YONGARY, MONSTER FROM THE DEEP (Daekoesu Yonggari | 대괴수용가리)

• Directed by Ki-duk Kim
• Starring Yeong-il Oh, Jeong-im Nam, Soon-jae Lee
• 1967 | 80mins | South Korea | Event: 18+

“A MONSTER FROM ANOTHER AGE… WITH TERRIFYING DESTRUCTIVE POWERS! A MAMMOTH BEING THAT INVADES THE EARTH!”

Earthquakes in central Korea turn out to be the work of Yongary, a prehistoric gasoline-eating reptile that soon goes on a rampage through Seoul.

Directed by Ki-duk Kim, GREAT MONSTER YONGARY – to give the film its original Korean title – was produced to compete with GODZILLA’s global franchise dominance during the great monster boom. It’s full of the kind of practical suitmation and miniature visual effects you’d expect. The producers even recruited Japanese SFX technician Kenichi Nakagawa to shoot the miniature action sequences and GAMERA’s suit designer Masao Yagi, to build the spectacularly horny monster.

The film was a success domestically but sadly, the original Korean release is now considered partly lost as only a 48minute version survives. In a BAR TRASH first, we’re showing the American dubbed release – YONGARY, MONSTER FROM THE DEEP – in the best imported version we can find. Whilst YONGARY won’t ever feature amongst the hall of famers you’ll find elsewhere in MONSTER MAYHEM!, we know you’ll fall in love with this fire-breathing, dancing wannabe with a laser-firing nose horn.

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 £3.