#skullcrawler 12

[nemesisthetoy]

It’s random meme time!

I really should do something with them.

[nemesisthetoy]

All of mine if we go by canon.

which oc is doomed by the narrative?

[monarch-afterdark]

Superspecies History: Skullcrawlers

Welcome once again to Monarch: After Dark, the digital gateway between you and the organisation dedicated to understanding and navigating this troubled new world we live in.

For today's communication, we begin to move away from the Titans (for now, at least) and cover the wider range of superspecies that also inhabit our world. We begin by peeling back the expansive curtains of Skull Island's many dangers with the devils that lurk beneath the surface; the Skullcrawlers.

(Pictured above: Small clip of footage recovered from the 1973 Skull Island expedition, showing the awakened Skull Devil)

Monarch Database File: Skullcrawlers

Monarch Designation: Cranium reptant (scientific name), Halakrah (Iwi name)

Height: 12-95 feet

Length: 35-194 feet

Weight: 40-100 tons

Species Designation: Necroserpere amphibian, Salamandra (sub-division)

Behaioural Classification: Hypervore, Destroyer

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A distant member of the Salamandra family of amphibians, the Skullcrawlers are ravenous and eternally hungry predators that dominate the Valley of the Fallen Gods, a boneyard holding the remains of Kong's parents. Widely considered as demonic by the native Iwi tribe, the Skullcrawlers were responsible for nearly driving the Apus giganticus species to extinction, leaving Kong the only survivor (until recently).

The Skullcrawlers have a distinct and eerie skull-like face, prehensile tongues that can drag prey to a gruesome mouth full of teeth, and a disturbing ability to mimic human voices. Their hyper-adrenalised metabolism renders them constantly needing to eat, never satisfied, to such an extent that mating pairs will attempt to devour one another after mating, and will never back down from a potential meal, even at the risk of ignoring threats to themselves such as Kong or Mechagodzilla.

The level of fear that the Skullcrawlers brought to the hearts of the Iwi was so much that they refused to speak its name. Hank Marlow, a WW2 pilot stranded on Skull Island, coined the name "Skullcrawlers" for the species. While he tried to withdraw this, personally believing that the name sounded stupid when he said it aloud, the name stuck and later became their official designation.

It should be noted that there is a misconception regarding whether or not Skullcrawlers are classified as Titans, due to an erroneous data report labelling them as 'Titanus Cranium Reptant' emerging in 2021. Just for the record, so the air is cleared, say it with us now...Skullcrawlers are NOT Titans.

(Pictured above: Close-up shot of a Skullcrawler's mouth. Unfortunately, the brave soul who took this footage did not survive the encounter)

Evolved from a line of basal non-amniote reptilomorphs from the Hollow Earth, the volatile history of the Skullcrawlers began thousands of years ago, when they seemed to wage war with the Apus giganticus species that had migrated to the island following their war with the Titanus Gojira species. As the centuries went on, the Skullcrawlers gradually wiped out the great apes until only a single pair were left; Kong's parents.

In the 17th Century, Kong's parents fought their final battle against a swarm of adult Skullcrawlers. While Kong's father held the hypervores back until one drove its tail through his head, Kong's mother gave birth to him and hid him away in a nearby cave. The newborn Kong was helpless to watch as the Skullcrawlers murdered his parents, fuelling his anger toward them and desire to defend the Iwi for centuries to come.

In 1973, at the end of the Vietnam War, a joint Monarch-Landsat expedition to Skull Island had been derailed by an enraged Kong destroying their fleet of helicopters, in response to the choppers dropping seismic charges to map the island's surface. Unbeknownst to the expedition team at the time, their charges had awakened a group of juvenile Skullcrawlers resting within thermal vents beneath the island.

One group of the expedition team found themselves taken in by the Iwi people, where they met stranded veteran Hank Marlow. Marlow revealed the existence of the Skullcrawlers to the group whilst explaining Kong's role on the island. He revealed that the seismic charges had disturbed the Skullcrawlers, and that one of the beasts had killed his enemy-turned-friend Gunpei Ikari some years prior. Marlow stressed the importance of Kong's continued survival and growth, warning that if Kong were to go down, the "Big One" would rise up and the Iwi would be wiped out.

