Camp Kaiju: Monster Movie Podcast

There's something magical about '80s fantasy: wizards, knights & maidens, stop-motion creatures of nightmare... case in point, DRAGONSLAYER, a Disney co-production delivering a hell-fiend worthy of nightmares! Magic & Monsters returns to slay the dragon movie of all dragon movies. Plus, conversations on the genre, special effects, and your favorite quiz show. So grab your swords, shields, and wizard poles and away we go!

Thank you for listening. Follow for more on patreon.com/campkaiju, leave a rating and review, follow on Instagram, send an email at campkaiju@gmail.com, or leave a voicemail at ⁠⁠⁠(612) 470-2612⁠⁠⁠.

We'll see yo...

More T-Rex, more raptors, more Jeff Goldblum. Does Spielberg deliver paleo-gold or should the dinos stay buried? Helping us decide is Noah, of Cinematic Jurassic! We discuss all things Jurassic Park, old school dinosaur movies, and real-world paleontology. So grab your high-hides, gymnastic bars, and lucky packs - we're excited to share this one with you folks!

Thank you for listening. Follow for more on patreon.com/campkaiju, leave a rating and review, follow on Instagram, send an email at campkaiju@gmail.com, or leave a voicemail at ⁠⁠⁠(612) 470-2612⁠⁠⁠.

We'll see you next time for Dragonslayer...

Celebrate Peter Lorre as he wraps up The Poverty Row Picture Show - a series exploring the forgotten B horror films of Hollywood's Golden Age. Delight in revisiting the segments featuring your favorite hosts and gags, plus plenty of Peter Lorre trailers! The Master of Menace has been thrilling audiences for 100 years; let's honor his work now on Camp Kaiju, for never has anyone done so much for so little.

You can follow for more on patreon.com/campkaiju, leave a rating and review, follow on Instagram, send an email at campkaiju@gmail.com, or leave a...

Kong turns hero as he battle madmen, dinosaurs, Mechani-Kong, and a lady named Piranha. Not to mention one unfortunate ape suit. Part Bond movie, part Saturday morning cartoon, it's all together memorable. It's King Kong like you've never seen him before! Plus remembering Sam Neill, Kaylee Hottle, upcoming monster movies, a special Season Announcement, Peter Lorre's farewell, and more Thom Shubilla (he gives us the lowdown on Bela Lugosi Road!)

Thanks for joining this Kong-worthy adventure! Follow us on patreon.com/campkaiju, leave a rating and review, follow on Instagram, send an email at campkaiju@gmail.com...

Everyone’s favorite game! We debate the kaiju-ness of the following beasts: Frankenstein, Gremlins, Jaws, Paul Bunyan, Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors, the Monolith Monsters, Nancy from Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, the ants from Them!, the Mushroom People from Matango, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the Manster. The question is simple, but the answer? The claws come off in this regular monster bash!

Special thanks for Beth Bredlau, Chris McVillain, Ed Godziszewski, and everyone there on that legendary day. And thank YOU for listening and please let us kn...

Live from G-Fest! Evaluating the American cut of Godzilla, film noir, intertextuality, film theory and more. But that's not all, nerds: Beth reveals newly published material about dancer and actor, Amy Iwanabe, who played Emiko for the American footage. Uncredited until now, Iwanabe receives her long-deserved recognition. We're celebrating her, Godzilla, and all things kaiju at G-Fest 2026! Eternal thanks to Beth and everyone who made the panel something to remember, and thank YOU all for listening.

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Linda Miller, star of King Kong Escapes, shares memories of working with Ishiro Honda, Akira Takarada, and Kong himself! Plus on-set shenanigans, her favorite Toho films, and livin' the convention life. And you know we've got plenty of Green Slime talk. Plus, author Thom Shubilla joins the party!

It's a special episode with some special people. HUGE thanks to Linda Miller for stopping by Camp Kaiju, HUGE thanks to Thom for making it happen, and HUGE thanks to you all for listening! We hope you enjoy.

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It's harvestin' time when creepy kids worship an evil corn god with a little sacrifice here and there. And hey, Naomi's back! A Children of the Corn superfan, she shares her experience at the Japanese premiere, what K-I-N-G-O is all about, and more! Plus, how the 1979 Iranian Revolution inspired the movie, the creepy kid genre, and Peter Lorre's final Poverty Row review. You heard all that correctly, so let's crank up the popcorn machine and get to it!

