Academy Award-winning make-up effects artist Howard Berger (ARMY OF DARKNESS, JENNIFER’S BODY, DRAG ME TO HELL) and acclaimed journalist Marshall Julius are celebrating monsters, monster movies, and monster moviemakers with the ultimate love letter for horror fans, “Making Monsters: Inside Stories from the Creators of Hollywood’s Most Iconic Creatures” in a gorgeous new hardbound book that is a MUST have for anyone that call themselves a horror fan.
Making Monsters dives into the world of the greatest horror movies ever made to answer the question: what makes a great movie monster? To find out, Howard and Marshall include interviews with more than 75 luminaries in the film industry, from legendary directors John Carpenter and Wes Craven and iconic horror film actors like Barbara Crampton and Simon Pegg, to dozens of make-up artists including Tom Savini and Greg Nicatero along with music composers and writers themselves.
With a foreword by Robert Englund and afterword by Alex Winter, Making Monstersexplores the creature feature genre, from the earliest days of monsters with Lon Chaney and Bela Lugosi, to the newest arrivals of Art the Clown and Vecna from STRANGER THINGS. The book is a behind-the-scenes tale of what goes into making a horror movie, as well as an all-access collage of never-before-seen on-set photos and several specially commissioned new art pieces by Jason Edmiston, Graham Humphreys, Mark Tavares, and Terry Wolfinger.
The engaging insider text and stories behind these passionate movie mammoths will have horror fans and film aficionados who truly appreciate all that goes into making a “monster movie”, chest bursting at the seams with visual gore-lore while taking you down a horror information highway that you won’t want to get off of. It’s an absolutely gorgeous piece of work that no coffee table should be without ready to go on a rainy Sunday afternoon with a pumpkin-spiced coffee in hand.
Making Monsters: Inside Stories from the Creators of Hollywood’s Most Iconic Creaturesisset to be releasedto the public on September 16th, 2025, and you can preorder your copy from AMAZON RIGHT HERE.
The Summer of 1995 was about as phenomenal in the pop culture aspect as you could get if you were a ’90s kid. We were either singing every line of TLC’s “Waterfalls” or Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know” on the way to the local theater to see the big Summer Blockbuster film. Movies like Clueless, Batman Forever, and Braveheart were some notable hits among our angsty teenage group. However, the BIG ONE everyone was waiting for arrived late in the game before school commenced, ensuring we’d all be spending our first day of class most likely in detention trying to perfect that sidekick to the kidneys. And that film was, of course, MORTAL KOMBAT.
MORTAL KOMBAT was a huge fucking deal for our generation and not just for gamers alone, but rather infiltrated the entire pop culture aspect of our adolescence as the game itself gave us prepubescents the satisfaction of taking our anger out on a video game in the most creative and bloodiest way possible. Or perhaps, if we were in a slightly better mood, a FRIENDSHIP was summoned for shits and giggles.
The rise of fighting video game culture was at an all-time high in the early ’90s, and movie producer Lawrence Kasanof (BLOOD DINER) saw potential in bringing the game to life in a knock-down, drag-out all-action film after visiting some colleagues at MIDWAY GAMES and discovering the game for the first time. However, Midway head Neil D. Nicastro disagreed that the game could be a successful film, given the failure of past movie adaptations of video games. After a couple of months of negotiations, Kasanoff finally acquired a limited option on the Mortal Kombat film rights.
With several well-known directors submitting pitches for the film, the producer chose then-unknown director Paul Anderson after seeing a screening of his 1994 debut film, SHOPPING, which Larry felt demonstrated that he could take an innovative approach to the material. Anderson had no experience with visual effects but was an avid fan of the game and had a rock-hard erection about making aMORTAL KOMBATmovie, so he read every book he could find on visual effects and, in his words, “kind of bluffed my way in.”
I respect the shit out of that kind of trickery.
A couple of fun facts:
Filming began in the Summer of 1994 in both Los Angeles and Thailand and was completed before the year was out, but not without its share of on-set problems; I mean, it’s MORTAL KOMBAT, of course! This wasn’t going to be a flawless victory.
