Released in 1985, Pulgasari is North Korea's first and only kaiju movie. Made through an unlikely collaboration between North Korean actors, a South Korean director, and a Japanese effects team, the film was only released outside of the DPRK years later. Kim Jong-il soon disowned Pulgasari due to the 'defection' of Shin Sang-ok, the film's director. Supposedly due to the efforts of some Japanese crew did the movie eventually make its way to other shores. Or so goes the story. There's all kinds of tales and rumors swirling around the strange production of Pulgasari. Together with Nicole and Stu from Marvelous, or the Death of Cinema, we unpack what was really going on with Pulgasari.

Lan's extended notes for this episode:  ...