s. So far, this version has not been made available in the United States.

After acquiring The Return of Godzilla for distribution in North America, New World Pictures
changed the title to Godzilla 1985 and radically re-edited the film. Originally, New World reportedly planned to re-write the dialogue in order to turn the film into a tongue-in-cheek comedy (à la What's Up, Tiger Lily?), but this plan was reportedly scrapped because Raymond Burr expressed displeasure at the idea, taking the idea of Godzilla as a nuclear metaphor seriously. The only dialogue left over from that script was "That's quite an urban renewal program they've got going on over there", said by Major McDonahue.

New World's biggest change was in adding around ten minutes of new footage, most of it at The Pentagon, with Raymond Burr reprising his role as Steve Martin from Godzilla, King of the Monsters!.
The poster image was the same as for the Japanese version, but a green tinting was added to Godzilla's charcoal gray skin and the Soviet attack satellite in the upper right corner was removed. Much of the original version was deleted or altered.

When the film was released in the summer of 1985 it faced some pretty stiff competition at the U.S. Box Office going up against such films as “The Color Purple”, “Back To The Future”, “The Goonies” and the James Bond film “A View To A Kill”.

The Critics were extremely harsh with their thoughts of the film even the late Roger Ebert Chicago Sun Times said the following…

“The filmmakers must have known that the original Godzilla (1956) had many loyal fans all over the world who treasured the absurd dialogue, the bad lip-synching, the unbelievable special effects, and the phony profundity. So they have deliberately gone after the same inept feeling in Godzilla 1985.

Examples: Dialogue: It is so consistently bad that the entire screenplay could be submitted as an example.

My favorite moment occurs when the hero and heroine are clutching each other on a top floor of a skyscraper being torn apart by Godzilla and the professor leaps into the shot, says "What has happened here?" and leaps out again without waiting for an answer.

Lip-synching: Especially in the opening shots, there seems to be a subtle effort to exaggerate the bad coordination between what we see and what we hear. All lip-synch is a little off, of course, but this movie seems to be going for condescending laughs from knowledgeable filmgoers.

Special effects: When Godzilla marches on Tokyo, the buildings are the usual fake miniature models, made out of paint and cardboard. The tipoff is when he rips a wall off a high-rise, and nothing falls out. That's because there is nothing inside."

Although I do agree with some of Mr. Ebert’s “Faults” of the film, some problems can be forgiven due to the fact that this was BRAND NEW SFX team that had no previous experience in making a Kaiju film before…

(Case in point the FX Godzilla’s for Atomic Breath & Dorsal Spine Animation) may look crude in the era of CGI but IMHO they still hold up pretty well 30 years later.

One thing I still cannot forgive is Roger Corman’s Company “New World Pictures” BLASPHEMOUS BUTCHERING of the Japanese Version with all of the changes other than the dubbing that makes the cast sound like a swarm of Over Hyped “Drugged Out Chipmunks Inhaling Helium from a Radioactive Bong Pipe”

It also doesn’t help that most “Film Critics” like Leonard Maltin who critically slammed the film on “Entertainment Tonight” in August 1985 and various other “Experts” decided to use the film to attack Ronald Reagan’s Administration instead of reviewing the film.

These BRAINDEAD MORONS wouldn’t know the difference between a Godzilla movie and a Friday The 13th film even if The King of The Monsters dropped Tokyo Tower on their FAT HEAD or Jason Vorhees stabbed them from behind because their ASSES are too big to increase his body count...

At least Gene Shalit Retired Critic of “The Today Show” appreciated the Cheesiness of the U.S. Version.

After the film “BOMBED” in the U.S. this would be the last Godzilla film released stateside for 15 years until the release of Godzilla 2000.

The massive success of The Return of Godzilla gave the execs at Toho a brilliant idea to hold a contest to decide Godzilla’s next opponent… The film was written and directed by Kazuki Ōmori, and stars Kunihiko Mitamura Yoshiko Tanaka, Masanobu Takashima, and Megumi Odaka. The seventeenth installment in the Godzilla series, the film is a belated sequel to The Return of Godzilla from five years earlier.

This was the first "monster vs monster" film from this rebooted series. It featured a new monster called Biollante, with producer Tomoyuki Tanaka desiring new monster opponents for Godzilla rather than using characters from the original films.

As part of pre-release publicity, Tanaka solicited script ideas from the public with 5,000 entries being received. The winning entry that was selected was from Shinichiro Kobayashi, a dentist and occasional science fiction writer. Director Ōmori then adapted it into the film's script.

(Side Note: It has been speculated for the past 25 years that Director Omori “Stole” the story from Kobayashi’s original idea… Claiming it was his own and refusing to give Kobayashi the proper credit that he rightfully deserved. )

Godzilla vs. Biollante released in 1989 the 17th entry, a scientific team picks through the ruins of Tokyo, searching for tissue samples left behind by Godzilla. U.S. troops working for the genetic engineering company Bio-Major attempt to escape with

a sample, but they are dispatched by a lone mercenary who steals the sample.

Meanwhile, in the Middle East, researcher Genshiro Shiragami looks forward to returning to Japan with his daughter, Erika. However, a terrorist bombing destroys his research facility and kills Erika.
Five years later, Shiragami is now a haunted man studying the psychic energy of roses.

Psychic Miki Saegusa, who heads an institution for intuitive children, aids him in his research. Two groups are watching Shiragami: a gang of thieves hired by Bio-Major and an assassin from a Middle Eastern country called Saradia. As it turns out, Shiragami is involved in the study of Godzilla cells. It is believed by Shiragami's employers that he is aiding them in figuring out how to utilize the cells' properties to create "Anti-Nuclear Energy Bacteria", radiation-devouring bacteria meant to be used as a fatal weapon against Godzilla. When the thieves and the assassin catch each other breaking into Shiragami's lab, a gunfight ensues. A giant, mobile plant kills one of the thieves. His partner flees, and the assassin barely escapes from the plant's grasp.

They do not realize that they have just encountered the result of Shiragami's secret experimentations. The next morning, the giant flower is seen in a nearby lake, and Shiragami confesses that he combined the DNA of roses with some extracted from Godzilla's cells. He also confesses that he had, in a fit of grief-driven madness, added Erika's DNA to the genetic composite, so that technically, the creature is partially human as well. He names his creation "Biollante".

Meanwhile, Bio-Major anonymously sends a letter to the Diet of Japan, informing them that they have planted several bombs inside Mt. Mihara. If the Anti-Nuclear Energy Bacteria is not handed over, the company threatens to detonate the bombs and release Godzilla from his prison. With the country held hostage, the Diet is forced to comply. The trade-off with the remaining thief goes well until he is killed by the assassin.

The thief dies before he can deactivate the timed explosives. Godzilla is released as Mt. Mihara is destroyed. Upon hearing Godzilla's roar, Biollante's blossom opens, and the monstrous plant begins calling out to Godzilla.

Shiragami theorizes that this is because Biollante is partially composed of Godzilla's DNA. With Godzilla's destination made clear, the Japan Self-Defense Force, under the leadership of Colonel Sho Koruki, prepare their

strategies for dealing with the King of the Monsters. The Super X II, a remote controlled and stronger version of the first Super X, is deployed and, though it first seems effective at combating Godzilla, it is eventually overwhelmed by Godzilla's nuclear breath and forced to retreat.

Godzilla finally reaches Biollante. A huge battle ensues, and briefly it appears that there is a stalemate. However, Godzilla defeats Biollante with his atomic breath. With Biollante apparently dead, Godzilla continues on. Godzilla, running low on radioactive energy after the previous battles, heads towards the nearest operational nuclear reactor in Tsuruga. The military is sent out to meet Godzilla at Ise Bay. Godzilla instead surfaces in Osaka Bay, avoiding a confrontation with the JSDF.

Saegusa tries to help, attempting to make Godzilla turn away from Osaka. Her efforts distract Godzilla momentarily, but the force of Godzilla's will and his psychic brainpower overwhelms her and causes her to faint. A plan is put into action involving infecting Godzilla with the regained Anti-Nuclear Energy Bacteria.

In its final battle, the Super X II is destroyed by Godzilla after luring it into Osaka's business district. Colonel Gondo and his soldiers use rocket launchers equipped with the bacteria. The operation is initially successful, despite the death of Lieutenant Gondo, with bacteria injected into Godzilla into three points in his body. Godzilla is seemingly unaffected by it, and continues on.

The failure of the bacteria is attributed to Godzilla's low body temperature, which keeps the bacteria in a near-dormant state. If Godzilla is heated up somehow, Shiragami theorizes, and then the bacteria should work. The JSDF develops another plan: force Godzilla onto a field of microwave-emitting plates during an artificial thunderstorm, where it will be heated by the microwaves. The operation begins, but it seems that Godzilla is not affected by the microwaves as he crushes them. Just as everything seems lost, a low rumble is heard and Biollante's spores rain down from the sky. Suddenly a larger, more Godzilla-like Biollante emerges from the ground.

After destroying all nearby land forces, Biollante attacks Godzilla, and the two monsters fight to the death with Godzilla beginning to lose. At the last minute, Godzilla blasts his atomic breath into Biollante's mouth. However, Godzilla falls headfirst into the ocean. With Godzilla temporarily knocked out, an injured Biollante dissolves into spores that fly upwards into space. As the monster's remains float upwards, Shiragami sees the image of his daughter among the spores. Calling out to her, he walks forward and is killed by the Saradian agent, who is still after Godzilla's cells.

Godzilla is dying and therefore will be unable to escape when the terrorist tries to get the cell. Kirishima chases the agent and fights him. The agent is at a disadvantage until he is able to grab his weapon again and attempts to kill Kirishima. However, Colonel Koruki disintegrates the terrorist. The characters celebrate their victory when Godzilla returns from the sea waters. The body of Shiragami is placed inside a tent, with his superior briefly mourning him before leaving. Erika's voice is heard to comment on the events of the film. Godzilla wades out to sea and Biollante, once again a giant rose, orbits Earth.

The concept was created by Shinichiro Kobayashi, a dentist. His script was widely different from the final film; the few parts that remained were Erika's death, Biollante's creation, a psychic girl, and for the most part, the ending. This first draft also had Dr. Shiragami first create a rat/fish hybrid monster named Deutalios who was quickly killed by Godzilla.

The psychic girl, Miki Saegusa, would return to the series in five more films, making her one of the few exceptional characters to have a continuous presence. To a greater, or lesser extent, she will play a major role in the Heisei series from 1984 to 1995. She was well played by Megumi Odaka who is a singer as well as an actress. Miki Saegusa may very well be the most recurring fictional character in any Kaiju monster movie series. Her powers include telepathy and telekinesis, allowing her to have a mental connection with Godzilla.

This was cut and replaced by Godzilla's battles with Biollante's rose stage and the Super XII. In another ending, Biollante begins to lose and makes a final

attempt to kill Godzilla by turning into a wave of pure energy which Godzilla would absorb. There was another ending of the film where Biollante dies and the hill sides suddenly exploded into bloom with millions of roses.

I was very impressed with this film and the SFX were very much improved over the last film with a BRAND NEW Godzilla suit that was better fitted for Suit Actor Kenpachiro “Ken” Satsuma with a more menacing look that harkens back to the 1954 design with a double row of Razor Sharp teeth along with an updated reptilian look that gives the impression of Raw Animalistic Power.

And although some fans refer to the creature as a “Mutant Rose Bush with an Attitude Problem” the film features a well written story that raises some interesting questions about mortality and how far man should go with the scientific knowledge they possess in “Playing God” and end up “Creating” another Godzilla when the experiment to combat your original problem goes to HELL IN A HANDBASKET.

Now the idea for Biollante was an interesting design with some of Godzilla’s features mixed with the DNA of a Rose and the “Spirit” of a young girl tragically killed in a Terrorist attack. Also despite recycling Akira Ifukube’s “Godzilla March” and other themes from past adventures was well done and it’s too bad Biollante didn’t make another appearance in the series.

In late 1990 it was announced that Godzilla would FINALLY have a rematch

with his other Long Time Foe King Kong, But sadly it was never meant to be thanks to U.S. Media Mogul Ted Turner aka The Former Mr. “Hanoi” Jane Fonda who currently owned the rights to the 1933 RKO character of the same name, because that EGOTISTICAL INBRED DOUCHEBAG REDNECK SON OF A BITCH wanted a Royalty Fee the size of Tokyo for the rights to the King of Skull Island.

It’s a GOOD THING that Toho had a backup plan…

Charred Remains Movie Review Part Two
"At the Edge with Monsters"

By Robert J. Meddings

There was once a movie about monsters and robots that came out last summer.

“Pacific Rim,” wasn't it? Oh yeah, I was there in the front seats.

It's a blockbuster movie with a brain. It offers an intelligent story that revolves around three main characters while keeping the action stirring with the onslaught of monsters from beneath the ocean. Hence the title “Pacific Rim.”

At a wit's end, without having any real offense against the skyscraper-high monsters, humanity creates a line of robots to stop the monsters from leaking into this world like a plague.

So this is it. Mankind's final stand against the enemy of the universe, and its fate rests in the hands of mighty metal machines called Jaegers.

The film does pack wallop when it comes to battle scenes that is meant to be seen on the big screen.

More than that, it's a character-driven film.

What works for me is the very beginning of the film which sets the tone, and also creates a sort of discomfort for me. I watch with gut-wrenching claustrophobia every time as the lead character Raleigh Becket loses his brother during a malign battle with a monster. It happened near the coast of Alaska.

That scene really sets the tone after seeing him lose his brother like that. And the rest of the film always has this ill-feeling of tension lingering over me. It stays with me like an uncomfortable reminder.

So, in the middle of all the special effects, there is still a human story. And we follow this retired pilot Becket who grudgingly comes back to help the Pan Pacific Defense Corps. He's been through a severe trauma, and thus remains a loner.

Yet he remains steadfast against the impossible.

There's always that sense of danger in the pilots, sharing a mental link, when controlling the robots, and the danger of the monsters are very real to them.

So robots duking it out with Kaijuis? Who doesn't love a monster movie? Well, I know a few people who don't. And they're no fun.

The film “Pacific Rim” takes you to a place where you need a lot of imagination. In the not so distant future, mankind is making trends in an uphill struggle against inter-dimensional creatures the size of a small city from taking over the world. Yeah, it's like that.

Not only does the story carry the film, but there are a lot of nice performances from everyone involved. There's a brilliant actor named Idris Elba as commanding officer Stacker Pentecost, giving a voice of authority. His towering presence, and gravely voice, could punch a hole right through the screen and grip your throat like an angry soldier.

That's Idris Elba who's able to prove weight for the film, and pushes the main character back into fighting the Kaiju with a lot of credibility. This actor looks like he can tell you to sit your ass down and shut up. He's nobody to mess around with.

He is like a fatherly figure to a young girl named Mako Mori. Stern, yet gentle.

So all three of the main characters do create a parallel relationship which makes great drama. There's a family dynamic going on here.

Interestingly enough, Elba was one of the people to be chosen to play the twelfth Doctor for the Doctor Who series, though he kindly turned it down in favor of movie roles. If he had agreed, he would have been the first black actor to play the Doctor. Maybe someday?

The nice thing about this film is the father and daughter relationship between Elba and Rinko Kikuchi as Mako Mori.

There's a gentle nature in the relationship, but Elba's character remains almost rigid in enlisting her to co-pilot one of the fighting robots called Gypsy Danger. The very same robot in which Becket lost his brother in.

There's almost a poetic justice in using this robot again.

Now Kikuchi has a lot of obstacles to overcome considering she's the ONLY major woman character in the film. She can kick your ass or mine. And I'll be perfectly happy with it. She's definitely got a strong presence about her.

She's really hot too. I know Teye will agree with this since he's got a big crush on her.

This actress hails from the mainland of Japan, though she's never been able to work her way into movies in her native country. Usually women start out as models and grow popular enough to be in the singing business... before finding their way into movies.

That's never happened with Kikuchi. And yet she managed to land a role in “Pacific Rim” in a sort of short cut to movie popularity. So she was able to capture a kind of fame that was never found in Japan. Omedetou!

So she becomes the most stable co-pilot for Becket, and they share a bond that that like a stronghold that maintains the fighting robot. Though she's still not without her flaws as she learns control her emotions for losing her family who was killed by the Kaiju.

She fights with a fury, and must hold her own against a crew of men who otherwise have center stage here. It's nice to see the story give us glimpses of human emotions with her. In a way, she's really our guide into frightening world of robots and monsters.

What else would you expect from a filmmaker like Guillermo del Toro to give us a story that is literally out of this world? Yet he gives us a story that makes sense using interesting ideas to make the robots mobile. And del Toro gives us a very feasible reason as to why the monsters keep cropping up like assholes trying to move in on your neighborhood.

Yeah, the monsters. Oh boy.

The production crew somehow managed to make the creatures look very frightening and real. What makes them so dangerous is their ability to adapt. They become stronger, smarter, always evolving at quantum leaps. These creatures still stop at nothing from destroying the world they're entering.

The monsters are portrayed as very scary, indeed. And they look like they can take half a city apart. They're fierce, animal-like, capable of little else other than dominating. They can plow through buildings or steel walls like it's paper.

Some of them have defenses like throwing puke-slop acid at their opponents from their mouths. There's no end to this endless array of monsters.

They ravage the ocean through space portals, so they're basically extraterrestrial beings looking to invade. Or colonize, being the operative word here.

I really like how they worked everything together in this perfect marriage of robots and monsters. It's sort of like a Marvel Movie Universe only with Kaiju monsters in it. And cute Asian girls.

Sure, there are a lot of CGI effects, loads of it. I don't care. Yeah, they went overboard with the special effects and turned it into a monster gallery. I don't care. They are the reasons why kids and adults, like myself, who want to see the film. I don't want to see a movie to be enlightened by some literary story. I want to have fun. And “Pacific Rim” does that in spades.

Interestingly enough, del Toro came up with a clever idea for a second “Pacific Rim” movie which will take place on Monster Island from the Godzilla movies. Wouldn't that be neat to see this connection in a blockbuster movie like this?

Can you imagine a sequel like that include not only fighting robots, but also giant monsters from the Godzilla series? Including a possible cameo from Godzilla himself? It's a very clever idea, and I wish the powers-to-be in Hollywood would follow up with this notion.

The monsters make a perfect opposition to the Jaegers in a film like this: brutal and savage while the robots remain stoic.

A movie like this is supposed to make you feel like a goddamn kid again.

And speaking of swearing like a crude motherfucker, there's someone else in the movie that make you feel like a kid again. Actor Ron Perlman is hilarious as the Hong Hong gangster who throws a fit and looks like someone you don't want to get on the bad side of.

Perlman tries to maintain control of the city's neighborhood through black markets and fear. Of course, he runs away when the monsters smashes up Hong Kong.

Sure, there are a lot of CGI effects, loads of it. I don't care. Yeah, they went overboard with the special effects and turned it into a monster gallery. I don't care. They are the reasons why kids and adults, like myself, who want to see the film. I don't want to see a movie to be enlightened by some literary story. I want to have fun. And “Pacific Rim” does that in spades.

Interestingly enough, del Toro came up with a clever idea for a second “Pacific Rim” movie which will take place on Monster Island from the Godzilla movies. Wouldn't that be neat to see this connection in a blockbuster movie like this?

Can you imagine a sequel like that include not only fighting robots, but also giant monsters from the Godzilla series? Including a possible cameo from Godzilla himself? It's a very clever idea, and I wish the powers-to-be in Hollywood would follow up with this notion.

The monsters make a perfect opposition to the Jaegers in a film like this: brutal and savage while the robots remain stoic.

A movie like this is supposed to make you feel like a goddamn kid again.

And speaking of swearing like a crude motherfucker, there's someone else in the movie that make you feel like a kid again. Actor Ron Perlman is hilarious as the Hong Hong gangster who throws a fit and looks like someone you don't want to get on the bad side of.

Perlman tries to maintain control of the city's neighborhood through black markets and fear. Of course, he runs away when the monsters smashes up Hong Kong.

Make sure you stay to the end of the credits because it's worth it. Perlman has one of the best last lines in any movie. I know a lot of folks don't like movie credits, but listen... the credits show two important names who have made monster movies industry possible.

The film is a homage to the greatest movie makers in cinema history when it comes to monsters: Ray Harryhausen and Ishiro Honda.

So it wouldn't hurt to stick around for a few extra minutes. You'll never know what sort of surprises you'll miss.

Then you'll walk away knowing you saw a complete movie. Not bad, eh?

Yeah, it's eye candy when it comes to the special effects. But there's plenty of story to balance it out. Remember, what do people go to see “Pacific Rim” for? Monsters and robots. Did the audience get what they wanted to see? Fuck yeah.

I'm not exactly sure why the movie performed poorly at the box office in the United States while it did extremely well everywhere else especially in Asia.

What's with this little bitch Leonard Maltin giving this movie only **½ as a rating? And then he whines about the ending being too long, calling it a movie that doesn't know when to quit. Wah, wah, wah, Mr. Maltin. Shut the fuck up.

I'm still arguing that “Pacific Rim” is a great movie because it has a central story that holds together very well. There's a lot of good chemistry between the major characters, the fixed point of drama.

It's what you might call the ultimatum in monster mayhem. I got what I wanted, and more. The film is able to take you to another world filled with crawling beasties, and it leaves you still yearning for more. Now that's what I call a movie.

Until Next Time...
By Robert J. Meddings

Well, here she is. Her name is Barbara Steele, pictured on the right side above. She's a real bit of all right if you like death and mayhem right at your doorstep.

There's something about the fixture of her sleek features, and the taunt glance of her eyes that could steal your soul away. This English babe is not afraid to walk down any castle tunnels or underground tunnels for the sake of a tour. Barbara is your tour guide for this month, and she can be a bit of a monster! Watch out!

Sure, you can have a dinner with her for two, and I expect she's good company. It's just when she gets very close to knives or poison bottles that you'll have to look over your shoulder more often. Heh heh heh.

PM me when you want to shoot me an email. Best way is send me a message through my page on Upload Society, and it'll be the easiest way for me to get your horrifying confessions!

I hope I don't bump into any monsters in a dark alley somewhere! What is that creepy laugh I keep hearing in the back of my house?

The Horror Gallery
May 8, 2014

So what's that phrase about women when told by those who are either broken-hearted or enlightened? I think it went like this: “Women—Can't live with them. Can't live without them.”

I'm sure you heard that one before. To be fair, there are a lot of great women who helped make our lives a little more interesting at the very least. Cleopatra, Elizabeth I, Amelia Earhart, Scarlet Johanssen, Beyonce, and Michelle Obama. This list could go on and on.

My mother, oldest aunt and grandmother are just a few women who have been a big influence. There's no way for me to get around that. That side of the family have a long line of strong women who had a lot of influence on me, and my life.

Might have been the reason why I moved out so many years ago when I was done with college, and found a small apartment next to a golf park of all places. Thankfully I never had the problem of someone hitting a golf ball through my window.

I worked my way up to a couple of bigger apartments, and one death trap, through the years before I was downsized a couple years ago. Thanks to the shitty job market.

Though the strong influences of women are still there, and it's something I'll never be able to turn away from.

I do say that they have long lasting effects on me, more so than my father.

I wouldn't say I worship women, not in the slightest. Though I've fell in love with one girl from Asia who remains very dear to me.

So you'll probably figure out where this month's current issue is going, right? Yes, indeed, the issue will be celebrating the women of horror, and what influence they have on the genre. Which is a lot. Horror and women are opposite sides of the same coin.

Women, women, women. That's what this issue is about.

While it's true that horror movies treated them as damsels in distress in the fifties and sixties, there are a growing number of horror films which spotlights a stronger woman in the lead. You'll only have to look at Angela Lee in “The Eye,” Sharni Vinson in “You're Next,” Rebecca Hall in “Awakening” and Shauna Macdonald in “Descent.” (I won't count Descent 2 which was a terrible movie).

I couldn't pass up the chance to mention one of the most beautiful, and disturbing, women to hit horror films... and you can see her in all her glory with Eihi Shiina as Asami Yamazaki in the Japanese horror film “Audition.” This slender-shouldered woman of nocturnal dark hair will make you think twice about judging a shy girl. Just remember to put away all your sharp knifes and needles away.

So things has certainly changed in horror movies and TV especially when you have a little blond girl slaying vampires on a hit weekly basis for seven years. Yes, indeed.

You might recall Jamie Lee Curtis was holding her own against a super strong villain in the original “Halloween” film—she went at it alone against a mythical bogeyman who was an unstoppable force.

It wasn't until Donald Pleasance as Dr. Loomis made a noble attempt to save her life at the end by putting six rounds into the knife wielding monster.

How can you forget one of the greatest women influences of all time in the film “Psycho.” You don't ever see Norman's mother in the film until the very end, but you can feel her powerful sway, tripping her son up

like a puppet. She hovers over him like a sullen force, telling him what to do with commanding authority.

It was like seeing poor Norman being possessed. Thanks to Alfred Hitchcock who had the audacity to fool us all!

You'll be able to see further development of the mother and son relationship in the TV series “Bates Motel” which stars the always wonderful and attractive Vera Farmiga.

They did one of the most frightening movies in recent years which relied very little on gore and more on creative camera work. If you're a big fan of atmosphere, you'll like the film “The Conjuring” which also stars a very strong woman lead played by, once again, Vera Farmiga.

So women have gone a long way from being a hapless victim in slasher movies to being a more dominating character in a gore fest these days.

Sometime all it takes is a little smarts to outwit the stalker and keep ahead of him (or her) in the game.

Oh yeah, I'm not going to get into so much of the “Scream Queens” which is a different category alltogether. I'm just going to focus on strong, independent-minded women.

So we all have our love for horror movies, and an extra love for women too.

I'm sure every one of us has loved a woman at once time in our lives. And it always leaves a big impression on us.

So here it is.

My dedication issue to the women of horror. And they always do say that the female is often the deadlier of the species. Certainly can be your better half, eh?

Don't forget to show a few good manners when opening up the door for them or pulling up a chair. You might even suck in that gut of yours to show how tough you look.

And maybe, just maybe, she might even be nice to you, eh? Or maybe she'll just show her appreciation by sticking a knife in your back as a final payment.

Wouldn't surprise me.

Thanks to the women for giving us some of the best horror stories ever.

Your host,

Robert J. Meddings

Horror News
Edited by Robert J. Meddings

Violent Older Siblings Set Bad Example

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, April 30, 2014 (HealthDay News)
Source: http://health.usnews.com/health-news

When older siblings commit violent crimes, their younger siblings are more likely to do the same, a new study suggests.

Researchers analyzed databases in Sweden that linked siblings and criminal convictions. They found that older siblings strongly "transmit" the risk for violent crime to younger siblings, while younger siblings are much less likely to have that type of influence on older siblings.

The investigators also found that the closer in age siblings are, the greater the risk for transmitting violent behavior, according to the study published online April 28 in the journal Psychological Medicine.

"Because older siblings often exert more influence on siblings than younger, the risk for violent criminal

behavior should be greater when the older sibling has violent criminal behavior as compared to the younger sibling. However it is not just mere closeness in age, but rather the nature of the sibling relationship that often occurs when siblings are closer in age," wrote the researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University and Lund University in Sweden.

Previous research has shown that violent criminal behavior runs in families due to shared factors such as poverty, divorce and poor parenting. These new findings offer further insight into transmission of such behavior within families and may prove useful in the development of prevention and treatment programs, the study authors said.

“Teen Suspect Charged As Adult”
By Chelsea J. Carter, Paul Courson and Pamela Brown, CNN
Source: www.cnn.com

Double click here to edit this text.

Murrysville, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- A teenage boy wielding two kitchen knives went on a stabbing rampage at his high school in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, early Wednesday, before being tackled by an assistant principal, authorities said.

Twenty students and a security officer at Franklin Regional Senior High School were either stabbed or slashed in the attack, Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck told reporters.

The accused attacker was been identified as 16-year-old Alex Hribal, according to a criminal complaint made public. Hribal, who was arraigned as an adult, faces four counts of attempted homicide, 21 counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a weapon on school grounds, the documents show.

"I'm not sure he knows what he did, quite frankly," Hribal's attorney, Patrick Thomassey, said, adding he would file a motion to move the case to juvenile court.

"...We have to make sure that he understands the nature of the

charges and what's going on here. It's important that he be examined by a psychiatrist and determined where he is mentally."

A doctor who treated six of the victims, primarily teens, said at first they did not know they had been stabbed.

"They just felt pain and noticed they were bleeding," Dr. Timothy VanFleet, chief of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, told CNN.

"Almost all of them said they didn't see anyone coming at them. It apparently was a crowded hallway and they were going about their business, and then just felt pain and started bleeding."

Arguing against bail for Hribal, the district attorney told the court that four of the victims were in critical condition, including one who was "eviscerated." There's a question whether the victim will survive, Peck said.

Hribal is being held without bail at the Westmoreland County juvenile detention center.

