Criterion: Shochiku Boxset 11/20/12 (Goku, X from Outer Space, & 2 More)

[X-human]

Just in time for Christmas Criterion announces Eclipse Series 37: When Horror Came to Shochiku:

Following years of a certain radioactive rubber beast’s domination of the box office, many Japanese studios tried to replicate the formula with their own brands of monster movies. One of the most fascinating dives into that fiendish deep end was the short-lived one from Shochiku, a studio better known for its elegant dramas by the likes of Kenji Mizoguchi and Yasujiro Ozu. In 1967 and 1968, the company created four certifiably batty, low-budget fantasies, tales haunted by watery ghosts, plagued by angry insects, and stalked by aliens—including one in the form of a giant chicken-lizard. Shochiku’s outrageous and oozy horror period shows a studio leaping into the unknown, even if only for one brief, bloody moment.

20 Nov 2012
DVD Box Set
4 Discs
SRP: $59.95
Collector’s Set Includes:

The X from Outer Space 1967
Kazui Nihonmatsu

When a scientist crew returns from Mars with some space spores that contaminated their ship, they inadvertently bring about a nightmarish Earth invasion.

Goke, Body Snatcher From Hell 1968
Hajime Sato

After an airplane is forced to crash-land in a remote area, its passengers find themselves face-to-face with an alien force that wants to possess their bodies and souls—and perhaps take over the entire human race.

The Living Skeleton 1968
Hiroshi Matsuno

In this atmospheric tale of revenge from beyond the watery grave, a pirate-ransacked freighter’s violent past comes back to haunt a young woman living in a seaside town.

Genocide 1968
Kazui Nihonmatsu

The insects are taking over in this nasty piece of disaster horror directed by Kazui Nohinmatsu. A group of military personnel transporting a hydrogen bomb are left to figure out how and why swarms of killer bugs took down their plane.

http://www.criterion.com/boxsets/928...me-to-shochiku

I'm not familiar with Genocide but I've been waiting to see the rest of these for awhile now. Do these count in the half off sales?

[russweiss]

I've seen Goke and X From Outerspace but not Genocide or Living Skeleton. Looks like a great set.

[MorallySound]

Nice! I've only seen Goke but really look forward to this set. I have a few of the other Eclipse box sets on my 'need to buy' list but still haven't gotten around to grabbing any of them yet.

[ArrowBeach]

GENOCIDE is OK, but it is a odd hybrid of a bug attack/espionage revenge/romance film, with a break ending, so it isnt camp, except for the bad acting by the blond American female fatale.

[Erick H.]

Sounds like a cool set.

[Jeremy]

I can't afford this set and I don't have time to watch it...But I MUST have it! Seriously, I'm pre-ordering it now.

[bruce h]

Well, *that* took long enough... This November, The Criterion Collection finally issue a quartet of late '60s horrors from Japan's Shochiku Company. Running the gamut from giant, beaked, city-smashing monstrosities to parasitic alien life forms that hide in your forehead, from vengeance-seeking sea ghosts to genetically engineered super-bee attacks, this collection showcases some of the country's more wildly adventurous outings and will definitely have *something* to satisfy your pulp-trash cravings. Easily one of this year's more essential releases.

Preorder:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ag=cinema09-20

U.S. GOKE, BODY SNATCHER FROM HELL (1968) trailer:
http://youtu.be/Kh2mvH9QFqY

Japanese THE X FROM OUTER SPACE (1967) trailer:
http://youtu.be/BpdpPdoQpDw

Japanese GENOCIDE (WAR OF THE INSECTS) (1968) trailer:
http://youtu.be/AwNHNgd86Og

[Jeremy]

I've never bought an Eclipse set before, although I know they are basically barebones other than liner notes. I do, however, wonder if they'll include the English dubs that are available for at least X and GOKE, along with the original Japanese soundtracks.