Chris Stewardson

@chrisstewardson

I write about monster films. my book on GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER (1964) is out now. profile pic by Yuji Kaida. can’t read DMs here I’m afraid.

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Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· 18d

chuffed.org/project/1346...

A fundraising post for Ibrahima Bah.

The text reads as follows: “DONATIONS NEEDED. WE ARE IN NEED OF MORE FUNDS TO KEEP SUPPORTING IBRAHIMA. Ibrahima was recently moved between prisons, impacting his access to basic needs and services - including emails, a fan he had ordered to cope with the heat, and some of the music he had been working on! We have had a massive slowing of donations, impacting our ability to support him with basic expenses or to send money to his family. Please help with any support you can.”

Below the text is a QR code to a chuffed page.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Jul 13

X: THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES + THE TRIP. What can be seen beyond the immediate? What’s gained or lost by seeing it? Corman answers with vivid, lurid images. Colours split and light bounces.

A screenshot from X: THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES (1963). The image shows three skeletons from the waist up. The light is splitting into a spectrum of colour; each skeleton leaves a trail of blue, green, and red.

A screenshot from THE TRIP (1967). The image shows a closeup on Peter Fonda’s eyes. Red lines and specks of shadow sit across his face.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Jul 13

EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS + INVASION OF THE NEPTUNE MEN. Alien visitors in metal armour unleash spectacular saucer devastation! Both films also include scenes in which their aliens communicate via recorded tapes which need specific playback speeds to be understood.

A black-and-white screenshot from EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS (1956). The shot shows the interior of an alien spacecraft, which is dark and shadowy. In the middle of the space are four humans. They are looking toward the left of the frame where a large screen shows the vastness of space. Against the spaceship’s walls are two viewing ports, through which two alien beings in silver armour watch their human captives.

A black-and-white screenshot from INVASION OF THE NEPTUNE MEN (1961). A humanoid alien being is raising its arms menacingly. The being is wearing a bizarre silver spacesuit with a large, conical helmet. A prominent visor cuts across the front of the helmet, which also has circular antennas protruding from its right and left side.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Jul 6

“Bug-a-thon” engagements at us drive-in theatres, 1962-1963.

A newspaper ad for a fabulous “Bug-a-thon” drive-in movie marathon. Included in the lineup are THE FLY (1958), THE DEADLY MANTIS (1957), EARTH VS. THE SPIDER (1958), and TARANTULA (1955). Printed in the Springfield Leader and Press, Springfield, Missouri. 7 July 1962.

A newspaper advertisement printed in the Grand Island Independent, Grand Island, Nebraska, 12 September 1963. The advertisement shows a fantastic “Bug-a-thon” drive-in theatre marathon. Included in the lineup are THE FLY (1958), EARTH VS. THE SPIDER (1958), THE WASP WOMAN (1959), and ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES (1959).

A spectacular “Bug-a-thon” drive-in theatre marathon advertised in the Galion Inquirer, Galion, Ohio, 27 April 1963. The lineup includes EARTH VS. THE SPIDER (1958), RETURN OF THE FLY (1959), ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES (1959), THE DEADLY MANTIS (1957), and TARANTULA (1955).

A brilliant “Bug-a-thon” drive-in theatre movie marathon, advertised in Fort Lauderdale News, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 11 January 1963. The film lineup includes: EARTH VS. THE SPIDER (1958), TARANTULA (1955), and THE BAT (1959).

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Jul 3

interestingly, when GHIDRAH ran in Detroit theatres in October 1965, Louis Cook of the Detroit Free Press offered this amusing comment in his review:

An excerpt from a newspaper review of GHIDRAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER, printed in the Detroit Free Press, 22 October 1965. The copy reads, “You really need a score card to keep your monsters straight these days, although there is a large and avid audience of specialists who keep track of The Blob as carefully as if it were Debbie Reynolds.”

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Jul 3

when released in the us in autumn 1965, GHIDRAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER had no set co-feature, meaning theatre circuit owners could freely pair it with a variety of films. For example, in December 1965, GHIDRAH was paired with THE BLOB (1958) at multiple theatres across the San Francisco Bay Area.