Authorities have not detailed a possible motive in the attack, but the district attorney said in court the teen made "statements when subdued by officials that he wanted to die.

"Blood Moon: The Lunar Eclipse of April 2014"
By Phil Plait
April 15 2014 1:36 PM
Souce: www.slate.com

Did you watch the total lunar eclipse? Judging from my Twitter feed, a lot of people did! Chatter and pictures were flying around the ‘Net as the silvery full Moon slowly drifted into the Earth’s shadow and turned a lovely shade of orange.

I took a picture above at about 07:21 UTC (01:21 Mountain time, local for me), about 15 minutes after the total phase started. You can see the bright star Spica (the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo) just to the Moon’s lower right, and the much fainter star h Virginis just above and to the left of the Moon. It was fun to see fainter and fainter stars pop up as the Moon faded away, its bright glow no longer capable of washing them away.

The coyotes really set the mood, didn’t they? Even though I was freezing my toes and fingers off, it was truly a wonderful and fun evening. I’ve seen a dozen or more total lunar eclipses, and I think my favorite part of this one was sharing my photos on Twitter in near real time. People all over the world were excited to see it, and that is a big part of why I do this.

Due to the complex and subtle dance of gravity and geometry, there will be three more total lunar eclipses visible to the United States over the next year and half: in October this year, and in April and September of 2015. While there won’t be any bright stars near the Moon for the eclipse in October, the planet Uranus will be only a degree away!

And there’s also a partial solar eclipse two weeks later, on Oct. 23, 2014, too! That’ll be a treat. And

if you live in Australia there’s a nice annular solar eclipse on April 29; this is when the Moon is slightly smaller than the Sun and leaves a ring of Sun around the dark Moon. There was one of these last year and there were some fantastic pictures and video.

Remember: Look up! There are always amazing things to see.

Horror Spotlight:
Shelby Knox

"Director Extraordinaire"
Edited by Robert J. Meddings

Don't let her looks fool you. That's right, she's not as timid as you might think. She casts a strong hand when on the movie set, and often leads with a commanding presnce. She makes a perfect female role model for those who want to follow into the movie business.

The rest of her crew includes Nate Knox, Hannah Knox and Randle71 who helps her make movies. Her videos include “Crystal Lake,” “Death of Jason” and her latest directorial effort “Friday the 13th 2014.”

Born and raised in Mississippi by her father Nathan Knox who stars in many of her movies, Shelby remains a force to be reckon with. With her trademark sunshine hair, she is very positive and passionate about her dreams to become a director while being currently enrolled in college.

Let's see how she's doing when I catch up with her in an interview.

1. Why do you want to be a film director?

Well, at first film making was simply a hobby but over the years I realized that it was something I really love to do and will hopefully continue to do as a career.

2. Do you have any favorite directors? Who inspired you the most?

My absolute favorite director is Tim Burton because of his weird style. He does what he likes and doesn't care what other people expect from him.

3. Do you have any favorite horror movies of all time?

I really like "The Sixth Sense" because of the amazing story line. But as for the scariest and best horror film, I'd have to say "Sinister". It really freaked me out.

4. Which movies do you watch on Halloween? Do you have a movie you watch every year as a tradition when it comes to Oct. 31?

Ha! Actually it's kind of embarrassing because it's more of a child's movie but every Halloween I watch "Hocus Pocus".

5. If you aren't making a horror movie, what kind of movie would you make?

I have written a few scripts for mystery but my passion is comedy. They are so much fun to make.

6. What are your least favorite movies?

The new Evil Dead movie I really hated. It was just all gore and not that scary. Also the Black Swan was a terrible movie in my opinion.

7. What is it like to work with a crew like Randle71, Nate and Hannah?

It is a great experience with them. It can be a bit uptight sometimes because we are all family and so we like to fight over who has the best ideas but all in all it is just fun and exciting.

8. How is Nate and Hannah related to you considering you all have the same last names?

Nate is my dad and Hannah is my sister. Also Randle is Nate's first cousin making him my second.

9. Will you consider writing your own movie someday? Would you like to do a movie someday that doesn't include iconic figures like Jason or Leatherface?

I would definitely love to write my own movie script someday. I have unfinished scripts right now actually in the works. I also most definitely want to get away from making iconic horror films. That really isn't the kind of movies I see myself making but with the resources I have those are the best type of movies to make for now.

10. What is your next movie project going to be? Any ideas?

Right now we are working on another Jason film. It will be pretty short and sweet. Mostly just violence, not much of a story. Hopefully it will be up before too much longer. [Editor's note: the current video is out now on Youtube called "Friday the 13th 2014".]

11. Where did you learn to do make-up effects?

I learned a little about make up effects in a drama class I took in high school. I actually bought a little make-up kit and have been using it for years.

12. Do you have a crush on anyone?

Yes I do have a crush on someone. Haha. I have had a boyfriend for almost seven months now and am very happy with him. :)

13. What topic or theme do you think makes a great horror movie?

I think that horror films are much better when the story line is thought out more. Just simple gore does not make a good horror film. Also a twist ending makes for an excellent movie.

Check out Shelby Knox's website links to view her movies at:

https://www.youtube.com/user/Shelbysmovies

and

http://uploadsociety.com/user/Shelbysmovies

Horror Spotlight:
DevineAngela

Edited by Robert J Meddings

Ah, double trouble this time at the Q&A sessions for this newsletter. There's yet another woman in the horror group.

She's been a long-time lover of horror movies, and is a good person to talk with if you share common interests. DevineAngela also has the distinction of being the #2 Most Viewed Entrepreneur and #2 Most Subscribed Entrepreneur. She's been a member of Upload Society for some time.

DevineAngela also gave me very good advice on seeing the film “Sisters” (1973) which I haven't watched before. Thus, upon her recommendation, I saw “Sisters” and thought it was a very well-done psychological film with a couple of great shocker moments too. It stars Margot Kidder as one of the twins who was separated from birth, but not separated from madness apparently.

If you happen to see DevineAngela, say hello to her. I promise she won't bite.

1. Do you have any favorite horror movies?

A: My most favorite horror or thriller I should say would have to be Sisters (I think around 1974) Though I don’t remember it all, it was the first film that gave me that feeling of fear where I would have to turn the lights on and check in closets and under the beds.

2. Which horror movie frightened you the most when you were a kid?

A: Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock)

3. If you choose one TV show that’s horror, which one would it be?

A: Something Evil

4. Have you ever been to a real haunted house?

A: I have been to several houses that were supposedly haunted and I remember having a cold feeling on the left side of my body.. but other then that nothing of interest happened

5. Name five best women characters in horror movies. Why did you pick them?

A: (1) Linda Blair in the exorcist. Because for a young girl I thought she portrayed the role extremely well..convincing(no overacting) (2) Janet Leigh in Psycho... probably because it was the first horror film to make an impression on me... though looking back I think she was not as good at her role as I thought she was.

6. Do you have a favorite sub-genre in horror? Such as slasher movies, ghost stories, Kaiju or psychological thrillers for example?

A: I love psychological thrillers because they get you to explore the psyche of the "killer"..anything that gives a deeper insight into motive no matter how warped has always fascinated me.

7. If you were writing a horror movie, what would the story be like?

A: Hmmm...maybe something along the lines of how far you could push the human spirit before it broke from the perceived good in all... have always wanted to explore what it is that allows one individual to believe they have the power to commit horrific acts without paying the consequence... their logic for justifying their actions and the way in which the people around them cope with horror amongst their midst. It is those things we perceive as being horrific that seem to dis-empower us... how do we overcome that without succumbing to similar behaviour?

8. Who is more scary? Bigfoot, Yeti, or the Loch Ness Monster?

A:I don’t find any of them scary, only a curiosity as to their existence.

9. Why do you think there is still a big draw for horror movies these days?

A: I think there will always be a draw for horror because it addresses that part of ourselves that we are not willing to look at, so therefore we transfer on to the actor. It is also an adrenalin rush (fight or flight)that is embedded into our psyches.

10. Are you a fan of Vincent Price? Do you have a favorite movie with him in it?

Yes Vincent Price was amazing in all his films...made for a great "Devil" in The Story of Mankind. His voice is intriguing and has the ability to transport you into fantasy. I liked his offbeat character of the inventor in Edward Scissorhands which I think may have been the last of his films.

11. It wasn’t until the film “Alien” which featured a strong woman in the story. It wasn’t until “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” on TV that a strong woman was in the lead. Why did you think horror stories featured the “damsel in distress” for such a long time?

A: Sigourney Weaver I think was the strongest portrayed character... though I wonder how strong she would have appeared without the special affects... the "damsel in distress" role I think is just a romanticism and perhaps an egotistical male view. It has never had an effect on me as such I am more interested in the human factor rather then the gender.

12. Do you have a crush on anyone?

A: My hubbie.

13. I owned a black cat named Poe for the longest time because I didn’t believe in superstitions. Are you the type of person who would not walk under a ladder, break a mirror or let a black cat cross your path?

A: I also had a black cat and my lucky number is 13. No personally I think to not walk under a ladder is more about not getting a pot of paint spilled on you or causing an accident than any superstition... I think superstitions only serve to take away power I don’t buy into them.

Visit her at www.uploadsociety.com/user/devineangela

Charred Remains Movie Review:

"Darkness Reborn"
By Robert J. Meddings

One of the strongest women could be found not in this neighborhood, but a few million miles from here. She wasn't anyone you'd expect either.

Of course, the film might not have worked so well if a male character survived the fight to the very end in 1979's “Alien.”

This film is imbued with the blackest shadows and the swirling abyss that swims restlessly through the cosmos. Dark, forbidden nature thrives in this part of space.

The Nostromo freighter ship in which the action takes place offers cramped space everywhere, and sometimes you have to lean over so you would not bump your head on the ceilings. This rattling, breathing metal monster cranks with soaring age through space.

Even the “mother” room on the ship is very small, too crowded even for one person to sift through secrets.

Yet, all of this laid the groundwork for the atmosphere which feeds into “Alien” which gives birth, literally, to a perfect serial killer space. And it does nothing but kill and kill again, an instinctive nature. It lives on the death of others.

It's a frightening foe.

If you recall correctly, Sigourney Weaver started out as one of the supporting cast led by a relatively known actor Tom Skerritt. So he had top billing. So far, so good. To be fair, Skerritt did a tremendous job as Captain Dallas without letting his ego get overblown.

There are other great male characters in the cast such as the wonderful Harry Dean Stanton as the resident janitor, Yaphet Katto and also the excellent John Hurt.

Oh yeah, that's Veronica Cartwright who was the little girl from the “Birds” movie. She even got best supporting actress for “Alien”. Good for her.

I'll tell you something when seeing this movie for the first time in theaters with my old man. It's not exactly every eight-year-old could see and brag about. I didn't brag about it. I was kept to my seat the whole time.

And the memory of fear carved into my mind for many years to come. This was a kingdom of horror where the might lion roared... and it roared with a hellish menace.

When watching this film for the first time, when being introduced to the seething shadows that would have teeth, the audiences would scratch their heads halfway through the movie when the lead was killed off.

This was a creature that stalked its victims.

What was going to happen now? Anyone in the cast could get bumped off by this vicious scavenger. Who was going to make it now? Surely, not a woman.

It was a brilliant move on the part of those who created this film. Thanks to writer Dan O'Bannon and director Ridley Scott, they've given me nightmares when I was a kid. Some of the scenes still give me goosebumps.

I'll tell you one thing: Sigourney Weaver is one of the finest actors out there.

I like her a great deal because she's a classy

woman. She's strong, yet not arrogant. She's got authority, but not bossy. She approaches her work with an attitude. With dignity, wisdom. She's extremely professional.

And she kicks ass too.

So Weaver will remain forever synonymous to “Alien.”

She's a great role model in which other women could follow. Weaver is one of the strongest women out there in the horror story genre. And also one of the scariest stories ever.

Weaver plays Ellen Ripley who is a force of nature herself. She doesn't take shit from anyone. And that's a fact.

Do you remember the part where the party had to get back on board the Nostromo and help Kane (Hurt) to sick bay?

Not following the guidelines, Ash (Holm) violates quarantine protocol by bringing on board an ill crew member. Sick with a possible alien disease.

He didn't care. But Ripley did.

And do you recall how Ripley would go by the book, and take authority on who's going to let them in. She quoted standard procedures.

She locked horns with the medical doctor played by Ian Holm. In fact, when he went behind her back, Ripley sought and chewed him out for going above her command.

That's really ballsy of her.

So what we got here is a first strong-willed woman who can take action for herself and tell the guys to fuck off. Even disobeying the captain at one point in the story!

It wouldn't be until the last half hour when Weaver really gets a chance to shine. You can see beneath the hard-shell of her determination a frightened girl like anyone else. And yet, despite her fear, she charges ahead like a battering ram.

She's the one who takes command when the captain vanishes from the airshaft network with the intent of flushing out the monster. Ripley's character is the one who kept the ship's crew together without falling apart. She is like a rock.

So, in a lot of ways, it made sense for her to last the longest because she isn't going to drop to her knees for anyone. Not that fucking alien either.

Nope, not that malevolent creature that can spit acid and suck your brains out with a highway of teeth in its mouth.

It's intriguing to see what a capable woman can do when dealing with a creature so devastating that it could wipe out her entire crew. This wasn't a creature that was going to lay down easily either. It's mean. It'll fuck you up.

The character of Ellen Ripley remains a stroke of genius, and a thumbprint for many strong women to follow. What a great legacy to leave behind.

She's a feminist without going overboard with her views. She's well-trimmed with her beliefs and ideas.

She's someone who can handle authority when it lands in her lap. She's able to take command of the ship with perfect ease by stepping into Dallas' shoes and give orders.

So, yeah, she's a pretty headstrong woman. No doubt about it, she's nobody to fuck around with.

She has a showdown with a creature that can move around like a shadow. It is sleek and moves very fast. It is like a shrieking nightmare. It lives in the hurling abyss and the hunger preys on you like a hawk swooping in to fetch its next lunch.

The best thing to do is staying alive. And the song by the Bee Gees doesn't come to mind either.

Her reactions to this Freudian Fuck-Up are natural, and makes

sense. She's terrified by this creature that looks like a hanging skeleton. Her human emotions erupts like fire and ice... full of vigor, anger and fear, and yet determined to destroy this thing before it gets to her.

She is able to remain calm in the face of this deadly beast.

C.A. Thomas, actor, said of the film, "As for the 1979 version of Alien the first time I saw it was around a year later and I was shocked when I first saw the alien eating somebody's face off (using imagination). And didn't want to see again for quite awhile It was I think about five years later I saw it on one of the pay channels we had at the time, and even when on TV. It still was a pretty gross film too me, but I thought It was good. I just told myself don't eat anything while watching the film and since then I don't!"

You can also call this movie the space rape.

And the cosmos has become a hell-hole.

Both O'Bannon and Scott were able to create a very claustrophobic mood that has an awful stillness to it. There's so much that can be left to the audience for them to fill in the blanks. The dark is a gut-wrenching place that is not to be trifled with. H.H. Giger adds a chilling sexual allegory to the beast by using disturbing imagery for what was foreign and... well, alien.

Again, many regards to Sigourney Weaver for who gave us one of the most respectable women characters in movie history. Sure enough, she taught everyone that a woman can hold her own just like any man.

She shows you don't have to be afraid of the big space bully, and defeats a genuine evil that could burn out a universe with its hunger.

Such is natural selection that would have given Charles Darwin bad dreams. This film shows the survival of the fittest on a cosmic scale, and it's clear that the Alien is a tough one to beat. Good riddance, and I'm glad it's gone.

Well, maybe.

Wait until the film “Aliens” hits the screens four years later.

Poems from the Underworld
By Del Hilling A.K.A. Vman

"Succubine Female Demon-Origins"
By Del Hilling

Fiercely complicated...
Gauntly but highly manipulative.
The face of a scorn-filled seductress.
Unleashing the Anti-firmaments of malevolence.

Questions of abilities and of discountability.
As an omen of unstoppable nemeses...

She lived within vermin as she stole the babies
last breath. This plague demon of sorrows.
A harbinger of rare and calculative death.

Straddling men's loins but in truth crushing there
very soul. Impurities of heartlessness inequity's
of ancient old.

As Bradbury once said "You are the autumn people.
Where do you come from? The dust. Where do you
go to? The grave."

For countless Eons past the Succubus has hid
within the shadows of our denial. Unscathed....

"Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks
When she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one."

"Dark Mind, Sharp Blade"
By Del Hilling

Did Lizzy wielded on that faithful day?
Bordon Family Reckoning as judgment was
cast. Blood spattering fury as sharp blades
tore flesh and bone so fast. The Fathers
face looked inhuman and crushed. By the
menacing weight of that crushing blade.

Behind it the strength of inhuman
punishment. Not an ounce of it was even
withheld nor saved. If she did this what
possessed her with so much rage?
Was it the fact of some evil family secret
that she could no longer live with? So this
would be the family’s judgment day?

To only add insult to injury the
murders to this day never solved. Her
remains buried alongside her long deceased
family. And the home a Bed and Breakfast
for those to spend a night or so.
In this infamous place of blood, death,
and cruel judgment. Lizzy Borden
Murders...These secrets till the crack of
Doom God shall only know…

"She's Got Leg"
By Robert J. Meddings

Ah, the women.

Let's talk about the women in “Planet Terror,” shall we? They're the real stars of this show.

The choice of women are great and interesting ones: very strong, independent and very hot. Did I mentioned the “hot” part? Yeah, I did.

The lead character Cherry Darling is a go-go dancer played to the hilt by the lovely Rose McGowan, a perfect part for her to show off her beauty and wit. There's a raw savagery about her sexuality. I like it.

McGowan still looks hot even with one leg. Yes, I know it's a cheesy thing to say, but I do like the imagery of a one-legged femme fatale.

We have a blond bombshell Marley Shelton as Dr. Dakota Block who has a penchant for needles. Or any sharp things. She looks like a hooker doctor. She's hilarious.

Oddly enough, if you're watching the credits at the start of the film, you might notice the Crazy Babysitter Twins being listed. That's it. There's no names. Though the twins add to the very hot list of women in the film, and they're extra spicy too. Once they get guns in their hands, they're pretty crazy.

The film revolves around the go-go dancer who's stuck in a real dive in the middle of good ol' Texas. McGowan was born to play this part.

She starts off as a weepy character feeling sorry for herself, and dragging herself through the nights. How can you feel sorry for her?

Once she got her accident, and fits on a machine gun for a leg support, all bets are off. And the last half hour with her is a glory to watch.

Cherry Darling became one of the most iconic characters in horror films. Some of the stuff she does is amazing. Twisting, dancing Au Naturel, she is a fury of gun violence.

It's too bad that Cherry never appeared again in horror movies. Still, we have her in “Planet Terror” to sweep away the baddies with a click of her leg.

Cherry reminds me of one of the women from the 1940s with the classic look, chiseled features and Grecian softness that's just plain angelic. She's also a busty broad. That helps a lot.

Yes, wearing the machine gun for a leg makes for interesting scenes. It's the equivalent of a man holding an AK-47.

It's indeed an exploitation film. So what else do you expect? There's plenty of guns and girls. Rose McGowan sparkles across the screen as the go-go dancer turned into a weapon of mass destruction.

Remember, she's not a stripper.

She's a go-go dancer. Cherry Darling reminds you of this throughout the film.

Wild Rose.

Sexy girl.

Tight curves, voluptuous hips.

Super foxy.

What else makes this character so iconic? She can kick back a few locks and set off a holy rage of bullet hail. And it becomes a fuck-storm of roaring lead that can rip the zombies to pieces. She does it so well.

The motorcycle scene towards the end turned into one of the most spectacular shoot-outs in a film when a hurricane of bullets made good on the zombie apocalypse.

Sweet, sweet Cherry, such a spellbinding girl. Such a tight, beautiful vixen who can throw herself into a deadly swirl. And not think twice about it.

Putting the spotlight on Rose McGowan was a brilliant move on their part. She's a great actress with an unusual beauty. She lives and breathes her part, and pushes her acting ability here. What a sensual powerhouse.

A couple of directors tried to bring us back to a forgotten day of grindhouse movies. One of them is Robert Rodriguez. The other is Quentin Taratino. It would be a return to the sleaze fest that involved plenty of sex and violence.

Which was pretty cool.

Now grindhouse movies may not be everyone's cup of tea. It serves as double, triple or all-night features in cramped theaters.

The gore would be slapped on more gore. It would be exploitation. Above all, it was fun.
Robert Rodriguez put out his film “Planet Terror” alongside with the Quentin Tarantino film “Death Proof” which acted as a double act for Grindhouse, created a homage to the genre. It was a lost art found.

Few very grindhouse theaters exist today in the United States due to the advent of TV, VHS and finally DVD. They used to be prevalent on 42nd Street of New York City.

Though both “Planet Terror” and “Deathtrap” went hand-in-hand like a cheese sandwich and tomato soup, ying and hang, black and white... well, you get the idea.

What I loved about the “Planet Terror” film is capturing the eroded quality often seen in grindhouse theaters, spliced up, splotchy and the whole works. The film often looks grainy like it's been run through a thousand times. When the film hits a bad spot, you get a “missing reel” gag.

Rodriguez directed and wrote “Planet Terror” with a great homage and I do have a lot of respect for him because he likes to be involved with everything. Anything, you name it. He's done it.

He has this one-man army approach that it saves money if he does everything himself. And it's a worthwhile pursuit in filmmaking when you have to think about the budget all the time.
Rodriguez is considered a maverick in circles of filmmakers.

He created his very own Troubleshooter Studios.

It's what you call the"Mariachi-style," relying on himself and not everyone else.

"Creativity, not money, is used to solve problems," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said once “that a director should rely on himself, not everyone else.” What happens if he can't get a writer or an editor? That's part of the reason why he does everything himself.
So what were his credits on “Planet Terror”? Writing, editing, directing, music, producing and cinematography.

Doesn't this guy ever sleep?

I remember seeing the double feature “Grindhouse” film during the opening weekend, and it was great fun for me. I thought it was rather funny when people started getting up and leaving after the credits of “Planet Terror.”

I wanted to shout at them, “Hey, dumbasses, don't ya know there's a second feature?”

It said so right there on the fucking poster! And yet these theater-goers didn't have the brains to stay for the second showing.

So the folks walked out at the end of “Planet Terror” never experiencing the full joy of the grindhouse experience. It's their loss. My win.

I have to laugh. Too bad folks missed out on the funtastic romp of car rampage in “Deathtrap.”

It's a return to the late night horror show. And what a spectuclar sight it was. “Planet Terror” became a nice mixture of special effects, practical effects and lots of women.

I did wish the grindhouse genre was revived again because I enjoyed the whole idea of an afternoon's worth of movies being shown at the matinee.

However, sadly enough, grindhouse movies never caught on. Maybe they were indeed a product of their time. Now it's part of the past... the cramped, dingy rooms where darkness fuels the far corners. And the floor was littered with hot dog cartons and crushed popcorn.

I couldn't think of a better way to spend the afternoon. It keeps me off the streets for sure. “Planet Terror” made for great nostalgia for those who might remember cluttered theater houses. And the movies were filled with sex and violence.

You guessed it right. Sex and violence are my two favorite subjects.

I need help.

"A Right Kind of Horror"
By Whitney Chavis

Fear from a Woman's Point of View

The Five Things Silent Hill Downpour Got Right.

1) It’s an original stand-alone story anyone can play.

Downpour tells a well-crafted tale that doesn’t rely on continuity with the previous Silent Hill games. Anyone can pick it up and play the game without having to know the full mythos of the series to appreciate the story. More importantly, it’s not a simple rehash of the tropes we’ve seen used in previous Silent Hill titles. This was one of my bigger gripes with Silent Hill: Homecoming — the series’ first foray into next-generation consoles — which basically just copied the plot structure of Silent Hill 2, in which the protagonist suffers from amnesia about a violent act he committed in the past.

That’s not to say that retreading is always a bad thing. One of the other Western-developed offerings, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, rehashes the original Silent Hill but presents it as a reimagining of the same plot and plays on fans’ expectations from the original story to present familiar characters with new agendas. But as fun as surprise twists can be, they still rely on familiarity for their impact.

In contrast, Murphy Pendleton (the protagonist in Downpour) isn’t like the protagonists we’ve seen before as he deals with his own issues and unique reasons for being called to the town. I don’t want to give away the plot, but I will say this much: I was very surprised when I learned the true reason Murphy had been called to Silent Hill — and it goes beyond the simple “inner demons” justification we’ve seen before. I’ve seen discussion in online discussions where other players were able to guess where the story was going from a mile away. Personally, I was gripped by the story right up through the end, and my engagement had a lot to do with the storytelling mechanics used in the game. Murphy’s story doesn’t just unfold in cut-scenes; it unfolds bit-by-bit through flashbacks, character interactions, and even in the notes you pick up throughout the game. Even better, Murphy’s character arc isn’t rushed or crammed into the climax of the game, either. Instead, we learn his back story and discover his motivations all throughout Downpour. I appreciated the fact that many of the details explaining Murphy’s actions weren’t revealed in cut-scenes (as is the case with previous games in the series). If you want to know the full story of what’s going on, you have to take the time to piece together the snippets of information you’ve gleamed from notes scattered throughout town, keep a keen eye on the environments you explore, and pay attention to some of the side quests you complete.

But the real advantage of not wrapping everything up with a few cut-scenes at the end is that, even with all the clues you’ve collected, you’re left with some unanswered questions. In true Silent Hill fashion, some elements of the game are left open to the player’s interpretation. Silent Hill has never been about handing you all the answers, which is a big part of what makes it such a fun game series: It provides plenty of fodder for fan discussions for years after the games’ initial releases. There are still fans (to this day!) discussing the “true” endings to their favorite installments or the “true” motivations and predicaments of some of the characters.

2) It has an engaging protagonist.

In Downpour you play as a convict who sees a chance at freedom when his prison bus crashes on the outskirts of Silent Hill. Going in, I wasn’t sure how much I would like Murphy as a character — especially after the opening scene, which makes it blatantly clear that he has good reason to be locked up. Going into the game knowing the character possessed questionable morals up front was definitely new territory in a Silent Hill game, but Murphy completely won me over by the end. I attribute my change of heart to how well Downpour humanizes its protagonist: Murphy reacts much like I imagine a real person would when confronted with the horrors of Silent Hill.

Murphy is extremely disturbed, often questions his own sanity, and erupts into sudden outbursts of frustration and fear even during normal play, and I found it easy to empathize with him. I knew what he was feeling throughout the game, not just in the cut-scenes. For example, I knew he was nervous when he refused to run and insisted on scanning the room for hidden dangers, and I knew he was in pain (and extremely scared) from his blood-curdling screams during the Void chases. In fact, his reactions were so realistic that at times he and I said the same thing, at the same time, when we were both startled or just frustrated with whatever was happening in the game at that moment. One such moment was when a Weeping Bat dropped out of nowhere right in front of Murphy. When we exclaimed “Fuck!” in unison, it struck me just how realistic Murphy’s reactions were. I especially liked that when he met up with other people in the town he didn’t conveniently ignore the messed-up things he’d seen and been through; instead, he was very verbal about his distress over his situation and lashed out at others for being unnecessarily obtuse.

Overall, Murphy reminds me of my other favorite Silent Hill protagonist, Heather from Silent Hill 3. Like Murphy, Heather often commented on the disgusting environments and disturbing monsters she encountered and became obviously frustrated when others were unnecessarily cryptic about her circumstances. Since Murphy’s reactions were so much like my own at times, and the game offered constant verbal and visual clues to let me know what he was feeling throughout the game, I definitely felt closer to him as a character the more I played and as a result sympathize more with his plight.

3) It features immersive and detailed environments that help deliver on the scare factor.

The amount of detail added to the town and its surrounding environments was another major thing Downpour did right; Silent Hill was more than just a simple abandoned and foggy town. It looks lived-in, with trash littering the streets and actual decor within the buildings. This attention to detail is a big improvement over Homecoming’s largely empty decrepit buildings and too-clean streets. But what stands out most, though, is how alive the environments seem even though they’re deserted: You can watch leaves fall to the ground as you walk through clusters of trees; you can see heat distortion over pipes in the Otherworld; flies buzz noisily over rotten food; and rays of light shine through grimy windows within the darkened buildings. The town comes alive with these little details, and it’s one of the ways the game really excels.

Beyond being pretty, the game makes good use of the environments to startle and disorient you; you encounter unending staircases, experience sudden earthquakes intended to topple you off a high beam, and on occasion the environment will suddenly come crashing down on Murphy’s head. Admittedly, these tricks amount to simple jump-scares, but the device is used sparingly and unpredictably so you don’t develop an immunity to them. In the end, not only did these surprises get my heart pounding, they also made me hesitant to run blindly through locations for fear that my rash movements could get Murphy killed. I really hope the company sticks with this game engine for the next core game in the series and focuses on working out some of the graphical hiccups and the frame-rate issues rather than developing a new engine from scratch. That way they can potentially spend more time ironing out the story and characters and adding even more amazing graphical details.