(Pictured above: A juvenile Skullcrawler within the boneyard, circa. 1973)

When the split expedition team reunited, they moved through the boneyard on an ill-advised rescue mission for a soldier, Jack Chapman. As they moved through the boneyard, they hide from a juvenile Skullcrawler that regurgitated Chapman's skeletal remains, having killed him some time prior. The Skullcrawler attacked again, killing senior Monarch operative William Randa and shredding through Colonel Preston Packard's forces before being killed by a gas explosion triggered by anti-war photographer Mason Weaver throwing a lighter into a gas vent.

Packard pressed on with his original plan to kill Kong, despite protests from Marlow. When the ape passed out from Packard's napalm trap, the "Big One" (a Skull Devil, the last fully-grown Skullcrawler) emerged from the nearby waters and approached the party. A weakened Kong attempted to fight back but was defeated, as the Skull Devil pursued the remaining survivors.

The Skull Devil swatted away soldier Earl Cole, not falling for his attempt to coerce it into eating him whilst holding a pair of grenades. As the Skull Devil closed in on the survivors, Kong rejoined the fight and engaged it in a vicious encounter. With some assistance from the humans, Kong killed the Skull Devil by ripping its internal organs out through its mouth. Satsified that he had avenged his parents, Kong left the humans alone to be rescued from the island.

(Pictured above: Artistic interpretation of the battle between Kong's ancestors and the Skullcrawlers)

In 1995-1996, during Aaron Brooks' unauthorised expedition to Skull Island, mythographer Walter Riccio experienced visions of the island's past, including the war between the Skullcrawler's and Kong's ancestors. An English-speaking member of the Iwi, Ato, explained to Aaron that the Skullcrawler population had receded following the Skull Devil's demise, their numbers controlled by Kong and none reaching the size of the Skull Devil. The team still had to evade two juveniles in the boneyard, however.

In 2019, a horde of Skullcrawlers attempted to respond to Monster Zero's call and leave Skull Island, but were prevented from doing so by Kong.

By 2024, Apex Cybernetics had managed to obtain a number of Skullcrawler eggs, and may have been breeding the animals for experimentation. A small team composed of conspiracy theorist Bernie Hayes, Monarch director Mark Russell's daughter Madison, and her friend Josh Valentine, infiltrated an Apex facility in Pensacola following Godzilla's attack, and stumbled upon a transport bound for Hong Kong carrying a clutch of Skullcrawler eggs.

(Pictured above: A giant Skullcrawler being executed by Apex Cybernetics' superweapon, Mechagodzilla, circa. 2024)

The trio found their way into a "sacrifice pit" containing various assorted viscera from previous creatures, including Skullcrawlers. They had arrived just in time to witness a demonstration of Apex's trump card, a Titan-sized mech built in Godzilla's image, christened as Mechagodzilla. CEO Walter Simmons, witnessing the demonstration, ordered the release of "Number 10" into the pit.

Number 10, a Skullcrawler exceeding the Skull Devil in size, charged at the humans and attempted to eat Madison before being grabbed by Mechagodzilla. The mecha dislocated the Skullcrawler's limbs, leaving it helpless to defend itself as it fired it's A-74 Proton Scream Cannon into the beast's mouth, slicing the Skullcrawler in half before deactivating due to power limitations.

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And there you go! Despite the many discoveries Monarch have made since 1973, few seem to compare to the Skullcrawlers in terms of how terrifying they are. While none are known to remain on Skull Island, populations surely still exist within Hollow Earth, endlessly searching for food to reach an impossible satisfaction...

Until next time,

Monarch: After Dark

[monsters-conquer-the-world]

KAIJU KRUSH

SPECTACULAR 16... COMPLETE

The Spectacular 16 comes crashing down, taking four more monsters out of the melee. Before the Titanic 12 start their all-out attack, here's a quick review of the big baddies and huge heroes that fell in battle.

BALTAN

The insidious insectoid interloper scored solid wins over The Iron Giant and Gipsy Danger, but was inevitably Ultraman'd right back to hell.

GYAOS

Another iconic, parasitic swarm-monster has been dispatched. Gamera's perennial arch-nemesis won against the Balrog, knocked the Dragonzord out of the tourney and put up a hell of a fight against EVA-01 before being ultimately, narrowly defeated.

