The X From Outer Space

About The X From Outer Space

The X from Outer Space, released in 1967, is a Japanese science fiction Kaiju film directed by Kazui Nihonmatsu. The movie presents a captivating plot about an interplanetary voyage to Mars which is interrupted by a giant extraterrestrial life form that follows the spaceship back to Earth causing massive havoc.

Making / Production

The film was produced by Shochiku, a notable film studio in Japan known for producing Sci-fi films. While the film belongs to the Kaiju genre, it exhibited a slightly different touch of more light-heartedness and wackiness, which sets it apart from its contemporaries.

Actors

• Eiji Okada, who played Dr. Kato, depicted an intelligent scientist in charge of the mission with a thoughtful and engaging performance.
• Shun'ya Wazaki, as Captain Sano, offered an authoritative presence with his commanding performance.
• Peggy Neal as Lisa, the American representative of the astronaut crew, added a great touch of diversity with her role.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The ‘X’ in the movie title is short for the alien monster, Guilala, introduced in this movie.
• This was the first Kaiju movie produced by Shochiku.
• The film was created to match the growing international interest in space and Mars in the late 60s.
• In 2008, the monster Guilala made a second appearance in the film "Monster X Strikes Back/Attack the G8 Summit" after 41 years.

Quotes

• "We got to Mars - but we've brought something back with us!" - (Captain Sano)
• "This entity could change the face of the Earth as we know it!" - (Dr. Kato)

Music, Soundtrack

• The film’s music is a notable aspect of the production, with Taku Izumi composing the score. Tracks such as "The X from Outer Space" and "Monster Guilala" are memorable pieces from the movie.
• The use of eerie sounds and sudden notes underlined the element of suspense throughout the movie.

Note: Surprisingly, 'The X from Outer Space' didn't receive any awards despite its unique plot. It's a worth-watching movie for anyone intrigued by Sci-fi and alien monster genre with a touch of 60's aesthetic.