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Gamera films span three distinct eras, each with unique style and continuity, with some outliers. Gamera vs. Guiron is strangely entertaining with off-planet antics and bloody battles, a memorable entry. Gamera: Guardian of the Universe marks the redemption of Gamera with high production values and fresh story.

Gamera has a wide variety of films to his name, ranging from poorly recycled cash grabs to some of the greatest kaiju content ever put to screen. Forever in the shadow of his more well-known cinematic rival, Godzilla, Gamera still deserves recognition as a Japanese pop culture icon. While the Monsterverse could still give Gamera the recognition that he desperately deserves, the most recent offering featuring the fire-spewing giant turtle was the animated Netflix series, Gamera -Rebirth-. Still, Gamera has managed to rack up an impressive twelve films to his name since his debut in 1965.

Just like how Godzilla's films span multiple eras,...

The Bloody Disgusting-powered Screambox is home to a variety of unique horror content, from originals and exclusives to cult classics and documentaries. With such a rapidly-growing library, there are many hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

Here are five recommendations you can stream on Screambox right now.

Ghost Killers vs. Bloody Mary

If bustin’ makes you feel good, Ghost Killers vs. Bloody Mary should be at the top of your queue. Imagine Sam Raimi remaking Ghostbusters from a Kevin Williamson script, and you have a pretty good idea of what this Brazilian horror-comedy is like: gory, self-aware, irreverent, and wildly entertaining.

When a local high school summons Bloody Mary, the Ghoulbusters — a team of local YouTubers with a cheesy ghost hunting show — are called in to take out the vengeful spirit. In addition to possessing people to the point of cranial combustion, the ghost exploits the high school setting by haunting inanimate objects,...

Monsters in films can be heroes, fighting not just physical threats but the evils within humanity itself. Japanese Kaiju films like Godzilla inspired the giant monster genre, with many embodying relatable struggles. The best monster movies show that monsters are often a result of unresolved human issues and can evolve to become heroes.

The unknown is a scary prospect, and most monster movies that feature a gargantuan beast capitalize on that fear, but some subvert that trope and make the monster a hero. Whether it's an otherworldly beast that fights to protect the human race or a human who has found themselves to be the monster, these movies are an important reminder not to judge a book by its cover or a monster by its size. Sometimes, the evil that they fight is other monsters, but the best films pit them against the evils within humanity itself, making the monsters the good guys.

Born December 7th, 1979, Ayako Fujitani grew up in Osaka, Japan, loving movies at a young age. Whether horror, science-fiction, or drama, it didn't matter so long as it delivered. Fast forward to her teens, following an opportunity to present renowned actor Hiroyuki Sanada with a bouquet at a local film festival, something stood out to director Shusuke Kaneko. Hence, he offered her an audition opportunity for a lead part in his film “Gamera: Guardian of the Universe.” Initially hesitant but curious, the youth went to the audition but walked away feeling unsatisfied with how they did. Then, she got the part. Following guidance during the movie's production and its preceding sequels, Ayako grew as an actor, pursued more challenging roles moving forward, and also became active as a writer. Since then, she frequently works internationally.

Ayako Fujitani is a terrific actress with a lot of range who can make her characters feel real.

The Bloody Disgusting-powered Screambox is home to a variety of unique horror content, from originals and exclusives to cult classics and documentaries. With such a rapidly-growing library, there are many hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

Here are five recommendations you can stream on Screambox right now.

The Collector

If the triumphant return of the Saw franchise has you in the mood for more trap-laden horrors, look no further than The Collector — which was originally conceived as a prequel to Saw that would show Jigsaw’s original story. When producers passed on the idea, writers Patrick Melton & Marcus Dunstan (Saw IV-vii) reworked it into an original script, which Dunstan directed in 2009.

A slasher/home invasion hybrid for the so-called “torture porn” era, The Collector stars Criminal Minds‘ Josh Stewart as struggling ex-con Arkin. A planned heist at his new employer’s home to repay a debt becomes deadly when he...

September heralds in the start of Halloween season, and that means it’s officially that time of year where streaming platforms go all in on horror. Whether you’re looking for brand new releases or an endless sea of horror options to pad out your Halloween watchlists, this month has it all. So, here’s a quick, handy guide for horror streaming in September 2023.

This month’s noteworthy streaming titles spotlight new exclusives, repertory offerings that’ll help you prepare for upcoming releases, and so much more.

Here are ten noteworthy horror titles available for streaming in September 2023 on some of the most popular streaming services, along with when/where you can watch them.