A newspaper advertisement for a screening of GHIDRAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER and THE BLOB at the Coliseum Drive-In in Oakland, CA. Printed in the Oakland Tribune, 10th December 1965.

A newspaper advertisement for a double bill of GHIDRAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER and THE BLOB, printed in the Times-Herald, Vallejo, CA, 8th December 1965.

Another newspaper advertisement for a double bill of GHIDRAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER and THE BLOB, showing at three theatres in December 1965. Printed in the Redwood City Tribune, Redwood City, CA, 8th December 1965.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Apr 23

Very pleased to share that I’ve written an essay for this set all about Paul Blaisdell and his marvellous monsters.

A picture of a blu-ray cover. At the top of the cover is the title, which says “BEASTS UNLEASHED.” Below that are illustrations of the alien creature from THE BEAST WITH A MILLION EYES and the dinosaur from THE BEAST OF HOLLOW MOUNTAIN.

This picture lists the specs for the blu-ray set, which reads as follows: BEASTS UNLEASHED
LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES*

Limited Edition of 2,000 copies | Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Mute | Reversible inner sleeve featuring original poster artwork for both films | Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by genre film expert Christopher Stewardson on special effects artist Paul Blaisdell and THE BEAST WITH A MILLION EYES and a new essay by film journalist Sean McGeady on Weird Westerns and The Beast of Hollow Mountain | 1080p HD presentations on Blu-ray | Original English mono audio | Optional English subtitles (SDH) | TERROR FROM BEYOND THE STARS - new interview with science fiction expert Mark Bould on THE BEAST WITH A MILLION EYES and alien invasion cinema in the 1950s | WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH - new interview with critic Kim Newman on THE BEAST OF HOLLOW MOUNTAIN and the resurgence of dinosaur films in the 1950s | Original theatrical trailers |
* All extras subject to change

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Apr 14

GODZILLA MINUS ZERO (2026)

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Apr 8

ICYMI: my book on GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER is up for a Rondo Hatton Classic Horror award in the category of “Best Book on 70 Years of Godzilla”! If you’d like to vote for my book (or another!), head over to the Rondo Hatton website! rondoaward.com/rondoaward.c...

A scan of a book cover. The book is called Constellations: Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster. The cover’s background colour is yellow and its text is red. In the centre is an illustration of King Ghidorah’s birth scene by Hamish Steele.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Apr 5

Ultraman Ace, episode 14.

An edited screenshot from The Simpsons. Ultraman Ace’s face has been placed over Bart’s, who is holding a chair above his head, ready to hit his father. Meanwhile, Homer is taking a bath. Baraba’s face has been placed over Homer’s.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Apr 5

Ultraman Ace, episode 13.

A screenshot from King of the Hill depicting Bobby Hill kicking his father, Hank, in the crotch. The face of Ultraman Ace has been placed over Hank’s; the face of the Choju (terrible monster) Baraba has been placed over Bobby’s.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Apr 4

KISS ME DEADLY + CITY OF FEAR. Film noir itself consumed by the cultural destabilisation of the atomic age, conveyed with claustrophobic conviction as the Bomb and its radioactive legacy leave nowhere to run, no corner of “american life” untouched by their shadows.

A screenshot of the climax from 1955’s KISS ME DEADY. A house burns on a beach with bright intensity.

A screenshot from 1959’s CITY OF FEAR. Vince Edwards’ character looks near death as he clasps a container close to his chest.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Apr 4

TARGETS+MADHOUSE. Actors playing themselves facing obsolescence. It isn’t just “Byron Orlock” asking what his films are worth in a world that’s far ghastlier, it’s Karloff, too. When “Paul Toombes” questions where the real horror ends and the fictional begins in a callous industry, so does Price.

A screenshot of Boris Karloff in 1968’s TARGETS.

A screenshot of Vincent Price in 1974’s MADHOUSE.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Mar 26

Very pleased to share that I’ve written the liner notes for Eureka’s upcoming release of MADHOUSE (1974), one of my personal favourite Vincent Price films!

A promotional photo of Eureka Entertainment’s upcoming blu-ray of 1974’s MADHOUSE, starring Vincent Price.