There were many actors considered for the roles of both our heroes and villains, but Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa was the filmmakers’ first and only choice for the role of Shang Tsung. He came to the audition in a costume and read his lines while standing on a chair. Robin Shou beat out Jason Scott Lee and Russell Wong for Liu Kang and Linden Ashby was cast for Johnny Cage after the actor who inspired the character itself, Jean-Claude Van Damme turned it down; but not before mega stars Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp were considered. Cameron Diaz, hot off THE MASK with Jim Carrey was originally cast for Sonya Blade but had to drop out due to a wrist injury, calling in “Dat Ass” Veronica Vaughn, I mean, Bridgette Wilson who was initially passed up and flew out on her last day of filming BILLY MADISON to strap on her combat boots for the film. Steve James (AMERICAN NINJA) was originally cast to play Jaxx, but he died from pancreatic cancer a year before production on the film began, and the role of Rayden was first offered to Sean Connery.
I’m gonna be honest, I’m really glad Sean turned that down because he went on to do really great things on Celebrity Jeopardy.
MORTAL KOMBAT opened in theaters nationwide on August 18th, 1995 and by the gods of Outerworld, us kids were hyped the fuck up to see this movie. But we were also a tad bit skeptical after being jaded with STREET FIGHTER, which was released during Christmas break eight months prior, and being underwhelmed by the lack of faithfulness to the game storylines; to be fair, though, I appreciate the movie a lot more now than I did at the age of twelve.
I, and a few friends at the tender age of thirteen, hopped on our bikes to make the 3-mile trek to our local movie theater-back before there was nothing but chains and theaters only in casinos here in Las Vegas, to the brick-built Red Rock Theater 11 (the 11 meaning 11 screens which was a big deal for you whippersnappers). We bought our tickets and marched to the movie room, Butterfinger BB’s and an ICEE to crack us out in a sugar rush to bear witness to what was, and still is, the greatest video game adaptation ever. And that ain’t just nostalgia talking. All was silent as we were anticipating for the movie to start and then.. This happened. And we all collectively creamed our jeans.
For being a 30-year-old film, the movie, even now as an adult, is still so much damn fun and holds true to the games more so than what is ever given credit for. Like, remember when Mortal Kombat movies had tournaments, which was the whole point of the game? The movie has cheese, but the cheese is necessary in palatable doses. I don’t want to live in a world where Johnny Cage doesn’t utter, “Those are $500 sunglasses, asshole.” I just don’t. And the actual one-on-one fights? Set in backdrops that are recognizable from gameplay is the kind of chef’s kiss that makes me want to burst.
The fights themselves, in particular Cage Vs Scorpion, or Liu Vs Reptile, are full of so much aggression and energy that it parallels the intensity of the game perfectly- especially that of a teenage kid seeing this for the first time back in the 90s. But even as an adult, I still feel those same goosebumps every time the beat drops and Reptile comes full form and at 100 miles per hour. You can read my MK 1995 fight rankings here.
FUN FACT: Robin Shou fractured two ribs while being thrown into the pillar here, but kept quiet about it for fear that the production would be shut down. He told only Keith Cooke, the actor who plays Reptile, asking him not to hit him on the right side of his rib cage, and finished the scene before going to the hospital. What a fuckin’ soldier.
People will argue that the lack of character development in the film undercuts any of what I’m saying here. But tell me honestly: Did you watch this movie wanting a biography on Liu Kang or Johnny Cage, or did you want to see MORTAL KOMBAT? A game, now a movie, that slams your balls into the wall with quirky one-liners, fantastic martial arts fights, and canon moves from gameplay that we spent the last few years trying to perfect. I’m guessing the latter, which in point, case closed.
When adapting a beloved and popular game, care should always be taken to craft a story of quality, but it’s also equally important to capture the spirit of the game being made. It is crucial to understand the experience one has when sitting down and playing a game such as MK and all the emotions that come along with it. Excitement, fear, and frustration, all those things were felt when watching the film, and that is no easy task, I can assure you. Watching MORTAL KOMBAT back in 1995 vs. now evokes the same hits of dopamine that make this film such a cult classic. The movie understood the fucking assignment and delivered on all platforms. Except for perhaps that Sub-Zero fight, but, hey, not all of those battles were perfect.
With the 30-year anniversary of one of the greatest things to come out of the 90s and MORTAL KOMBAT II creeping into theaters later this Fall, I felt it was important to put out there the impact this game, and film had on the generation of 90s kids, and is just as popular and relevant today as it was three decades prior. Just do yourself a favor if you haven’t already and ignore the follow-up of MORTAL KOMBAT: ANNIHILATION entirely.
When it comes to Kaiju cinema, two names have been battling it out from the very beginning of time. Two massive forces that could essentially end all life on the planet should either of them ever get the gumption to do so. Of course, I’m talking about Godzilla and Gamera, two juggernauts who have fought a silent war across the world for the admiration, awe, and adoration of fans all around.