Thank you all for listening! Follow us on patreon.com/campkaiju, leave a rating and review, follow on Instagram...

Aliens possess the world's machines, sending a convoy of trucks to terrorize a band of gas station dumb dumbs. With music by AC/DC and direction by Stephen King, what could go wrong? Well... don't drink and drive, folks.

We're getting under the hood to assess this 80s highway to hell: behind-the-scenes turmoil, lost eyes, substance abuse, and even George Romero's rumored shadow direction. Plus, why Evil Dead II owes its existence to the film, King's work & legacy, and more Simpson's references than you'd expect. Now get in - we're putting this baby into maximum overdrive! (Whatever...

The Martians are here and they're out for blood. Or rather, your complete and utter vaporization from the face of the earth. Run to the hills as these invaders withstand everything from A-bombs to bibles. Is there nothing that can stop them? We discuss this and more: special effects wizardry, Cold War thematic underpinnings, its legacy (Mars Attacks and Independence Day anyone?) and the legacy of H.G. Wells' original novel that continues to challenge our notions of war and conquest. Ah, just a little lighthearted conversation you know?

But thank you all for listening...

Surprise! Kaiju events abound this summer and we want you to know about them! Camp faves Beth and Chris swing by to give the deets on Godzilla Weekend: Mothra Madness and our upcoming panels at GFest 2026. Then don't forget our special screening of Alligator (1980) in Minneapolis! Plus, we're giving you a sneak peek into next week's episode all about The War of the Worlds. So get ready for 90 minutes of monster mayhem!

Thank you all for listening to this special episode. Follow us on patreon.com/campkaiju, leave a rating and review, follow on Instagram, send an...

Chaos in Tokyo when two Gargantuas battle for the soul of a nation. Or at least dibs on dessert. Because that's right - the BAD Gargantua EATS people and the GOOD Gargantua tries to stop him. And guess what else? They're BROTHERS! AND they're technically mutated bits of Frankenstein DNA! AND... AND... you'll just have to see for yourself in this kaiju flick featuring the combined powers of Honda, Tsuburaya, and Ifukube. BUT IS IT WORTH THE OVERUSE OF ALL-CAPS?! That's the battle right there. Plus, Russ Tamblyn vs. Nick Adams, the International vs. the U.S. dub, Gargantuas...

Behold the first big-budget dinosaur flick! Before King Kong, these dinos romped and stomped their way into our stop-motion hearts. With adventure, romance, and comedy what's not to love? Ooohh, right, right right right right... the terribly-outdated-and-offensive-racial-depictions-of-a-century-old-movie. Right...well...um... it all makes for meaningful conversation! Plus, the miraculous restoration work on the film, O'Brien's early dino shorts, the concept of time, demons in the Answering Machine Zone and more! It's an action packed episode worthy of THE LOST WORLD.

Thank you for listening! Follow us on patreon.com/campkaiju, leave a rating and review, follow on...

Giant scorpions erupt from the bowels of the earth to disembowel men, women, and children in this big bug B-movie from Willis O'Brien (*ahem* King Kong). You'll marvel at the special effects, laugh at the cheesy one-liners, and wish the annoying little kid would just get eaten already. Plus, more connections to King Kong, MST3K talk, love for Bruce Campbell, updates on GFEST, and an actual listener voicemail! ¡Epa! Bust out the tequila!

Thank you for listening! Follow us on patreon.com/campkaiju, leave a rating and review, follow on Instagram, send an email at campkaiju@g...

Coffin Joe's his name, pluckin' eyeball's his game. Brazil's first horror movie gives Freddy Kreuger a run for his money as a sadistic undertaker terrorizes the townspeople. But will Coffin Joe's evil plans succeed, or will he break a nail trying? We answer these questions and more! Plus, conversations on philosophy, cult horror, and the meaning of taste. Coffin Joe has some ideas. Yikes. So grab your leg-of-lambs, top hats, and tarantulas and meet us in the graveyard!

Special thanks to Frank for joining, and special thanks to YOU for listening! Follow us on patreon.com/campkaiju...

Kaiju be trollin' in this Nordic mockumentary that modernizes the fairytale troll with roaring action, humor, and shaky cameras. And yet, something's got our goat with this one... so grab the UV-light gun, slather yourself in troll urine, and blast the Christian rock as we track down all the reasons TROLL HUNTER both rocks and slides. Plus, conversations on fairytales, storytelling, Monty Python and more!