4) It brings the focus back to exploration over combat.

Homecoming’s creators made the decision (some would say mistake) of turning combat into a major focus of the game when traditionally this has never been Silent Hill’s strength. In fact, many would argue that the clunky and cumbersome combat elements of earlier games were deliberate choices to encourage players to run away from a fight instead of standing their ground. Shattered Memories, the next title

released after Homecoming, took combat to the other extreme by removing the option to engage in a fight at all, leaving players no choice but to run away from every single altercation. Fortunately, Downpour pushes combat aside without removing it entirely and encourages players to focus more on exploration — which some would say is the “true” core element of the Silent Hill games. When I played Downpour, I didn’t feel like I was constantly being hounded by monsters or that I needed to be ready for a fight everywhere I turned. Unfortunately, this changed in the final area (which felt like an unending gauntlet), but the majority of the game offered identifiable periods of calm during which I could explore the town unhindered and at my own pace.

Downpour is the first game since Silent Hill 2 where you truly have the freedom to explore the town to your heart’s content. You are not locked into a linear plot, moving directly from one objective to the other, nor are you confined to one small section of the town at a time. In fact, the game provides only the barest of hand-holding; it’s left up to you to figure out what Murphy’s next move will be, and if you’re not paying attention, you could find yourself lost within the town itself unsure of where to go next.

The welcome addition of side-quests in Downpour builds on this idea of exploration and provides motivation for players to stray from the main quest and spend more time with the town. Granted, in the end, many of the side-quests don’t offer much beyond a new weapon, a Silent Hill-related Easter egg, or some creepy encounters, but overall I felt that they were all worth doing because they give the player a better understanding about the people who actually reside in Silent Hill. They also provided a (sometimes welcome) reprieve from Murphy’s own internal struggles that help keep the player engaged. I really hope that this trend will continue in future games.

5) It brings back the variety and difficulty of puzzles from games past.

Downpour not only brought back the style of puzzles from Silent Hill games past but the option to choose their difficulty level as well. This was very refreshing given the lackluster puzzles in the last two Silent Hill releases, offering no difficulty adjustment options. In Shattered Memories, most of the puzzles involved

tracking down a key to open a door, and the key you needed was always either somewhere in the same room, hanging in a cabinet, or just around the corner. Sure, it was pretty realistic not to have to traverse several different floors to find the key to a storage room, but it wasn’t challenging, either. Neither was having to shake loose a key from a conspicuous row of cans that happen to be sitting right in front of your face. Homecoming’s puzzles were equally unvaried and consisted primarily of one sliding puzzle box after another.

Downpour definitely got it right by offering a variety of puzzles in which players encounter everything from simple turn-a-painting-to-progress riddles to the multi-part fetch quests we often saw in the older games. Everything you need to solve the puzzles is present on the screen, but the solution isn’t always obvious — you need to pay attention to your environment to figure things out. Take, for example, a combination lock on a door or a safe you want to open. That’s a simple enough puzzle, but where do you start? Depending on the situation, there may be several ways to track down the code: You may follow a mysterious foot/wheel trail only revealed by your UV flashlight, but maybe the solution is as simple as replacing a broken power cord to a coffee maker; the game constantly surprises you in that regard.

What makes the puzzles engaging is that the game doesn’t tell you what you need to do at every step; more often than not, you really need to depend on your own problem-solving skills and think “outside the box” to figure out the solution. For example, in one side-quest, you need to find a replacement bulb for a projector in a cinema. I searched high and low for a light bulb within the cinema itself but had no luck. Frustrated, I put that side quest on hold for a bit and continued to explore the rest of the town. To my surprise, I happened upon a light bulb in a hardware store just down the street.

Where to find the bulb was obvious in hindsight — it makes sense a replacement bulb could be found in a hardware store! — but it tripped me up because I assumed that, as in previous games, what I needed to solve the puzzle would always be in the immediate vicinity. In Downpour this isn’t always the case, and you often have to travel great distances to find a piece of the solution you need.

As I mentioned earlier, you have the option to change the puzzle difficulty in Downpour — a welcome option missing from the series’ last few releases. I played through the game on normal difficulty for both action and puzzle portions and was surprised to find myself stumped more than a few times — something that hasn’t happened for me since Silent Hill 3! Even better is that, when I played the game on the harder puzzle difficulty, I found that you are still forced to work for the solution even if it’s your second time through the game. Even if you already know how to solve the puzzle, the items you need are often in completely different areas than they are in the normal and easy modes. To make things even more difficult, you are given little in-game hand-holding when it comes to figuring out the solution. I truly think those who’ve missed the hard puzzles from the Team Silent era of games will be pleasantly surprised by some of the head-scratchers Downpour has to offer.

All things considered, Downpour is worth your consideration.

Even though it’s rough around the edges from a technical perspective, Downpour is still a very good Silent Hill title and brings back many of the mechanics that made the earlier games so great. It’s a real shame that some questionable game design choices and easily fixable technical issues have overshadowed the positive elements of the game and obscured the fact that Downpour takes a very big step in the right direction by bringing the series back to its roots. If you are still on the fence about giving this title a try I would strongly recommend giving the game another look.

[Editor's note: Whitney Chavis loves everything Silent Hill and runs her own website in which this article was lifted with her permission. You can check out further articles and tidbits that's she done in the name of horror. She's also a curator of the website at night, and might even give you an honest good scare.

Her website is http://shshatteredmemories.com]

"Back to the Basics"
By Byron Orlock from HouseofKarloff1985

The Continued, Serialized History of Godzilla.

In Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah released in 1991 and the 18th film in the series brings back Godzilla’s Arch-Enemy with an interesting twist on his foe’s origin, Our story begins with Kenichiro Terasawa an author of books on psychic phenomena, believes he's discovered Godzilla's true origin.

During World War II, a group of Japanese soldiers stationed on Lagos Island in South Pacific were unintentionally saved by a Godzillasaurus, which attacked and killed a group of American soldiers who had landed on the island in February 1944 as part of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign.

While all of the Japanese soldiers on the nearby Islands fought and died to the last man, the Japanese soldiers on Lagos survived the war and eventually returned to Japan. In 1954, the island was destroyed by a hydrogen bomb test, just months before Godzilla first attacked Tokyo.

Yasuaki Shindo (who commanded the Japanese on Lagos, is now a wealthy businessman who denies the dinosaur's existence. Meanwhile, a UFO lands on Mount Fuji. When the army investigates, they are greeted by Wilson Grenchko ,Emmy Kano and android M-11 The visitors, called the Futurians, explain that they're from the year 2204, a time long after Japan had been completely destroyed by Godzilla.

They explain that they can time travel back to 1944 and remove the Godzillasaurus from Lagos, thereby avoiding the creation of Godzilla. As proof of their story, Emmy presents to the Japanese government a copy of Terasawa's book, which he hasn't even written yet.

Terasawa, psychic Miki Saegusa and Professor Mazaki board a time shuttle and travel back to 1944. As American forces land on the island and engage the Japanese forces commanded by Shindo, the dinosaur attacks the American soldiers. However, subsequent bombardment from American naval vessels leaves it gravely wounded. Shindo and his men, after thanking the Godzillasaurus, withdraw. M-11 then teleports the dinosaur to an island in the Bering Sea.

They then return to 1992, but not before releasing three, small artificial creatures called Dorats on Lagos. The radiation as a result of the nuclear test fuses them into King Ghidorah. The Futurians use Ghidorah in the present to subjugate Japan. They issue an ultimatum, but Japan refuses to surrender.

Feeling sympathy for the Japanese, Emmy reveals the truth behind the Futurians' mission: in the future, Japan becomes very wealthy surpasses that of the United States, Russia and China. The Futurians in fact stole the time machine and plan to use King Ghidorah to alter the future by devastating present-day Japan, preventing its future economic reign. After she is returned to her ship by M-11, she reprograms the android.

With his, and Terasawa's aid, they sabotage Ghidorah's control in the UFO. However, Emmy's companions reveal that their ship is bound to automatic time warp in the event of sabotage, allowing them to return to a future where Japan has been destroyed either way.

Shindo, meanwhile, believes that Godzilla can be re-created using his secret, nuclear submarine. But while on its mission, the submarine is destroyed by Godzilla; Terasawa learns that a Russian nuclear submarine sank in the same region the Godzillasaurus was teleported to, giving off enough radiation to create the same Godzilla who destroyed Tokyo in 1984. In an ironic twist of fate, the Futurians had not erased the original Godzilla from history; they had actually created the second and current Godzilla.

Godzilla finally arrives in Japan and is greeted by King Ghidorah, who was sent by Wilson to destroy Godzilla. Godzilla and King Ghidorah have a long hard battle which eventually ends with Godzilla blasting the middle head of King Ghidorah. Before the final blow, Godzilla destroys the UFO, which was teleported by M-11 before it could time warp, killing Wilson and Grenchko. Japanase troops attack Godzilla in Sapporo, to no avail. He then turns his attention on Tokyo, destroying the metropolis. In the process, Shindo is killed; though not before he and Godzilla share a brief moment, where Godzilla is seemingly sad for once.

Emmy, however, travels to the future and returns with Mecha-King Ghidorah, a resurrected cyborg version of the original creature. Battling in the heart of Tokyo, Emmy carries Godzilla off and drops the monster together with Ghidorah into the ocean. She then returns to the future in the time shuttle, but not before informing Terasawa that she is in fact a descendant of his.

At the bottom of the sea, Godzilla recovers and roars over Mecha-King Ghidorah's remains.

Director Kazuki Ōmori defended his artistic decision on camera, arguing that the film was not in fact meant to be anti-American. It was also noted that there was considerably negative publicity regarding economic tensions between the United States and Japan at the time the film was made.

(Side Note: Basically Omori’s true feelings were the following…

“F@%# YOU AMERICA… WE GET EVEN WITH ALL YANKEES FOR HIROSHIMA & NAGASAKI!!!!”)

All controversy aside I though that the film was an interesting twist on Godzilla’s origin and the whole Time Travel idea was fresh & original but having to RIP OFF Classic 1970’s television show like “The Six Million Dollar” and “Borrowing” ideas from the 1984 Science-Fiction Classic “The Terminator” gives the impression that the filmmakers were grasping for straws with this new era.

Personally I feel that the SFX were a bit of a mixed bag despite doing more updates to the Godzilla suit and King Ghidorah’s look…

Some of the optical shots could have been better composted and the execution of the Mecha-King Ghidorah costume seems a little clunky and I realize that it’s not easy operating a monster with three heads but IMHO they should have worked some of the kinks out before the camera’s rolled.

In the next entry Godzilla & Mothra: The Battle for Earth released in 1992 and the 19th entry into the franchise begins with an homage to 1964’s Mothra vs. Godzilla and borrows the opening scene from 1981’s “Raider’s of The Lost Ark” …

A large meteor hurtles towards earth, lands in the ocean and awakens Godzilla. One particularly large typhoon is monitored over the Pacific ocean. The next day, a young man named Takuya Fujita is detained after stealing an ancient artifact. Later, a representative of the Japanese Prime Minister arrives with Takuya's ex-wife, Masako Tezuka, and offers him to explore an island with Masako and Marutomo company secretary, Kenji Ando, and become a free man.

Takuya initially turns down the offer, on the basis that he is to be released in another week. But after his ex-wife informs him that his sentence has been reconsidered, he accepts.

After the trio arrives at the island, they find a cave behind a waterfall. Inside, they discover ancient paintings, including a picture of two giant insects fighting one another. While studying them, the sun shines through a hole in the wall, and the light points to a small opening in the cave, where they come upon a giant egg.

The three hear a pair of voices, which belong to the Cosmos. They keep the earth's natural order in balance, and informs them the egg belongs to Mothra.

The Cosmos tell of an ancient, advanced civilization that tried to control the earth's climate. In return, the earth created Battra. Battra became uncontrollable, and started to harm the very planet that created it. Mothra, another earth protector, fought a fierce battle with Battra, who eventually lost.

However, in the course of the battle, the civilization was destroyed. Mothra retired to Infant Island, and Battra the Northern Sea. Due to recent disasters, Mothra's egg has been uncovered, and the Cosmos fear that Battra has awoken as well.
Meanwhile, Japanese forces try to stop Battra's invasion, but fail. Makoto then orders a freighter sent to Infant Island to pick up the egg, planning to exploit it. Ando explains to Masako and Takuya that, contrary to Takeshi's true intentions, he intends to protect the egg, and the Cosmos agree to let him take it. As they are sailing, Godzilla surfaces, and heads toward the egg.

The egg then hatches, and a Mothra larvae crawls out. The two begin fighting. Battra soon appears and joins the fight, with Mothra caught in the middle. Mothra finally gets a chance at escape, and takes it. The battle between Godzilla and Battra is eventually taken underwater, where the force of the battle causes a giant crack in the ocean's floor that swallows the two.

After the ordeal at sea, Takuya, Ando, Masako, and the Cosmos stay overnight at a hotel. While Ando is drinking, Masako and Takuya have a discussion about the day's events and about their history together.

Masako awakens to discover that the Cosmos have gone missing, and immediately wakes up Takuya, who immediately realizes that Ando took them back to Takeshi. The two take a flight back to Tokyo, where Masako meets up with their daughter, Midori, her sister, Mayumi, and Professor Fukazawa. While they talk, Takuya leaves.

Masako then goes to the Diet to try to get them to buy the Cosmos back. They offer Takeshi all they can afford, but he turns them down. While this is happening, the Cosmos call out to Mothra and are saved.

Marutomo employees discover the Cosmos are missing, and suspects the government of stealing them. Meanwhile, the government discovers that Mothra is on her way to Japan. While they are not certain of how Mothra will behave, they feel they must prepare for the worst.

The next day, Masako sets out with Midori and telepath Miki Saegusa to find the Cosmos. After driving throughout the city, Miki finally hears the Cosmos' song and leads them to a hotel, where they find Takuya in possession of the Cosmos, and trying to sell them.

While all this is happening, Mothra is heading through the city, directly towards the hotel. After Midori begs him to release the Cosmos, Takuya reconciles, and lets them free. The Cosmos then tell Mothra to leave the city, and not to hurt anyone else. Mothra turns around, and heads back.

The forces attack again, but stop when they realize that Masako and the others are in the hotel. Mothra, behaving strangely, heads for the Diet building. Mothra starts building a cocoon around herself. While she does this, Miki feels Godzilla is alive, and has just surfaced from Mount Fuji. Mothra transforms into her adult form and flies away. Battra, alive as well, also transforms into his adult form.

Mothra and Battra meet up at Yokohama Cosmo World, and proceed to battle. At this point, Godzilla shows up and Battra decides that Godzilla is a more important target, and attacks him instead. Godzilla soon defeats Battra. At this point, Mothra charges Godzilla with her rays. With Godzilla temporarily disabled, Mothra flies towards Battra, and revives him.

Godzilla then fires his atomic ray at a nearby Ferris wheel and attempts to collapse it onto Mothra. Battra grabs the Ferris wheel, and crashes it onto Godzilla. Eventually, Godzilla is overwhelmed and falls to the ground, and Mothra and Battra set to carry Godzilla back into the ocean. Over the sea, Godzilla fires a blast at Battra from point blank range, killing him.

A tired Mothra drops Godzilla and the lifeless Battra into the water below. The next morning, the Cosmos explain Battra had been waiting many years to destroy an even larger meteorite that would threaten the earth in 1999. Mothra had promised she would stop the future collision if Battra were to die, and she and the Cosmos leave earth as the humans bid farewell. (The meteor could have been speculated to be SpaceGodzilla.)
Now this was a very exciting film with an improvement over the SFX from the last entry and it was nice to see fan favorite Mothra return to the silver screen and I would have to say that the human drama was well balanced with all of the monster action & the SFX were much improved over the previous film…

And yes there were some rather stiff looking shots of the Mothra & Battra puppets (Who is one of the COOLER looking opponents in a long time.) Overall the film was very enjoyable and did extremely well at the Japanese Box Office to pave the way for the return of one Godzilla’s foes from the 1970’s.

The 20th film in the series Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla II released in 1993, Our story begins in 1992, the United Nations establishes the United Nations Godzilla Countermeasures Center (UNGCC) to stop Godzilla.

The remains of Mecha-King Ghidorah are salvaged from the ocean and used to create two anti-Godzilla machines. The first is a flying gunship called Garuda. The second and more powerful machine, modeled after Godzilla himself, is called Mechagodzilla.

Two years later, on a mission to Adona Island in the Bering Sea, a Japanese team comes across what they assume is a large pteranodon egg. The egg gives off a strange telepathic signal that attracts Godzilla and Rodan an adult pteranodon irradiated by the nuclear waste.

Both monsters appear and fight for the egg. During their battle Godzilla critically wounds Rodan while the research team escapes with the egg. It's taken to a research center in Kyoto, where it imprints on a young female scientist.

When a Baby Godzilla hatches from the egg, the research team concludes that the egg was left in the pteranodon nest with Rodan, just as European cuckoos leave their eggs in the nests of other birds.

Godzilla appears in Japan, once again responding to the creature's psychic call. The JSDF mobilizes Mechagodzilla, which intercepts Godzilla as he is making his way to Kyoto. The two battle, with Mechagodzilla seeming to have the upper hand, until Godzilla disables Mechagodzilla with a pulse of energy.

Godzilla continues searching for Baby, but the scientists, having discovered the telepathic link between the monsters, shield it from Godzilla. Frustrated, Godzilla destroys most of Kyoto before returning to the ocean.

Tests on the baby reveal that it has a second brain in his hips that controls the animal's movement. The UNGCC assumes that this also holds true for Godzilla and decides to use Baby to bait Godzilla into a fight with Mechagodzilla. The "G-Crusher" is installed in Mechagodzilla's wrists, allowing the robot to penetrate Godzilla's hide and paralyze the monster by destroying its second brain.

The plan backfires, however, when Rodan, having survived his battle with Godzilla and further mutated by radiation, responds to Baby's call and intercepts the UNGCC transport.

The UNGCC is forced to send Mechagodzilla and Garuda after Rodan instead and, in the ensuing battle, Rodan is mortally wounded. Godzilla shows up moments later and attacks Mechagodzilla. When the two appear to be evenly matched, Mechagodzilla combines with Garuda. The upgraded Mechagodzilla, called Super-Mechagodzilla, carries out the G-Crusher plan and succeeds in paralyzing Godzilla.

Suddenly, the dying Rodan, once again revived by Baby's call, attempts to escape. Super-Mechagodzilla shoots him down and Rodan lands on top of Godzilla. Rodan's lifeforce regenerates Godzilla's second brain and supercharges him. Now more unstoppable than before, Godzilla attacks and destroys Super-Mechagodzilla with a high-powered red atomic ray.

Godzilla finally locates Baby, who is at first afraid of the giant monster. Miki Saegusa, a young psychic woman with a link to Godzilla, telepathically communicates with Godzilla, convincing him to adopt Baby as his own. Baby then accepts Godzilla as his father, and Godzilla and Baby head out to the sea.

I would have to say Toho was really hitting their stride with this film… The idea of 20th Century scientists being able to adapt technology from 300 years into the future is a little head scratching…

But overall the SFX team continues to WOW & AMAZE audiences with non stop excitement with a good story and bringing back another fan favorite Rodan who had not been seen since 1968’s “Destroy All Monsters”.

Even though the creature was a highly advanced puppet the mastery of the crew along with the new Godzilla head that was used for the suit really gives the Big Guy a whole new range of emotions that really pushes the story forward past your typical Giant Monster romp.

Too bad the same couldn’t be said about the next film in the Heisei Era…

HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS FOLKS … WE GOT ANOTHER SPEEDBUMP!!!

Now celebrating Godzilla’s 40th Anniversary ( Sort of ) we now come to the 21st film in the franchise with Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla released in 1994 the King of The Monsters is given a new intergalactic opponent and unfortunately this film is another letdown.

Godzilla cells brought into space by Biollante and Mothra are exposed to intense radiation from a black hole. The celestial fission creates a highly aggressive extraterrestrial beast closely resembling Godzilla. This "SpaceGodzilla" quickly makes its way to Earth.

Meanwhile, a group of soldiers and scientists are setting up at Birth Island to try Project T against Godzilla, who has taken up residence on the isle. The plan is to plant a device on Godzilla which will allow the Japan Self Defense Forces to control the mutant dinosaur telepathically. With help from psychic Miki Saegusa, the project is put into action, but it ultimately fails.

Afterward, the Cosmos, Mothra's twin priestesses, appear to Miki and warn her of SpaceGodzilla's arrival. With Mothra gone to space, the world will have to rely on Godzilla to stop the invader.

SpaceGodzilla gets closer and closer to Earth, destroying a NASA space station along the way, Moguera, a giant penguin-like robot built by the JSDF to replace the Mechagodzilla, is sent in to intercept SpaceGodzilla, but the alien uses a number of psychic attacks to cripple the robot, forcing it to retreat.

Attracted to Godzilla's radiation, SpaceGodzilla lands on Birth Island, where it finds Godzilla's son, Little Godzilla. SpaceGodzilla mercilessly attacks the small creature when he approaches it curiously, and Godzilla comes to his son's rescue. Godzilla puts up a good fight, but finds himself overwhelmed by SpaceGodzilla's power and is knocked out.

With Godzilla temporarily subdued, SpaceGodzilla creates a small cage made of crystals and traps Little Godzilla inside of it. It then leaves for Japan, intending to destroy it. Godzilla, after failing to free his son from the cage, follows SpaceGodzilla.

Shortly thereafter, the Yakuza captures Miki and brings her back to their base in Fukuoka in an attempt to use Project T to gain control of Godzilla. Fortunately, a recovery team is successfully dispatched and Miki and the team escape before SpaceGodzilla arrives and destroys the building.

SpaceGodzilla lands in central Fukuoka and forms a massive fortress of celestial crystals. Moguera arrives to once again fight SpaceGodzilla, but is still no match for it. Godzilla arrives in Kagoshima Bay and fights SpaceGodzilla, but SpaceGodzilla's cosmic powers easily allow it to gain the upper hand.

The JSDF discovers that SpaceGodzilla is using Fukuoka Tower as a power converter, using it to transform the Earth's core into an energy that SpaceGodzilla can absorb, and slowly killing the planet. While Godzilla wrestles with SpaceGodzilla, Moguera splits into two different mechs: the Star Falcon, a flying battleship, and the Land Moguera, a tank.

The mechs damage the crystal fortress while Godzilla pushes over Fukuoka Tower, cutting off SpaceGodzilla's energy supply. Moguera quickly reforms and blasts off SpaceGodzilla's crystal-like shoulder formations, weakening it. Enraged, SpaceGodzilla beats Moguera into submission and starts to throttle Godzilla, who further wounds SpaceGodzilla by gouging out his eyes.

With SpaceGodzilla brutally beaten and blinded, Moguera uses up the last of its power supply by ramming into the alien beast, but SpaceGodzilla impales Moguera with his tail and hurls it into the remains of the crystal fortress.

Godzilla blasts SpaceGodzilla with his atomic ray, sending him crashing on top of Moguera. With a supercharged atomic blast, Godzilla eradicates SpaceGodzilla including Moguera's remains, and cosmic energy floats from the inferno and vanishes in the atmosphere.

Having won the fight, Godzilla makes his way back to Birth Island. Before he departs, Miki uses her psychic powers to remove the mind control device from Godzilla's neck in which he turns to her and nods. Little Godzilla is then free from the crystal prison and can blow bubbles of fire.

And I thought Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah was chore to get through… The overall pacing of the film with too many subplots including a Japanese Yakuza Organization wanting to exploit Psychic Energy, a Renegade JDSF soldier who wants to kill Godzilla for the death of his friend and throwing in an Outer Space version of Godzilla??

UGGHHH… MY HEAD IS HURTING JUST THINKING ABOUT IT!!!

Overall this film was another SNOOZEFEST with this jumbled plot that is all over the place worse than Megalon did back in 1973, The suitmation was a step down from the previous 3 films, You could tell the actor playing SpaceGodzilla was having a difficult time trying to perform in the costume, The Godzilla suit starting to fall apart on camera like it did back in 1972…

This film had some major potential but with the LACKLUSTER STORY & LOUSY SFX it unfortunately IMPLODED like SpaceGodzilla did in the finale of this disastrous film.

With that being said Toho redeemed themselves with the final film in the Heisei Era…

The 22nd entry into the series Godzilla vs. Destoroyah released in 1995 is one of the darker chapters in the franchise…

In 1996, after the death of SpaceGodzilla, Miki Saegusa travels to Birth Island to check on Godzilla and his adopted son. However, she finds the entire island destroyed. In Hong Kong, Godzilla appears covered in glowing lava-like rashes. He goes on a rampage, causing major collateral damage and killing thousands of civilians. A group of representatives from the Japan Self Defense Forces hire college student Kenichi Yamane, the grandson of Dr. Kyohei Yamane, to come work at the center in an attempt to unravel the mystery of Godzilla's condition.

Yamane suspects that Godzilla's heart, which acts as a nuclear reactor, is going through a nuclear meltdown. When Godzilla reaches 1,200 degrees Celsius, he will explode with more force than all of the world's nuclear weapons, taking the world with him.

The JSDF deploys a flying combat vehicle outfitted with anti-nuclear cold weapons to forestall this; the Super-X III. Meanwhile, scientists create a new formula for the Oxygen Destroyer that was created by Dr. Serizawa in 1954.

This does not sit well with the JSDF, who fear that the Oxygen Destroyer, which was used to kill the original Godzilla, may have disastrous side effects. This belief is proven when a colony of Precambrian organisms are discovered to have been mutated by the formula. The creatures infest a sewer network and eventually make their way into an aquarium, killing all the sea life inside.

They rapidly evolve into monstrous crab-like creatures and begin wreaking havoc. After several deadly skirmishes with the JSDF, the creatures, dubbed "Destoroyah", evolve beyond the military's containment abilities.

Little Godzilla reappears as Godzilla Junior, having mutated further and now closely resembling his father, heads for the island where he was born. Godzilla, who is searching for his son, follows him, but complications arise.

Due to his encounter with the Super-X III, Godzilla will not explode but will instead suffer a bodily meltdown. After dying from the meltdown, Godzilla's superheated remains will bore into the planet's core, destroying the Earth. Desperate, the JSDF decide to lure Godzilla into a confrontation with the evolving Destoroyah by hiring Miki and another psychic named Meru Ozawa into telepathically instructing Junior to travel to Tokyo, which Destoroyah is currently invading.

Godzilla will no doubt follow, and since Destoroyah was born from the same weapon that destroyed the first Godzilla, he will surely lose the battle, preventing the meltdown.

The psychics successfully lure Godzilla Junior to Tokyo, where he is attacked by Destoroyah, who has now increased in size and sprouted a pair of bat-like wings. In the ensuing brawl, Destoroyah is seemingly killed after being blown into an electrical plant. By nightfall, Godzilla and Junior meet near Haneda Airport.

Their reunion is cut short when Destoroyah, having once again evolved and now outmatching Godzilla in height, flies in for

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another attack. Destoroyah knocks down Godzilla and grabs Junior, dropping him from an extreme altitude that brings the young dinosaur close to death.

Godzilla, enraged, attacks Destoroyah and a brutal battle erupts. The two creatures inflict serious wounds upon each other, each calling upon their own unique abilities to destroy the other. Eventually, Godzilla sends Destoroyah spewing up vital fluids, forcing the creature to retreat.

Alone at last, Godzilla tries to revive his son but fails. Overcome by grief, Godzilla's heart continues to fail, accelerating the meltdown. Destoroyah, having recovered from its previous injuries, once again appears. In a fury of rage, Godzilla bombards Destoroyah with a number of supercharged atomic blasts, blowing the creature to pieces.

Overcome by the attack and the extreme heat from Godzilla's meltdown, Destoroyah tries to fly away, but the JSDF shoots it down with a number of freeze weapons designed to work against Godzilla. Upon hitting the ground, Destoroyah disintegrates from thermal shock.

Moments later, Godzilla starts to die from the meltdown, but the JSDF are able to sustain him momentarily with the freeze weapons. Ultimately, they are unable to rescue Godzilla and he gives out one last weak roar before he tragically suffers his meltdown.

While they succeeded in preventing Earth's destruction, the JSDF have been unable to stop the massive nuclear fallout from rendering Tokyo uninhabitable. All of a sudden, the radiation levels plummet and something can be seen stirring in the mist: Godzilla Junior is apparently revived due to his father's power being channeled into his body and he is now a full-grown adult, ready to take on his father's title of King of the Monsters and Godzilla will somehow return someday.

Now some interesting information surfaced regarding an alternate ending to this film… The original concept of the film that would become Godzilla vs. Destoroyah was to feature Godzilla fighting the ghost of the original 1954 Godzilla. Godzilla would be killed by it, then be revived and manage to destroy it.

