You've seen Godzilla and Gamera tear their way through the streets of Japan. Now, see a new monster for the new millennium in director Haraguchi Tomoo's
Death Kappa, from the producer of
Machine Girl and
Tokyo Gore Police. As the title reveals, the monster this time is a giant kappa, a folklore-based reptilian creature that usually lives in rivers. Tired of the string of new computer-generated monsters and destruction, Haraguchi wanted to return to the basics for his film, hiring
Godzilla set designer Takahashi Isao to create the setting of his destruction entirely out of models and without computer graphics. Like the models themselves, even the creature itself is an analog creation made entirely of rubber. An exciting throwback to the classic Japanese monster movies,
Death Kappa will surely reawaken the kaiju fan in you.
Before her death, Kaneko's grandmother makes Kaneko promise to tend to the shrine dedicated to the town's kappa just as she had all her life. One day, the kappa comes alive, attracting the attention of a nationalist militia group that wants to re-establish Japan as a military. To reach that goal, the group's mad scientist wants to extract DNA of the kappa to create an army of super soldiers, which result in the Kaneko and the kappa being captured. During their escape, an atomic bomb is set off, turning the kappa and another creature into monster-sized creatures that can mow down towns and buildings. Now, the kappa must protect the small town from the threat of the new monster.
English-subtitled DVD includes two audio commentaries, an audience reaction track, alternate ending, making of, the full version of Kaneko's song, set featurette, and a collection of promotional material.
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