LADY VAMPIRE (1959) a.k.a. Vampire Man

I discovered this film last night and watched it this afternoon because the internet is often a true wonder. The more accurate title is definitely Vampire Man but I understand the desire to give it the Lady title. Whatever it is called this is a wonderfully odd little hidden gem of Japanese supernatural horror that takes a novel approach to the idea of the bloodsucker myth. Here the vampire is capable of moving around comfortably in daylight but the direct rays of the moon transform him into a ravenously thirsty monster attacking the throat of any female within reach. He also casts a reflection in mirrors and uses golden crosses to immobilize past victims he likes to keep around as decorations. And he has a small group of Renfields including a dwarf, a bald muscle-man and a witch! Did I mention it is an odd movie? 

There is a very good subtitled copy available on the Sinister Cinema YouTube page HERE and I recommend it if you are the least bit curious.

 

Poster and Ad Art for GODZILLA VS THE SEA MONSTER (1966)

Also known as EIBRAH, HORROR OF THE DEEP this has never been my favorite Big G movie but it does have its charms.

 

INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER (1965) Poster Art

 

ATRAGON (1963) Poster Art and Lobby Cards

 

Trailer - GODZILLA MINUS ONE (2023)

I can hardly wait for December to get to see this on the big screen! 

The Bloody Pit #122 - ULTRA Q (1966)

Author Mark Clark returns to discuss the exceptional Japanese television series ULTRA Q.

 

Originally envisioned as a combination of The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, ULTRA Q was altered to be more of a ‘giant monster’ series to be part of the Kiaju craze that was incredibly popular with children in the 1960’s. But while giant creatures were a common element of the show’s run there were also numerous episodes in the 28 stories produced that didn’t utilize such monsters. In fact, some of the best the series has to offer are tales that focus on deeper concepts more in line with adult concerns and fears. And even some of the more monster heavy episodes are clearly about larger ideas with a lot of emphasis placed on ecological destruction and the fallout of unchecked human greed. The show’s tone is quite variable with humor sometimes intruding into topics a western audience might find odd. Usually things usually work out in a satisfactory fashion even if it means shooting children into outer space!

Mark and I dig into some of our favorite episodes including the amazing gothic horror tale ‘Baron Spider’; ersatz Gamera tale ‘Grow Up! Little Turtle’;  possible Godzilla vs Biollante inspiration ‘Mammoth Flower’; man in a gorilla suit madness ‘The Underground Super Express Goes West’; the interesting ‘Challenge From the Year 2020’ and the bizarre vision of the inferiority complex of one of the series’ reoccurring characters in ‘The 1/8 Project’. Along the way we touch on several other episodes in relation to these and spend a long time detailing the melancholy finale that is both touching and sad. ULTRA Q stands out as one of the most inventive and intelligent series made by Tsuburaya Productions even if it was the various future UltraMan series that went on to larger worldwide fame.

 

If you have any comments or questions please write the show at thebloodypit@gmail.com or look in on us at the podcast’s FB page. Thank you for listening! 

Apple Podcasts LINK 

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Ultra Q Monsters!

There's a lot of creativity on display here! 

And nightmare fuel, of course. 

Ultraman 55th Anniversary Commemorative Video

Has it been 55 years? 

"In 1966, Ultraman alighted on planet Earth and became the gold standard of Japanese Tokusatsu television. Ultraman is loved by fans across generations and around the world, and the series has received a great deal of support over the past 55 years.

And now…

Go Beyond

In 2021, Ultraman will continue on to the next stage!" 

I can hardly wait to see what they have cooked up! 

Trailers From Hell - HALF HUMAN (1958)

Should I tell Mr. Dante that I've seen the uncut Japanese version of this with subtitles? 

The Bloody Pit #89 - GODZILLA VS BIOLLANTE (1989)

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of GODZILLA VS BIOLLANTE (1989) and we use that fact to discuss one of the least talked about movies of the Heisei era. The film contains a truly unique adversary for our favorite irradiated lizard. I mean, how many giant monsters are constructed from a rose bush and the spirit of a dead young girl? Jason Spear joins Troy and I to talk about this exceptional entry in the second age of the Big G’s cinematic history. Before we dig into the main topic, we consider the wealth of Godzilla Blu-Ray news that has been announced since our last conversation. The exciting Criterion #1000 release of the entire Showa series is chewed over as well as the recent Mill Creek MOTHRA Blu. We even talk about the extraordinary news that Mill Creek will be possibly releasing all of the various Ultra Man series in chronological order. Included in the opening section is a rundown (in every sense of that word) of the three Godzilla anime films with Troy and Jason explaining why I never need to see them. It’s not all good, folks!

Once the discussion of GODZILLA VS BIOLLANTE (1989) begins we range all over the film’s running time. We note the long break between 1984’s THE RETURN OF GODZILLA and the bizarre crowd-sourced way in which the new plant-based creature was created. Jason relates his amusing theory that the official Toho tale of the genesis of Biollante might be slightly fictional, much to my surprise. The film’s many strengths are examined as well as the sometimes very 1980’s John Williams nature of the movie’s musical cues. The details of the excellent Godzilla suit are discussed with perhaps too much time spent talking about the tongue. We mostly stay on target as we go along but I must apologize for my nearly five-minute-long rant about the Jurassic Park films. Sorry about that.

If you want to join the Godzilla themed conversation, you can email the show at thebloodypit@gmail.com or drop us a message on the Bloody Pit FaceBook page. We plan to have Jason back soon to talk about another Dario Argento film before we delve back into kaiju movies again. This is pretty fun! Thanks for listening.

Apple Podcasts LINK

MP3 Direct Download LINK


  

Mondo Macabro Releases Details of BEAST AND THE MAGIC SWORD (1983) Blu-Ray!

The details of the extras to be included on Mondo Macabro's forthcoming Blu-Ray of Paul Naschy's THE BEAST AND THE MAGIC SWORD (1983) were announced a couple of days ago and there were some very nice surprises. We might have expected the 4K restoration of the film itself and it had already been publicized that Troy and I had contributed a new NaschyCast commentary track. But the addition of an archival introduction to the film by Paul Naschy is unexpected. 

And the inclusion of the documentary SMILE OF THE WOLF in which Naschy discusses all of his werewolf films on camera is very exciting! This is the kind of extra fans like me dream of getting to see. 

Add to that an interview with Gavin Baddeley, author of The FrightFest Guide to Werewolf Movies talking about the genre and Naschy's place within it and you have a feast of Spanish Horror information!  

The Limited edition that goes on sale in October will also have a reversible cover with brand new art by Rick Melton on one side (censored below but uncensored on the actual release) and the original poster art on the flip side as well as a booklet featuring brand new writing on the film by film historian Richard Harland Smith and a set of lobby card reproductions! 

We were very pleased to be asked play a part in the release of this incredible and important Naschy film and I think we've created one of our best commentaries for it. We're thrilled that MM asked us to do another track for their continuing series of Naschy Blu-Rays and that this rare movie is finally getting a major release in the United States. At last, every Paul Naschy fan will get to enjoy this under seen classic combination of European and Japanese sensibilities in the best possible presentation. Having seen the preliminary transfer I can say it looks spectacular! 

Keep an eye on Mondo's website for more information about the Limited Edition version! 

LINK 

GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS (2019) Poster Art

 

Wow!