This idea was scrapped due to the previous two Heisei films featuring Godzilla-like monsters (Mechagodzilla 2 and SpaceGodzilla) as the antagonists. Another idea which had been tossed around featured Bagan, who was the final boss in the Super Nintendo video game Super Godzilla.

Additionally, an alternate ending was filmed for the movie. Destoroyah attempted to escape once Godzilla gained the upper hand, but the JSDF shot him down - however, the monster survived his fall. Godzilla, despite suffering from his meltdown, continued to battle the vicious monster. Godzilla quickly overpowered Destoroyah, grabbing him by his horn and pummeling him repeatedly. As Godzilla melts away, the JSDF rain their beams upon him, as well as Destoroyah. Unable to stand against the immense heat of Godzilla's meltdown and the freezing coldness of the beams, Destoroyah falls and evaporates.

However, the scene was removed because it was thought to be inappropriate, since Godzilla's foreseen death was to be the climax of the film. So the scene was re-edited to have Destoroyah die after the JSDF intervenes and helps Godzilla finish off Destoroyah, allowing Godzilla to have center stage as he dies.

WOW!!! What an EXPLOSIVE CLIMAX to the Heisei Era… This how the last entry should have been, It was a nice touch on the filmmaker’s part bringing back Dr. Yamane’s Sister Emiko played by Momoko Kochi (which sadly would be her last film) and his children tying up some the loose ends of the original 1954 film.

The pacing of the film was very well edited and had a hard hitting story complimented with the SFX that highlight this final entry of the Heisei era and would eventually pave the way to ONE OF THE BIGGEST BOX OFFICE BOMBS OF 1998…

FERRIS BUELLER GOES TO JURASSIC PARK AKA ROLAND EMMERICH’S TRAVESTY TO AUDIENCES AROUND THE WORLD… GODZILLA.

DON’T WORRY FOLKS THAT CRAPFEST WILL NOT BE DISCUSSED HERE.

“Fuck You Trolls from Troll Time, USA!”
By Robert J. Meddings

Imagine yourself in a nation of trolls. Every street corner you'll walk into has a troll. Every place you go in is infested with a savage bunch called “trolls.”

They live everywhere in your car, computer and even your grandmother's attic. You can't get away from these fuckers.

They'll invite themselves to your house like they own the place. They'll have the run of your kitchen or your sofa, stealing your TV remote. They'll raid the fridge.

They might even pee in your bathtub.

That's what Upload Society is starting to feel like. A little too crowded.

Some of you might notice the sudden thumbing down of different videos and useless comments from passersby. It's like a bad fart you can't get rid of in your own home.

I don't really like them. I can't imagine the trolls like each other. Or themselves. They bring an awful lot of negativity to the site.

If you get a feeling there's a general plague of trolls hovering over your page, you're probably right. And they do it at your expense.

They waste your time.

And they're a waste of space.

I wasn't going to put this article in because I'm so sick of them. However, seeing there are a lot of things cropping up, I figured it'll be a good idea to bring up the troll topic.

Especially when we have some troll infiltration in the private horror group again. What the fuck?

I hate to name users in here because I feel like I'm badmouthing... but I have to give a couple of examples.

There's a few shitty trolls. One I don't care for is Hellsapostle who seem to associate with every worst person possible. Johnny4times seem to win the “asshole of the week” award with his constant prodding.

We're going to try not to let that happen again.

What a bloody nuisance!

Horror member Nocturnal said, “I just have one question for you guys. Why the HC? What is their problem with you? I can't quite figure it out.”

That's a frightfully good question. Why is that? Does anyone know? I can't really give a good answer without making an approximation.

Trolls are trolls. They're attention seekers, and they want their 15 minutes of fame too. They're an uncreative bunch, and they're jealous because they don't have the skill or wit to get by.

So they're like leeches clinging to those who do have talent. If you make videos on a public site, you're sure to have trolls in tow.

For some reason, the usual targets of trolls seem to be NightFrightFigures and HouseofKarloff1985. Both of them are decent sorts, and creative in their own right. And now the trolls are spilling on RussellStudio's page.

These trolls are a particularly stupid bunch. What depresses me is how much time someone like Johnny creates a whole bunch of new channels... just to harass good people.

That's the problem with trolls.

Too. Much. Fucking. Free. Time.

So Upload Society is becoming a large breeding place for trolls.

There's only so much you can do about this. And there's only so much that CEO David of Upload Society can do about this. There's only so much one can do about the stink fest.

I'm going to recommend once again the two-step process: block and ignore.

Once bored, the trolls move on. It might take a long time, so you'll have to be patient. Keep ignoring these ass hats and they'll trudge along like they're looking for their missing brains.
Just be careful about who you befriend or subscribe too. I would do these things: check out who the person associates with on his or her page.

Make sure that the channel is going to be trouble-free. If not, don't bother. All the trouble and hassle will soon spill over to your page.

Watch the conversation between the the users on the newfound page. If it's just filled with a bunch of crybabies bitching about each other, the channel is probably isn't for you.
Do a little research. They'll have to be patient about getting subbed back.

Wait and see if the page is running amok with trolls. If so, don't befriend to it. No matter how many times the user begs you to.

That's my advice to you.

Again, I don't like naming names, but here's one who needs a mention. There's a particular user named “libsmacker” who runs what he calls a “clean” page.

He tries to come across as user-friendly on his channel, but you'll find through a lot of conversation that he has a deep-seated hatred for black people. In other words, he's a white supremacist.

I've dealt with him before when he ran his “thelibsmacker” page on Youtube, and he has already bragged about having his channel shut down twenty-six times and counting.

He believes in free speech... because he wants to spew his hatred for blacks. STAY AWAY FROM HIM.

Now, I'm not the biggest fan of Obama, and I disagree with many of his policies. I also disagreed with that idiot George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan. Many presidents, including Clinton, were too business-friendly.

However, hate the policies.

Not the person.

Unless it's Richard “Motherfucking Asshole” Nixon.

And that's the problem with libsmacker as he continues to lump black people together as some kind of “blight.” I fucking abhor this hateful asshole. Avoid this guy at all costs. He also hangs around with plenty of bigots on his channel. I'm not kidding about this.

There's only one thing that's worse than a troll is that it's a racist troll.

That's my beef with trolls for today, and I'm very wary of them.

Just remember to be careful about who you become friends with. You don't want their misery. Nobody needs that shit especially the Horror Clan. We want to make this site a positive and creative place where we can share ideas. Not to fight with negative folks.

It doesn't need to be cluttered with trolls. Ban, block and ignore. That's the thing. Keep that in mind, and you'll do okay.

Fuck trolls, right? Who needs them? I don't.

"Scream and Scream Again"
By Robert J. Meddings

If Ellen Ripley was the role model for strength in horror films, then Sidney Prescott found her inspiration in the “Scream” franchise.

It's no surprise when the film hit the screens by storm over the Thanksgiving weekend, it went on to be a very successful horror series.

It's something of a mystery/thriller with hints of Friday the 13th and “Halloween” fixed on knife-wielding tendencies. What I liked about the first film is that it keeps you guessing.

So what's to scream about?

“Scream” is able to reinvent the slasher motif to greater heights in 1996, and watching this film is like having an old drive-thru experience. You can't help feel cramped in a dingy place with fear dwelling on your thoughts.

One of the most brilliant things about this film is using well-known actress Drew Barrymore as the very first victim of the show. She does bring initial star power to “Scream” by bringing in older and newer viewers.

Interestingly, Barrymore was supposed to play the character of Sidney Prescott, but scheduling conflicts forced her to take a smaller role.

The lead role went to Canadian actress Neve Campbell.

Neve Campbell has a sweetest face, and a genuine girl-next-door beauty that sets her apart from many film actresses. She received much notoriety for this role and won Scream Queen awards during the height of the series.

I like how her character started out as soft-natured and gentle, growing stronger as the film series went on. She has to. She is portrayed as a resourceful and intelligent woman who must survive the inferno of deaths around her. As the carnage of corpses piled on, she relied on her wits to survive the hell-bound fury of a ghoulish killer.

Something about Sidney Prescott draws you into the story, being an ordinary girl in an extraordinary situation.

Some might describe her character as a little dull, perhaps stoic. That's why you might mistake her for being just another victim.

And that's what turns the tables on the killer, and the audience watching the film.

She is very much like an angel swimming in a sea of hell. Despite everything, she remains true to her word... trusting, loyal and intelligent.

And Sidney Prescott has become an obsession for the killer throughout the rest of the “Scream” series. You'd think this killer get another hobby!

In the fourth Scream movie, Sidney was dubbed “a hero, a real hero.” She's the real deal. She becomes the polar opossite for the Ghost-Face killer who stalks her and others. He's like a killing shadow. She's the heroine of the series.

It could have been easy to make this character buckle down under the presses and turn into a frightened girl.

But she fights back.

And that was the killer's biggest mistake.

This film is slickly made by writer Kevin Williamson and director Wes Craven who used familiar horror situations to create a different point of view for horror.

It's like Scooby Doo meets Jason Vorhees. (In fact, Matthew Lillard does go on to play Shaggy in the cartoon and film versions of Scooby Doo).

The killer is disguised throughout the film by using a device which alters his voice electronically. So you don't know who the killer is until the “unmasking” in the very end. Pretty slick.

Ghost-Face becomes a movie icon, and is a favorite character to dress up every Halloween. It's a simple, yet effective ghoulish sight. He tricks people into playing his game, and the ghost moves through darkness. He is a whisper in silence.

Then you find out there are two killers! Surprise, surprise!

Horror video maker NightFrightFigures had this to say regarding Sidney's character, "She was on Scream movies. The victim her boyfriend and friend was behind this killing. The movie really threw me through a loop with two killers."

Then you have Sidney Prescott who remains level-headed and doesn't fall into the “oh, gawd, help me” category. She relies on herself. She's has this “innocence” about her that makes her the perfect victim... and yet she is able to defend herself against the killing rampage.

Sure, Sidney does scream quite a bit. Who wouldn't when there's a black-cloaked weirdo with a knife running around?

Bryan Enk and Adam Swiderski of UGO said of the Sidney Prescott character, "In the 1990s, Neve was pretty much the number-one scream queen around."

Despite that, Sidney is a well-written and sharply-realized female character in the film series. It doesn't get better than this. She's a beloved character.

How can you dislike her with such a cute face like hers?

Dolly Dimple, a Horror member, said this of Sidney, "I think she’s a strong, intelligent woman and much more well-rounded than your average character in a horror movie. She’s also very attractive with a beautifully expressive face."

I think the film really focuses very well on women: they can either be victims or strong leads. They all have different personalities that make them unique.

Horror member Eternitybutterflies had a different view and said, "To be honest I just couldn’t get into the Scream films. They didn’t give me the scare that I would have liked and the plot to me just wasn’t great. But that is just my opinion. As far as Neve Campbell goes, she is a fairly good actress but like I said, I am just not a big Scream fan. Now if you asked me about The Jeepers Creepers films I would give them an A+ or even the Destination films the same A+ but the Scream Movies just didn’t do it for me and Neve Campbell being the good actress she is just was not the believable character I would have liked."

Sidney Prescott isn't the only strong woman in the film. You also have Gale Weathers, played wonderfully by Courtney Cox, who is very bold and aggressive girl.

It was said that Cox wanted to play a “a real bitch” because of her desire to set herself apart from the “Friends” series. She does so by playing tough as a reporter, and also one of the series' survivors.

But does “Scream” have a good story? You bet it does.

This film reinvented the whole horror genre and turned it upside down. By taking on the most classic themes of the Scooby Doo series, and using the stark terror of any slasher film, you got a whole new direction for a film.

I cite this movie as pretty scary on the Scare-O-Meter, ranking it very high.

What I like about the film is the slice of Americana in it. The houses you see look like they belong in middle-class neighborhoods. There's the fictional Westoboro High School which set a certain charm for the growing atmopshere. How can things go wrong in a place like this?

It's just like a scene out of sunny California.

Thus it pushes all of us out of our normalcy, throwing us into a horrorifying scene of knives and ghosts.

I remember seeing the first Scream movie for Thanksgiving weekend. Now, you have to think about why they put it out for this particular holiday.

What do they use for Thanksgiving dinners? Well, folks use giant carving knives to cut up the turkey.

The ghoulish killer hacks up people with a knife with a roaring, singing glee.

Coincidence? I don't think so.

“Scream” works on a very psychological level which makes the story more interesting. I think right away of the old film “Ten Little Indians” when I see how people are dropping like flies.

There are all the twists and turns in the plot that makes viewing worthwhile.

I could argue that “Scream” isn't a misogynistic movie. Sure, there's violence against women in these films and they're the center of sexual objectification. However, the men are often victims in these films, and more so. And it took a woman to defeat the dastardly villains with all her wit and intelligence.

The very crux of “Scream” that it's a bloody tour into the gates of deaths. And yet it's also a very fun ride into horror as well. It's been the most fun in a long time.

And “Scream” salutes to very strong women who take the center stage of the horror genre once again.

Should they make another movie? I'd say that ought to put it to rest because it's becoming an all-too-familiar familiar theme. If they do have a very good story, I wouldn't mind seeing the ghostly ghoul lift the knife again.

Until then, it's good night to everyone. Literally.

Until Next Time...
By Robert J. Meddings

The Horror Gallery
June 8, 2014

Welcome to the summer issue of the Horror Gallery where goblins and ghouls join together in perfect harmony. And horror enthusiastics can praise all works of fear.

It'll be the last issue before it goes bi-monthly for the summer and fall.

No, wait!

Did I just say last issue? Well, It's not going to be the final, final issue. Rather, I opted to go bi-monthly to allow for more time to work on the videos during the summer months. Sounds like a good idea?

This way I'll be able to work more on the editing, writing, tinkering and all that good stuff. It'll help me juggle the work load for the newsletter as well.

I don't meant to put the scare into your when I said “final.” Though I admit that I was getting bogged down by the demands of the newsletter throughout the year. I felt tuckered out.

So no worries. The bi-monthly issues will be formatted in the same way with the intro, news pieces, spotlights, movie reviews. I wouldn't think of changing the fine formula for hell raisin'!

Once the winter hits like another shit storm, around November or December, I'll bring the newsletter back to its monthly status for a while. I'll be stuck indoors for the most part anyway.

We do have some bad news. I should get that out of the way before blabbering like a politician on election night.

The loss of two women members of the horror group was unexpected and surprising. One day, they were there. The next, they vanished from the comfort zone of Upload Society.

I'm not kidding. They didn't leave a single trace.

DevineAngela and floridakisses3 are two such members.

I thought they were decent gals and it's too bad that they were unable to stick around. It's always nice to see women hanging around in what would be otherwise a predominately male group. Both women have a great sense of humor and good to get along with.

Let's hope they come back very soon. I know it's been mentioned that DevineAngela is working two jobs and taking care of her husband. So she's got enough to deal with on her plate. I don't blame her for bowing out.

So what happened?

I couldn't say for sure, though I don't think the infesting trolls might be part of the problem. They left for personal reasons, and we ought to respect them for it. We'll keep hoping they do come back. Though I do admit their leave of absence was very abrupt.

Some of us are still crestfallen about this.

Getting back to the newsletter, I'll add that I'm keeping Bryon Orlock on board until he finishes his run on the Godzilla movie series. Hear his mighty words roar.

After the Godzilla articles, who knows? Byron's got an encyclopedic knowledge of everything... good to have someone like that around.

Oh yeah, some of you may have seen the Godzilla movie now. This one came out with a big budget cruncher and a massive attitude.

I thought it was pretty good, though I felt it needed more Japanese people especially in the parts set in Japan. It's a minor thing. However, being a Godzilla movie, it really needs a pretty Asian woman in there somewhere. So it left me saying: “Where are all the Asian women at?”

On the other hand, Godzilla was very well-realized as they went back to the mountainous, towering force. They did a very nice job of creating a sense of scale with him. The scene where you see his fins floating across the water makes you think it was Godzilla himself.. until he lifts his tail from the waters. It gives you an idea of how absolutely huge he is.

Godzilla isn't anyone to fuck around with.

And he tore up the Hollywood Box Office in the same way he ripped apart with the city of Tokyo. So Godzilla returns to fine form with this movie.

I did read that Del Toro who created the Kaiju tribute film “Pacific Rim” wanted to make the next movie a crossover between Godzilla and the robots from the Pacific Rim movie. I would really look forward to that because it sounds like a lot of fuckin' fun.

Plenty of summer videos to go for this summer.

NightFrightFigures got the third chapter done for his great horror tribute series “Ten Worst Ways to Die.” Honoring the poor, hapless victims of the horror films.

His movie props are great to see and he's got the perfect DJ voice to introduce every horror scene. He's got two more videos to go in the series.

TeyetheGreat will be having a few videos coming this way too. So what out for those. He brings so much imagination and fun to his videos. Sure, his stuff is weird too. And that's the best part!

RussellStudios continues his landmark video in creating a full story with animation. And the studio work involving the animated effects are fantastic. He makes his productions big... and this is no exception.

How can you not like a movie with the original Star Trek and the Next Generation? The character of Hues De Clown has become very representative in comedy, and it works very well with Star Trek, Doctor Who and other S-F shows.

And this sweeping, cosmic comedy has some of the most beautiful women in cartoon form. I like it already.

I got my own video out as well entitled “Blood Portal” which chronicles a killer who can break into people's homes by using blood magic. The story is all about the blood.

Very early sketches made by RussellStudios regarding his comedy masterpiece "I'll See Your Princess and Raise You Two Who's."

Stay tuned for the rest of the newsletter as I make a tribute to the science-fiction and horror. For me, both genres can really make a great combo. There is so much horror that has elements of science-fiction in it.

What happens when you combine horror and science-fiction which are two monumental genre pillars merging into great cosmic horror on this side of H.P. Lovecraft.

How can you go wrong? They are like opposite sides of the same coin. One can compliment the other. So this newsletter will cover some of the movies or TV that had to do with both horror and S-F.

It's a winner. You don't have to be a horror fan to understand, and fully appreciate, the quality of films like “Alien” and “The Thing”. Yes, they're gory films, but they offer strong messages of invasion... an invasion of privacy from outer space.

It's a cinematic treasure if you find movies or TV like this. It's a work of art to create a mind-boggling horror from the nether regions of space. The universal element is right there: it's called fear.

Fear will take you home now.

Your host,
Robert J. Meddings

Bloody News! Edited by Robert J. Meddings

"Bloody Kiss"
By the Spectator
May 19, 2014
Source: www.modernghana.com

A 50-year-old farmer, Emmanuel Akli's first attempt to kiss his wife ended with him biting her lips, wounding her severely.

Akli who had watched a woman being kissed on the television at Nsawam a few weeks ago, decided to practice it on his wife.

Akli and his wife, Grace Asigbey, 43, live at Gadzikorpe, a hamlet near Manchi village in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.

Narrating her ordeal to The Spectator on Monday, Madam Asigbey, said she had been married to Akli for 12 years. According to her, they had never kissed.

Madam Asigbey said about two weeks ago, her husband after returning from Nsawam, came with tales of kissing he saw on television and insisted on practicing it on her.

She said last Thursday, May 8, when they went to bed, Akli decided to kiss her, but she objected to it because he was smelling of alcohol.

Akli, she said, forcibly held her and attempted to kiss her but ended up biting her lips.

When blood started oozing from her lips, she shouted for help and neighbours came to her aid to treat the wounds.

Asked whether she had lodged a formal complaint with the police, Madam Asigbey replied in the negative.

She said the incident was a 'small problem' which was resolved amicably by the village elders, who fined her husband two bottles of 'Akpeteshie,' a local gin.

Akli declined to make any comments when this reporter contacted him for his side of the story.

“Santa Barbara killer Elliot Rodger, son of Hollywood director, vowed to 'slaughter' women who rejected him”
BY Bonnie Robinson, Larry Mcshane, Rich Schapiro and Nicole Hensley
Published: Saturday, May 24, 2014
Source: www.nydailynews.com

He killed before he was ever kissed.

Hours after posting a terrifying YouTube warning, a murderous, misogynistic, 22-year-old virgin killed six people and wounded 13 more near a California college.

Elliot Rodger, the hate-filled son of a Hollywood director, vowed in his video to exact his bloody vengeance against the sorority women who rejected him and the men who succeeded where he so often failed.

Then he set out Friday night to make good on his evil intentions — stabbing three men to death in his apartment before arming himself to the teeth and hopping into his black BMW to steal life from three others.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown described the orgy of violence as “the work of a madman.”

Less than 24 hours after Rodger was killed, a 141-page manifesto penned by the lovelorn loner arrived at a local TV station.

In the rambling screed, titled “My Twisted World,” Rodger breathlessly detailed his struggles to find love and acceptance — and explained how they led him to seek blood.

Of the 13 people Rodger wounded, eight suffered gunshot wounds, four were hit by his vehicle and one had an injury of unknown origin.

Deputies discovered more than 400 rounds of ammunition inside the car. All three of his weapons were purchased legally, Brown said.

Other witnesses described bullets zipping past their heads. Sierra Swartz told KEYT-TV that she initially thought the gunman was shooting an air pistol.

“He shot and I felt like I just felt the wind pass right by my face,” she said. “I went to a random person’s house and I just ran inside and I was like, ‘Honestly, like someone just shot at me.’

E.J. Debowski was standing on his porch when he saw Rodger’s black BMW barreling toward a skateboarder.

Debowski watched in horror as the car slammed into the boarder, identified as Elliott Gee, a UCSB junior.

“His skateboard flew in the air," Debowski told the Los Angeles Time. "His face was bloody, but he was able to respond to our questions."

In Rodger’s manifesto, he gleefully describes his plans to torture his victims — the good-looking, popular girls he has longed for all his life.

“I have lived a life of pain and suffering, and it was time to bring that pain to people who actually deserve it,” Rodger wrote.

“I will cut them, flay them, strip all the skin off their flesh, and pour boiling water all over them while they are still alive, as well as any other form of torture I could possibly think of.”

“Taiwan subway knife attack leaves three dead”
Published May 21, 2014
Source: www.bbc.com

A knife attack on a subway train near Taiwan's capital, Taipei, has left at least three people dead and more than 25 others injured.

The attacker, said to be a 21-year-old student, boarded the train at the Longshan Temple station, police said.

Passengers fled at the next station, Jiangzicui, reports said. TV footage showed the train spattered with blood.

The attacker, who some reports said was drunk, was taken into police custody following the incident.

Police told the BBC he said he wanted to do something big.

The attack happened about 16:00 local time (08:00GMT). Among the three people who died were a 47-year-old woman and two men aged 20 and 30.

Police said the attacker used a knife 10cm (four inches) long and had another longer blade with him, the Associated Press news agency said.

The attack is highly unusual for Taiwan, where violent incidents are rare, says the BBC's Cindy Sui in Taipei.

Horror Spotlight:

The Horror Squad Edited by Robert J. Meddings

These guys are based out in Florida, and they play the coolest and craziest stunts in public. They give everyone a good scare, and every chill, thrill and fright is another score for them. Normal Joes during the day, masked avengers of fear at night! Come along to the haunted vault to find out what these guys are up to courtesy of your erstwhile editor.

1. Here's an easy one: What is your favorite horror movie?

Sycho: Yeah we all grew up with Halloween II playing a million times on cable but Halloween our favorite.

Freddy B: Halloween II is my favorite one out of the franchise but my favorite a nightmare on Elm street. I have always been a Freddy guy. My name a homage to him.

2. Do you have any future movie-styled videos planned for the Horror Squad? (Will there be a sequel to "The Killer Doll" where the Horror Squad mysteriously revives?)

Oinkman: Nothing in motion. We wanna do 2 more short films by the end of the year but who knows. I have about a dozen scripts in my room.

Sycho: Some of them serious and some of them comedy. If we ever do another Guggles killer doll movie it will be a serious sequel.

3. How did you guys meet and form the Horror Squad group?

Oinkman: Growing up in the same neighborhood.

Freddy B: Except me. I met Oinkman when he moved into my neighborhood.

Oinkman: Me and Freddy B would do daily walks every night to stay in shape. We walk 6 or more miles on average. Sometimes when we walk pass other people they had a scared reaction. Like if we were going to rob them or worst.

Freddy B: Its night time nobody around and we're both in hoody's.

Oinkman: We decided on Halloween to wear Halloween mask and bring the fear factor up. It did. I jumped at some people like if I was working at a haunted house

Freddy B: I still remember Oinkman scaring these two little girls and one of them leaving her friend behind. She just ran off not caring if her friend was okay or not LMAO.

Oinkman: That how scare pranks on the streets started. I had the idea of instead of people being scared at Haunted houses we would take the scares to the streets.

Freddy B: This is 2008

Oinkman: I told Silverback about what we did that Halloween and he wanted to do it next year. So in 2009 it was me, Silverback, Stooge and Maniac Manny. Stooge and Maniac Manny had different costumes. One was Ghostface (scream) and the other wolfpac. In 2010 we decided to record our stuff. So horror Squad started in 2008 but you could argue 2009 was the real formation.

Silverback: I came up with the name in 2009

Freddy b: 2008 started it. Name or no name. That how we started.

4. What is the greatest prank you pulled in your videos?

Oinkman: That a tough one to answer. I like Silverback on the Grocery bag head guy on Halloween scare pranks 2010. He screamed so loud. Guys don't usually scream.

Silverback: I like Oinkman on this asian girl on New years scare pranks 2012. It was caught on camera so great.

5. What is the most frightening moment for you in horror movies?

Freddy B: Night of the living dead when your stuck inside a farm house with zombies all around. Your not sure if help coming or not. That frightens me.

6. Who's hotter? Velma or Daphne? And why?

Stooge: Oh yeah its Daphne. She hot and rich

Hoodgoblin: Daphne

Silverback: Oh yeah Daphne

Freddy B: I always had a thing for the nerd girls. Velma. If my comrades saw the live action scooby doo movie they would agree Velma by a lot

Silverback: Yeah but on the cartoon show she not like that. She chubby

Freddy B: Thick is the word my friend and I like it.

7. Vampires, Frankenstein, werewolves, or zombies: Who's cooler?

Freddy B: Zombies seem to be the cool thing right now with the Walking Dead and video games

Sycho: yep that true. The last of us was huge last year on the video game scene.
Stooge: Twilight made Vampires look bad.

8. Who's scarier? Norman Bates, Hannibal Lecter or Ed Gein?

Oinkman: Ed Gein cause he was real and near your neck of the woods Robert. Different time but a Wisconsin native. There would be no Bates, Lecter or Leatherface without Ed Gein

9. What got you into horror in the first place?

Oinkman: Great question. Trick or treating as a kid on Halloween and Scooby Doo were probably my first introduction to Horror.

Silverback: I never thought of that but your right. Halloween is pretty much Xmas for horror and it was our Xmas was Halloween night.

Freddy B: Mines was a late friday and sat show on USA called Up all night hosted by Gilbert Gottfried and Rhonda Shear. They would show all the b movie horrors.

10. Which convention is your favorite to go to? Why are your reasons for liking it so much?

Oinkman: We need to go to more conventions. Its Florida Supercon for us. Its the biggest convention for comics and anime for Miami. But I hear Orlando has better ones. We would love to go to a horror convention which Florida doesn't have any.

Freddy B: I just went to Chicago Comic Con with my girlfriend and by far that is the best one. It blows away Florida Supercon. They had a lot of guest.

Oinkman: but you said Florida Supercon had better girl cosplayers

Freddy B: lol yes they do

Oinkman: There you go. Robert that why we like going to Supercon. The girl cosplayers.

11. Was there ever a movie you hated so much that you wanted to punch the director in the face for it?

Silverback: Rob Zombie Halloween. I hated it when I first saw it and I still hate it today. When I listen to him talk about the making of Halloween. He pretty much admitted he didn't like the original. I wanna whoop his ass so bad

Freddy B: Rob Zombie Halloween not that bad. I think its a good remake. Its better then The Nightmare on Elm Street remake. Which is horrible.

12. Do you have a crush on anyone?

Silverback: Danielle Harris she the modern day scream queen.

Stooge: Yeah she hot

Hoodgoblin: Yeah I have a thing for Danielle

Sycho the Clown: Harley Quinn

Freddy B: Miley Cyrus she can twerk all she wants

Oinkman: I really don't get into celebrities.

13. How do you express your love for horror in your everyday lives? (Apart from the scare pranks).

Sycho the Clown: Making as much videos about Horror as we can. Also checking out other horror channels around. So many different horror clicks. From Haunters, Ghost hunters, DvD collectors, Movie reviewers, Short film artist, Horror gamers, Horror musicians etc... I try to support as many as I can.

"Who Made Who?"

By Robert J. Meddings

Shooting across time and space, in a form of a British Police Box, it transcends all of known science. Just name a place and time you want to go, and it'll take you there.