GORGO

Gorgo, the bouncing baby British beast, beat the bollocks out of Voltron and kicked the crumpets out of Skullcrawler. Just as the junior juggernaut was generating heat, big bad Balrog came and spanked lil Gorgo straight to oblivion.

THE IRON GIANT

He's "not a gun" and thanks to Gamera he's also "not in the tournament any more." Jokes aside, the peaceful pewter protector stomped Them and clobbered Gomora right out of the tournament before getting totaled by the titanic terrapin.

Stick around for more KAIJU KRUSH! The Titanic 12 are bursting out of a time-space rift near you... SOON

[qualxon]

1 and 12 for the ask game

1 - Who's your favourite canon character to draw/write?

I haven't exactly drawn or written much for many of the canon characters but out of the ones I have made stuff about I'd say it's between Ghidorah and Godzilla.

When it comes to Ghidorah I think I prefer drawing him, mainly because I absolutely love drawing dragon-esque things, though I do enjoy writing him most when I'm writing him as a villain. He just makes for a very fun villain and that's what I love writing.

Godzilla's kind of the opposite for me, I prefer writing him over drawing him (it's those gosh darn dorsal plates with all those shapes), though the challenge sometimes turns out to be quite fun. When I write him, I like to try and pick his brain a bit, thinking about what kind of life he's lived and how it influences his motivations, etc. He strikes me as a very "tries to keep moving forward but the past keeps dragging him back" kind of character, and boy that is my jam.

-

12 - What moment from any of the canon media (any era) lives in your head rent free?

Ok if there's one thing I love about the Monsterverse movies in particular it's when they show how straight up intelligent the kaiju are, even the "fodder" species.

One instance that always sticks out to me is this scene

Throughout pretty much the whole first half of Kong: Skull Island, the skullcrawlers are described and shown as ultra-violent creatures that think with their stomachs, hypervores that will not stop until they get their jaws around anything that either has or had a heartbeat. And that on its own is terrifying enough, but in this scene they take it one step further:

Ramarak actually stops. He looks at Cole standing before him, making no effort to run away, hell, even walking towards him!

He's suspicious. He's actually studying Cole, watching him and trying to work out why this one, tiny, almost insignificant prey has suddenly decided to offer itself up. Ramarak has no idea what Cole is planning exactly, but he knows that this isn't how prey should act, and tbh at this point he probably has a vague idea of what humans can do (namely relating to fire) and so he decided it's not worth the risk.

That is problem-solving levels of intelligence, on par with modern corvids and primates.

[gluevah]

What are your favorite and least favorite movies and movie snacks?

I think my least favorite movie that I can think of off the top of my head was 10 Cloverfield Lane. Or was it 12 Cloverfield Lane? Either way, I hated that movie specifically because one scene grossed me out so bad I felt sick. Also, Kong Skull Island is another one I didn't care for. The fight between Kong and the big skullcrawler was upsetting because I like the skullcrawlers, they're cute 🥺

Favorite movies would probably be the How To Train Your Dragon movies, Spirited Away, Belle (the anime movie), Wolfwalkers, and right now Turning Red.

Favorite movie snacks: Peanut M&Ms! They're my favorite candy. I have a mild addiction. I have like 2 pounds of them in my pantry right now. Also, nachos. I love movie nachos. And hot dogs! Movie hot dogs specifically are the best hot dogs. Also, my movie theater has really good flatbread pizzas. But top favorite is peanut M&Ms!

Least favorite movie snacks: Raisinets. Does anyone even eat them? I hate raisins, so they are definitely my least favorite movie snack.

This was a fun question. What are your favorite movies and movie snacks?

[avianxtitan]

7, 8 & 12 (For the muse development questions)

Muse Development Questions

7. Sweet or savory?

Gigavern does have a bit of a dormant sweet tooth (a long time ago when I first made him, he was fed an entire packet of skittles from a frightened child and thoroughly enjoyed it) but he prefers savory tastes, it makes it feel like he did a good job in hunting whatever he caught.

8. How do they like to unwind after a long day? 

Usually by flying. Its one of the things he’s physically capable of doing that puts him at an easier state of mind just because he typically flies above cloud level. The clouds remind him of snow during late winter and as a small hatchling, he enjoyed the snow. So it’s also partially because of nostalgia.