And thank you for hanging out! Follow us on patreon.com/campkaiju, leave a rating and review, follow on Instagram, send an email at campkaiju@gmail.com, or leave a voicemail at ⁠⁠⁠(612) 470-2612⁠...

All hell breaks loose when a young woman is possessed by a demon; with help from her lover and a hunchback, Alucarda takes on the Church and burns any nun who stands in her way. Sounds pretty good, right? And if you don't mind a little torture and full-frontal nudity, then we think you'll have a helluva time. But tbh, Alucarda offers much to consider: systemic oppression, the value of foreign films, and the line between artistry and exploitation. And did you know Alucarda spelled backwards is "a Dracula"? All that and more on this devil-may-care episode!

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An African prince is cursed to eternal bloodsucking, cape-twirling, and sideburn upkeep in this groovy spin on the Dracula tale. With vampires galore and wicked special effects, there's plenty to sink your teeth into; and then... stereotypes creakier than an 18th century Transylvanian coffin. We explore this and more: the 1970s Black cinema movement - dubbed Blaxploitation - and its complicated legacy, onset racial tensions, and whether or not Mamuwalde had any other choice but to throw those barrels. Thank you to Shawn Pryor for helping out - we raise a Bloody Mary to you!

And thank...

Surprise! Author Thom Shubilla swings by camp to discuss his new book! It details the colossal production of King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), the involvement of Ishiro Honda, Tsuburaya, Forrest J. Ackerman, and Linda Miller (who worked with Honda on King Kong Escapes) and more. Full of insight, it's a love letter to both Kong and Godzilla - the most colossal beasts the world has ever known. Talk about famous monsters of film land!

Plus, we ask Thom's opinions on everything from King Kong (1976) to Godzilla (1998). We can't thank him enough for his work, time, and fandom.

High in the Himalayas lurks the Yeti. But other threats await in these mountains of madness: paranoia, avalanches, mystic monks, and Peter Cushing's improv. So grab your bear traps, rifles, and spot of tea as we explore this underseen film in the Hammer Horror legacy. Plus, conversations on cryptozoology, classic British horror, left vs. right brained people and more! HUGE thanks to screenwriter, Stephie Theodora, for joining the expedition.

And thank YOU for listening! Follow us on patreon.com/campkaiju, leave a rating and review, follow on Instagram, send an email at campkaiju@gmail.com, or leave...

MechaG, Rodan, and Baby Godzilla get the hey-hey-Heisei treatment; Godzilla gets kicked in the butt brain; and Miki's up to her old psychic ways. It's a sci-fi feast for the eyes with an epic score from Akira Ifukube. Honestly, what more could you want from a Godzilla movie? A coherent human drama? Get off your high Pteranodon - this is a kaiju movie after all! Join us we discuss all the campy goodness; plus, Peter Lorre returns to finally review Crazy Knights. Was it worth the wait?

Thanks for listening friends! Follow us on patreon.com/campkaiju...

Peter Lorre has survived man-eating plant monsters, an existential crisis, and moving in with Vincent. Now he returns from his honeymoon with Lenore, with some ideas for the Picture Show. Will we listen to him, or lock him in a dungeon with more fishheads? Grab your Gamera Gong mallet and find out on the Poverty Row Picture Show! Bela Lugosi even makes an appearance!

You can follow for more on patreon.com/campkaiju, leave a rating and review, follow on Instagram, send an email at campkaiju@gmail.com, or leave a voicemail at ⁠⁠⁠(612) 470-2612⁠⁠⁠.

We'll see you next...

Happy Hallo - no, wait - Happy Holidays! Ring in the new year with the ghosts of hosts past, as we play games, talk monster movies, and reveal the first 12 episodes of 2026! Please let us know what you're most excited for! Or, maybe most afraid of? Either way, THANK YOU for listening and supporting!

You can follow for more on patreon.com/campkaiju, leave a rating and review, follow on Instagram, send an email at campkaiju@gmail.com, or leave a voicemail at ⁠⁠⁠(612) 470-2612⁠⁠⁠.

We'll see you next time for another Poverty Row roundup befo...