Once the police box lands on any planet in the universe, sometimes it slaps itself right in the middle of some trouble. It could be a conflict of war or just a domestic family dispute going on.

You'll never know where you end up in that British Police Box.

How do you get any more British than that?

I was just a kid getting out of seventh grade when I first saw the show on a local PBS station. I started to watch it and became enthralled by the strangeness of the series. I liked the weird aspect of a strange traveler who resolves to fix a problem like a cosmic meddler.

He wore a long-trailing scarf that seemed to go on for miles, and his face possessed an intellect hidden in a Bohemian guise. And yet he gets around a situation by using as little violence as possible. A great lesson to teach children and adults alike. His attitude is very much like a Gypsy always traveling to different places, never staying in one spot for too long.

Of course, it's already in the Guinness Book of Records for being the longest running science fiction TV series.

That's right. I'm talking about Doctor Who.

Though the show's character is known as the Doctor. That's his title he's been given. However, the show itself is called “Doctor Who” because it begs the question: Who is Doctor Who?

It's an ever elusive mystery on the series.

By the time I began watching the shows on PBS, being caught in the series' imagination, I found Tom Baker was playing the role.

It's my favorite time of the series because of the great horror stories that went on for three years. It’s my favorite actor to play lead as well... Tom Baker. So the horror motif, and the bizarre nature of stories, drew me into it.

My first memory of the show was the scarf-weilding Doctor walking through the forest with a brooding look to his face. There as also giant mummies who did the bidding of an Egyptian god Sutekh. This malevolent being was one part of the horror thread seen in the shows.

My very first episode of Doctor Who was “Pyramids of Mars.” It was a wonderful homage to the Universal horror film “The Mummy” starring Boris Karloff. No doubt there were some tributes to the Hammer Horror Mummy movie with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

It's very ironic to start off in the Doctor Who series right in the middle of the gothic era since I'm a long-time horror fan. It's the greatest time of the series.

I think Doctor Who works best when it's scary.

If you're watching “Pyramids of Mars” for the first time, or the hundredth time, you'll have to agree that there's plenty of atmosphere in nineteenth century England which was perfectly captured in this episode. The scenes bleed with fear while the atmosphere seems to grip you by the throat while throttling with evil.

And then there's Tom Baker's performance who matches the show with his world-traveled persona... his mood swings, and magnificent charm, is the reason why so many of the horror stories work so well. He's the perfect contrast for the stories.

You also have the tension-wielding music that added to the craftsmanship of an episode of “Pyramids of Mars.” The show roars with death, destruction and demons. Each beat of music is a perfect cue for a horror that's about to happen.

You also have the old house (in which belonged to Rolling Stones' lead singer Mick Jagger at the time) which is engulfed with a sullen atmosphere. It is like a mansion that hides so many dark secrets. It sits with menace.

Then you have the roaming mummies which stalk hapless victims in the forest while they guard the old house like spectral beasts of the supernatural. You couldn't ask for a better horror story than this one, and they make every page of fear work by creating a right mood that would have frightened the likes of Edgar Allan Poe or H.P. Lovecraft.

Give me anything Egyptian and I'll be happy. I've always been interested with Egyptian lore, and the stark love they have for death itself. The underworld of their beliefs remains a rather interesting subject of discussion for me.

There's a terrifying beauty about Egyptology, and how everything must be massive, magnificent... so many of the pyramids were built in the desert as a result of many people dying under stressful labor. And yet those pyramids stand as testimony against the test of time.

I'm always fascinated with Egyptology. It's no surprise that my favorite Universal Horror movie is always “The Mummy” with Karloff.

Now the god Sutekh is a perfect foe for the Fourth Doctor who matched wits like a pair of chess players trying to gain the upper hand. Sutekh is frightening with the booming voice that could shake mountains and his unmoving, fearsome frame seems to vibrant with a hellish grind of evil. And this evil is cosmic in power.

And that voice of Sutekh is so menacing for the small screen, hearing every bolt of anger in his words. His voice is like fire. His voice could curse a thousand souls at a whim while his words could bring down endless skies.

The actor who played Sutekh lends his voice again in the Doctor Who series in the episodes “The Impossible Planet” and “Satan Pit.” Guess what he plays in here? Satan. How apt.

You'll have to root for the Doctor who's a great underdog. He's fighting against massive odds, and he'll battle against the totalitarians of the universe.

And the endgame of the “Pyramids of Mars” makes for a great piece of Doctor Who drama: the Fourth Doctor must do battle against the Egyptian god who can destroy worlds. Can you get any more bloody malevolent than that?

So you got the mummy motif, the old house, a dangerous Egyptian god, a British horror atmosphere, and a script filled with bristling dialogue.

How can you go wrong?

There are plenty of great guest actors including Michael Sheard who plays the younger Scarman brother. Sheard is the same guy who appeared in “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” as the first foolhardy captain who gets a force choke hold from Darth Vader. And he meets a nasty end.

Elizabeth Sladen is very plucky as Sarah Jane Smith. She's my favorite assistant, and Tom Baker is my favorite Doctor. So it's no surprise that I hold such a great sentiment for the gothic period of the Doctor Who series. And it's a golden age that's hard to beat. Thanks to writer Robert Holmes who is able to create such delightful twists of horror.

Ah yes, this episode is representative of the British gothic horror that thrives through the Tom Baker years. Another great chapter of horror is “The Brain of Morbius” which remains another terrifying vision of fear. And this time, it comes from beneath the grave.

This particular episode draws its influences from the Frankenstein stories. You can see the hunger of horror in the story, and the idea of resurrection persists in everyone's fear. And you have a renegade Time-Lord who goes by the name of Morbius... who is a frightening figure of menace. As the Fourth Doctor would say, “How quaint.”

Once again, you have the old mansion that sits on top of a hill, and the effective atmosphere settles well like a brooding mix of horror and humor. And yet, you can't think that this madman scientist wants to revive a dead man.

Not only a dead man... a terrible criminal by the name of Morbius.

It's a chilling insight into life and death as a topic. Some scenes of blood-curdling violence erupts on the Doctor Who screen that would have surely made kids piss their pants. There's even a scene with a guy getting shot in the guts, and blood sprays all across the floor and walls. I shit you not.

And yet it's nice to see them continue the gothic horror trend without being too afraid of audience reactions. They want to take you by the hand and force you through the haunted house. And the lingering shadows that break out like a nightmare.

Who could forget the wonderful philosophical discussion between the Doctor and Solon as they waged their intellects over what is right or wrong. And you have a story of science versus supernatural. The very idea of old beliefs still persisting in the age of modern medicine.

The very idea of bringing a dead man to life can be alarming to anyone. And it's a chilling question to ask in this episode. Who wants to expand on the frontier of medicine while giving the chance for someone, anyone, to come back from the dead. Do we have this right?

Yet Doctor Who brings home the Frankenstein myth in some very interesting, and intelligent ways. We ask ourselves who has the right to come back from the dead. And “The Brain of Morbius” lets us know that we should not fuck around to play God. That could be something to come around and bite you in the ass someday.

No one has the right to play God. No one.

And yet “The Brain of Morbius” portrays the character Doctor Solon as someone who is willing to go above and beyond to play God. I remember this episode as being very much like Doctor Who meets Frankenstein. And they did a very slick way of re-creating the story for the series.

There's plenty of blood and guts in this episode, and it's very gruesome. And yet it fits right at home in the long run of horror stories in this time of Doctor Who. What works so well is the damning atmosphere that seems to crowd the characters. And you find that only the shadows seem to be your friends.

It could be a homage to any of these stories... Donovan's Brain. They Saved Hitler's Brain. The Old Dark House. Any of those stories could have influenced this Doctor Who tale of a monster in the mountains.

What could be immortality other than a short cut? And the constant discussion over the right and wrong of finding the holy grail would be up to the bickering philosophers of today. And yet, this story puts forward the question that would be on everyone's mind: Do we have the right to screw around with the longevity of life?

Some madman out there would put it to the test.

Some of my fondest memories I save for last in a chilling episode called “The Talons of Weng-Chiang,” a crowning achievement for the gothic period of Doctor Who.

Whereas I was always interested in Egyptology, I also have another obsession with all things Asian. And this show has that in spades. The oriental mysticism is carefully mixed in with the horror elements to create a sinister atmosphere.

This time, we take influences from the works of Jack the Ripper. The missing girls, the abandoned streets and the growing deaths add to the quiet calm of the show.

It's also a tribute to the greatest Hammer Horror productions with the gas lamps, hansom cabs and the London fog which soaked the city with its presence. It's a skin-crawling mood that you just can't seem to forget, can you?

There's a great line by the Doctor: "Sleep is for tortoises!" Which seems to take on the idea that there is no rest in horror stories. That monsters are terrifying the victims 24/7.

This time, Tom Baker is in fine form as the time-traveling meddler who crosses paths with a hellish criminal from the future who became trapped in nineteenth century England. Following in the disappearances of women is a bloody massacre that piles up in numbers.

You got the insane butcher of the future who conducts experiments underground like a sniveling rat. His mundane desire to return to his own time is only interfered by the Doctor himself. So the Doctor must take drastic measures to stop a madman from turning the world into an abattoir.

One of my favorite moments is the discussion between the Doctor and his enemy Magnus Greel over a chess game, and each one matched wits with the other. How could one man justify the deaths of so many people? It's the same question you could put forth to Kim Jong II, Saddam Hussein, Josef Stalin and other ruthless dictators.

And the debate turns into terror.

The butchery of Magnus Greel is helped by a Chinese stage magician who performs most of the devil acts in 1892 London. His calm demeanor remains blinded by his loyalty to help his master to achieve the unachievable through many needless deaths.

He seems to like young girls barely out of their teens more than anything. Maybe he's a sick bastard?

Some criticisms were lodged against the episode for being racist especially towards the Chinese people. Even the Doctor described the Chinese when speaking to the police, “I was attacked by this little man, and four other little men.”

And yet, despite all of this, I don't consider the show racist because the actor who played the Chinese stage magician Li H'sen Chang did a magnificent job. John Bennett could've done a stereotypical turn as a Chinese man, but he chose to play the role with dignify and honor. I thought he was very good in it.

In a lot of ways, he made his part very three-dimensional without wallowing to the typical exaggerated accent that so many English-dubbed kung-fu movies were guilty of. In this instance, it was a believable character who played off against the Doctor so very well.

They made mortal enemies.

The atmosphere is effective here as the Doctor races to stop this escaped war criminal from the future. This show is consumed with darkness as the shadows seem to grow in the underground sewers or the fog-fueled streets that crawled through the awful night.

I do like how the Fourth Doctor would every now and then give the baddies a good thumping. And he makes no bones about it here. He'll kill his enemies if the stakes are too high. By throwing Greel into the life-essence extraction machine, the Doctor turned him into a pile of dry leaves.

It ended on a high note for “Talons of Weng-Chiang,” a magnificent look into what you could do with horror stories. This story squeezes all the elements of terror into the confined sets of the Palace Theater, and the waking night that surrounded the city like a menace.

Of this episode is listed as one of the top ten shows of Doctor Who of all time, and it's no surprise. Everything worked well on all levels regarding atmosphere Not only that, the Doctor wore Sherlockian garments to add to the flavor of the story... creating an air of deadly mystery.

It's also a brilliant mixture of horror and science-fiction.

Simple observation shows that this is a disturbing and grotesque episode that reminds viewers that Doctor Who isn't always a children's show. And it shouldn't be. You could so do much with elements of horror, and the TV series took it as far as they could go with this final chapter in the gothic period.

Doctor Who wouldn't attempt to go full-on gothic until Sylvester McCoy's final season.

I'll argue with anyone that Doctor Who gets no better than being scary. And this is no exception. It's a frightening story that makes Jack the Ripper look like the Easter Bunny.

And yet it displays the many talents of the BBC production as they turn the Victorian era into a apocalyptic hellhole.

It would be the final bow for the gothic period before the new writers and producers would step in to lighten the tone considering the levels of criticism that Doctor Who received. And yet, for me, there's no better era than the gothic horror of Doctor Who.

Kudos to everyone else in the episode such as Louise Jameson as the ever talented Leela... her poised, powerful frame is a perfect counterpart to the Doctor's often non-violent ways. There's also the characters of Jago and Litefoot who are the cream of the crop of Victorian times... and they bring so much warm and humor into an otherwise gruesome tale.

It's just like sending your kids behind the sofa. There's no real safe place when Doctor Who becomes scary. Just ask the people who watched the episode “Blink” in the new Doctor Who series.

So what else do we have for the gothic period that deserves honorable praise? You got the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde elements found in “Planet of Evil.” Then you got the endless snow-bound abyss from “The Thing from Another World” in the excellent episode “The Seeds of Doom.” Also you have the god that went mad in the “Face of Evil.”

These are time capsules of the gothic period that should be cherished and treasured. I don't think there would be another horror era like this. I wish there was. It would be nice to see Doctor Who being scary again. It makes everything all the more memorable.

Chilling. Absolutely chilling episode.

I must add that the stories may not have worked so well if it weren't for Tom Baker's brooding presence. His abrasive, alien persona remains a great contrast to the horror stories that bleeds with darkness.

It's scary. It's grisly. And it makes all for better Doctor Who.

So many good bits of humor latched on to make the horror more viable... and the struggle between humor and horror is perfectly captured by Baker here. It's a way for him to relieve stress while facing horror in Doctor Who.

I know that many new fans love David Tennant in the role, and they all seem to cling to his portrayal of the good-looking Doctor. He is an all-too-human Doctor. And yet his portrayal never really sat well with me.

Where Tennant remains a favorite for so many people, I still consider Tom Baker to be the greatest Doctor of them all. And I'll kick a bunch of Daleks just to prove it.

Tom Baker is synonymous to the strange, bizarre which is important to the series. That's why the shows work so well with Baker in it. You got someone who seems to be always a distance apart. This Doctor is NOT human at all, but a foreigner to us.

Yet he must rise above the murder lives of humanity to maintain a civil latching to pacifism. And he's the only thing that stands between us and the flames of evil.

Long live horror.

Long live Doctor Who.

And long live the Fourth Doctor who relies on the horror elements of the Doctor Who series. And this is one era of Doctor Who that will never grow old.

Thank goodness for that.

Tom Baker played the Doctor for a record seven years from 1974 to 1981, the longest stint in the show's history.

His first three seasons would be filled with the highest number of gothic horror stories before degenerating into a more campy, light-hearted series under Douglas Adams' writing reign.

His final eighteenth season saw the return of Baker's brilliant acting against more hardcore science fiction stories including a gothic tale called "State of Decay."

He was in 172 half hour shows. Only a six-parter story remains sadly uncompleted to this day. That would be the infamous "Shada" written by Douglas Adams. Otherwise it would be 178 episodes.

Tom Baker fans can go to his website. Don't forget to sign in as a guest! He'll appreciate it. And also a pint.

http://www.tom-baker.co.uk/guestbook.asp

Need a scarf? Want to know the loooong history of the scarf? Here you go. Check out the link at http://www.doctorwhoscarf.com/

"Experiment in Horror" by Robert J. Meddings

Horror and science-fiction has been friends for many decades. Well back into the fifties and beyond.

There's one interesting film series that doesn't get a lot of mentions, but might be considered the grandfather to the Doctor Who series. More specifically, these films were instrumental in making an influence on the Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker eras.

Interestingly enough, Kneale himself never particularly liked the Doctor Who series. And even turned down a chance to write a story for the TV show. I don't get his assholeness since the Doctor Who series itself was inspired by his own works.

But there you go.

He never turned down a chance to write for the X-Files series! What the fuck is wrong with him?

Kneale once said of Doctor Who: “The fact that it's lasted a long time and has a steady audience doesn't mean much.” The fact that he doesn't really like much of science-fiction in general also didn't make sense. Kneale himself was a man of contradictions.

I don't think I would have been able to stand more than one hour in the room with him. However, I can and do admire his works.

The Quatermass films often postulated the idea of alien invasions coming to earth through manipulating and subtle trickery. Not only that, they imbued a good deal of science fact that made the stories believable. As if they could happen someday.

It's mix of horror and science-fiction that came from the mind of writer Nigel Kneale... his ideas were always fascinating ones. He felt that there was always room for horror in his works, and teased his audience with many “what if” moments.

I seem to like watching scary stuff.

No argument there. I've always been one to stay up late just to catch a movie that would scare me shitless. Sometimes it worked too.

Damn, Kneale wrote for the screen and books for half a century, cranking out a lot of good stuff. Yet it's a wonder why no one really heard of him, or his most famous works being the Quatermass series. Thankfully, he did receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Horror Writers Association.

According to Wikipedia, Kneale was "one of the most influential writers of the 20th century.” It's too bad that he isn't recognized like he should be.

So he's usually using horror and science-fiction elements to tell his stories. He knew how to write a damn scary tale that would make you think twice about going outside in your back yard at night.

His best known work would be the Quatermass series.

What this author Nigel Kneale does very well is come up with some bat-shit crazy stuff. He knows how to make horror scary, and figures a way to get under our skin.

When the infected astronaut keeps making these twitches in the first film, you can feel the trembling terror. He also doesn't say anything in the film... which makes it more ominous.

He seems human, and yet not so human. There's a fine line in the alieness of this man. His degradation is an horrifying experience. Changing from human to monster certainly guts with with a chilling fear. And it works on every level.

What I see in this man is a long, gaunt cadaverous sliver of humanity who mills around with menace... his body offers a skeleton-like frame. It's horror inside out.

Yes, the films move at a slow, thought-provoking pace. They move in a deliberate way that makes room for more atmosphere. You can feel every hanging shadow in the film thanks to Val Guest's careful directing.

These films create for us a startling imagery that leaves a mark on our thoughts. The transformation of a man into something that isn't a man in “Quatermass Xperiment” is wielded against the perfect backdrop of the Westminster Cathedral.

That large structure of tall windows and aged walls is a wondrous background which makes the scenes more powerful... everyone is familiar with the mighty cathedral. Put something frightening against it can pull us out of reality.

We're thrown into a spiraling storm of horror here. It's a profound scene of seeing something monstrous in the Westminster.

Oh, did I mention these were Hammer Horror movies? Yes, they indeed they are. It was interesting to see they dabbled with films dealing with science-fiction and horror.

Hammer Horror put these movies right on the map for us, and create stories that work with both genres were... well, out of this world.

More importantly, the first and second Quatermass films were the blueprints for the forthcoming Doctor Who years. It was interesting to note that the Monster Years of Patrick Troughton, some of the Jon Pertwee earthbound stories and the gothic period of Tom Baker all been inspired by the Quatermass films.

What's the matter, Nigel Kneale? You're all pissed off because the Doctor Who series was far more successful and commercial that your own original works were?

Well... fuck you, Mr. Kneale!

Whatever else, the Doctor Who series took that inspiration and more than doubled the tribute. You should be thankful for it, not petty.

Though Nigel Kneale was perhaps known for a few clunkers, and he did write the script for the “Halloween 3” movie which is about witches and TV sets. And has nothing to do with Michael Myers.

From what I've heard and read, “Halloween 3” did turn out to be a piece of shit. So Kneale isn't exactly perfect. Far from it.

And yet I'll still call Kneale a genius because he did create excellent stories of science-fiction/horror during the time when the BBC was still making dramas in the fifties. Kneale created the character of Quatermass at the very right time and place.

He gave us an idea of science being used for good and bad. And show us how science could have a very tough attitude.

Has Doctor Who forgotten the soldiering days of Professor Bernard Quatermass? Has the long running BBC siree ignored its original roots? No, not at all. If you check out the Sylvester McCoy episode “Remembrance of the Daleks,” you'll note that Quatermass is mentioned in passing conversation.

It's a neat bit of name-dropping. So the inspiration of Doctor Who is never forgotten.

So what the fifties Quatermass films do for us, as a captive audience, is to remind us that science-fiction can be scary too. And it answers to us in a somber mood that is relentless, always a rising tension that tugs at us.

I miss the old movies like that where they rely more on the seeping shadows, and the crawling atmosphere, rather than on shocks.

No matter what, the films can be relevant to today's issues. Already, we are having problems with the global warming climate and another problem with overpopulation. So many of these real problems could be perfect fodder for a Quatermass movie.

Because it's all very scary, very real... and some of this scares the shit out of me.

At the very end of the first film "Quatermass Xperiment", with the professor making a militant stride back to his research base, we find him ready to do another rocket launch even after the first failed attempt. And he states non-nonchalantly in a defiant manner, “We're going to start this all over again.”

Is science truly better or worse for us?

There's no real answer, is there?

Editor's note: Quatermass and his colleague looks on a secret base in a chilling scene from "Enemy from Space" AKA "Quatermass 2".

"Godzilla, Come Back!"
By Byron Orlock

Now after the CRITICAL BOX OFFICE DISASTER of Godzilla 1998 The Executives at Toho quickly decided to bring the TRUE Godzilla back from his 10 year slumber to the Silver Screen…

Godzilla 2000 released in 1999 is the 23rd film in the franchise and kick starting the Millennium Era that would revisit some older plot points and while popular would cause some controversy among Godzilla fans with these films being direct sequels to the 1954 original.

Godzilla is a literal force of nature to Japan (after the incident in 1954). After Y2K, the Godzilla Prediction Network (GPN) functions independently to study the mutant dinosaur and predict his landfalls. Meanwhile, the scientists of Crisis Control Intelligence (CCI) find a sixty million year old UFO deep in the Japan Trench. As CCI attempts to raise the UFO to study it, it takes off into the sky on its own. Godzilla arrives and battles the Japan Self Defense Forces, now equipped with powerful Full Metal Missiles, but the UFO appears, searching for genetic information that only Godzilla possesses.

It fights Godzilla to a standstill, driving the monster underwater, and then lands to replenish its solar power.

Yuji Shinoda, the founder of the GPN, discovers the secret to Godzilla's regenerative properties (named Organizer G1 in the Japanese version, but Regenerator G1 in the North American release), but so has the UFO. It frees itself from the JSDF's attempts to contain it, and heads for Shinjuku. After landing atop Tokyo Opera City Tower, it begins to drain all the files about Godzilla from Tokyo's master computers. CCI attempts to destroy the UFO using explosive charges, but Shinoda, attempting to find out more about the aliens, is nearly caught in the blast.

He survives, and joins the rest of the cast on a nearby rooftop, watching the UFO. Almost in response, the UFO broadcasts its message of invasion and creating a new empire on earth, and Shinoda reveals that the aliens are after the regenerative properties contained inside Godzilla's DNA so that they may use it to re-form their bodies.

Godzilla arrives and again battles the UFO. However, he is subdued by the UFO's assault, and it absorbs some of his DNA, which the aliens use to reform themselves outside the space ship as the gigantic Millennian. However, earth's atmosphere is different to the one the Millennian used to live in and so when it exposes itself to the atmosphere, it mutates into a horrible monster named Orga. Godzilla recovers and fights Orga, which calls on the UFO to aid it in battle, but Godzilla destroys it with a blast of his atomic ray.

With the UFO decimated, Godzilla continues to strike the alien being, but the damage inflicted is quickly overcome by the creature's new healing factor, a trait the beast obtained from Godzilla's DNA. Eventually gaining the upper hand, Orga drains more of Godzilla's DNA, trying to convert itself into a Godzilla clone. Finally, Orga opens its mouth, intending to swallow Godzilla whole, but Godzilla tricks it by deliberately throwing his head into its throat.

While Orga begins to transform, Godzilla unleashes his nuclear pulse, beheading Orga and blowing the alien to bits. Mitsuo Katagiri, head of CCI, dies when Godzilla partially destroys the roof of the building where he, Shinoda and the scientists were observing the battle. The remaining cast on the roof wonders why Godzilla protects them, even though he attacks them and they attack him.

They eventually come up with, and agree on, the theory that perhaps "there is a piece of Godzilla in all of us" as Godzilla begins rampaging through Tokyo.

Godzilla 2000 was produced on a budget of approximately $8,300,000. It opened in Japan on December 11, 1999 and grossed roughly $15,000,000 during its box office run, with approximately 2,000,000 admissions. The film was a moderate box office success, and was Japan's highest-grossing domestic release of the 1999 holiday season, partially due to the Y2K hype of the late 1990s.

There were two English dubbed versions of this film. As is standard practice for Toho, the film was originally dubbed in Hong Kong for use in Toho's international version. A few lines from the international dub can be heard in the theatrical trailer for Sony's theatrical release; although the film was entirely re-dubbed by Asian-American voice actors (Schlesinger deliberately made this choice because he did not want the characters to sound like they were "from Wisconsin.").

Only one line from the international version ("As long as the beer's cold, who cares?") was used in the re-dubbed North American version. Toho apparently prefers the North American version so much that the international version has never been officially released anywhere in the world.

Tristar Pictures licensed Godzilla 2000 for theatrical distribution in North America. It would be the first and only Japanese Godzilla movie since Godzilla 1985 to be released in North American theaters. Mike Schlesinger, who supervised the North American release and adapted the script, said, "It (Godzilla 2000) was such a spectacular success in Japan, we decided it was worth taking a shot, maybe the time was right for Godzilla to come back to theaters. Sony spent approximately $1,000,000 to re-edit and dub the movie in English and an addition $10–12 million to market.

Boy was this a relief to see the ORIGINAL Godzilla back in theaters, Now despite a gap of 4 years since Godzilla vs. Destoroyah the SFX team didn’t lose a beat with a totally redesigned suit giving him a more cat like appearance & personally thought it was nice touch that the producers deliberately made the new opponent Orga displayed some of the characterisitics of “Zilla” who actually gave Godzilla a run for his money while getting some well deserved payback for Dean Devlin & Roland Emmerich for ruining their beloved character.

Now this where the controversy begins with some fans of the Millennium films and Toho decided to take a page out of Daiei Studios reboot of the Gamera series with the next entry in the franchise…

Godzilla vs. MegaGuirus released in 2000 and the 24th entry in the series…

The prologue of the film acknowledges the events of the first Godzilla film, while inventing its own timeline, explaining that the capital of Japan was moved from Tokyo to Osaka. The film takes place in an alternate universe with advanced technology, explaining that in 1966, Godzilla attacks the first Japanese nuclear plant in Tokai, Ibaraki Prefecture. After this, a section of Japanese Self Defence Force was dedicated to fight Godzilla, and was called G-Graspers.

In 1996, clean plasma energy replaced nuclear energy, however this did not deter Godzilla from attacking. Plasma Energy is also banned, due to the fact that Godzilla attacked the original Plasma Energy reactor.

In 2001, an experimental satellite-based weapon that fires miniature black holes, called the Dimension Tide, opens a wormhole through which a prehistoric dragonfly enters the present and deposits a single egg before exiting through the wormhole. A boy finds the egg and takes it with him when he moves to Tokyo. The egg starts oozing a strange liquid, so the boy throws the egg in the sewer.

The egg, actually a mass of hundreds of eggs, splits up and starts growing when exposed to water, hatching into large dragonfly larva called Meganulon that come out of the sewer to feed. They flood a portion of the city and moult on the sides of buildings, becoming adult Meganula.

Meanwhile, the atomic dinosaur Godzilla appears, in search of a source of nuclear energy, despite the edict shutting down all such attractants after his three previous appearances. While Godzilla is fighting the G-Graspers, who are assisted by rebellious scientist Hajime Kudo, the swarms of Meganula are attracted in turn to Godzilla's energy, and attack him. During the course of the battle the Dimension tide is launched, but Godzilla survives the attack.

Most of the Meganula are killed by both Godzilla and the Dimenion Tide, but a few manage to drain off some of Godzilla's energy and return to the sewer. With the last of their strength, the Meganula inject Godzilla's energy into a huge, sleeping larva that is in a giant, pulsating cocoon. It molts and appears from the water as Megaguirus, the queen of the Meganula.

After destroying part of the city with shock waves generated by her beating wings, Megaguirus heads to the waterfront and faces Godzilla. Being territorial, Megaguirus considers the city to be her hunting ground.

As they engage in a lengthy battle, she uses her speed to avoid Godzilla's attacks, but Godzilla eventually uses her speed against her. As she flies toward Godzilla, he lunges forward with his dorsal fins in her path. She flies into the fins, and one of her arms is severed.

During the battle, a special ability of Megaguirus is revealed: Having been mutated by Godzilla's energy, she can generate a blast similar to his atomic breath. She fires a huge ball of radiation, knocking Godzilla down. He gets back up, and Megaguirus goes in for the kill. She speeds forward with the stinger on her long tail lowered, trying to stab Godzilla between the eyes.

In a climactic moment, Godzilla catches the stinger in his mouth. He bites down, crushing the stinger. Megaguirus rears up in pain, and Godzilla takes the chance to finally blast her with his atomic breath. She bursts into flames and Godzilla blasts her a second time and destroys her.

