YONGARY, MONSTER FROM THE DEEP Coming to UHD/BD from Vinegar Syndrome
In a surprise announcement, Vinegar Syndrome has revealed that they will be releasing the South Korean kaiju film Yongary, Monster From the Deep (1967) on Ultra HD. The two-disc UHD/Blu-ray set is said to ship later this month. A deluxe Limited Edition with slipcase can be ordered exclusively from their website and is limited to 6,000 copies, and features fantastic art by Matt Frank.
Previously released on Blu-ray and DVD by Kino Lorber in 2016, not only will will this edition feature the first UHD release, but will also include the rare surviving portions of the original Korean cut, subtitled in English.
The company also notes ”Not only have we painstakingly restored the film from its 35mm Interpositive, we’ve also reinstated its original theatrical title sequence to ensure our presentation matches how the film was first seen close to 60 years ago."
Pre-order from Vinegar Syndrome:
Limited Edition
Standard Edition
Vinegar Syndrome details the release and the wealth of extras below:
This special limited edition 2-disc 4K UHD/Blu-ray set comes with a spot gloss hard slipcase + slipcover combo (designed by Matt Frank) and is limited to 6,000 units. It is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Earthquakes are causing havoc throughout Korea and it's no simple seismic mayhem, but instead the mythic monster Yongary emerging from the earth! After nuclear testing awakens the giant monster presaged in Korean folklore, Yongary threatens to level the country, breathing fire and stomping entire buildings. Only scientist Il-Woo, with the help of his girlfriend's prankster kid brother Icho, can figure out how to slow down the terrible Yongary, who gobbles up petroleum products and only appears to be growing stronger. The seemingly powerless army considers using guided missiles against Yongary, potentially demolishing ancient historical landmarks in order to save lives, all in the hope of stopping his fiery path of destruction.
Considered one of Korea's first giant monster epics, Yongary, Monster From the Deep is a vital and original take on the genre, with an expertly handled monster, a healthy dose of humor, and even a clever touch of sentiment shown towards the monster itself. It also boasts masterful special effects crafted by the legendary Keizô Murase (Mothra, King Kong vs. Godzilla, Gamera, etc.) himself, character stories built around Il-Woo and Icho, and utterly exquisite miniature work. This kaiju classic and long-time staple on regional U.S. TV has something for everyone, including a jaw-dropping rock 'n roll dance sequence! The folkloric monster team at Vinegar Syndrome is proud to bring you this beloved creature classic, newly restored in 4K and finally featuring the surviving fragments of its original Korean language version.
directed by: Kim Ki-duk
starring: Yeong-il Oh, Jeong-im Nam, Lee Soon-jae, Moon Kang, Kwang Ho Lee
1967 / 80 min / 2.35:1 / English Mono
Additional info:
-2-disc Set: 4K Ultra HD / Region A Blu-ray
-4K UHD presented in Dolby Vision High-Dynamic-Range
-Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm interpositive
-Commentary track with film historian Samm Deighan
-Commentary track with film historian Steve Ryfle & writer/critic Kim Song-ho
-All that remains of Daegoesu Yonggari, the original Korean cut of Yongary with newly translated English subtitles, sourced from tape and courtesy of the Korean Film Archive (48 min)
-Archival video interview with legendary kaiju suitmaker Keizo Murase, originally produced for TohoKingdom.com (20 min)
-"Yongary: The Birth of Korea's Monster" (19 min) - a featurette with Korean film historians Kim Hyun-jae, Hong Gi-hun, and Park Sang-kyu
-Video introduction by film historian Sean Rhoads, co-author of Japan's Green Monsters: Environmental Commentary in Kaiju Cinema (8 min)
-Image gallery
-Anatomy poster by renowned kaiju artist Matt Frank
-Reversible sleeve artwork
-English SDH subtitles