Get in the Jaeger, we're cancelin' the apocalypse with Guillermo del Toro's love letter to the mecha and kaiju genre. But is the film entirely drift compatible? Or are we easily impressed by practical effects, intricate cinematography, and big space swords? Joining this monster mash is Sean Childers (Big Mecha But Not Huge; Toku For Two), ready to swing an oil tanker at any kaiju that crosses his path.

And thank YOU all for being a part of the team! Follow on patreon.com/campkaiju, leave a rating and review, follow on Instagram, send an email at...

If any of the following makes you uncomfortable, be warned: blood, sex, Christopher Walken, philosophy, and more. But actually, this vampire film is rather serious and may challenge your sensibilities. We welcome Frank Olson back to help us take a bite out of it. Now grab your garlic and dust off your Nietzsche - we're going back to school. Vampire school.

Thanks for listening, friends! Follow on patreon.com/campkaiju, leave a rating and review, follow on Instagram, send an email at campkaiju@gmail.com, or leave a voicemail at ⁠⁠⁠(612) 470-2612⁠⁠⁠.

We'll see you next time for Pac...

You're caught in our web with this one! There's no other way to spin it. Spiders fall from space, get really big, and eat people. We're celebrating the movie's 50th anniversary and you should too! And who better to do it with than the director and producer himself, Bill Rebane. Now, as you'll hear, the monster movie gods didn't play nice with our recording... nevertheless, we've stitched something together that we're happy with. Kind of like The Giant Spider Invasion, maybe this episode is so-bad-it’s-good? Let us know. So pour yourself a drink, grab a fly swatter, and en...

Ain't no monster like a triphibian monster. Baby Gappa is stolen from its island home, so mama and papa must destroy Japan to save the tyke. Kaiju films boomed in the 60s, but GAPPA is all-but-forgotten today, despite memorable effects. Oh. But wait. Could it be the blackface? It might be that... well... well... well, join us in that discussion along with the Gappa Family, Peter Lorre, and more! Plus, Monster from a Prehistoric Planet (the US release), women in classic sci-fi, and why, if given the choice between Gappa and Ebirah, the answer is always Gamera.

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A monster is taken from its homeland, promptly escapes, and climbs the nearest landmark. No, it's not King Kong, but a hungry space alien looking for a place to sleep. I mean, wouldn't you after 20 million miles? So heat up a bag of sulfur and put on your cowboy hat - we're doing as the Romans do in this 50s sci-fi fantasy. Along the way, we discuss the groundbreaking special effects of Ray Harryhausen, Naomi's adventures at New York Comic Con, Halloween parties, and more! It's an episode fit for the Colosseum!

Thanks for listening, friends! If...

Love can make a guy do funny things. Torture, abduction, mass murder... but hey, he's just misunderstood. Right? Grab your backstage pass as we visit a classic classic - Lon Chaney's iconic turn in the film that launched the Universal Monsters.

But do words like "iconic" and "classic classic" still hold true for a silent film? Do we feel obligated to enjoy a 100 year old movie, or does it actually stand the test of time? We're very excited to explore this, silent movies, and more. And we can't thank Paul McGuire Grimes enough for joining!

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Ever feel like you're being watched by a lost soul? An interdimensional monster? Or even spooky ol' Bette Davis? What if... all of these were true? From deep within the vault comes Disney's scariest movie of all time. Or so they say. It's been buried so deep that few have actually seen it! But whether you have or not, we hope you enjoy this special episode about the state of Disney AND horror in the late 70s and early 80s. Let's get spooky!

If you enjoy Camp Kaiju, please leave a rating and review. Subscribe to campkaijupodcast...

Can you outrun a giant mutant bear? As long as you're faster than the guy next to you! Prophecy puts the camp in Camp Kaiju, exploring serious themes in very schlocky ways. Good messaging, bad effects; good characters, bad casting; good guy with axe, bad guy with chainsaw. Not to mention giant tadpoles and killer sleeping bags. It's all here in this eco-horror cult classic that you gotta see to believe. Then, Peter Lorre's back to review The Monster Maker (1944) about a mad doctor injecting his enemies with acromegaly. It's also a little cringe... So honestly, not a bad...

He lives! He loves! He definitely does not laugh - his heart just won't take it! After receiving a new heart, the King finds a queen to fill it... Lady Kong... and together the big apes must survive everything from tank battles to drunken rednecks. But will Kong and his love make it? Will they escape? Will they... live?? There's only one way to find out! So get on your motorcycle and grab an alligator snack - it's time for Kong to be the 80s action hero he was born to play. And special thanks to Ben Cook-Feltz for...

