Gamera vs. Gyaos (1967)

Turtle vs Bat

Gamera vs Gyaos is the third installment in the Showa era for Gamera. It features the two Kaiju, the requisite annoying child, and a Kaiju merry-go-round with a fountain of pink bubbling "blood".

After Gyaos emerges from an active volcano, the giant, bloody battles are on! Gyaos is able to split things in half with his laser-like sonic sounds. He can't turn his head and like a vampire, avoids the sun. Gyaos also enjoys eating people when he's not carving up planes and buildings with his beams. Gamera acts as the good guy in this movie battling this fierce opponent. There is a subplot about people wanting to build a road and the "greedy" farmers and villagers who apparently want to be paid well for their land and being displaced.

The humans, with the exception of the annoying child, do a good job in their various roles trying and failing to stop Gyaos. When there's a terror on the loose only a turtle can handle the job!

The rubber suits were not very good. Gyaos was a poor man's attempt at Rodan. Gamera's wires were visible on several occasions. The special effects, even for 1967 were rudimentary at best. Having said that, Gamera's spinning fiery flying was fun to watch.

The one positive I would say about this movie is that the monsters are on screen more often than not and there were several battles. Though with the exception of the blood letting and people falling to their deaths or being eaten and the giant vat of blood used to lure Gyaos into the daylight, this felt like a children's movie. If you can watch it with a child-like fascination it might prove entertaining. I found it unintentionally humorous, but I'm not sure that is a reason to recommend this movie.

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