The special feature specifications for Eureka Entertainment’s upcoming release of MADHOUSE (1974). The specifications are as follows: Limited Edition of 2,000 copies | Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring original poster artwork | Limited edition booklet featuring new writing on MADHOUSE by genre film expert Christopher Stewardson and an archival interview with director Jim Clark conducted by John Hamilton, originally published in THE DARK SIDE | 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray | Original English mono audio | Optional English subtitles (SDH) | New introduction to MADHOUSE by horror novelist Stephen Laws | LIGHTS, CAMERA, MURDER! - new video essay on MADHOUSE by horror and gothic scholar Mary Going | Audio commentary by film historian David Del Valle | Archival making-of featurette | Stills Gallery | Original theatrical trailer |
* All extras subject to change

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Mar 20

My book on GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER has been nominated for a Rondo Hatton Classic Horror award! This is a lovely surprise and a wonderful honour! Thank you very much! rondoaward.com/rondoaward.c...

On the left of the photo, a King Ghidorah (キンダギドラ, 1964) figure looks at a laptop on the right. On the screen is the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror awards website, detailing an award nomination for the book, Constellations: Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, in the category of “Best Book on 70 Years of Godzilla”.

A screenshot from the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror awards website. The screenshot shows all the nominees in the category of “Best Book on 70 Years of Godzilla”. At the top, the nomination for Constellations: Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster is highlighted in green.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Dec 31

This year, I published my book on GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER. There are things I wish l'd done better and/or differently, but I hope bits of it can be useful. I love the film dearly, and l've been so lucky to work with wonderful people on this project. If you've read a copy, thank you!

An image of a yellow book with red lettering. The title reads: “CONSTELLATIONS: Studies in Science Fiction Film and TV”. Beneath the letters is an image of King Ghidorah’s fiery birth scene by Hamish Steele. Below the image is further text, which reads: “GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER”, along with the author’s name. On the left of the book is an action figure of the 1964 Godzilla. On the right is an action figure of Ultraman (C-Type mask).

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Dec 30

When AIP released Bert I. Gordon’s EARTH VS. THE SPIDER in late 1958, some exhibitors employed truly fabulous methods to advertise the picture. Motion Picture Exhibitor, 17 June 1959.

A screenshot from the 17 June 1959 edition of the Motion Picture Exhibitor. It details the theatre display of the Carver theatre in Rock Hill, SC. The copy reads as follows: “Here is a home-made display gimmick we recently created and used on American-International's "The Spider" to good results. We strung a web (plain white cord) over the whole entrance lobby. Then we manufactured a large spider, which hung over the ledge of the boxoffice. This was made of stuffed black cloth with pipe cleaners for legs and two large white buttons for the eyes. A few rubber spiders were also stuck around on the boxoffice window and on the lobby…” (continued in next photo).

Continued from the last image: “…wall. This display was up about two weeks in advance and the four times normal business we did on the film is partially attributed to it. The strange part of it was that we had more adults than children who were attracted by the display, yet it was the children who talked-it-up.”

This photograph from the 17 June 1959 edition of the Motion Picture Exhibitor shows the gigantic spider display at the Carver Theatre in Rock Hill, SC.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Dec 19

シェー!

A photo of a television set. On the screen is a scene from ELECTRIC GUITAR YOUNG GUY (エレキの若大将, 1965). Actor Kunie Tanaka is also performing the shé from Osomatsu-kun.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Dec 19

Recreating Toho’s original double bill for its 60th anniversary. #怪獣大戦争60周年

A photo of two DVD cases. On the left is INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER (怪獣大戦争, 1965); on the right is ELECTRIC YOUNG GUY (エレキの若大将, 1965).

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Dec 17

Another incredible Bob Burns recollection comes from his time working with Blaisdell on THE SHE CREATURE.