These two colossus beings have (sadly) never crossed paths to fight it out in a movie. Still, the question fans have always asked is who would win if Godzilla and Gamera ever came face to face in a world-ending battle that would not only determine the future of our pitiful little species but would alter the destiny of the entire cosmos.
If you’ve not seen as many Kaiju films as I have, and unless you’re an ultra-nerd uber-dork like yours truly here, you may not fully realize the god-like powers Godzilla holds within himself. In Shin Godzilla, that terrifying aspect of Godzilla’s might was momentarily explored in how Godzilla evolved from one stage of destruction to the next granting him new powers to crush and disseminate a path across all woefully in his way. He was utterly indestructible, and each level of evolution made him more than a conqueror of worlds.
This unique iteration of the King of the Monsters elevated his destructive powers to degrees never before witnessed. He is a terror born from toxic filth and radiation, a being of agony and in constant pain. A misery he brings to the world as punishment to mankind for how we’ve abused the planet by pouring toxic waste into the waters without a second thought to the consequences.
They could not defeat Shin Godzilla. They could only freeze him which means he’s still out there and should he thaw…well we’re fucked. The director’s opened up about the hidden power of Shin Godzilla, how he would’ve continued evolving into a stronger and better vessel of death and wrath. That evolution would have grown until his indominable might reached out into space, spread across the stars, and in a Lovecraftian display of nightmarish power taken over the galaxy entirely. Now that’s power and slightly terrifying
In Godzilla Minus One we see a youthful Godzilla that’s pure might and fueled by relentless rage. His atomic breath causes a delayed atomic nuclear blast on par equal to the dreaded Bomb itself. Imagine that power given the chance to grow and fully mature. Imagine his reach as he destroys the whole of Japan only to set his sights on other countries.
What’s stopping him from branching out? That’s a fun and scary thought. GMO is a massive achievement for Kaiju cinema being that it’s the first Godzilla movie to win an Oscar and the film took the world by storm largely because it stuck to the original concept – Godzilla is the Monster of the Apocalypse. A man-made monster born of the atomic bomb and fed by nuclear power. The perfect beast to spell our doom.
Gamera would be our only savior. Gamera, the friend of children and the guardian of the galaxy. Gamera who isn’t afraid to sacrifice a limb to protect us from sensational dangers such as Godzilla.
If they ever got the rights worked out these two fighting in a movie would be out of control! Forget Godzilla vs King Kong. Put the monkey to rest and bring in the giant Atlantean Turtle! It would be an onslaught of might and power, an atomic glowing display of brute force as all the dangers of nature slammed fists against cosmic divinity.
We need this movie to happen. We need the two studios to give each other a big hug and work things out so fans can watch this awesome battle of the ages take place. I would hope that by the end of their personal war, the world would stand on the brink of doom. A desolate hellscape of smoldering cities, cratered nations, and seas boiling from the aftershock. If I was a billionaire, this is what I’d be using my money to make happen.
Whereas fans never have seen the battle of these two gods take place (yet) there’s always been a cold war between Godzilla and Gamera. A war between their movie franchises. So impactful has this conflict been that it’s altered both of their destinies and forced the two monsters to undergo unique evolution over the last 70 or so years. In 1954 audiences shrank back in horror as a new breed of monster stormed its way onto the screen.
Gojira! Walking out of the shadows of King Kong, Godzilla soon became a titan in his own right and began a whole new breed of cinematic monsters. These monsters were giants and world killers. King Kong may have inspired the concept but Godzilla is his own beast. A killer born into the atomic age against his will. An unfit child for a world that foolishly ushered him into existence. It was a hit, and soon rival studios saw only potential in the idea.
In 1965 Deisei Film Studios brought the world an answer to Toho’s monstrous success with Gamera, a giant turtle. At first, Gamera is presented as another monster of destruction but Deisei realized they needed a new angle to their beast if they wanted him to survive Godzilla’s fame. So they let their giant monster appeal to a younger audience and so Gamera became the gentle and fun-loving friend to children.
A monster kids (whose families literally survived an atomic blast) could look up to and not be scared of. The idea was a goldmine! Not only could kids at the time dance around the Gamera movies but once they grew up, they introduced their own kids to the loving protective turtle of their childhood.
Gamera was an unexpected success even with all its zany camp and fun. The zany camp and fun are what made Gamera such a treasure. Toho stood back and watched the results and decided their giant monster needed a bit of a redo. Fans of the Showa era Godzilla films are very familiar with a HUGE tonal shift in the movies. We go from Gojira, a beast to be terrified of, to a silly romp of Megalon ass-kicking alongside Jet Jaguar.
