“We are astro quasars.”
The Helios 7 space probe is on a mission to study the planet Jupiter. The probe is infected by a Space Amoeba. It is a parasitic extraterrestrial. The probe returns to Earth and crashes into the South Pacific. The amoeba leaves the probe and then infects a cuttlefish mutating it. The cuttlefish becomes gigantic and starts attacking people on an island. The island is one that investors want to turn into a resort.
The cuttlefish is fabulous. It’s huge and it can get up on it’s tentacles and walk around on the island. It tears the native village apart. The resort people find a way to destroy the cuttlefish. They think they are safe and then the two other monsters appear.
The next creature the amoeba takes over is a crab. The crab mutates into Ganines. Once again villagers on near-by islands are attacked. Ganines is lured into a pit and blown up. For a third time the amoeba takes over a creature. This time it choses two creatures, another crab and a turtle. The turtle mutates into Kamoebas. Once again there is rampaging, once again, a small band of heroes must devise a plan to save mankind.
This force, AKA “Yog”, can take over any animal and make it a giant mutant. Each time the monster needs a new form it invades a new creature. Throughout the movie it takes over three different animals. The giant kisslip cuttlefish is called Gezora, the giant crab is called Ganines, and the giant turtle is Kamoebas. Lunch anyone?
“Space Amoeba” was released in 1970 and was directed by Ishiro Honda. It is a TOHO creation. It was released in the US as “Yog Monster from Space” Granted its not the best TOHO movie but I did have an absurd fondness for the silly looking cuttlefish.
The other two monsters are also well done. Of course all three are guys in rubber suits. After all it wouldn’t be a TOHO monster movie without them. But they are well done rubber suits. After the aliens are defeated the two remaining creatures resort back to their natural behavior but they’re still big. There’s a wonderful fight at the end between the crab and the turtle that reminds you, Yes this is definitely TOHO. OK Harryhausen it ain’t, but it is fun.
American dubbed
Japanese version