The X from Outer Space

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The X from Outer Space
Directed by	Kazui Nihonmatsu
Produced by	Wataru Nakajima
Written by	Moriyoshi Ishida Eibi Motomochi Kazui Nihonmatsu
Starring	Eiji Okada Toshiya Wazaki
Music by	Taku Izumi
Cinematography	Shizuo Hirase Chitora Oshoki
Editing by	Yoshi Sugihara
Distributed by	Shochiku Kinema Kenkyu-jo
Release date(s)	March 25, 1967 1968 July 13, 1972
Running time	89 minutes
Language	Japanese
IMDb profile

The X from Outer Space (1967) is a Japanese science fiction film, released by the studio, Shochiku Kinema Kenkyu-jo, in response to the popularity of the Toho Studios Godzilla franchise. It was also the first monster movie released by Shochiku.

The film was directed by Kazui Nihonmatsu and starred Eiji Okada and Toshiya Wazaki. It has gone under many alternative titles, including Big Space Monster Guiala. The monster also has the alternative spelling Giala and Girara. It was released in the United States in 1968 as The X from Outer Space.

[edit] Plot

The spaceship AAB Gamma is dispatched from Japan to land on Mars and investigate reports of UFOs in the area. When the Gamma nears the red planet, it finds a mysterious UFO that begins to coat the Gamma with unsual spores. One of these spores is taken back to earth, but begins to develop.

The spore grows into a giant, chicken-lizard-alien monster called Guilala that begins a rampage across Tokyo. It spits fireballs, feeds on nuclear fuel, turns into a giant energy ball when it wants to fly, and destroys airplanes and tanks along its rampage. The monster is finally defeated by jets dropping bombs, coating Guilala in a substance known as "Guilalalium" that causes it to shrink back down to spore size. They promptly launch the spore back into space.