It is revealed that Godzilla was attracted to the energy of a secret Plasma Energy project housed at the Science Institute, in violation of the ban, by Professor Yoshino Yoshizawa. The G-Graspers continue their mission to destroy Godzilla, but with the Dimension Tide falling out of orbit they are unable to get a lock on Godzilla, until the vengeful Major Kiriko Tsujimori pilots a ship called Gryphon towards Godzilla, ejecting only at the last second. The Dimension Tide is able to lock on to the craft and fires just before burning up on reentry; Godzilla vanishes and everyone celebrates.

In a postlude, however, Major Tsujimori again enlists Kudo to investigate suspicious seismic activity; then in an after-credits scene, Godzilla's roar is heard again as an earthquake strikes Tokyo.

UM OK?!?!?!? Looks like we have another HICCUP in the series with this entry and you could tell that Toho was desperate for ideas and had to BORROW the plot from the superior Gamera 2: Attack of The Legion by making minor changes to the story and replacing Gamera with Godzilla…

Also it appears that the SFX team recycled the Battra puppet with some changes and reintroducing the Meganulon creatures from 1956’s Rodan the film seems out of place in the series and kind of disappointing with a contrived plot with some uninteresting characters, a BORING AS HELL storyline and cringeworthy FX.

Now things start to get WEIRD with the next film that returns Godzilla to his roots as force of nature that was a refreshing change to the series…

In Godzilla, Mothra & King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All Out Attack released in 2001 and the 25th film in the series was a very interesting chapter…

In Tokyo, following the giant monster attack on New York City, a meeting of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) is held to discuss the potential return of Godzilla. During the meeting, Admiral Taizo Tachibana briefs cadets about Godzilla's attack on Tokyo 50 years earlier. A nuclear submarine is reported missing, which is later found to have been destroyed by Godzilla. Tachibana's daughters, Yuri Tachibana film a docudrama with her crew at Mt. Myoko, where a mysterious earthquake randomly ensues.

The odd earthquake returns later that night burying a biker gang and leaving one surviving trucker who witnesses the monster, Baragon.

The next day, Yuri is unable to convince her supervisor Haruki Kadokura to report the incident. The SDF attempts to rescue the buried men using a missile called D-03. The surviving trucker tries to explain to a military official what he saw but can only explain that he believed it was Godzilla. Yuri's friend, Teruaki Takeda, supports her theory that a monster may have been the cause of the mysterious Myoko earthquake by giving her a book on The Guardian Monsters.

Meanwhile, a few teenagers at Lake Ikeda in Kagoshima are attacked by an insect monster, Mothra. The Defense Force analyzes underwater footage of what appears to be glowing dorsal fins leaving the destroyed nuclear submarine from before.

The conclusion is drawn that the monster is Godzilla. Yuri interviews Hirotoshi Isayama, an elderly man who foretells the return of Godzilla. Isayama explains to her the legend of the guardian monsters, Baragon, Mothra, and King Ghidorah and goes on that they must be awakened before Godzilla destroys Japan. Yuri and her team visit the guardian monsters shrine where she finds a stone.

Godzilla comes ashore to Magonote and attacks the Bonin Islands, leaving few survivors. Yuri returns to interview Isayama and discovers that the lost souls of World War II are embedded within Godzilla and wish to destroy Japan after the nation forgot their sacrifices.

A few days later, Godzilla and Baragon finally appear in Japan and engage in a ferocious battle in Hakone. Yuri and Takeda are trapped in the midst of the battle when Godzilla mercilessly defeats Baragon with his atomic breath. After the battle, Yuri receives a minor injury to the head. Fearing for her safety, Takeda refuses to take her to Godzilla's location. Angered, Yuri goes alone. Mothra's cocoon is soon immediately discovered in Lake Ikeda. The SDF dispatch several fighter jets to stop Godzilla but are quickly defeated by the monster. Tachibana sets up a defense line in Yokohama.

Mothra and a yet-to-be-grown Ghidorah awaken and fly towards Yokohama where Godzilla is spotted. Mothra arrives first and battles the monster. Ghidorah arrives moments later and joins the fray. After brutally pinning down both monsters, the SDF engage Godzilla with D-03 missiles; but to no avail, as the missiles fail.

Enraged, Godzilla swiftly destroys nearly the entire defense line using his atomic breath. Mothra rises for a surprise attack, but Godzilla kills her with his atomic breath. Mothra's spirit intertwines with Ghidorah and transforms him into the 3,000 year old dragon King Ghidorah. King Ghidorah injures Godzilla and takes the battle underwater. Tachibana and his colleague join the fight using the Satsuma submarine.

Tachibana plans to shoots a D-03 into Godzilla's wound but fails after several attempts, even accidentally hitting King Ghidorah with one of the missiles. Yuri and Takeda report the struggle from a bridge that later collapses from Godzilla's atomic breath.

Takeda and Yuri hold on; however, the shrine stone falls from Takeda's pockets and sinks into the deep, melting on King Ghidorah's head. Ghidorah's power is further enhanced by the stone and the battle returns to the surface. Yuri and Takeda barely survive the fall and swim ashore while the monsters continue to fight. Godzilla destroys King Ghidorah with a super power breath that unleashes the spirits of the Guardian Monsters, which sink him down to the deep.

After entering Godzilla's body through his mouth, Tachibana successfully plants a D-03 missile in Godzilla's wound. Godzilla surfaces to come face to face with Yuri and Takeda, and the D-03 punches out from inside Godzilla and explodes, fully wounding him. Still, Godzilla prepares to atomic blast Yuri and Takeda, only to have the energy redirected through the missile hole, expanding the wound and causing the great beast to sink once more beneath the water.

Tachibana exits Godzilla's body through the monster's wound right before the monster disintegrates. Japan soon rejoices at their victory against Godzilla; however, the only thing left alive of the monster is his heart, still beating in the ocean floor.

Now Director Shūsuke Kaneko's who was fresh of his massive success rebooting Daiei Studios Gamera trilogy reboot, His original script originally had Anguirus, Varan and Baragon defend Japan against Godzilla, but Toho told him to replace the former two with the more popular King Ghidorah and Mothra, as Anguirus and Varan were not considered bankable enough to guarantee a box-office hit. Skeptical at first, he managed to work the two monsters into the film. American fans were upset that Baragon was chosen to remain instead of Anguirus but the reason for this was that Baragon was popular in Japan despite only appearing in two kaiju films also distributed by Toho.

The film is especially notable for the changes made to the monsters. For example, Ghidorah typically played the villain in previous Godzilla films; this film has him as a hero. In fact, Ghidorah is actually portrayed a few meters shorter than Godzilla; previous incarnations of the character were much larger, and towered over Godzilla.

Now this was another enjoyable chapter in the franchise and a radical departure from your typical Godzilla film…

The redesigned costume echoing back to the 1954 Gojira suit with it’s Soulless eyes being powered not by Atomic Energy but the souls of all the warriors American & Japanese who in today’s era where things are forgotten so quickly and the strained relationship between General Tachibana and eventual reconciliation with his daughter Yuri was a key component to the story which despite being slow in some parts allows the story to breathe while getting some good character development that is rare in a kaiju film

The return of Fan Favorite Baragon who was last seen in 1968’s Destroy All Monsters was closely designed on the 1965 suit from Frankenstein vs Baragon was well done but one of the only two problems that I have with this film is that this somewhat iconic monster was rendered powerless to stand any chance against Godzilla, And the other problem is making Godzilla’s Arch-Enemy King Ghidorah the hero…

THAT’S RIGHT LADIES AND GENTLEMAN KING GHIDORAH IS THE HERO OF THE FILM… TO QUOTE ECCENTRIC CINEMA

“THAT’S LIKE GIVING THE JOKER THE KEYS TO GOTHAM CITY TO GET RID OF THAT BATMAN PEST.”

This film turned out to be the most profitable of the millennium series and it was decided for the next film to bring back Mecha-Godzilla which leads to a two part continuation in the franchise…

Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla released in 2002 and the 26th entry in the saga features the return of Godzilla’s second most popular enemy with an interesting twist…

In 1999, 45 years after Godzilla's first attack, Lieutenant Akane Yashiro, a mazer-cannon technician, is unable to kill a new member of Godzilla's species during her first fight. She is made a scapegoat for the military's losses during the battle and transferred to a desk job. During the battle, it was discovered that Godzilla is immune to mazer fire, rendering all of the Japanese military useless against him should he return. Scientists, including single father Tokumitsu Yuhara, are gathered to build a bio-mechanical robot from the original Godzilla's skeleton.

Four years later, the cyborg Mechagodzilla, named Kiryu, is finished and inducted into the Japan Self-Defense Forces along with its human pilots as the Kiryu Squadron. Akane becomes the main pilot for Kiryu. However, memories of Akane's actions during the original fight still linger, and one of her squadron mates, 2nd lieutenant Susumu Hayama holds her responsible for the death of his brother.

A while later, Mechagodzilla is shown to the world, and the complete system that controls the unit is explained. Controlled remotely from a control craft that resembles a very large jet fighter with VSTOL capabilities, it can be remotely recharged from the ground using microwaves that are relayed through a power system on one of the command aircraft, and then beamed back down to the robot. For the end of the presentation, its greatest and most powerful weapon, the freezing Absolute Zero cannon, is shown. At the same time, Godzilla shows up once again, and Kiryu is launched into battle. In the midst of the first battle, Kiryu's soul is awoken by Godzilla's roar and brings with it the memories of the original Godzilla's death.

As if possessed by the original Godzilla, Kiryu proceeds to destroy the city around it after Godzilla retreats to the ocean floor. Horrified, the Kiryu Squadron can only watch and alarm as the rampaging cyborg destroys more city property than Godzilla did. After 1 hour, Kiryu runs out of energy and is brought back to headquarters for further work.

All the while, Akane attempts to settle matters involving Hayama, Tokumitsu, and his distressed daughter, Sara; who sees Kiryu as a being with a right to life and that it should befriend Godzilla rather than battle him. Later, Godzilla attacks again. After repairs are made, Kiryu is released from the air and hits Godzilla with immense speed. At this point, Godzilla and Mechagodzilla face off in a head-to-head battle where each combatant sizes up its opposite and exchange powerful blows that also devastate the cityscape around them. Kiryu gains the upper hand and beats down Godzilla. Kiryu proceeds to launch the Absolute Zero, but Godzilla fires his atomic breath.

During the course of the impact, Kiryu is disabled, and the remote piloting system completely taken offline. In an effort to continue the fight and press what advantage over Godzilla they still have, Akane orders the pilot to land his command craft so that she can make her way to Mechagodzilla and take control from its internal backup cockpit. Now under direct human control, Kiryu rises from the ground one more time and closes in on Godzilla for a final blow, hoping to use the Absolute Zero cannon at point-blank range.

The two titans collide, and Akane uses Kiryu`s thrusters to propel it and Godzilla out to sea before the cannon fires, freezing a huge portion of the ocean around them. After the blast clears, Godzilla is shown to be alive but with a huge gash in his chest, steadily walking back into the ocean. Kiryu is heavily damaged, missing its right arm, and the Absolute Zero cannon is devastated. With the Kiryu Squadron successful in defeating the monster,Godzilla retreats. In a post-credits scene, Akane agrees to have dinner with Tokumitsu and Sara and gives Kiryu one last salute for his aid in battling Godzilla.

NOW THIS WAS THE SHOT IN THAT WAS NEEDED FOR THE SERIES…

Overall the film does contain some impressive Visual FX and the character development continues to be a major improvement while providing a tightly paced story and the idea of using the skeleton of the 1954 Gojira even though it was destroyed at the end of the film was loosely based on the abandoned idea of Ghost Godzilla that was going to be Godzilla’s opponent in 1995 but was decided to have something different for that film.

The next film in the series Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S released in 2003 and the 27th film in the series continues where the previous film left off and concludes the MechaGodzilla saga nicely…

Kiryu is undergoing repair modifications after its battle with Godzilla. Prime Minister Hayato Igarashi accepts Lead Scientist Yoshito Chujo's choice to replace the Absolute Zero Cannon with a powerful Tri-Maser.

The Shobijin (Mothra's twin fairies) warn the Japanese government that Godzilla continues returning to Japan because they used the original Godzilla's bones in Kiryu's design. If they return the bones to the bottom of the sea, Mothra would gladly take Kiryu's place in defending Japan, but if they do not, Mothra will declare war on humanity. Soon enough, Kamoebas, a giant mata mata turtle, is found washed ashore on a Japanese beach. It is determined by the wounds on Kamoebas' neck that Godzilla killed it. Godzilla and Mothra fight, but Godzilla seems to have the upper hand. With the repairs finished just in time, Kiryu manages to even the odds, but Godzilla manages to knock out both monsters.

Meanwhile, on Infant Island, two twin Mothra larvae hatch from Mothra's egg, and rush to help their mother. As Kiryu was being repaired, the larvae try to hold Godzilla off, but Mothra is killed by Godzilla's atomic breath while trying to save her children. Just in time, Yoshito and the humans repair Kiryu, who stabs Godzilla's chest with a drill, causing Godzilla to bleed. Godzilla roars in pain, and the larvae begin to bind him up in web. Just as Kiryu's pilot, Azusa Kisaragi, receives the order by Igarashi to destroy Godzilla before the Kiryu project is scrapped, Kiryu's soul is re-awakened through Godzilla's roar. The cyborg lifts Godzilla and secures themselves with cables. Kiryu then uses its boosters to carry itself and Godzilla to the bottom of the ocean.

In the film's post-credits scene, in an undisclosed location, a laboratory is shown, filled with canisters that contain the DNA of numerous Toho kaiju. It is stated in the Japanese version via on off-screen voice giving announcements that a "bio-formation" experiment involving an "extinct subject" is about to take place, implying that the JXSDF plans to create another mecha or kaiju-based superweapon, which could mean that Godzilla or another monster could appear once again.

Definitely another great entry in the series and even though there are some flaws with the plot it did have some jaw dropping moments that would please the most DIE HARD Godzilla fan.

As we finally hit the home stretch in this article we now celebrate Godzilla’s 50th Anniversary with Godzilla: Final Wars released in 2004 and the 28th chapter in the franchise…

In 2004, endless warfare and environmental pollution has resulted in dangerous kaiju and the Earth Defense Force (EDF) is created to protect the planet. The organization is equipped with the best technology, weapons and soldiers, as well as mutants with special abilities. Godzilla is the EDF's only unstoppable opponent.

The EDF's best combat vehicle, the Gotengo, corners Godzilla at the South Pole and buries him under the Antarctic ice, freezing him alive.

Forty years later, the EDF discovers a mummified space monster. The mutant soldier Shinichi Ozaki and the United Nations biologist Dr. Miyuki Otonashi are sent to research it. Shortly thereafter, the two encounter the Shobijin, fairies of the guardian monster Mothra, who reveal that the monster is Gigan, an alien cyborg sent to destroy Earth 12,000 years earlier. They also warn that a battle between good and evil will happen soon and that Ozaki, because of his mutant capabilities, must choose between the two.

Suddenly, kaiju appear in major cities. The EDF attempts to drive them away. The monsters include Anguirus in Shanghai, Rodan in New York City, King Caesar in Okinawa, Kamacuras in Paris, Kumonga in Arizona, Zilla in Sydney and Ebirah near Tokyo. Despite defeating Ebirah, the EDF is unsuccessful in destroying the monsters. After destroying most of the cities, the monsters vanish and an enormous alien mothership appears over Tokyo.

The aliens, known as Xiliens, say that they are friendly and have eliminated the monsters. They also warn the Earth about an impending asteroid called Gorath that will impact soon. Because of their seemingly-friendly nature, the UN is disbanded and the Space Nations, an alliance to unite the universe, is organized.

Ozaki, Miyuki, Douglas Gordon (the Gotengo's captain) and several others distrust the aliens. Using research and undercover work, they discover that the Xiliens are actually the ones who unleashed the kaiju; and that they also replaced several members of the EDF with android duplicates. They plan on subjugating humanity to harvest their mitochondria for food.

The Xiliens are exposed on television. Opposed to the Xilien commander's decision to subtly take over Earth, his subordinate, the Regulator named X, kills the commander and assumes control of Earth's mutants, except for Ozaki. The kaiju are again released in Earth's major cities. Ozaki, Miyuki, Gordon, and others flee to their secret facility, and the EDF is defeated.

On Mt. Fuji, a hunter, Samon Taguchi, and his grandson, Kenta, discover Minilla, Godzilla's son. They are successful in keeping a low profile and hiding from the Xiliens' assault.

Gordon proposes freeing Godzilla to allow the dinosaur to defeat the other kaiju. Using the Gotengo, the EDF goes to Antarctica while being chased by Gigan. After Godzilla is released from his hibernation, he kills Gigan, and follows the Gotengo. The Gotengo returns to Tokyo, hoping Godzilla will unwittingly defeat the Xiliens. The Xiliens send the controlled kaiju after Godzilla, but he defeats them in short battles. While all of the other kaiju are presumably killed, Godzilla spares Anguirus, Rodan, and King Caesar after defeating them at Mt. Fuji (breaking free their controls). The Gotengo and Godzilla arrive at Tokyo, whereupon the Gotengo enters the mothership.

During the battle, Ozaki's friend Kazama destroys the Mothership's shield generator at the cost of his own life. Meanwhile, the asteroid Gorath strikes Godzilla. Monster X materializes and starts to battle Godzilla. Gigan, who has now been revived and upgraded, aids Monster X, but Mothra arrives to engage him into battle. Inside the Xilien mothership, the humans confront the Xilien Regulator.

Ozaki is revealed to be a "Keizer", an all-powerful being capable of controlling Earth. Deciding to stay with the humans, Ozaki fights the Xilien Regulator, who is also a Keizer. After an extended battle, the humans are victorious and flee the Mothership's destruction.

During their battle, Gigan hits Mothra with a laser beam, causing her to be engulfed in flames. However, Mothra is able to kill Gigan with a kamikaze-style attack after Gigan accidentally cuts off its own head with boomerang saw blades.

With Gigan and Mothra dead, Godzilla continues his battle with Monster X, who mutates into Keizer Ghidorah. Keizer Ghidorah initially has an advantage over Godzilla using gravity beams to overpower him, and it drains Godzilla's power through its bite. Ozaki aids Godzilla by transferring some of his Keizer powers over to the monster.

Godzilla, then, rips off two of Ghidorah's heads and throws him into Outer Space and blows Ghidorah up with his atomic ray. He then turns to attack the Gotengo, but a much larger Minilla arrives, along with the hunter and his grandson, and blocks his father from harming the humans, which causes Godzilla to realize that he must forgive mankind. The survivors watch as Godzilla and Minilla head back to the ocean, as Godzilla turns and lets out one final roar.

During the credits we see that Mothra actually is still alive as she is seen flying back to Infant Island.

At roughly $19,500,000, Godzilla: Final Wars was the most expensive Toho-produced Godzilla film of all time.
Any hopes Toho had of Godzilla: Final Wars ending the series with a box office bang were stifled when the film opened in Japan on December 4, 2004. In its opening weekend, it came in third at the box office with $1,874,559.

At the holiday season box office, it was beaten by Howl's Moving Castle and The Incredibles, both which also pursued the family market. It eventually grossed roughly $12,000,000 at the Japanese box office, with 1,000,000 admissions. Not only was it the least-attended film in the Millennium series, it was also the least attended film in 29 years since Terror of Mechagodzilla.

In spite of being of bringing back most of the Classic Kaiju that haven’t been seen in over 30 years at the time IMHO the film was a bit of mixed bag…

It seems that Toho was throwing all Hollywood Blockbusters such as X-Men, The Matrix and ripping off the finale from 1996’s Independence Day into the formula while recycling the plot from 1968’s Destroy All Monsters with Extreme Hyper-Intensive fight scenes while trying to throw in all the monsters and drained color palate worthy of Justin Bieber video that will leave the viewer feeling nauseous after viewing the film.

The major problem with this chapter is that Toho was TOO AMBITIOUS with the film and it shows with plot holes bigger than Planet X…

The SFX were pretty good although they could have been more polished and if they had edited the film better and not have the fans wait almost an hour for Godzilla to comeback to fight the other really hurts the film.

And I personally feel that the ONLY SAVING GRACE is when Godzilla confronts his imposter Zilla in Sydney Australia HANDING HIS ASS TO HIM TOKYO STYLE!!!

In closing I would like to quote Raymond Burr’s speech from Godzilla 1985…

"Nature has a way sometimes of reminding man of just how small he is. She occasionally throws up the terrible offspring of our pride and carelessness to remind us of how puny we really are in the face of a tornado, an earthquake or a Godzilla…

The reckless ambitions of man are often dwarfed by their dangerous consequences. For now, Godzilla, that strangely innocent and tragic monster, has gone to earth. Whether he returns or not or is never again seen by human eyes, the things he has taught us remain."

In this era of mankind where the United States, Russia, Afghanistan & North Korea are ready to NUKE EACH OTHER OFF THE MAP with the push of a button because we can’t respect each others ideas I would like to congratulate Godzilla on celebrating 60 years for being more than a metaphor for The Atomic Bomb…

No matter what era of Godzilla you prefer whether he is a Rampaging Monster from the 1950’s & 60’s, The Kung-Fu Fighting Defender of The Earth Era of the 1970’s, The rebirth as an Atomic Menace of the 1980’s & 90’s or even his convoluted Millennium Era… One thing remains true, in the words of Dr. Yamane and Professor Hiyashida “With Mankind’s Arrogance Monsters Are Born and We Are the REAL Monsters”.

In the words of the late Rodney King…

“CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG???”

At this time I would like to personally thank Editor Robert J. Meddings for inviting me for contributing to this article on Godzilla, as a lifelong fan of the series since 1980 when I first saw 1974’s Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla on Boston’s Creature Double Feature on a rainy Saturday afternoon…

It was an honor to provide my knowledge of the franchise to Godzilla fans all over the world and hope all fans of the Big G enjoy it.

LONG LIVE GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS

As Always… TAKE CARE & STAY CREEPY!!!

Byron Orlock

Webmaster of THE OFFICIAL HOUSE OF KARLOFF 1985

"Romantic Fool"

By Robert J. Meddings

One of the greatest images to be caught on cinema from the fifties would be the iconic fish man stalking his way out of the jungles. His monstrous features, and bulky frame, seemed to have a sadness.

And mysterious intruder from “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” would forever become one of the most popular films from the Universal Horror Days.

In wonderful black and white.

And like the monsters who find comfort in the shadows, the Universal Horror Films would gracefully retire. Not before one more hit would find its way to the movie screens.

This time, it came in the form of a missing link.

It was this devilishly handsome fish man from the Devonian period who possesses fins and has a fish-like face... capable of swimming in the waters while walking on land. And he's lookin' for somebody! Well, a girl, really.

The film stars a lot of well-known people at the time being Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno and Whit Bissell. It was directed by Jack Arnold along with a brilliant story by Maurice Zimm.

I don't want to skip over any details, but the film was shown in 3-D. Awesome, isn't it? You would think that 3-D wasn't around in the fifties, but it was. Though by the time this film came out, it was already going away faster than a fat man's fart in an ventilator shaft. There were enough people who saw the film on the regular screens without a complaint.

Not only that, this film now holds a genuine classic place in the halls of horror fiction, creating one of the most memorable characters. How could one not forget the twinkle in its eyes or the sterling force of this creature?

What could make it so popular?

It might be the simple thing like a story of love. This is a film that centers on the monster falling for a girl because it misses a mate. You shouldn't make fun of a thousand year itch like this creature had.

So many pop culture photos were made from this film, and one of the most memorable was the picture with skulking creature carrying the woman. More than any other picture, this was the one that stuck with the public conscious.

The Creature from the Black Lagoon turned out to be a real romantic. Give him a little cologne, a little hair gel, and he might go a long way! He might even get to first base!

Take that, King Kong!

Why is it that audiences are so keen on giving so much attention to the love story in the film? Are people just perverted? Or is just nerds keep fantasizing about women who could fall in love with them? There's a lot to relate to something like the creature.

He's someone with mixed emotions. And some of us have been there already. Finding a lady love is the hardest thing.

How could anyone not love this guy? He's like an outsider, the perfect outcast. He knows what every one of us is going through. The idle stillness of one's feelings could only be met, and conquered, by the opposite sex.

He's been without a girlfriend for a long, long time. That could piss off any guy. So I can't really blame him for wanting to take a take. Though it's just the way he did it. If he wasn't so aggressive about it. Women don't like aggressive guys.

Take your time, Mr. Creature!

But I keep forgetting that he's a romantic fool.

Who stars as the beauty this time?

Prolific actress Julie Adams starred as pretty girl Kay Lawrence who gets down to skimpy clothes in this film. More interesting, Adams didn't do a lot of horror films during her long film career. Despite that, she became as iconic as the gil-man himself.

And how lonely he can get after a long while. Guys like that can get funny. And they can get all kinds of funny ideas like kidnapping girls and taking them to his lair.

At least he's considerate towards his lady guests. He 'll keep his lair clean and maybe keep her comforted in a nasty cubbyhole like his barren cave.

One of the interesting things about this film which sets it apart from other horror films is the inclusion of science-fiction elements. You have the lost civilization of underwater dwellers from bygone times. You have an idea of a species that has evolved into its own world.

So many interesting leads.

Fossilized evidence, a skeleton hand and finally a trail of footprints. Every finding brought them closer to the real thing. What if an entire species could have lived and died away in the isolation of savage swamps?

So much science worked into the story.

The geology group tracks down many clues that suggests that there was a missing link in evolution. This scientific hiccup became the very core of the story: they use science to find out more about this creature.

It wasn't neither menace or friend.

However, upon seeing Julie Adams, the creature went ga-ga for her. She's not a bad looker in a swim suit. One of the greatest scenes is the creature floating upside down beneath her while she takes her harmless swims.

It's fascinating to suggest a piece of evolution that was overlooked. A part of the Amazon so cut-off, and tucked away beneath the savage wild of the jungles, that it wouldn't be a stretch to find something that could put a dent in science.

It also opened the door for horror. The very idea of something co-existing with humanity got the better of some men. They answered to the problem with guns.

While some tried to communicate with the creature as best as they could, they ended up treating like a fucking circus show. This film explores the idea of discrimination. If one were to look different, or live in the shadows lands like a beast, he would be looked on as a “monster” or a “freak.”

This is exactly what happened here.

It was very much like looking for a dark secret. Such a thing could only be found in the murky hangings of trees and a thumbprint of haven that could only be described as a “paradise.” Interestingly, the Black Lagoon could take on many biblical themes.

Could it be that the crew found their own Garden of Eden that was a beautiful, spotless earth that has not been fucked over by the human race? Could it a place where some secrets could still be buried?

And yet, the human race had to go in and spoil things for everyone. Especially the creature who was the original settler of the jungles.

What was amazing about the film is the swaying shadows that lurk in the trees. How the shuffling sunlight seemed to trickle through the blackest hand of the jungles. To see the beautiful jungle, in all its glory, is a remarkable contrast to the bellowing caves that lead to sprawling tunnels.

You have the jungles that seem to light up like the heavens with the constant sunlight. But you also see the brewing darkness that weaves beneath those trees, like an underworld filled with shadows. It is a place of stillness.

Until the crew had to turn it all to shit.

Every encounter the ship's crew have with the lagoon beastie grows more violent. Not surprisingly at one point, the creature is trapped and put in a cage like a savage animal. You couldn't help feel sorry for it. Some could only see the sadness that lingers in the creatures eyes as it struggles to survive.

Which goes back to the very basic theme of Darwin: survival of the fittest. And that was what the creature was doing... surviving. And seeking a mate so its species would go on.

Capturing the creature resulted in a several deaths of the crew, and no progress in the science worked in the crew's favor. There was only a great misunderstanding from the opposing parties. Adams' character is finally rescued by the crew while the creature is shot down in a merciless storm of bullets.

Actress Marilyn Monroe is seen in the “The Seven Year Itch” where she walks out of the lobby room only to show sympathy for the monster after watching “Creature from the Back Lagoon.” She admits to saying that the creature isn't such a bad guy and "just wanted to be loved".

Isn't that what all of us ever wanted?

To be loved by someone?

Which may be the best way to understand the Creature. Stripped down to the very basics, the creature is simply an entity that relies on companionship. No matter how long you go without people, on your little island, you'll always feel the need for some company.

It's as simple as that.

I was always very impressed with the film's visual and the ability to create a totally new element in a horror film, something that isn't set in an old castle or an abandoned village. It is found in the middle of the jungles. It's almost like the land God forgot.

I love that they were able to take a filming crew to a different place entirely... so we can't really say, “Oh, I've seen that before.” Not unless you're watching “African Queen” minus the monster.

There were so many opportunities to use different surroundings and find a variety of textures in the wilderness. Such an idle presence of jungles could open the way for a community of shadows. If you walk to far into an alien world like this, you're bound to run into something.

Such a living myth.

It's interesting to note how the story turned out to be based on truth and fiction. Since neither can exist without the other.

The story was uncovered through a conversation that took place at a dinner party during the filming of “Citizen Kane”! Of all things! Producer William Alland found out about the strange myth of lizard men through a Mexican cinematographer who told him about a race of half-fish, half-human creatures in the Amazon river.