12. What is their pain threshold like? Will a stubbed toe take them down, or does it take something much more drastic?

Gigavern is physically built as a survivor no thanks to his many run-ins with Skullcrawlers growing up in the Hallow Earth. It takes a lot to have him in pain, but it typically reaches that specific threshold if say...He has a cracked beak, his talons are straight up broken, or even has a wing torn off if you really wanna go far.

Basically, break a few bones and he’s going to wave the white flag.

[the-kaiju-lodge]

Gorosaurus

Un antiguo monstruo que evolucionó a partir de un dinosaurio Carcharodontosauridae, Gorosaurus es una de las mas conocidas especies de Kaiju de la historia. Durante millones de años, estas criaturas vivieron en la superficie, pero durante la invasión de Grand King Ghidorah hace 12 000 años, se vieron obligados a esconderse en la Tierra Hueca. Todavía quedan pocos ejemplares, el más grande vive actualmente en la isla Mondo. Esta criatura usa Skullcrawlers y Deutalios como su principal fuente de alimento, evitando que estos monstruos acaben con las especies nativas.

Gorosaurus no es una gran amenaza para la humanidad, ya que es solo un animal grande que caza solo cuando necesita comer. Sin embargo, este dinosaurio definitivamente no es fácil de convencer, ya que puede propinar una mordedura mortal que hace que sus víctimas sangren mucho. También tiene una cola fuerte que puede derribar a los enemigos o incluso puede usarse para mantener el equilibrio, lo que le permite realizar patada de canguro, lo suficientemente poderoso como para aturdir a los monstruos más pequeños. Gorosaurus tiene garras en los dedos, muy similares a las de las aves rapaces o a los dromeosauridos, que pueden perforar incluso la piel de Godzilla.

[justanothercinemaniac]

Epic Movie (Re)Watch #195 - Kong: Skull Island

Spoilers Below

Have I seen it before: Yes

Did I like it then: Yes.

Do I remember it: Yes.

Did I see it in theaters: Yes.

Was it a movie I saw since August 22nd, 2009: Yes, #478.

Format: Blu-ray

1) 1944 prologue.

The prologue with Marlow and Gunpei does well to set up the film’s strong sense of visuals (look at how nice that freaking beach is!) and wastes absolutely no time in introducing us to our giant monster of the film. One of the criticisms of the 2014 Godzilla was its reluctance to show us Godzilla (something I have mixed feelings on) but this film just dives right into it with great effect.

2) I’ve already made on comparison with the 2014 Godzilla and the reason for that is - for those who don’t know - because this film and that film take place in the same continuity. Warner Brothers and Legendary are crafting a Cinematic Universe based on these giant monster properties, so there are some consistencies between both films which I appreciate. One of those consistencies is the opening credits scene over Monarch footage.

3) Oh boy…

Randa [towards the end of the Vietnam War]: “Mark my words: there will never be a more screwed up time in Washington.”

(GIF source unknown [if this is your GIF please let me know].)

4) The intro to John Goodman’s Bill Randa is very good at establishing how dedicated he is to his mission, even if we don’t understand the backstory yet. We know through the writing and Goodman’s performance that Randa is strongly motivated, that his personal stakes are high, and somehow this work for us even before we figure out why.

5) Samuel L. Jackson as Col. Packard.

Similar to Goodman’s Randa, we get a strong sense of the character’s motivations immediately. Packard is a dog of war who NEEDS a fight. It’s what has defined him and he tries to justify it with [and this is not an exact quote], “We fight the fight so our families back home don’t have to!” But really he’s just looking to stay in the environment he knows. War defines him and he goes chasing for a war when there isn’t one. His deprecation into madness feels very similar to Col. Kurtz from Heart of Darkness and I dig that.

6) Tom Hiddleston as Conrad.

Hilddeston’s performance in this film is a nice departure from - say - Loki (not that he’s bad as Loki). The grizzled/jaded rogue can easily be a cliché trope that ends up creating boring characters, but Hiddleston is able to make Conrad unique. He’s not Han Solo, he’s not the same character Tom Cruise seems to want to play in all his films, he’s a little sadder and a little more tragic. Hiddleston plays this well and I think it is one of many things which helps make the film as good as it is.

7) Brie Larson as Weaver.