You can clearly see which movies Gamera affected in Godzilla’s history. The fun campiness of many of Showa’s movies is what kept Godzilla a cultural mainstay in many people’s minds and it’s all thanks to a fire-breathing turtle. Still the two beasts fought it out over box office results as well as the hearts of fans near and far.
The Heisei Era
This is when the heat ramped up for both monsters. The Showa Era was ended for both. Toho gave fans a huge monster slugfest on Monster Island (and a couple more movies to follow) as a grand send-off for the legendary monster of monsters. Godzilla was done and it didn’t seem like he’d be back…until he did return. In 1984 Toho released The Return of Godzilla and took things back to their horror roots. They said forget all that Jet Jaguar and Son of Godzilla stuff. Godzilla was once scary so let’s make him scary again.
The whole movie is blanketed with a sense of overwhelming dread. It doesn’t hurt that it was released during the heat of the Cold War and people were going to bed scared to death to wake up to the world burning all around them. The possibility of being nuked was at an all-time high and was the perfect setting for Godzilla’s triumphant return. The movie released in the West a year later as Godzilla 1985. I remember being four years old and seeing an ad on TV for this movie and I LOST MY SHIT! A NEW Godzilla movie?!?!? I couldn’t contain myself. Everyone was talking about it.
This movie was a big fucking deal! Godzilla was back with updated effects and a brand-new look. He felt more indestructible than ever, and I couldn’t have been happier. I got the VHS for Christmas one year and it was a prized treasure in my collection. I’ve watched the movie to fucking death too. I mean I’ve had to replace the tape twice now.
Little be known to us Godzilla was raging over in Japan. The Heisei era was only just begun, and Toho was bringing back beloved monsters like Mothra, Rodan, and Ghidorah and fans were loving every minute of it. But, just as had happened with the Showa Era, Deisei Studio was paying attention, and if Godzilla could come back in such a massive way why couldn’t their Gamera?
Their war at the box office was rekindled and holy dog shit on toast it was wild! Let me make something very clear. I love Godzilla. For the longest time, Heisei Godzilla’s design was my favorite look of the monster, it’s since been replaced by Minus One’s. But let it be known I’m going to fanboy for Godzilla no matter what…but those Gamera movies are no joke!
I mean they’re really, really good!
I’d never really watched a Gamera movie before if we’re honest. The first Gamera film I sat down to watch was from the Heisei trilogy, a trilogy I bought for $5 on Blu-ray and didn’t have high expectations for. I pretty much went in blind and came out a true believer! Removed now was all the silliness and Gamera was suddenly a force to be reckoned with and taken seriously.
In Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, Japan is being attacked by these flying monsters called Gyaos, a classic beast Gamera battled way back in 1967. Gyaos are swooping in and eating people. One moment that stands out to me is when our heroes stumble upon a huge white pile of bird shit and it hit me. That’s people! The movie is pretty shocking in its unexpected brutality. It’s not Video Nasties level brutal but for a Kaiju film, it pushes the envelope. The Gyaos are a serious threat and so Gamera rises to answer Earth’s need for a protector.
As with Godzilla the Heisei Gamera films gave the monster suits a much-needed update and fill the movies with spectacular special effects like lots of explosions. Expect some great Kaiju battles and a lot of kaboomy action!
Guardian did so well that it inspired two sequels: Gamera 2: Attack of Legion which just makes it sound somehow biblical and fits into the apocalyptic tone for these movies.
Gamera 2 finds a special place in many fans hearts and for many it’s the best Gamera’s ever looked. The monster battles are that much more impressive as we see Gamera at times covered in swarming hordes of the Legion as he still fights for our survival against astronomical odds. In the first movie the Gamera suit looks…how do I say this respecfully? I guess soft. He looks good but you can tell the studio had a better budget and put it to good use making this sequel an even more exciting experience. But that only leads to my personal favorite of the trilogy!
Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris is not just my favorite of the Heisei trilogy here but it’s actually one of my top five favorite Kaiju movies of all time. The main antagonist, Iris, is just so fucking cool and steals the show right away. He starts off early on looking like a cute alien snail and you can’t help but love the little guy. He’s innocent enough and somewhat sweet. But then he grows into a mother-fucking god of destruction and only Gamera can save us!