Such things seemed to come right out of a goddamn H.P. Lovecraft story. Of course, if I were to hear a story like this, I would certainly want to learn more about it.

And Alland certainly did.

He jotted down scribbled notes entitled "The Sea Monster" ten years later. So that's where he got his ideas from, and also such folklore could go a long way. Soon the “Creature from the Black Lagoon” would be born out of the stuff of legends.

It would be the monster from the swamps. Maybe he might sing himself a little “Love Me Tender” when he's alone.

What about the pop culture?

Did the creature find his way into the love and heart of the public?

You bet.

Toys, comic books, novels, TV shows and movies. You name it. That green-skinned sonofbitch was all over the place.

You couldn't miss his ugly mug anywhere. Hell, I even got a large toy of him that makes noise and waves his arms around.

Though they did get the wrong sound for the toy... I don't know why the Creature toy sounded like Godzilla. Someone fucked up on the toy.

Still...

The social impact of the film could not be mistaken. You'll find references to the creature in many modern movies anywhere from In “Hotel Transylvania” to an episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

The popularity of this particular creature is endless.

Very much like the greatest of monsters such as Darth Vader, who would be acted and voiced by two different actors, the same went for this creature. It was a sophisticated kind of costume that required two different men to portrayal the wide-webbed fiend.

Ben Chapman would wear the costume for the better part of the day while he played the creature on the land. However, it was Ricou Browning who put on the suit as he played the monster in the water scenes.

Whatever else, it worked. And well worth it. The creature became another hook for the horror movies for many years during the fifties. And you could argue that there is some science fiction elements. I would. If a story dealt with a monster who lived in a lost civilization, yeah... I'd call it science fiction.

Or perhaps science fantasy might be a better word for it.

The creature might be cold-blooded, but it does have warm heart. Do you believe in love at first sight? Well, this monster certainly did. How could you take that away from him?

Perhaps that's the message in the movie is to find love wherever you can. And love, at times, can be the strongest emotion out there. Just follow your heart, and see where it takes you.

Oh yes, love. Such bliss. Go give someone a hug today. Even if he is a big, ugly lug like the Creature.

Until Next time.... in two months!
By Robert J. Meddings

This is the end, but we will convene once again under the midnight moon. Bring your pet familiars.

If you wish to send me a letter to the editor, let me know. I'll be more than happy to print it for the next newsletter. I'll edit only for good taste, grammar and class. I welcome any opinions as you see fit to express them. However, if you decide to be very naughty, I'll have to send in my assistant editor to teach a lesson! Right now, everyone is on an extended holiday this month and will be back to promote more scares.

That leaves me on my own! But no worries because I think I got someone who's got my back!

Finding the right candidate for the assistant editor has always been something of a chore. It can be a real bitch.

Not this time. It was a lot easier than I thought. The obvious girl was sitting right in front of me the whole time.

Sarah Jane Smith.

She's got the journalism background after being a reporter for a long time. Not only that, she's traveled with the fourth Doctor across time and space. She's faced the worst of the lot from the Daleks to the Cybermen, an Egyptian god to the Loch Ness Monster.

She's got brains. She's got proper wit. She's reliable. Yep, she kicks ass. Just look at her holding the nineteenth century rifle in the photo to the right. I bet she could shoot the nuts off a rabid squirrel.

Dang it. Of course, I'm going to use Sarah Jane Smith for this month's assistant editor. So here comes the paragraph factory. She's got a nest of dark hair, the sweet chin and the tender lips that makes you think of a crimson sun.

She's a very plucky girl, no-nonsense at all. Sarah is everyone's friend. She's my friend. She should be your friend too long as you stay on her good side. She's the sweetest gal on this side of the cosmos.

But don't let her looks fool you. If she's taken on a few Daleks, then you don't want to mess with her.

Ah, Sarah Jane Smith. Good ol' Sarah Jane. There's a saying about how the pen is mightier than the sword. Well, in this case, it's true. Now don't be making any spelling errors or screwing up your grammar. She'll get on your case pretty fast!

Should you upset me in any way, I'll have this girl hot on your trail! She'll be able find you anywhere in the known universe. And don't you forget that! She might even bring the sonic screwdriver with her. She might even write an article about you!

PM me when you want to shoot me an email. Best way is send me a message through my page on Upload Society, and it'll be the easiest way for me to get your horrifying confessions!

I hope I don't bump into any monsters in a dark alley somewhere! What is that creepy laugh I keep hearing in the back of my house?

The Horror Gallery
August 8, 2014

It's been a long fucking while, but we're back in business with another tantalizing, fright-inducing issue of the Horror Gallery. Let the blood-dripping begin!

Ah, you may already notice that I've shifted gears by putting the newsletter into a bi-monthly mode for persona reasons. Why? Well, I'll tell you. I needed to get a little more time off to pursue my other activities such as writing and/or editing videos. I was just getting far too much on my plate.

This allows me to follow my creative aspirations at a more leisurely pace. In other words, no more mental storms for me! I was already feeling mentally exhausted by doing everything. And on top of everything, I am now currently working on a regular basis.

So far, it's been working out for me. I feel the creative impulses bubbling like a lava spill. I feel like an impish creature with all sorts of devious ideas. Heh heh.

This month's newsletter is going to be a pretty special one.

It comes from a request from NightFrightFigures.

One day, right out of the cold abyss of darkness that claims the night, NightFright asks me to do a newsletter on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. It's his favorite show.

He thought it would make a pretty good homage to the horror fans found in many of us who gathered around the TVs to watch lil' blond kick vampire ass.

You know what? I liked that show a lot too.

How could I pass up a request like that? I feel like the DJ of horror by taking the request and giving it a spin. Thanks NFF for suggesting the idea because it's rather good.

I recall the Buffy series was a sleeper hit back in the day, and it became a cultural phenomena that catapulted the creative landscape of television. It was also the brainchild of writer Joss Whedon. A name you may have heard of these days.

So crazy popular was the series that it created a spin-off series “Angel,” books, toys, lunch boxes, and plenty of other things I'm not thinking of. I'm sure they got Buffy costumes for Halloween too.

I'll let you in on a little secret: I didn't get into the series when it first aired. I didn't even catch on with the whole Buffy craze while it was rolling on TV.

Fact is... I started watching this series when it was already hitting the DVDs. All of the series was available on disc which gave me a bit more access to the episodes. Plus I didn't have to wait for the damn cliffhangers either. So I cheated by waiting for the series to go on disc!

Isn't that nice of me?

I was what you would call a late viewer.

I can't tell you why I didn't watch the series the first time around. I think I was going to college at the time, and really didn't have the time to watch the show since I was sticking close to the books. I have to admit watching the series is a mind-bending experience.

I don't regret watching Buffy on DVD... loved the show, every bit of it. I think it does fire up the imagination.

The real chemistry is in the writing: enter Joss Whedon who landed this series with intelligent scripting. He has a knack for writing really strong, independent women. Maybe Whedon had a strong mother who raised him? Hmm?

The series is so good that I completely forgot about the movie version of Buffy that came out a few years prior. Buffy was played by Kristy Swanson and a watcher played by Donald Sutherland. I'm sure some consider it canon to the show, but it's debatable. There were some references to the TV series episode “The Becoming”. I look at this movie as a sort of strange parallel version which co-exists with the TV series.

All in all, the TV series did so well on its own, creating extended story arcs and complex characters who are believable. It's what you would call the “Buffyverse” which is a staggering landscape of interesting characters... rivaling that of Star Wars or Doctor Who.

Those seems to be the good ol' days: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter, Anthony Stewart Head, and David Boreanaz. That's where the real stuff.

Is the series still going?

Well, sort of. There's a “Season Eight” that's in the comic book form, and it was first written by Joss Whedon himself. It does take place right after the final episodes of Buffy were aired. Which means that Sander is still wearing the eye-patch and Anya is probably dead.

So that's probably all there is to satisfy your Buffy needs. It's got a pretty good boom in comic books and there are even offshoots such as Willow, Angel and other series that are related to the ever-expanding Buffyverse.

The impact on American television can't be exaggerated at all. The cultural acceptance of cheerleaders and vampires has swept the TV landscape.

I couldn't tell you how often Buffy is referred to in popular shows. Lead actress Sarah Michelle Gellar has participated in many parody sketches... she turns up in a Saturday Night Live sketch where the Slayer lives in a Seinfeld universe. She lends her voice to a Robot Chicken episode that postulates in good humor an eighth season. What would Buffy be like in puppet form? Well, the Robot Chicken show will tell you.

If you're a follower of the new Doctor Who TV series starting in 2005, you'll notice that there are huge, HUGE influences of Buffy series on the writing and scripts of those shows. So you don't need too far out of the universe of time and space to find Buffy influences!

They even gave university classes that focuses on Wimbledon’s works in the Buffy series... actually classrooms that generate discussion on the many characters and plots of the series. You can find an interesting website called “Much Ado About Whedon” was held at California State University-Sacramento in 2014. Now, I wouldn't mind taking a program like that!

That really puts a stake to my heart. Really!

So, again, thanks NightFright for the suggestion. Otherwise, I wouldn't know what else I would be doing.

It's tough going these days trying to dig for your food for thought. I might have been still in my coffin trying to come up with an idea. Mwa-hahahaha!

Your Vamp-Fiendish Host,

Robert J. Meddings

Bloody News Edited by Robert J. Meddings

“Bat-Shit Crazy”
By Associated Press
June 26, 2014 at 11:58 AM
Source: http://www.khou.com/news

HOUSTON (AP) - Two men have been indicted on murder charges in the 2013 alleged gang-related slaying of a teen whose mutilated body was found in a forest near Houston.

Federal prosecutors on Thursday announced the indictment of 22-year-old Cristian Alexander Zamora and 19-year-old Ricardo Leonel Campos-Lara. Investigators say both suspects from El Salvador face initial court appearances in Houston.

The body of 16-year-old Josael Guevara was discovered Sept. 23 in Sam Houston National Forest. Authorities say the victim, who was a sophomore at Klein Forest High School in Houston, was struck with a machete and a bat.

Zamora was arrested hours after the body was located. Lara was arrested in October.

The Walker County Sheriff's Office has said investigators believe the killing was gang-related retaliation.

Detectives found Cristian Zamora, (Left) who is from El Salvador, at a local residence and arrested and charged him with murder.

"I just wanted him to die": Inside jealousy-fueled steak-knife murder of Nicholas Potts
By Michael Roberts
Wed., Jul. 16 2014 at 10:50 AM
Source: http://blogs.westword.co

We're learning more about the early Sunday stabbing death of Nicholas Potts just outside of Grand Junction -- a horrific crime witnessed by neighbors awakened by the desperate victim. Lee McDonald has been arrested in the case, and according to a just-released arrest affidavit , the motivation appears to jealousy taken to a bloody extreme.

According to the Grand Junction Police Department, the incident took place at around 4 a.m. on July 13 near the intersection of Pinon Street and Santa Clara Avenue on Orchard Mesa, part of the Grand Junction metro area.

Presumably, most residents wouldn't have been awake at that time. But the cops say that shortly before his death, Potts, a 27-year-old based in North Miami, Florida, ran from house to house in the neighborhood, knocking on doors and pleading for help as the suspect, McDonald , followed him.

The pair eventually wound up in the front yard of 1254 Santa Clara, where investigators believe McDonald stabbed Potts to death. Police found two knives -- a butcher knife and a serrated steak knife -- on the ground near Potts's body.

What led to this horrific attack? More details can be found in a police report obtained by KREX-TV.

The affidavit quotes McDonald's unnamed girlfriend as saying Potts was in town for a visit, with the three of them hitting several bars in downtown Grand Junction earlier in the evening.

Upon their return home, the woman said McDonald went inside while she and Potts stayed in the car to smoke some marijuana. But shortly thereafter, McDonald reemerged and allegedly began yelling at the pair.

No word about whether McDonald saw anything happening or simply let his alcohol-fueled imagination run wild. But neighbors told police they heard an argument in which Potts told McDonald he didn't want to fight.

McDonald apparently did. One neighbor reported seeing him head back to the house, then return with "something shiny" -- one of the two knives, in all likelihood. The pursuit and its bloody conclusion followed.

In conversation with the cops, McDonald reportedly explained his actions like so: "I just wanted him to die."

At this point, McDonald remains in custody on suspicion of first-degree murder. He's due in court later this month.

“What a Bunch of Nice Guys!”
By John Hoskins
6:52pm Thursday 17th July 2014 in News
Source: http://m.dailyecho.co.uk/news

THREE young men have been locked up for more than eight years between them following drunken late night attacks on two strangers.

One assailant, Matthew Thomas, was in such a frenzied state in a cell after his arrest from the effect of drink and drugs that he was banging his head against a wall and police had to intervene to stop him from hurting himself.

Southampton Crown Court heard the two incidents happened within a few minutes of each other.

Prosecutor Edward Phillips described how victim Samuel Bennett was walking in the Mansbridge area of Southampton when he was approached by the trio.

Without provocation, Thomas floored him with three punches to the face. They ran off but then the other two, Joshua Robinson and George Hallett, returned and stole his mobile phone , tobacco, a set of keys and £5 in cash.

Shortly afterwards, Thomas approached another stranger, Wayne Simkinson, on the pretext of asking for the time before striking him twice on the back of the head.

He was knocked to the ground where he was repeatedly punched, kicked and had his head stamped on.

The victim flagged down police on their way to deal with the earlier incident and identified Thomas.

Robinson and Hallett were arrested nearby.

Thomas, 20, of Claude Ashby Close, Southampton, admitted two counts of causing actual bodily harm and was jailed for 32 months.

Hallett, 18, of Walnut Avenue, Southampton, pleaded guilty to robbery and received 27 months.

Robinson, 20, of Wessex Lane, Southampton, also admitted robbery which put him in breach of a 12-month suspended sentence.

Judge Derwin Hope activated six months of that term and jailed him for a total of 38 months.

The court heard Thomas had 20 previous convictions and Robinson three but Hallett was of previous good character.

Passing sentence, the judge said all three were heavily under the influence of drink and Thomas and Robinson had also taken cocaine .

He described the victims as “vulnerable” as they were walking home alone and condemned the attack on Mr Simkinson as “horrifying”.

“He suffered a split lip but it was extremely fortunate he didn’t suffer more serious injuries.”

In the News: “Donkey Sightings!”
By Robert J. Meddings
July 18, 2014

There's some interesting news.

Let's see if we can get to the bottom of this mystery. There's been some recent sightings of a roaming Donkey on Upload Society.

A few snippets here and there. A glaring view over there. And yes, the Donkey has left a few comments too.

The original founder of the Horror Clan, Donkey's got something in the pipeline regarding the video works which might be another foray into the gore machine. It'll be something to look forward to in the summer.

It's been far too long since Donkey made any videos, and I've been a great admirer of the wide variety of his horror movies. He knows how to abuse the fears in you. And he keeps abusing with a sharp stick. Haha.

Though I'm going to tell you what happened to Donkey for the past year. Correct me if I'm wrong in my validation of the facts.

You see... he went to an old log cabin in the woods, a rotted place where the darkness swallows like a plague. The malice of the forest frightens away even the crows who hover like spectral guardians above the tilted trees.

Donkey was killing a few folks and burying them in his back yard since there's been some strange water epidemic going on. People were going bat-shit crazy in the city, so he went to hide from all the upside world of violence that was turning the city into a grinding horror site.

However, Donkey wanted to get back to his kitchen to grab himself a cheese sandwich and some tomato soup. He's got done stuffing a cadaver in his back yard, and needed to take a break from it. One of the dead fuckers crawled out of the dirt and attacked Donkey right in his cabin!

And it turned him into Dark Donkey!

So is there such a thing as a Dark Donkey? Sure, there is. It walks on four legs, got hooves and has a tale to swat fly monsters too. And the dark donkey began to infect other people with his rabid bite. He would rip flesh out from their neck and still hunger for more. He's a real mass murderer now.

However, a Midwestern doctor was having a hard time tracking down the Dark Donkey in the furrow of woods, and went deeper into the country-filled territory. The forest stretched far and thick like a growing beast.

The doctor found the donkey and shot the poor beast with the tranquilizer gun. However, it only paralyzed the donkey enough to be brought back to humanity. Will the good doctor find enough time to save society from its epidemic? However, the donkey was awake enough to tear the poor man's leg away and escaped back into the woods.

Right now the rabid disease is spreading throughout the Canadian woods, a living nightmare of horror that doesn't stop. All this killing, the bad water, and the spreading of illness and a messed up donkey... well, it helped to whack Donkey's brains some with some inspired ideas.

And that's how he got his inspiration to make videos again. He's got a little hook-up with horror, lived through the worst of it, and is now back to make his celluloid horror express.

And that, my friends, is what happened to Donkey. Tell me if I'm right, Donkey. This is a true story. Go ahead and ask him, folks.

Photo: Big Donkey on Acid Trip

“Independent
Buffy"
By Robert J. Meddings

Ah, Buffy has been most influential in more ways than one.

The greatest thing about this show, however, is making the role reversal for the women from screaming queens of the old days to fighting machines in the modern TV landscape.

Oh yes, Buffy is strong, powerful and a fearless leader. You'll like her.

She can put up a damn good sight and even kick a bully around on the school grounds. There's one word for her: Bad-ass.

And she does have a nice ass too.

Sure enough, Buffy was killed off at one point in the series because she was fighting one of the greatest vampires of all... Dracula.

Yet, like the biblical myths of Jesus, Buffy comes back to life to fight another day. She's like our savor who delivers us all from destruction.

And that destruction comes in the form of long teeth and an apathy for daylight. She knows how to stick it to the heart like a hopeless romantic. Who says that Buffy doesn't know how to have a good time?

Just like the blonde super-avenger, she offers any ordinary girl who be much like her... she's someone who can change the world by becoming extraordinary. And that's what Buffy does for young and older women viewers.

Buffy shows that there's no place like kicking ass.

And that's what Buffy's world is very much like. It is filled with monsters and ghouls, slinking shadows and fiery demons... also it is full of strong women who doesn't take shit from the monsters.

For the longest time, the victim of horror stories was the weeping girl who cries and whines. Often she's depicted only as a sex symbol while the strong male protects her from the savage horrors.

Now all that's changed.

Buffy did more than change the role of women on TV... she was a revolution. She made good on representing a woman who is capable of coping on her own.

You can say at at least one thing: the Buffy show isn't sexist.

There are some shows that hit the TV screens like a hurricane. And “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is one such show.

And holy shit... did that show take the TV world by storm.

Let me add that this show started out as a sort of summer replacement, nothing more. The first second offered thirteen episodes, and there was a story arc that linked all the shows together into a massive production.

People caught on with the show, and it was renewed for another season without a problem. And another season, and so on.

Seven years worth of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” That's a lot to go on.

At the time, there wasn't much horror related material in the TV landscape. There was the X-Files which was more of a supernatural science fiction gimmick. And there was the incredible horror series “American Gothic” which lasted only one season. Some of the shows do fall into oblivion with only the breadcrumbs remaining.

And along came Buffy to premiere on TV and the rest is history.

Let me tell you something about Joss Whedon who created the show: he's a talented writer and director. (Watch the “Avengers” film starring Robert Downey Jr. for example). Sure, Whedon is a little fucking strange, but I guess that adds to his universal charms, eh?

And Whedon got a knack for writing very good women characters.

Well, I don't need to mention Buffy on this because we know she's a very strong character right from the get-go, always sassy, a vampire ass-kicker. She'll kick them all the way down to hell itself like there's no tomorrow, or next week.

Who can forget the lovely Willow? She's one of my favorites because her own magical powers rival that of Buffy, and probably the only person who can take Buffy out in a fight. She's one powerful witch, that one.

Remember that Willow started out as a very shy, timid girl, transforming over the years into someone who can move the world with just snapping her finger. Not only that, she's also one of the best written gay characters on TV as well.

So seeing her starting out from super-geek to powerful witch is something to behold for first-time viewers of the series. Though Willow is still geeky towards the end.

There's nothing wrong with girls having role models like these. The series opens the doors for plenty of character development. And more women characters appeared on “Buffy” to maintain that strong, independent element in the show.

There's a lot of other women who appear on the show such as Cordelia who is pretty strong girl (And she would have gotten my vote for playing Wonder Woman in a movie). Oh, there's Faith. The girl who's the bad side of Buffy, the flip-flop version who's a little badder, a bit more reckless. Faith is what Buffy would be like if she went all bad.

Women, women, women.

Sure, they're sexy and beautiful in the Buffy series, and my own favorite—for obvious reasons—is the Chinese slayer girl played Kristy Wu... the one where no one really understands what she's talking about because she speaks her native Chinese tongue.

All the women are treated with equality and respect. The role of women was changed forever in the “Buffy” series.

There's a real sense of power and independence here. And a sense of womanhood shared by the ladies. Now that strength doesn't have to be just Buffy's. It can be any girl. Maybe she be from Africa, Europe, China or wherever.

Any girl can be a slayer in the final episode "The Chosen" of the Buffy series.

Buffy made it possible for any girl to become independent. And that's the best thing writer Joss Whedon ever did.

I'm sure the ladies like that too. Too often they're put in the sidelines. Not anymore.

Not only there is one powerful girl, but a thousand of them. Mother nature is really taking over.

I have a confession to make.

Frankly, I never watched one episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” when it was first on TV. So the run of the series poured into the TV screens while I missed the entire experience. I was going to college at the time, so I had an excuse to miss it.

I cheated a little. I started watching the Buffy shows when they were hitting the DVD market, and I started picking them up when my interest was piqued. Not only that, I didn't have to wait several months for the cliffhanger episodes.

I don't like the waiting. I don't like the suspense! Haha.

However, by watching them on DVD, I was able to see how the story flows from one episode to the next... and the story continues to fold throughout a chunk of episodes. So it really made watching the series more bearable for me.

Though I did cheat. I admit it. However, I'm glad to report to you that I enjoyed the shows for what they were... a milestone of women liberation and a sharp, quick-witted horror show that would satisfy the longings of scares for horror fans.

We have to be thankful about Joss Whedon about not taking the easy way out. The way he thinks, and the way he writes, often puts the woman on the pedestal. And he knows how to write her in a way that is refreshing.

And thanks to the Buffy show, we have many more women characters to choose from. So many more that you feel a real sense of equality in the fair sex. And their presence becomes every bit as important as the male.

So you don't like indepdent women? Well, too bad. There's a lot of them in the Buffy series. If you don't much care for the independent woman doing her own thing, and fighting her own fights, you might want to move along. If you're a guy who thinks leaving tire marks in roads and starting fights in bars is cool, then you might want to give this show a pass.

The Buffy series manages to keep women in the forefront instead of shuffling them to the background. Women are redefined for television. And for the better.

The tables are turned. And it's the woman's turn to save the world. And she'll lay her life down to do it. Today, tomorrow and everyday. Just like any man or soldier would.

And why not? It's her world too.

"Mountain’s and Twilight..." : Tribute to 80’s intro of Twilight Zone!"
by Dilbert Hilling

Roaring unexplainable sinister foreboding wore lorn.
As I stare out into the empty hills at dusk.

I recall memories in the womb perhaps so or maybe a dream??
As the fears of uncertainty echo beneath this theme.

Swirling in my head as the World’s vorticity realms fly nigh.
Dreams I dare not speak of and secret omens that blur by.

Harbinger’s of the final countdown to extinction and rebirth.
As the stomping footsteps of familiarity. Hide the truth from untold pages of mirth.

Harbingers of demonolatry and Allegories.
Pain's from deep within and hidden sufferings!!

I stand this very test of mettle! As the ghastly omen's of omnivorous
be-witchery and madness befall me. Too threaten my very soul and
begin the final movement to surround me!

Like the very moments before your doctor bestows upon your impending epitaph! The truth of your inescapable destiny!

So you also face the uncertainty of ambiguities.
With its unimaginable yet unpredictability sealing of your very fate!

“The Unimaginable and Unpredictable!”
by Dilbert Hilling

“Buffed up Episodes of the Buffy Series”
By Robert J. Meddings

What?

Do I have a few favorite episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

That seems impossible. There's too many of them.

Are there favorites? Sure. Plenty of them. Everyone's got favorites, and I got favorites. I'll gather a few of my top ten based solely on nostalgia.

My list isn't the right list. Everyone's been affected by different episodes, and there are some that I like better than others. Doesn't mean I'm right. I'm going to at least give you a reason why I like the episodes. Ain't I a nice guy?

I have to say that I have so many favorite episodes, and doing a top ten list would really defeat the purpose of finding all the right shows.

Though I'll try to list the ones that affected me the most. It's all I can do.

10. “Welcome to the Hellmouth”/”Harvest.”This isn't the best one, and certainly not the one that would appear on everyone's lists. Though it's the first one that started it all.

The first season did have its flaws, and the technical flair of these episodes would be more polished in the second, and more mature, season. For now, I want to tell you that I enjoyed seeing this episode which tells the story of how everyone meets.

This story is the first of the firsts.

The library becomes the most important place in the school. Not the classroom.

Of course, you got to have an Englishman to add to the gothic horror of the series, and the librarian played by Anthony Head applied the basics of Horror 101 perfectly.

This episode lures you into a completely different world filled with zealous teenagers and nasty vampires. It feels like a shadow is casting over the town of Sunnydale, leaving behind a plague of misery.

And all of hell will break loose. This episode is merely a weather forecast. The rest of the series is the outcome.

9. “Doppelgangland.”I really like this one a lot. This episode comes to mind right away because of the actress Alyson Hannigan's performance is top notch.

You see... she plays a bad version of herself in an alternative universe where vampires run wild and there's a dent in humanity's existence.

I believe Willow has a very naughty side to her. And the whole goth get-up, the midnight black wear, everything... it works so well for her in the role.

I think the shock of it is that we're all so used to Willow being a innocent, a cute girl in the background. The girl who would most likely stay in the sidelines. Not in this one. She's fucking awesome in it.

What I liked about this episode is that it really is a foreshadowing of how evil Willow can really be. And this may be just a foreplay to what would happen towards the end of season six. But let's not get into that right now, shall we?

This is a super-duper episode with plenty of horror mood... the feeling of desperation hangs in the air while the vampire world goes rampant in the alternate universe.

8. “Restless.” This has always been a scary episode to me.

I'll tell you why.

There's a scary girl in it.

It features an unexpected guest in the series who comes in the interlude of dreams. And those dreams are violent, horrifying, frightening... as if someone is scooping out the fears from the Buffy gang, leaving them as empty souls.

Every one of their dreams has one thing in common: they are all visited by the First Slayer. And she's fucking frightening to me.

Yes, the very, very first Slayer who is the epitome of primeval rage. She is savage rage, a hellish form from the past. She uses her knife to kill. And kill again.

This Slayer doesn't communicate or understand the real world. The only thing she understands is to kill. And she'll kill again.

And she is the complete opposite of what Buffy is: her message is clear and sharp. She is angry with the way Buffy is doing her job as a Slayer.

And the First Slayer isn't someone you want to be pissed off at you.

7. “This Year's Girl”/“Who are You.” I enjoyed part one and part two... which actually continues on to part three and part four in the Angel series that runs alongside the Buffy shows. For me, this is one of the most epic attempts to tell a very long story that opens like a novel.

What impresses me about these episodes is that it flows as one whole story. The story revolves around the character Faith who is like a sinner in a garden of Eden. And she must leave her paradise to seek forgiveness.

She'll never find it in Sunnydale. Well, people just don't like her much after she betrayed everyone including her own Watcher, Wesley.

It gives Eliza Dushku a big, big chance to shine in this one. Her character Faith switches bodies with Buffy, and it's amazing how Dushku projects her alter-ego... adding in her own few quirks.

This is definitely a Faith episode. And I must add... you should watch all four parts of this story in one afternoon. Believe me, you'll thank me later. There aren't many stories out there that has much depth as this one.

6. “The Body.” One of the saddest moments in the series. This one involves the death of a loved one, and it features a very moving performance by Kristine Sutherland as Buffy's mother.

This episode is a poetry of death.

You get a real sense of sadness here, and you'll also find that this episode doesn't have any soundtrack to it. There's no music to it. So there's a definite emptiness to the show's engines of loss... the silence only heightens the separation of life from death.

Even more so. The mother dies a natural death. She suffers an aneurysm. She's cut off from Buffy's world.

Joss Whedon wrote and directed this episode, and he pours his heart, soul into the making of this dramatic episode.

You cry with the characters. You miss their mother. And you feel another chapter slipping away from the series. It is a heartfelt episode.

5. “Once More with Feeling.” Who wouldn't like a musical?

And this episode was just that... a musical. It takes you by surprise because everyone has singing parts in it. A rather amusing, and skillful, episode, it tells you a story through song and key.

Everyone breaks into a dance in this episode.