Crabs! – Screambox

A horde of mutant crustaceans descend on a small coastal town in this wacky horror comedy. There’s no pretense with Crabs!; it’s abundantly clear upfront exactly what type of movie it is...

On the road to Halloween, Screambox is unleashing another massive wave of spooky streaming here in September 2023, and we’ve got the full lineup for you today.

First up, a horde of cretaceous creatures attack a coastal town on prom night in Crabs! The indie horror-comedy is streaming exclusively on Screambox right now.

Ahead of Netflix’s new series “Gamera: Rebirth” on September 7, the Gamera Collection stomps onto Screambox on September 4. All 12 films in the giant monster movie franchise are included, from the classic Gamera: The Giant Monster to the influential ’90s reboot, Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, and the latest installment, Gamera the Brave.

Screambox delves into The History of Metal and Horror on September 15. Explore how the two genres have intersected with horror icons like John Carpenter, Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Kane Hodder, Doug Bradley, and Tom Savini alongside such metal luminaries as Rob Zombie, Kirk Hammett, Dave Mustaine,...

The impact and influence of entertainment have been shown to further spawn an epiphany for creativity in the minds of the audiences observing. However, the motivation for formulating a piece of fiction goes beyond just making movies and tv shows. Imagination equally thrives in countless ways, such as the various forms of literature. The comic book industry has seen many people inspired by numerous renditions of media, giving way to folks creating their own forms of storytelling through writing and artwork. Beyond that, with the world being so unique and diverse, many comic writers have taken the opportunity to implement aspects that give their stories more layers to them. In the case of the comic series “Primal Warrior Draco Azul,” we have a successful blend of vibrant spectacle with immersive worldbuilding.

on Amazon by clicking on the image below

The mecha's creation originates from the mind of...

“Gamera: Guardian of the Universe” offers a fresh and much needed resurrection of the franchise that became largely outdated with the previous instalment of “Gamera: Super Monster“. Initially produced by the Showa studio, the series was taken over by Heisei in the 1990s. This marked not only the new start for Gamera as a brand; with the reboot, the kaiju series entered into the new era marked by the entry of CGI effects. Thus, the films made in that period proved to be more current and visually exciting.

When a military ship carrying 1000 tonnes of plutonium collides with a ‘mysterious’ floating atoll, any Gamera fan should be already able to tell what’s cooking. The atoll obviously turns out to be a giant turtle which rises from the sea just in time to protect planet Earth from Gyaos, a giant bat-like creature engineered by the ancient Atlanteans...

The 32nd theatrically released Godzilla movie, Godzilla: Monster Planet or Godzilla: Planet of Monsters, which came out last November in Japan, has become available this week via Netflix. What makes this one unique is that it’s the first-ever animated cinematic adventure starring the king of monsters. This is a good start to a planned trilogy of anime movies, although not without its flaws. There are some minor spoilers in here, so if you’re enraged by spoilers, consider yourself forewarned.

Originally titled “Gojira: Kaiju Wakusei” in Japan, Godzilla: Monster Planet was first intended to be an anime TV series but plans were changed. Due to the deal with Legendary Pictures, (Who made the 2014 American film Godzilla), Toho Studios decided not to make a sequel to the award-wining Shin Godzilla (Aka Godzilla Resurgence) but still wanted Godzilla to have original cinematic material in Japan since the 65th anniversary of Gojira is coming up.

Okay, we’re cheating this week. This isn’t a Hollywood film; it’s from Japan. So why are we breaking the rules? Because we can! (These are Our rules.) This week, Cinelinx looks at Gamera: Guardian of the Universe.

The first Gamera film was produced by Daiei Studios in 1965. It was clearly meant to cash in on the success of the popular Godzilla film franchise. The concept of a giant turtle that defends Earth from monsters may seem like a dopey idea—and truthfully, it is—but it’s so much fun, and Gamera is one of the best creations of the Kaiju genre.

Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995), which was released 30 years later, is a reboot of the franchise (inspired by the well-received Godzilla reboot series of the late 80s-Early 90s) However, it’s not so much a remake of the first 1965 Gamera film as it is a...

**Massive spoilers for every Godzilla movie, with the exception of the 2014 reboot, and Mothra follow**

August 6th and 9th, 1945 forever changed the course of history. When the first nuclear bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, World War II ended, but a new fear was born that dominated the thoughts of all men, women, and children for decades to come. The Cold War, atomic bomb testing, a cartoon turtle telling children to “duck and cover”, and this new technology that had the actual potential to literally end the world changed the perception of what was scary. Art reflects life, so cinema began to capitalize on these fears. Gone were the days of creepy castles, cobwebs, bats, vampires, werewolves, and the other iconic images that ruled genre cinema in film’s earliest decades. Science fiction was larger than ever and giant ants, giant octopi, terror from beyond the stars, and...