If Ghidorah is the main antagonist to Godzilla, then I argue Iris is that to Gamera. Not to mention Iris is just so cool to look at. He also brings a heightened threat to Gamera that’s never been seen before. I suppose their conflict could be on par with the battle-heavy madness of Godzilla vs Destoroyah.
This is also my favorite look for the Gamera costume. Take a look.
I mean just look at this badass! You know I had to get this version of the character in my figure collection. They’ve fully let their monster mature and act like a tank. You can expect some great fights here between the two juggernauts.
These three films took Gamera out of the camp and gave them heart and fangs and made them mother-fucking metal as all Hell! The giant turtle was taken seriously, and the results were in. His movies were actually outselling Godzilla’s at the time. Gamera could bleed and take damage. In one moment of the series, he loses an arm in battle but doesn’t stop fighting. Gamera had a vulnerability to him that audiences found endearing. People cheered for Gamera and hated seeing him take a beating. Not to mention the trilogy had some top-notch Kaiju effects. Godzilla’s superior reign had been challenged and the two monsters fought it out to win the hearts of the fans all over again
Anyone who knows my writing here will know how much I love Godzilla. So it might come as a shock for you to know that when it comes to the Heisei Era of both franchises I actually prefer Gamera’s films over Godzilla’s. I know shocking right? That doesn’t mean the Heisei Godzilla movies are crappy or anything because holy hot damn are there some good ones during that era. Godzilla vs. Destoroyah alone! But by a very small margarin Gamera wins me over for the time period and also depending on my mood. The Gamera trilogy was a massive treat and took my totally by surprise by how great they are.
In both cases, the Heisei Era was good for both franchises, and it’ll always hold a special place in my heart. The films of the era all just have a great look about them. The monster suits were all given a much-improved updated look….all except Mechgodzilla but that’s another issue entirely. But yes, Godzilla and Gamera were back and better than ever.
The Heisei movies were full of explosions, fire, chaos, and loads of face-melting destruction. Cities were smashed to the ground as giant monsters battled it out for supremacy. The era secured their place in pop-culture, reintroducing these monsters to a new generation of kids as well as pulling in fans who grew up watching the Showa films.
As result there was mass pandemonium in the streets and mobs of people ran their little feet off to go see these movies as they hit theaters…. only in fucking Japan! For some reason, we never got to see these movies for the longest time. I never got ahold of them until DVDs became a thing and I think I ended up collecting them all sometime around 2010. For one thing they weren’t easy to find and for another they were damn expensive whenever you could find one on the rare occasion!
Final Thoughts
Back when Shin Godzilla took the world by storm it was rumored Gamera was getting a new movie as well in light of his 50th Anniversary. Well, Deisei failed us and nothing happened. Since then, we’ve had a whole new Godzilla franchise take over with the Legendary films and Toho released yet another Godzilla movie with Minus One.
Now after Godzilla: Minus One, my absolute favorite Godzilla movie btw, there’s still room for Gamera to do what he’s always done and come in after Godzilla’s shadow. I would love to see Gamera have special effects on par with what Minus One showed us. There’s always a need for a giant flying fire-breathing turtle.
There’s also always room for a possible battle between the two monsters. Could we see it happen? I’m still holding out hope. Nevertheless, at the very least, we may still get to see the two fight it out at the box office if someone ever brings Gamera back. Will it be like Shin and Minus One and make its way over to a theater near me? I can only hope it will.
As of writing this Tubi’s uploaded the Heisei Gamera trilogy and the Heisei Godzilla movies. It’s a perfect time to relive the battle of the monsters. Or maybe even watch them for the first time. Lucky you if that’s the case because you’re in for a treat. So, crack open a beer and get yourself a pizza and indulge in the days of mass destruction in an age of giant fire-breathing monsters.
The only question now is who would come out the victor? Godzilla or Gamera? Fans have debated this heatedly. Me personally I think in this battle there would need to be a clear good guy and a definite bad guy. Let’s take Godzilla to his roots and say he’s the villain, a massive force of utter destruction hellbent on destroying us all. To answer the threat would be Gamera, but he’d be in the toughest fight of his entire life as he stood up against Godzilla.
Could Gamera beat Godzilla? It’s definitely possible but I think Gamera would crawl away from the fight in pieces. It would be a bittersweet victory. It’d be very interesting if Gamera had to fight Shin Godzilla. Oh, heck or even Minus One’s Godzilla. Also, would Gamera have our help like would we deploy Mechagodzilla to assist the Guardian of the Universe? That might be the only way Gamera could get a leg up on the fight. However, it happens it’s fun to think about so share your thoughts with us.
Nightmare Nostalgia 