Yongary, Monster From the Deep Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Yongary, Monster From the Deep Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 31, 2015

Fearing that they were missing out on all the fun occurring over in Japan, South Korea decided to join the Kaiju sweepstakes with 1967’s “Yongary, Monster from the Deep.” Admittedly, the country was a little late to the party, but when it comes to man-in-suit antics and endless shots of terrified onlookers, the feature manages to satisfy, providing a buffet of destruction and panic for fans of the subgenre, while a substantial amount of time is spent with the titular creature.

It takes roughly 30 minutes before “Yongary” feels comfortable enough to hand the effort over to the monster, providing a traditional first act that’s primarily about character introductions and a developing crisis on Earth. “Yongary” is a little more in touch with emotional responses, but it’s a paint-by-numbers affair, surveying civilians, scientists, and military officials reacting to Yongary’s arrival and his insatiable thirst for fossil fuels. What’s interesting about the feature is how closely it remains on the creature once he erupts from the depths, tracking the beast as he destroys everything in his path. The production isn’t one to simply tease Yongary’s involvement, it celebrates it.

Yongary, Monster From the Deep Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

HD isn't exactly a friend to "Yongary," with the AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation offering the feature a level of clarity that generally reveals all the limitations of the special effects. Perhaps this is a gift to fans of the subgenre. Either way, the picture looks acceptable, with colors mostly intact, surveying pleasant primaries and monster hues. Skintones are adequate, looking natural. Detail battles with softer cinematography, but clarity is there, permitting access to facial reactions, set design, and Yongary particulars. Delineation is acceptable, never solidifying. Source is in rougher shape, with scratches and burn marks scattered throughout. Flicker is also detected during the viewing experience.

Yongary, Monster From the Deep Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix isn't quite as forceful as hoped for, but it's functional, with emphasis on dubbed dialogue exchanges, which register clearly and directly. Scoring is acceptable but never thrilling, adding a softer sense of drama to the movie. What's lacking here is heft, finding Yongary's roar less than inspiring, while sound effects aren't offered the weight they deserve. Of course, these are likely inherent issues, but the track remains underwhelming.

Yongary, Monster From the Deep Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Steve Ryfle and writer Kim Song-ho.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Yongary, Monster From the Deep Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Seams are open for inspection here as Yongary smashes models and breathes fire. The cheesiness of the special effects is amusing, as is a mid-movie scene where the monster boogies down to pop music. "Yongary" is a strange mix of silly and serious, but it rarely lets up when it gets going, and citywide destruction committed by a stiff-looking creature with visible working parts is probably the only reason why anyone would want to sit through it.