Gorgo (1961) Review

Monster Appearanes: Gorgo, Ogra

In one of our earliest reviews, we revisited the 1961 classic Gorgo, one of the standout non-Japanese kaiju films of the era. The movie delivers well-shot monster scenes and impressively expressive suits and animatronics, making Gorgo a memorable addition to the pantheon of giant monsters. While it leans heavily on bluescreen effects, which can occasionally feel dated, it still captures the chaos and thrill of a rampaging kaiju.

Gorgo in Captivity

Interestingly, the film features almost no likable human characters, which in most movies might hurt the narrative. Here, though, it works in Gorgo’s favor, allowing viewers to fully immerse themselves in the monster’s mayhem and destruction. Unfortunately, the main characters escape most consequences, with the only tangible “punishment” being the destruction of their circus act, a small price in the grand scheme of the monster’s havoc.

Overall, our review highlights what makes Gorgo a fun, chaotic, and flawed creature feature that’s still worth revisiting worth revisiting.

Gorgo Movie Review

Additionally, Dan did a Blu-ray analysis of Gorgo. At the time, this release was the best available, though since then Vinegar Syndrome has released a 4K remaster. The restoration work on this Blu-ray (shown below) is impressive, even if there’s still room for improvement. The included Ballyhoo documentary is a standout feature, practically worth the price of the Blu-ray on its own, offering fascinating insight into the film’s production and legacy.

Blu-ray Analysis