MONSTER MAYHEM! – GAMERA THE GIANT MONSTER (大怪獣ガメラ | Daikaijû Gamera)

• Directed by Noriaki Yuasa
• Starring Eiji Funakoshi, Michiko Sugata, Harumi Kiritachi, Junichiro Yamashita
• 1965 | 78mins | Japan | Event 18+
• Doors: 7:00pm | Intro + Film: 7:30pm | Event: AGE 18+
• Food & drinks served to your table (kitchen closes at 9pm)

“THE SUPER-MONSTER EVEN THE H-BOMB CANNOT DESTROY…”

From out of the arctic comes a gigantic flying, fire-breathing turtle that sets its sights on destroying Tokyo.

GAMERA is the giant snapping turtle in Japan’s ever-expanding kaijū menagerie. Released by Daiei Film to compete with Toho’s world-stomping GODZILLA franchise, GAMERA became an endearing and enduring tribute act that found its own fanbase and survived multiple spawnings.

GAMERA THE GIANT MONSTER (1965) is an action-driven origin story that swiftly establishes the monster’s signature moves: an appetite for and ability to breath fire (impressive!); capacity to turn into a spinning, rocket-powered flying saucer (odd!); and, an affinity with children (tolerable here, harder to stomach later in the series…). Originally shot in black and white to save money, this was the only monochrome title in the GAMERA series, but it gives the film some extra gravitas.

GAMERA THE GIANT MONSTER was re-edited and released in the USA as GAMERA THE INVINCIBLE (1966), replacing some dodgy ex-pat acting and downgrading child star Yoshiro Uchida (Toshio). However, it’s Bar Trash, so we’re showing the original version with its burnt-in Japanese sub-titles and full-blown terrapin fancier tantrums… The spaceship finale would launch Daiei Film’s strange beast into stratospheric superstardom.

BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by Token Homo. All films screen with introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, themed drinks and subtitles/captions (where possible!). Tickets from £1.