A page from Randy Palmer’s book, PAUL BLAISDELL, MONSTER MAKER. The text reads as follows: “The night Blaisdell finished the She-Creature and first tried the costume on, Burns was there. He took a series of slides, some in 3-D, that showed off the costume's best attributes. They shot a roll of 35mm film on and around Paul's property, then walked to the nearest street that snaked through lonely Topanga Canyon. Blaisdell felt like having a little prankish fun. "Listen, Bob, I've got an idea," he whispered from inside the creature costume. "You hide behind these bushes, and I'll hide over there, and when we hear a car coming up the canyon, I'll jump out and give the driver a little scare. The road was not very heavily traveled, and it took a few minutes before they heard the sound of an approaching auto. "Get ready," Burns said from his hiding place. "I can see the headlights coming up over the hill." Blaisdell waited for just the right moment to be sure the driver would see him; then he sprang across the road in full She-Creature regalia as the car's headlights reflected off the costume. He leaped behind a bush and waited, listening breathlessly. Sure enough, the sound of squealing brakes sliced through the chilly night air. The car skidded to a stop about 20 feet up the road. After a moment, it began backing up. Then it stopped. From his hidden vantage point, Burns watched to see if anybody would get out of the car. It was too dark to see inside, but he had the feeling the driver was alone. And probably by this time pretty freaked out.”

A second page from Randy Palmer’s book, PAUL BLAISDELL, MONSTER MAKER. The text continues: “Blaisell refused to come out of the bushes. He couldn't see what was going on, but by listening to the cars engine he could pretty well what was ne diver had backed up to see what kind of hideous apparition was lying in the road. After a moment of silence, with no further reaction from hing in the, Blaisdell decided to peck over the top of the brush. The car was stopped right in front of him, and somebody was staring out the driver's side window.
Burns couldn't see his pal peering over the foliage, but he figured that Paul must have come out of hiding because suddenly the car's tires began burning rubber as the driver hit the gas to high-tail it out of there. As Burns said later, "Whoever it was probably had a pretty good tale to tell at the local bar, if he made it that far. I just hope we didn't give him a heart attack"”

A black-and-white still from THE SHE CREATURE (1956) showing the titular monster emerging from the sea.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Dec 17

Remembering Bob Burns. His work with Paul Blaisdell is amazing, and his recollection of working on INVASION OF THE SAUCER MEN as the great Wah Chang worked nearby on THE BLACK SCORPION is monster film heaven.

A picture of a page from Justin Humphreys’ book, INTERVIEWS TOO SHOCKING TO PRINT. The passage is about Wah Chang’s work on THE BLACK SCORPION (1957) and how Bob Burns and Paul Blaisdell were also working on INVASION OF THE SAUCER MEN (1957) at the same time. The text reads as follows: “Wah created a large model of the titular creature's head that was used for close-ups. The foul-looking goo seen dribbling out of its mouth was actually boiled okra that he and Glen [Taylor] had whipped up. Bob Burns remembers that, while Wah was filming those shots of the ooze, he needed an ear syringe to pump it with. Burns and the king of '50s movie monsters, Paul Blaisdell, were madly scrambling to shoot all of the f/x shots for Invasion of the Saucer Men in a nearby stage, and Wah popped in to ask if he could borrow one. Blaisdell obligingly gave him an extra one that he happened to have.”

A colour photograph of Bob Burns (left) and Paul Blaisdell holding some of the props and models from INVASION OF THE SAUCER MEN (1957).

A photo of a page from Bob Burns’ book, IT CAME FROM BOB’S BASEMENT. It shows a photograph of one of the surviving saucer men heads from INVASION OF THE SAUCER MEN (1957).

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Dec 4

Which double bill are you seeing? Lister in the Memphis Press-Scimitar, Memphis, TN, 12 December 1958.

a newspaper listing from the Memphis Press-Scimitar, Memphis, TN, dated 12 December 1958. The advertisement shows three sets of double bills at three cinemas. These double bills include EARTH VS. THE SPIDER and THE BRAIN EATERS, THE BLOB and I MARRIED A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE, COSMIC MONSTERS (a.k.a. THE STRANGE WORLD OF PLANET X) and THE CRAWLING EYE (a.k.a. THE TROLLENBERG TERROR).