That's what makes this episode a lot of fucking fun. It does make you feel like you're taking part of an old Gene Kelly movie complete with high kicks and sing-song antics.

It also shows you how much variety the Buffy series has to offer. You can do almost anything with the series' format.

Yes, you can sing along too.

4. “Surprise”/Innocence.” Season two is my favorite season of the Buffy series.

I think it has the strongest drama in the stories, and the connecting relationship between Buffy and Angel wobbles like a sinking ship in the sea. They try to cling to each other for their love, but it would soon fail in the end.

Their love would be just dead weight.

And that's what happens here. I love season two because we get to see the different facets of one of the supporting characters, Angel. He's one of my favorite characters in the series... somber, grim, a little long in the tooth. Haha.

And he always had a bit of a dark side to him.

We just didn't know how much of a dark side he had.

The problem is that he becomes intimate with Buffy, and thus breaks the Gypsy curse hold on him. And he reverts back to his former self. Angel becomes someone else who's been locked away for centuries.

Angelus.

And that's where the fun begins.

Who would have known that David Borendez knows how to play a “bad guy,” and what an asshole he is!

He's dangerous because he plots against his foes, and plays tricks on their mind. And plays on their passions and fears. And it ends up with no one liking this Irish bastard.

And yet it's one of the most incredible love stories ever. The fact is that it's a love that could never be. And it all becomes a disaster. Is love like that? Could love become a dark hell?

For Buffy and Angel, it does.

And his alter-ego, Angelus, constantly reminds them that the world has no room for love for these two people. And it's a tragic love story that would have given Shakespeare a throbbing hard-on.

And it has become one of the legendary episodes because Buffy's heart is completely broken by her lover. And she gets mad.

This is perhaps one of television's greatest love stories ever told. Don't miss this one, folks.

3. “Hush.” Damn, this was one fucking scary story.

The evil spirits who comes in the form of very tall men wearing hats proved to be one of the most memorable creatures.

And they steal people's voices.

They are called “The Gentleman.” Though I don't think they're very gentlemanly at all. Far from it.

What I like about this episode is the silence of the story that forces people to communicate in different ways. They have to. They no longer have voices.

Imagine a world where people could not talk, and they would not be able to understand through the simple communication of words. What happens next?

This is the reason why I am learning the Japanese. I'm doing this because I want to break the language barrier of another country. I want to learn Japanese because I want to understand the people, and their customs, better.

I'm getting better at it. I'm at the point where I can form very basic sentences in Japanese. I'm already winning the uphill struggle of learning the language. I would be able to make small talk with the Japanese. And that's the best thing of all.

So “Hush” teaches us that the world can't live without words. And we can't function without words. If the world has gone mute, it would make everything more fucked up. How are you going to order a damn cup of coffee if you can't speak?

Living in a world of silence can be a nightmare.

2. “Two to Go”/”Grave.” This is one of my absolute fucking favorites for several reasons.

Number one, Willow kicks ass.

Number two, Willow kicks more ass.

I love the fact that she's a super-powered being who can use her witch powers to create spell-binding magic.

Though it does come with a cost. A gigantic cost. Willow loses someone she loves very much, and she witnesses her lover Tara get hit by a random bullet. You can see Tara's shirt become a bloody pool.

And you can see the anguish in Willow's eyes, and her features become much darker... very much like the evil twin version we saw from “Doppelgangland.” She is a force of anger.

She is a hurricane of horror.

She defeats everyone in this show, including Buffy herself. So this is one of the few times when even the all-powerful Buffy couldn't stop an evil force. Willow has just become far too powerful.

There's a nice bit with returning Rupert Giles who has his own story arc in England. He does manage to slow down Willow, but doesn't completely stop her.

However, what stops Willow from craving the destruction of the world is this: true love. And you can feel the friendship between Xander, ordinary guy, who happens to save the day in the end. And he does this by being Willow's friend.

It's a heartfelt episode, but seeing bad-ass Willow is such a great treat. She could fuck up the entire world without breaking a sweat.

1. “Passion.” This is my favorite episode. And I'll tell you why, dammit.

This is a wake-up call to everyone in the series, and those who are watching the show. It is a damning jab to the heart, and the writer lets us know one thing:

There is danger.

And no one is safe.

And so you have Angelus taking out part of the equation that makes the Scooby gang. This shadow of vampire monstrosity goes after one of Buffy's friends. And it is a very close friend.

Angelus kills one of the characters in the series. He throws teacher Jenny Calendar through the window where she is dropped to her death. And then he takes her, in a sort of sick Shakespeare play, to lay her dying form on Giles' bed.

Death comes knocking on everyone's door here. And it comes in the form of a big, bad vampire.

I told you that the second season is my favorite season, and this one is the pinnacle of the second season because it punches a whole in our comfort zone.

And it reminds us that any one of the characters can be taken away from the series. Just like that. In a single snap. And someone's gone.

This episode makes you sit on the edge of your seat. Anthony Stewart Head (Giles), in a BBC interview, said that this was his favorite episode because it was very well-written and directed.

I agree.

And the episode leaves you numbed, clambering for breath, while you try to climb out of the seas of passions. It still drags you down to the blackness of loss. Watching this episode feels like you're walking across someone's grave, leaving you cold with intense fear. You feel like you're stuck in the dark.

Not many shows can do that to you.

I'm going to cheat a little by adding on an honorary mention. I really do like the final episode “Chosen” which belongs on the list as well. Many people seem to be disappointed with this show's ending, but I though it was thrilling and exciting.

Right down to Buffy jumping rooftops to reach the escaping bus before the giant hellmouth collapse.

I love the fact that so many women are empowered with the Slayer strength, and that any girl is capable of great good. That's a good message to send. And it's a worthwhile episode.

There are a lot of great Slayers who come to Buffy's aid. And one of my favorite Slayers is the Chinese girl who is played by Kelly Wu. I think she's hot, sexy and would totally fuck me up. And I'll be okay with that.

Her character is a fun one because she speaks in her native tongue, though no one knows what the hell she's talking about. And yet she makes fun of just about everyone. And her reactions are very similar to the audience reactions as well.

I liked this ending, and the series came to a screeching halt. With little time to spare. And it was a sad moment to finally let go of the series. We all have to say our good-byes eventually.

So... goodbye, Buffy. And thanks for the incredible memories. You gave new life to the television landscape, and brought worthwhile stories to the horror genre. I couldn't thank you enough. Now just be a little careful swinging that stake around, okay?

Horror Spotlight:

Bob Larson of the Two Bobs
Edited by Robert J. Meddings

Ah, yes, one of the Two Bobs who hit the Youtube screens a couple years ago. Since then Bob Larson has been fighting alongside Bob Watson against supernatural monsters. And in a very funny way!

This Bob is the musical playing talent who has an affinity for horror movies old and new. He used to run the Power House Comics store for twenty years before retiring.

Here are thirteen spooky questions to ask Bob, and he delivers his answers to the feeding horror frenzy of his fans. So what's it like for Bob to live in Wisconsin? Terrifying!

Here they are... his responses!

1. What are you favorite horror movies?

“Dracula: Prince of Darkness”, the original “Night of the Living Dead”. I saw them both at a drive-thru. Also “The Bride of Frankenstein”—Better than the original.

2. Are there any horror movies you've watched that scared you so much that you didn't want to see them again?

“The Exorcist.” I really hate it when people get possessed like that. They're more scary than the monsters.

3. Any horror movies you hate?

The “Blair Witch Project” sucks.

4. When did you start playing music?

When I was twelve years old. I started playing the guitar at age twelve. My music started to make more sense when I was in high school. Best advice: Learn on the acoustic!

5. Which singers/songwriters are your biggest influences?

Neil Diamond and Kris Kristofferson. Neil has a way of writing about his own life, and his pain.

6. If you pick an musical artist to add to a horror movie soundtrack, who would you choose?

Alice Cooper.

7. What do you enjoy most about working on the Two Bobs videos?

I always wanted to act in movies. I always like finding the right lines for the role, and that's enjoyable. The director [Robert J. Meddings] is gracious enough to let us use some of our own lines.

8. Who is more scary? Christopher Lee or Vincent Price?

Christopher Lee. Because Dracula is a scary character!

9. Do you have any real fears?

I'm a little like Indiana Jones. I don't like spiders or snakes.

10. Do you have a crush on anyone in the movies?

Ingrid Pitt. She's so beautiful, very elegant with an innocence. Also Teri Garr from the “Young Frankenstein” movie.

11. Is there any building you wouldn't go inside?

I wouldn't go inside the Amityville house. It goes back to the possession thing I don't like.

12. Do you have any superstitions?

A: The only superstition I have is not a superstition. It comes from watching too many horror movies. I never go walking in a graveyard at night!

13. Which horror actor would you like to meet in person?

Peter Cushing.

Horror Spotlight:

Orlando Avila of Mortalhellion Productions
Edited by Robert J. Meddings

The young, vibrant Orlando Avila makes a fine addition to the Mortalhellion Productions when he made his debut appearance in “Skin of Madness.” Since then, he's appeared as Sheriff Jesus in the video “Sleepless Moon” and most recently Vince Colletti in “Roadkill: Takin' Care of Business.”

He's also writing and directing his own video regarding a Dredd sequel in a very documentary-styled approach.

His no-nonsense approach to horror makes him a renegade, and he enjoys a very gory flick every now and then. Finally, he sits down for a small talk and offers his thoughts on the horror genre.

1. Do you have any favorite horror movies?

Yes, all the Evil Dead movies including Army of Darkness and Evil Dead (2013) which I thought was so good and for sure one of the best horror films in years. Even though Bruce Campbell was not in it, but kinda was (stay after the credits). And a big fan of all of George A. Romero's zombie movies.

2. You said once that you enjoyed underground horror movies. Why is that?

I do like watching underground horror films because they're great to watch and do things that mainstream movies wouldn't be able to do. Subject matter and just not being able to get an R rating is reasons why most movie theaters wouldn't show them. For that it makes me more interested to watch them plus some have more blood and gore.

3. What is the earliest scary memory you have regarding horror? How old were you?

I remember being a kid around six years old maybe younger, watching Night of the Living Dead (the original by Romero) and being terrified thinking that the dead would rise and eat people and of course the ending of the movie didn't help, but of course there was Freddy and Michael who scared me in my dreams.

Freddy just made it hard to go to sleep, but the worst one of all was the girl from the Exorcist. She scared me so bad for weeks right after I saw the re-release in theaters back in 2000. I was only ten years old. I went with a friend, how we got in I don't remember.

4. Why do you think horror movies are still relevant in today's world? Why do people still go to see a good scary movie?

Well, I think it's because it's fun to get scared and to see what really scares you and if you can even handle it. I think curiosity plays a big part to see if the movie is as scary as people say it is plus it's always great to have a special someone to hold them when there scared or to be held by them when you're scared.

5. If you were in the director's seat, what kind of horror movie would you make?

Well, I'm a big fan of the Twilight books and movies so I would like to try my take on the Twilight saga. [Whaaaaaaat?—Editor] Joking not at all! As said before I'm a big fan of George A. Romero and zombie films so I would like to direct a zombie film.

6. Vincent Price or Boris Karloff. Who's more scary?

I would say Boris Karloff for playing Frankenstein's Monster and Imhotep but it wouldn't be fair since I haven't seen Vincent Price's films and not many of Boris Karloff's films either, well I have The Raven and The House of Usher on my list any other recommendations? [Editor's note... I would suggest the Vincent Price movie “Masque of Red Death” which has one of his greatest performances. He likes being mean!]

7. In the video “Roadkill,” you play a character named “Vince Colletta” who's based on an ill-reputable DC comics inker. What can you tell us about this mysterious character?

Well from what I heard Vince Colletta who worked for DC comics was not liked and if you knew the Vince Colletta I played he would not be liked either. His back story is a mystery for you don't know who he is and where he is going or coming from. He doesn't look like he would drive a van, so is it stolen? He has a gun and you never see his eyes, so can you trust him? Well if it wasn't for that roadkill the town he was heading towards could have been in a different kind of trouble.

8. Your character in “Roadkill” started out as a minor character, but he was developed into a major character with everyone's help. What's up with the sunglasses and mafia hat?

His mafia hat is just my favorite fedora I like to wear and the sunglasses are just a pair I wear, but to Vince it's more of who is he under the hat and shades but I guess he doesn't live to find out.

9. Who is the hottest scream queen in your opinion?

I'm going to go with someone recent and gives a new meaning to Scream Queen in my opinion. Her name is Jane Levy, she played Mia the main character in the new Evil Dead movie and gave a "Groovy" performance.

10. You're currently working on a video which is a petition for making a Dredd sequel starring Karl Urban. Is there anything you want to tell us about this video?

I can gladly say I'm excited about it, being still in the works and I'm thankful to everyone who's helping me and has taken a part in the video. I go around and ask fun questions that have to do with the movie or Judge Dredd. It'll be uploaded on YouTube and posted on the Make A Dredd Sequel Facebook page which you should check out like the page and sign the petition to help the cause. So look forward to it Citizen and do you want a Dredd Sequel, cuz I know I Drokkin do!

11. Your favorite comic book character is Spiderman. Can you tell us why?

Because he's Superior! Oh wait, he's Amazing again. As a kid I always thought he was so cool swinging around New York, fighting cool villains like Venom and Green Goblin, shooting webs any size, catching thieves just like flies, you know, everything about him. I got to learn how great a guy Peter Parker is and how much he sacrifices his own personal life to help others and save the day as Spider-Man, even tho he blames himself for almost everything bad that happens. He is a fun and great character that people can relate to and look up to.

12. There are many new women characters being created for the comic books including a new female Thor. Do you have a favorite female superhero?

Hell yea! Gamora, she's hot, dangerous, green, and I got to see her finally on the big screen played by Zoe Saldana in Guardians of the Galaxy which it was awesome! Also the new Captain Marvel, since Marvel Now Carol Danvers (was Ms. Marvel) took the title of Captain Marvel which the comic has been great and I like the new look as well even if it doesn't show any skin I still think she looks hot plus recently she is now a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy in the comics! Hopefully eventually she will also be on the big screen preferably her own movie, but still part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe!

13. Halloween is a gas. Do you have any plans for the next Halloween?

Halloween is my favorite holiday! I don't have plans yet but trust me I will. Halloween has everything fun for me, eating lots of candy, wearing costumes, going out to party, seeing other peoples great costumes, decorating my place, watching scary movies and most of all scaring the hell out of little kids, around two more months can't wait!

"Whatever happened to Sarah Michelle Gellar?"
By Robert J. Meddings

This needs to be said out loud. It's been a long, long road to go with Sarah Michelle Gellar who has given us one of the most memorable characters in TV history.

There has been a time when Gellar could be a difficult person to work with, and she became so identified with her role as Buffy while trying to branch out as an actress. Who can blame her? I don't.

Sure, some of the Buffy cast members have stated that she can be something of an “ice queen” and a “bitch.” It doesn't mean that Gellar is any less talented. She's still a very good, confident actress.

Maybe she does need to dial it down a bit.

It's one of the reasons why her character was temporary killed off after season five because she wanted to stretch out her wings in the acting field. So they bumped her off the same the way that Sherlock Holmes was killed off at the height of his popularity.

Could they have continued the show without Sarah Michelle Gellar? That's a pretty hard pill to swallow. It's unimaginable to see the Buffy series wheel on forward without her. Then again, the infamous show “Blake's 7” kept rolling even after the lead actor left the series.

It would certainly have been unprecendated, wouldn't it? That's for sure.

Though the Buffy series didn't give up on her, and she really did help establish the role of a very strong woman on TV. Certainly one of the most energetic. Hi-yaa!

It was stated by Gellar herself that she wouldn't go on in the title role after the seventh season. She said it was for personal reasons, and added that she “needed a rest.” Of course, doing seven years of anything can be a time-consuming, difficult thing.

Just ask Tom Baker who did seven years of Doctor Who in the series, remaining the longest serving actor in the part.

Gellar's part was reduced slightly in the sixth season while she wanted to cover more ground in movies and stage acting. Which meant that characters like Willow could develop more, growing ever more powerful. And thus becoming Buffy's equal.

There were tons of other characters being developed more such as Giles who had his own story in England when the Watchers were being systematically destroyed over the course of the season.

Despite everything, Gellar did come back for a very strong performance in the final season of the Buffy series. Though she signed off in the end for good.

So whatever happened to Sarah Michelle Gellar since then?

Well, she's in quite a bit.

For starters, she's in the Grudge movies. Both of them, in fact. Though they're remakes of a rather frightening Asian film known as “Ju-On.” I still prefer the Asian original because they have a darker sense of how to tell a story.

It does seem that Gellar isn't going away from the horror genre anytime soon.

There was one film that I thought Gellar was very good in, and it has to do with crossing paths with a rather clinging ghost. Though the story itself did have a very nice plot twist which I thought set it apart from most ghost stories.

This film is called “Possession” which has many interesting layers of darkness, making you feel the edge of creepfest approaching you. There is a great deal of working with light and shadows in this film. And the extensive use of mirrors.

There seems to be shadows of darkness that keeps collecting around her like a raw illusion. She plays a very driven lawyer who puts her career ahead of everything else, even her most loved ones. And now the past seems to be catching up with her.

Or is she catching up with the past?

I thought the film was very interesting, and it does feature a very good performance by her. Once again, the film “Possession” is a damn remake of an Asian horror film “Addicted.”

She seems to go back to horror.

And more horror.

She must like that genre quite a bit. I'm not kidding. She also appeared in the film “Scream 2” in which she doesn't quite survive the whole scream scare. Damn, if it wasn't such a missed opportunity since she ended up as fair game for the killer.

Though she did have a part in “I know What you Did Last Summer.”

For someone who wants to get as many miles away from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she seems to hang around in the horror department quite a bit. I wonder why? Could there be a small inkling that perhaps she might want to return to the Buffy arena someday?

That would be nice.

Does Gellar miss Buffy? Part of me thinks she does.

Gellar did state that she would indeed do a movie version of Buffy if the script was good enough. Let's hope that Joss Whedon has a good story in mind for her.

Let's not forget that she was in a couple of horror/comedy shows of Scooby Doo... the live version, that is. Gellar plays Daphne in those films which may have an added influence of Buffy tossed into that mix.

Daphne does high kicks and throws karate chops like a professional athlete, throwing the baddies around without breaking a sweat. So she moves the boxing moves on these guys... or I should say some Buffy moves.

You might as well just look at her as Buffy with red hair in the Scooby Doo movies.

She could jump into the Mystery Machine herself and drive off a good ways... but she won't be able to run from the Buffy franchise.

And while I don't much care for the live-action Scooby Doo movies, preferring the cartoons far more. I don't mind seeing Gellar playing Daphne and adding on the strong woman complex into the character.

Oh yeah, she's super hot too. How come Saturday morning cartoons has to be so damn hot ihn the live movies? Hot damn, Daphne and Velma were both eye candy in those live movies.

Though I must add that I do prefer the Asian girl Hayley Kiyoko to play Velma, giving her an added sexual appeal. Of course, I'm being subjective here.

But I digress.

I do think that Gellar likes doing horror movies. There's no doubt about that.

Oh yeah, Gellar did a parody sketch of Buffy for Saturday Night Live, maintaining a positive sense of humor. I like to think that Gellar does miss the Buffy series now and then. I wouldn't think otherwise.

Still, there's plenty of movies that she's willing to be part of, and there are plenty of meaty roles for her to sink her teeth in. She does plenty of voice acting for “The Simpsons,” “Robot Chicken” and “American Dad.” So she gets around.

And one of the most interesting roles she's taken was “Southland Tales” for me. It's a movie that's a little bit of science fiction, a little bit of thriller, a little bit of gothic. And a whole lot weird.

She plays a sultry adult film actress who now works on a reality TV show. It's really a departure role for Gellar to play.

However, I do have a bit of a wish. I'm not sure if this wish will ever come true.

I'd like to see the original cast members come back for a feature film. Really, I do. Is that so much to ask? Maybe it is. Still it would make for good solid stories because she, and the others in the crew, would be older.

So bring back Buffy, for Christ's sake. And make sure that Joss Whedon writes and directs it. That would be a lot of fun. Just one move, that's all. A nice way to round old friends together and bring back some memories. Bring back Angel too. Why not? His own series was left on a hanging note.

I say bring it on, bitches.

Just think what they could do on a movie budget... which means bigger sets, bigger story and bigger vision. And perhaps there will be a new menace other than the vampires? Just don't wait so long before it could become “Buffy the Retirement Home.” Damn, I would hate that.

Maybe if we're lucky Buffy is still working out on Transylvania or other parts of Europe, training her Slayers for another possible war.

It'd be nice to see Whedon come back to the original roots that made him a household name at the conventions and in fandom. It would be nice for him to go back to familiar grounds to shake things up again. With Gellar's help.

Naturally, Whedon is very busy doing his own thing. He's busy making the spotlight on Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Black Widow, Hulk and others. Might not be a lot of room for Buffy in the near future. That's too bad.

So Avengers 2 will be a big deal for Whedon.

But one can't stop wishing, right? So maybe he might go back to the Buffy series once again in a few years? It'll be like going back home.

One can always hope.

"More money, please!"
By Robert J. Meddings

It'll take me a while to get to the real point of the article which are donations. But I wanted to talk about one other thing first!

Upload Society seems to be a pretty good place for the horror enthusiasts. It gives those who make videos a chance to craft their art. It gives those who like horror movies a chance to comment.

It's a good start as any. I like it because it doesn't limit my imagination and my ability to tell stories in the same way that Youtube does.

See Youtube's current shitty format if you want to know what I mean about limiting creativity. Youtube is about as creative as Joseph Stalin's left nut.

Still, you get the Horror Clan that sums up the intense appreciation for all things gory and gothic. And let's face it: Upload Society became a pretty good site for the group. You got a lot of good people still making videos such as Teye, Nightfright, Donkey, Russell and myself. And many more who are unnamed here... sorry if I missed out a few names!

Yes, it seems to be a pretty good home.

Well, apart from the usual troll problems that crop up like a floating turd, this site remains a pretty good place.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, dammit. The trolls have come out to wreck havoc on the horror group, and we've come out stronger despite these prissy pussies.

There's a good way of getting rid of these retarded assfucks.

Number one, block and ignore them. I'll keep telling you. That's my advice to you. So you should listen up: Block and ignore. It's a two step process. Easy to do. Don't engage in these attention-whoring doofuses. Kara-wa wa baka desu!

These trolls are always looking for that slice of fame that they'll never get. So they'll try to chip it off of you. Ignore them, and they'll piss off like the three blind mice.

So sing it with me, baby: block and ignore!

They'll eventually go away like a bad fart.

The following is a definition of the “troll” in the Japanese language which I found very interesting. So the following is this: “In Japanese, tsuri (つり) means “fishing” and refers to intentionally misleading posts created with the purpose of eliciting negative response from other users. Arashi (あらし) means laying waste and can also be used to refer to simple spamming.”

Oh, I would just call a troll a baka. That sums it up very nicely.

So fuck the troll. They're just a bunch of flimsy weasels with one inch dicks prancing about in their favorite Dolly Parton outfits. Fuck them in the ear. Put them on a ship and sink them!

Well, you can always send Buffy Summers after the trolls. That might take care of that little problem in a big hurry!

Or Willow. She can make them disappear so fast that they wouldn't know what hit them. The fucking fuckers!

And now there's another small problem that rapidly descends on Upload Society. This place is looking for donations.

And lots of them.

You see, Upload Society is an independent site rather than a corporate thug that is very much like Youtube.

So that means that Upload Society needs money to keep it running. It's like stoking the furnace with extra chunks of wood and fire. This site needs a little more of that fire.

Oh, I feel pretty damn capitalistic when saying this. So I'm going to ask everyone to help donate whenever they can to keep the party going on this site.

Since I'm working again for an office/clerical job, I'll be bringing home a bit more money too. So I have no fucking excuse not to donate.

This Upload Society like a surfer who is hitting the waves, keeping afloat on his surfing board. The crescent wave is like all the money/donations that keeps Upload Society afloat. The more money being put into the Big Wave, the better the surfer will be riding the waves of glory.

Without the donations, the site will make a few tumbles. Though like any good surfer, he'll get up and ride again.

Oh, I feel pretty damn capitalistic when saying this. So I'm going to ask everyone to help donate whenever they can to keep the party going on this site.

Since I'm working again for an office/clerical job, I'll be bringing home a bit more money too. So I have no fucking excuse not to donate.

This Upload Society like a surfer who is hitting the waves, keeping afloat on his surfing board. The crescent wave is like all the money/donations that keeps Upload Society afloat. The more money being put into the Big Wave, the better the surfer will be riding the waves of glory.

Without the donations, the site will make a few tumbles. Though like any good surfer, he'll get up and ride again.

Upload Society is very much like this. Sometimes it takes a tumble, but it gets right back on its feet again.

David, the CEO of Upload Society, needs your help.

And we should try to help out. Whatever we can. May it be donations to making videos to whatever. Every little bit counts.

I know I'll be donating a little bit. It's been long overdue. It might not be a lot, but it'll be a little something.

Now the one thing that pisses me off about Youtube is that it's a mountain of money running that shitty site. It's because Youtube has become very corporate who constantly makes stupid rules and setting up more ways to make their site even dumber than before.

Youtube pisses off the video makers.

Youtube pisses off those who want to comment.

It's a sad thing about Youtube that used to be great many years ago, once an open doorway to great creativity. Now it's a shit heap that's been laying around for years. It's offensive. I don't like Youtube.

At the very least, Upload Society doesn't do that to you. It gives you a chance to make your videos, and allows for you to create videos without any distraction from corporate bullshit.

Though there's still that little troll problem, but so far Upload Society has been pretty good about controlling the trolls population. At least, the site has been helpful to me.

So go ahead, write a check. Send some money. Make Upload Society the best site out there. We need a “new” Youtube to take place of the crappy old. Youtube is like a confused beast that doesn't know its ass from a hole in the ground.

And yes, you can still see the Horror Clan and their videos. So go right to their doorstep, knock on the door, and await the fiendish footsteps that'll lead you into the grim hallways of horror's finest. The winding corridors of this gothic castle seems to careen through the weeping shadows, and the darkness gathers around you like a writhing demon.

So there you are.

You'll see familiar faces, and the people are good enough to make small talk with you in this horror group. Oh yes, they're friendly all right. One of them is holding a hatchet, isn't he? There's nothing wrong with a social network where you have many things in common in horror, isn't there?

It's nice to have people who don't cop out to the corporate crap. There's more creative freedom here. You do keep your background and do whatever you want on your page. That's nice.

So please keep donating, and keep those wheels turning. You'll thank yourself later. And it'll give a place for the Horror Clan to spread the creep shows. Send donations to keep the website alive!

I'm done whoring myself for the day.

Editor's note: This is what a donation looks like! And yes I did pick this photo because of the cute Asian girl in it!

Until Next time.... in two months!
By Robert J. Meddings

This is the end, but we will convene once again under the midnight moon. Bring your pet familiars.

If you wish to send me a letter to the editor, let me know. I'll be more than happy to print it for the next newsletter. I'll edit only for good taste, grammar and class. I welcome any opinions as you see fit to express them. However, if you decide to be very naughty, I'll have to send in my assistant editor to teach a lesson! Right now, everyone is on an extended holiday this month and will be back to promote more scares.

That leaves me on my own! But no worries because I think I got someone who's got my back!

Ah, my assistant for this week? Well, she used to be a pretty shy girl back in the day. And she always spoke a little uncomfortably, and it would be hell for her to get through talking in front of a class.

She's making time to help me out this month.

Everyone seems to be busy to make room in their schedule, but this charming girl did manage to step through her magical portal door to give a house call.

Yeah, that would be über-powerful witch Willow.

You may remember her from the days of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. She's a great girl, and a lot of fun. She's my assistant editor for this month, and she can make all the words and pictures appear on the pages with the snap of her finger.

Well, it's a good idea not to cross her. You see, she's got a pretty mean streak in her if something goes awry. She's a very powerful witch, and she'll kick everyone's ass in town, and in the next town too!

So it's a nice surprise to get a witch on my good side this time. And she'll be on your good side too. Say hello to Willow. With lots of pretty pretty. And maybe... just maybe... she might give you a magic show.

But don't let her looks fool you. If she's taken on a few vampires herself, then you don't want to mess with her.

She's a classy girl, very sprightly, and intelligent. This redhead favorite is like a sprouting flower who keeps on growing. She's turning into a force of nature. So be nice to her!

Should you upset me in any way, I'll have this girl hot on your trail! She'll be able find you anywhere in the known universe. And don't you forget that! She's got powers that not even I can fathom. So I'll be hiding this Necronomican book in a safe place while she's assisting me in this month's newsletter.

PM me when you want to shoot me an email. Best way is send me a message through my page on Upload Society, and it'll be the easiest way for me to get your horrifying confessions!

I hope I don't bump into any monsters in a dark alley somewhere! What is that creepy laugh I keep hearing in the back of my house?