Now that the Godzilla reboot has become profitable, is it time for that titanic turtle from Tokyo to follow in his footsteps and get a big budget America facelift?

The new, American-made Godzilla movie has helped to reinvigorate the cinema career of the King of Monsters, bringing him to the attention of a whole new generation. Can the same be done for the second most popular Daikaiju of cinema? Could Gamera make for a successful Us film protagonist?

Gamera has always followed on the heels of Toho’s Godzilla. The tremendous terrapin was originally created in the Daiei Motion Picture Company film Gamera (1965)—released in the Us as Gamera the Invincible—11 years after Gojira (1954), as part of a wave of Daikaiju (“Giant Monster”) films that were rolled out as a result of the massive popularity of the Toho Godzilla series. Gamera was a success and led to a seven film series.

Word has just hit the wire that in honor of his 50th anniversary, everyone's favorite fire-breathing turtle, Gamera, will once again be gracing the big screen in 2015. We eagerly pray for the return of Guiron as well!

According to the Anime News Network, Japanese retailer Amiami is listing the summer 2014 issue of Kadokawa Shoten's Tokusatsu Newtype magazine for release on May 16th. According to the retailer, this issue will have a lead feature with a scoop on "a new Gamera launching. Breaking a long silence, that famous Gamera will finally return! Along with it the article will see the earliest unveiling of imageboards [pre-production art]!"

The giant turtle monster Gamera made his debut in Daiei's 1965 film Daikaijū Gamera (Gamera the Giant Monster). His last feature film was the completely horrendous kid-friendly Chiisaki Yūsha-tachi Gamera (Gamera the Brave) in 2006.

If you missed out on the massively kick-ass 90s trilogy of films which consisted...

With the mega-sized Godzilla reboot less than three months away, it's no surprise to see some classic King of the Monsters flicks getting Blu-ray releases. Zilla’s big screen return can no doubt be the inspiration for all of Gamera’s classic adventures getting their first-ever Us Blu-ray releases.

The films of Daiei Studios’ monster series Gamera are unleashed and available on Blu-ray for the first time! Your favorite giant turtle returns to Earth, leaving no fire-spitting scene behind.

Beautifully captured to their lavish original cuts, viewers can experience four times the thrills of these legendary sci-fi classics like they have never seen before!

Mill Creek Entertainment is releasing what they’re billing as the Gamera: Ultimate Collection on April 29th. The good news is that this is the first time ever any of the eight Showa-era Gamera movies have been released on Region 1 Blu-ray. The bad news is that...

Feature Ryan Lambie 5 Dec 2013 - 07:06

A hit manga, anime and soon a live-action film, Attack On Titan is a disturbing sight to behold. Ryan takes a closer look...

When Guillermo del Toro made his robots versus kaiju movie Pacific Rim, he was greatly influenced by a painting by the 19th century painter Francisco de Goya.

Called The Colossus, it depicts a bearded, apparently naked giant striding across a gloomy landscape, its body so huge that its torso punctures the clouds. People and animals below scatter in terror, specks dwarfed on a vast canvas.

If you've never seen this painting before, here it is:

Looking at Pacific Rim, it's easy to see why del Toro was influenced by the sense of scale and drama in this picture, even if the colour and tone of his film more often inspired a sense of childlike awe rather than that of fear, which Goya's painting surely provokes.

Gamera Trilogy (Gamera: Guardian Of The Universe-1995, Gamera 2: Attack Of Legion-1996, Gamera 3: Revenge Of Iris-1999)

Blu-Ray

Mill Creek

What can I say? When it comes to Kaiju (giant Japanese monsters) Gamera has always been the Rodney Dangerfield of the bunch: he just can’t get no respect. Sure, he may look like a giant turtle with rockets on his backside. But is he really any more odd than, say, Goldar? I didn’t think so. Personally, I’ve always liked the big guy. But for years he’s always been stuck in the shadows of Godzilla and his little clique.

But no longer! Most people aren’t aware that in the mid-90s Gamera was leading the charge of a Kaiju resurgence, leaving behind three of the best giant monster movies to ever be committed to film. I know it sounds like sacrilege, but hear me out.

