The X from Outer Space
| The X from Outer Space | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Kazui Nihonmatsu |
| Produced by | Wataru Nakajima |
| Written by |
Moriyoshi Ishida Eibi Motomochi Kazui Nihonmatsu |
| Starring | Eiji Okada |
| Music by | Taku Izumi |
| Cinematography |
Shizuo Hirase Chitora Oshoki |
| Edited by | Yoshi Sugihara |
| Distributed by |
Shochiku Kinema Kenkyu-jo (Japan) AIP-TV (USA) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 89 minutes |
| Language | Japanese |
The X from Outer Space (宇宙大怪獣ギララ Uchū Daikaijū Girara, Giant Space Monster Guilala) is a 1967 kaiju film released by the Japanese film studio Shochiku. It is the first of its kind released by Shochiku, and was one of the many giant monster films made during the late '60s "monster boom" in Japan. 1967 saw the release of a monster film from each of the big studios.
The film was directed by Kazui Nihonmatsu and starred Eiji Okada and Toshiya Wazaki. It has gone under many alternative titles, including Big Space Monster Guilala. The monster, known as Guilala in Japan, is also called "Gilala" and "Girara". The film was released in the United States in 1968 as The X from Outer Space.
Plot
The spaceship AAB Gamma is dispatched from Japan to travel to Mars to investigate reports of UFOs in the area. When the Gamma nears the red planet, it comes across a mysterious alien vessel that sprays the ship with spores. Samples are taken back to earth where one of them begins to develop.
The cosmic spore grows into a giant, lizard-like creature dubbed "Guilala." The monster begins a reign of destruction through Tokyo. It spits fireballs, feeds on nuclear fuel, turns into a flying, burning sphere and destroys any airplanes and tanks in its path. Guilala is finally defeated by jets laden with bombs, which coat it in a substance called "Guilalalium." It causes Guilala to shrink down to its original spore form. The government promptly launches the spore back into space, where it will circle the sun in an endless orbit.
Sequel
Directed by Minoru Kawasaki, the follow-up film The Monster X Strikes Back/Attack the G8 Summit (ギララの逆襲／洞爺湖サミット危機一発 Girara no Gyakushū: Tōya-ko Samitto Kiki Ippatsu) was released in 2008, and unlike its 1967 predecessor, is meant as a pure comedy with some political satire. Climaxing with a battle between Guilala and a new monster dubbed "Demon-Man Take" (Take-Majin), a giant golden statue warrior who is heavily based upon and portrayed by Takeshi Kitano.
Home video releases
The X from Outer Space was released on VHS by Orion Home Video in 1989. In 2012, Criterion released The X from Outer Space in a movie pack named "When Horror Came to Shochiku," #37 of Criterion's "Eclipse" series. Included is the original Japanese-language version with English subtitles.
In popular culture
Guilala appeared in an ad for The Ladders job finding service in the late 2000s apparently using the same suit from Attack the G8 summit.