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Nov 13

STAR WARS + MESSAGE FROM SPACE. Partly made bc of the former, Kinji Fukasaku’s SF draws more from Nansō Satomi Hakkenden, ahead of his more direct 1983 adaptation in LEGEND OF THE EIGHT SAMURAI. Often weighed down with franchise baggage, SW plays better with its immediate contemporaries like MFS!

a still photo from STAR WARS (1977), showing Chebacca, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, and Han Solo in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon.

A screenshot from MESSAGE FROM SPACE (1978) showing most of the film’s leads: Sonny Chiba, Makoto Sato, Hiroyuki Sanada, Philip Casnoff, and Peggy Lee Brennan.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Nov 13

HOUSE OF WAX + HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER. Scorned and discarded artists use their craft for bloody vengeance and bodily possession.

A screenshot from HOUSE OF WAX (1953). Vincent Price sits in a wheelchair in front of a wax sculpture of a man hanging in an elevator shaft.

A screenshot from HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER (1958), showing makeup artist Pete Dumond (Robert Harris) finishing work on the Teenage Werewolf.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Nov 13

ROMAN HOLIDAY + GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER. An obvious pairing as Ishiro Honda directed Akiko Wakabayashi to play Princess Salno with Hepburn’s Princess Anne in mind! ROMAN HOLIDAY was also successfully re-released in JP in 1963, and it shares dozens of other similarities with GHIDORAH!

a still from ROMAN HOLIDAY (1953), showing Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn sharing a drink.

a screenshot from GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER (1964). King Ghidorah takes to the skies as Godzilla looks on, flanked by towers of fire.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Nov 13

GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH and HOUSE are bleak and mournful reckonings with both intimate and societal post-war conditions, realised in bold and terrifying ways. Pollution and grief as all-consuming monsters, deepening gaps between generations with further pain and isolation.

a still photo from GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH (1971). Hedorah flies past Godzilla over a smog-laden industrial site.

a screenshot from HOUSE (1977), showing an animated sequence in which the titular house is depicted as a living creature, its hands outstretched.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Oct 17

for @filmmasters.bsky.social, i recommended a few movies for the Halloween season. www.filmmasters.com/post/five-fi...

a collage featuring images of Yuzaburo Sakaguchi in Masked Ninja Akakage (1967-68), the monster Guiron from GAMERA VS. GUIRON (1969), a giant alien skull from PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES (1965), and two giant leeches from the poster for ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES (1958).

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Sep 27

Please give what you can to support Jakhi McCray. givesendgo.com/freejakhi?ut...

A screenshot from Jakhi McCray’s fundraiser. It says, “Free Jakhi McCray Fundraiser!
Jakhi McCray is a committed organizer in the Palestine and abolition movements and
beloved member of many communities across New York and New Jersey. He is facing federal persecution for allegedly setting fire to police vehicles belonging to the 83rd precinct in Brooklyn, New York. The NYPD estimates $800,000 worth of damages and regards the charred remains of these cars as a direct attack on the police and the carceral system that they enable. Jakhi turned himself in on Monday, July 21, 2025. The next day, in a small but significant early win, he was released on a $300,000
signature bond into house arrest at his family home in New Jersey. He is currently living with his mother, stepfather, and siblings.”

A second screenshot from Jakhi McCray’s fundraiser. It says, “At the age of 21, Jakhi faces a charge that carries a minimum sentence of 5 years of incarceration and a maximum of 20 years. In a letter he wrote to the movement prior to turning himself in, Jakhi spoke from a place of deep moral clarity and fortitude, stating: "I'm not, nor was l ever, scared. This scare tactic is nothing compared to other black people who are beaten and/or murdered, and their names dragged through the mud as the media does damage control for the officers that did it. It's not new to Palestinians and Arabs that are
being assassinated, deported, and harassed.
I've met immigrants that live under daily paranoia, not knowing whether ICE goons will bust through their doors and kidnap their families."

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Jul 22

An image of an Asian Forest Scorpion (Heterometrus petersii) standing up against the side of their enclosure.

A UK lobby card for THE BLACK SCORPION (1957), showing the gigantic scorpion of the title reaching up to grab a helicopter.

Chris Stewardson@chrisstewardson· Jul 9

if you’re headed to G-Fest this weekend, give us a shout if you see my book on sale! www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10....