The Film:

Gamera has always lived in the shadow of Toho’s Godzilla, and was infamous for being nothing more than a campy, cheesy, rip-off the Toho’s creation. However, Shusuke Kaneko came and did something some thought was impossible: he gave you a reason to take Gamera seriously. The first two films in his trilogy, Gamera: Guardian of the Universe and Attack of Legion (you can read my reviews of those here), were both critically and commercially successful. However, many trilogies suffer from a rushed and lackluster ending.

But Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris not only improves on the last two films, its argued to be one of the greatest Kaiju films ever made.

The film take splace three years after Gamera defeated Legion in Gamera 2: Attack of Legion, and Gamera has now shed his connection to humanity. Meanwhile, the Gyaos have returned from their defeat in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe,...

Now that our new house is settling, we wanted to bring back our weekly DVD & Blu-Ray Releases posts. We are calling this weekly post “Home Invasion”. If you plan on purchasing these items via Amazon, all you need to do is click on the buttons provided or on the artwork and not only do you get the same price you normally would with Amazon, but you help us out a little bit as well – which is all we ask because this list does take some time to put together.

All Descriptions are from Amazon.com unless otherwise noted. We have excluded the Netflix code on this particular post. This is due to all of the changes with Netflix and their DVD mailing program. If you want us to include the code in future Home Invasion posts, where you just click a button to add it to your queue, leave us a comment below.

It’s just little over a month away until Mill Creek Entertainment will be releasing Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris and the entire 90′s Gamera trilogy on Blu-ray on September 27th. Sci Fi Japan has now provided the official details on the special features for the set.

Gamera: Guardian Of The Universe:

Gamera Behind the Scenes

Camera Test and Special Effects

Gamera 2: Attack Of The Legion:

Uncut Version of the The Salvo Scene

Behind the Scenes of the Kasuminome Airfield Scene, Miki Mizuno’s First Experience, The Subway Jerks to a Halt, The Police Block Off Odori Station, Identifying the Crater, Impressive Scream, Jumping Off a Jeep, On-set in a Subway Tunnel

Shooting Groups of Legions

Safety First, How to Wear a Small Legion Suit

For Yukino’s Fans

Creating the Costume for Legion

Legion with Damage

Civilian Houses Blasted

Explosion Shots in Kasuminome

Special Effect explosions...

Many widely consider Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris the best daikaiju movie since the original Godzilla. Since the first two are already on Blu-ray, it only makes that this final installment in the epic 1990’s Gamera trilogy finally get its blu due, as well as a certain giant stone samurai.

Mill Creek Entertainment released Gamera: Guardian of the Universe and Gamera 2: Advent of Legion as a Blu-ray double feature last year. September 27th will see the third and final and most critically acclaimed entry in Daiei’s 1990’s Gamera revival take its hi-def bow on September 27th for the stunningly low price of only $9.98.

The disc is promised to come packed with extra, but specifics as to what the extras will be remain vague other than confirmation of interviews with the cast and crew and a behind-the-scenes with the special FX crew.

Mill Creek Entertainment will also be releasing...

At long last, fans can enjoy what is in my opinion to be one of the greatest kaiju films ever made, Shusuke Kaneko’s Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris, on Blu-ray (via Sci Fi Japan). Mill Creek Entertainment released the previous two entries, Gamera: Guardian of the Universe and Attack of Legion, on Blu-ray (and you can read my review here) a few months back, and will be releasing the final chapter in that trilogy on September 27th. The release is said to be loaded with special features, which is a big step forward from the barebones release of the last two films.

Don’t have the last two films on Blu-ray? No problem. Mill Creek will also be releasing all three films in a triple-feature release (see picture for cover art) on the same day. That release will only be $10 more. There’s likely to be no exclusive features to this release.

This week's roundup of DVD releases include fan favorites from TV, a scarred comic book antihero, the next installment of The Lost Boys, the requisite creature features, a Roger Corman set, and SyFy's apocalyptic view of the world. Also, don't forget to check out the soundtrack from the hottest vampire TV show right now (well, there's only one playing currently) at the very end of this list.

While waiting for your orders to arrive by mail, you can always catch up on Camera Obscura for free with our Episode 1-7 episodes & recap or watch the newest episodes on Dailymotion. You can also learn all about creature making from our Q&A With Camera Obscura's FX Maestro Jeff Farley.

On with the list....

Jonah Hex

Directed by Jimmy Hayward

Out of the pages of the legendary comics and graphic novels steps Jonah Hex (review), a scarred drifter and bounty hunter...