An evil alien plots to take over the world by mind-controlling giant sea creatures. Squids, turtles, and even a lobster! No Godzilla, but still plenty of kaiju mayhem from Ishiro Honda, who gives it his all. But does he pull it off? Or will we be opening our bags of melted butter?

Plus, we welcome a special guest - Sierra Parham of Saturn Video and Cafe! She shares big plans for the return of video stores and how you can support. Then, "Space Amoeba" vs. "Yog, Monster from Space", something called Kinky Kong, and Peter Lorre reviews...

Wait, there's another shark? You better believe it! Because the town won't... again... So it's up to Chief Brody to shoot guns, fry fish, and save the day! Climb aboard our lil' sailboat as we discuss the troubled production - fired directors, actors' egos, rough seas - and ask, is this a poor Jaws sequel OR a great Jaws rip-off? Then Peter Lorre returns to review Ghosts on the Loose (1943). Amity Harbor Patrol, come in Amity Harbor Patrol, this is Camp Kaiju. We're comin' in!

Thanks for listening, friends. If you like Camp Kaiju, please leave a...

Amy talks, slurps martinis, and just wants to go home. Oh, she's also a gorilla. A movie from the team behind Jurassic Park (well, except for that Steven guy) that begs us to consider who would win: a hundred gorillas or Laura Linney with a laser gun?

Don't let Amy drink alone as we discuss outrageous accents, questionable plot devices, and the very niche subgenre of ape movies - the racially repugnant ones of the 1930s/40s and the curiously kooky ones from the 90s. We're not monkeying around with this one! Peter Lorre even gets into...

Horror icon Peter Lorre reviews monster movies of the poverty row studios! Those B-movie scream factories of classic Hollywood churning out some of the best-worst movies ever made. But how is Mr. Lorre? Well, he's moved in with Matt, still subsists off of fishheads, and never comes out of his room... but what is he doing in there? Is that a glowing light emanating from under the door? What are those squaws and hisses? Is Peter okay, or has he gotten himself into more trouble? Listen now to find out! And enjoy learning a little more about the following...

Godzilla's on island time until Ebirah and Mothra crash the party, while a terrorist organization enslaves Infant Island natives for their nefarious plans. But before things get too serious, the jazz music, teen dance marathons, and wise-cracking safecrackers will keep this breezy flick rockin' and rollin'. Plus, discussions on director Jun Fukuda and the film's hidden themes with Godzilla scholar Beth Bredlau! Fresh off her Ebirah panel at GFEST XXX and successful Godzilla Days, we can't thank Beth enough for joining us. As for Peter Lorre, he's taking his own summer break until...

... Season 5, Part 2!! Vincent and...

Disney sold a flick to families about lycanthropy, black magic, Cold War espionage, and a dog literally driving a car - and it worked! Put your paws together for this movie that's so far-fetched, it'll have you howling for more. As the poster says, "a new kind of horror movie! Horribly funny!" Come on, dogs. Now that's a tagline. Thank you Patrick and Gays Do the D for your friendship and thank YOU all for listening! You can find Patrick's show in the links below.

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Fairy tales are transformed into wolfish nightmares as a young girl navigates burgeoning adolescence with help from her granny, amorous boys, and lots and lots of floofers. But beware - these pups have plenty of bite! So pull your little red hood tight and join us by the fire to discuss werewolves, severed heads, feminist folk horror and more. Big thanks to Naomi for doing so! Plus, Peter Lorre reviews the vampire film Dead Men Walk (1943).

Thanks for listening, friends! We'll see you next time for The Shaggy Dog (1959) - a Magic & Monsters special about another lycanthropy...

Giant robots duel in gladiatorial combat to settle world disputes in this epic B-movie. Thrill at dashing heroes, nefarious villains, sick martial arts, and stop-motion effects that’d make Harryhausen proud. But why have so few seen this precursor to Pacific Rim? Put on your shiny jumpsuits and cowboy hats with returning hosts, Shawn Pryor and Sean Childers, as we discuss this cinematic Saturday morning cartoon. Plus, Peter Lorre reviews the Bela Lugosi zombie-gangster film Bowery at Midnight (1942). Now get a snack, grab a toy, and dive into this action-packed episode!

BIG thanks to Shawn & Sean; and th...