The Monster Island Film Vault

Hello, MIFV MAX! Kaiju author Neil Riebe returns to discuss the one Ultraman film he likes: Ultraman Gaia: The Battle in Hyperspace. This entry in the Ultra Series is unique in that it’s a TV series tie-in that’s arguably a standalone feature. Not only that, it’s a surprisingly deep and dark meta story set in the ”real world,” and the protagonists are actually kids who aren’t ”Kennys.” What a shock! It’s a monkey’s paw tale that examines the fallibility of human nature to boot! Plus, the main kaiju, King of Mons, is one of the most epic creatures in the Ultra Series. Since the film references Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift, the Toku Topic is multiverse theory, a concept the movie introduces to the franchise.

Join us tonight for a special livestream reflecting on G-Fest 2026 in Rosemont, Illinois. Was it as great as the epic that was last year’s con? Did Nathan survive the nine hours of programming he (foolishly) took on? Did Damon choke on his first panel? Will Omni Viewer explain why Snazzy was missing? All this and more in fun discussion!

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In a shockingly (but not shockingly) looooooong episode sponsored by Damon Noyes, Nate and his executive producer make the definitive podcast episode on a kaiju-adjacent film that marks the first Disney project covered on MIFV: Dragonslayer (1981). This co-production between the Mouse and Paramount has the best-named dragon ever--Vermithrax Pejorative--that had a massive impact on fantasy storytelling despite the movie flopping at the box office. The likes of Guillermo del Toro and George R.R. Martin count it as one of the greatest fantasy films of all time. Given that the filmmakers were inspired by Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien and the legend of ”St. George and the Dragon,” it’s no surprise. Nate and Damon go so deep in their discussion, this episode may have to be transcribed into a book. Strap in!

Nathan sits down with his longtime friend and now first-time published author, Daniel DiManna, to discuss said first book: G-Cinema: An Exploration and Celebration of Japan’s Monster King. Danny is the creator and author of the ambitious Godzilla Novelization Project, but he’s also a frequent podcast guest, actor, and full-time goober, as he says. Join us for an exciting (and very nerdy) conversation!

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! And happy birthday, Ray Harryhausen! And Nate and Elijah, too. Yes, they’re back for their annual crossover, and this year in their reverse order coverage of Ray’s filmography, they’ve reached an outlier: One Million Years B.C. (1967). While it has a cinematographer and director Ray had worked with, this wasn’t produced by Charles H. Schneer or distributed by Columbia Pictures. No, this is a Hammer Film and a remake of a 1940 movie starring Lon Chaney Jr. Not only is it one of the British studio’s most successful films, it might be the most iconic dinosaur film predating Jurassic Park (see MIFV episode 79). Nate and Elijah get into all the nitty-gritty of this prehistoric epic—including the censored cuts made to the U.S. version—in this sensational celebration!