I love Brie Larson. You could have Brie Larson read the phone book and I’d watch. I first saw her in Hoot when I was 10 and when she won the Oscar I was so freaking happy. She’s good in everything; even if the movie is of lesser quality Brie Larson is likely very good in it. This film is NOT of lesser quality and Brie Larson is still very good in it. Weaver is strong and determined without devolving into an “Action Girl” trope if that makes sense. She’s not strong because she can kickass (her greatest weapon is her camera), she’s strong because she doesn’t waiver and does the right thing even when it’s easy. She stands on her own, with Larson breathing incredible life into the part which helps her stand side by side with a freaking giant gorilla.

8) As you may have noted from the fact that most of my notes so far have been about characters and actors, this film’s strongest asset may well be its and characters. By using strong character actors such as John Ortiz, Toby Kebbell, Shea Whigham, Thomas Mann, Jason Mitchell, and Marc Evan Jackson (among others) each member of the away team is unique and memorable in their own right. We consistently get small but strong moments which further develop characters like Whigham’s Cole and Kebbell’s Chapman, helping the audience invest in pretty much every single character which results in an emotional response when they die or are put into danger. There is no weak link in this chain, you understand all of them through these small but telling moments/interactions. Somehow the filmmakers are able to take what is often the weakest aspect of a giant monster movie - the human characters - and make it the strongest element in Kong: Skull Island.

9) I particularly resonate with Corey Hawkins as Brooks.

Brooks is sensible, curious, cautious, but never cowardly. He may be reluctant to go into danger but that doesn’t mean he shies away from it, while his relationship with Randa is also fun to watch as it speaks to a strong history between the two. Brooks might be my favorite character in the film. Or second favorite after Marlow, but we’ll get to that later.

10) The scene where all the helicopters fly through the storm is a nice way of dividing the normal world and Skull Island, as when they come through the other side the island already feels like a different world.

11) Skull Island.

Kong’s native land is much more a point of focus in this film than other’s before, warranting an entire subtitle devoted to it. The immediate visual aesthetic upon arriving to Skull Island helps establish the character of this place, which only develops as the film continues. Because that’s what Skull Island is: its a character as important as Kong to this movie. The filmmakers put such care into small moments with the island (the bison, the giant spider encounter, etc.) that it helps to make Skull Island an environment the audience can understand perfectly by the film’s conclusion.

12) First real encounter with Kong. AKA: Kong VS Helicopters.

This scene is absolutely amazing at establishing the incredible scope of our titular monster. We got a sense of his size in the prologue, but now it’s not a sense it’s a definition. This scene establishes Kong. It establishes his size, his strength, his ferocity, all in an incredibly entertaining set piece. Besides the monster, it establishes the sense of action the film will have moving forward and acts as a truly wonderful inciting incident that organically separates the away team. In five minutes, the entire direction of the story has changed and it just feels so organic. Whereas Godzilla took an hour to show its monster, this movie wastes no time in reminding us that Kong is king.

13) This little scene between Packard and Randa about the USS Laughton is an incredibly organic way of tying this movie into the larger Monster-Verse. It is done through the lens of Randa’s backstory and history instead of, “Here’s what the audience needs to know,” much as Bryan Cranston was a device of exposition through tragic obsession in Godzilla. I dig it.

14) I am so so so so SO happy that this film disposes of the “dangerous natives” trope that has plagued pretty much every King Kong movie to come before it. The natives are shown as a culture of people, not vicious animals. They’re not even primitive, necessarily, as Marlow talks about who they’re past certain things our culture has. They’re more simple, peaceful, instead of savage. And they’re not the only non-white representation in the film, there are more non-white people than JUST the natives in this movie and I’m just so over the roof that this film finally did away with that archaic trope.

15) Chapman at the water’s edge is more about developing Kong through an encounter with this giant squid than anything else, letting the audience know that he’s more than just some dumb dangerous beast. Chapman is jus who we see this through.

16) Marlow has so many great moments in this film. I’ll talk more about him and John C. Reilly in a sec, but come on!

Marlow [about WW2]: “What happened with the war? Did we win?”

Slivko: “Which one?”

Marlow: “Eh, that makes sense.”

Marlow [about the “devils” of the island]: “I call them Skullcrawlers.”

Conrad: “Why?”

Marlow: “Because it sounds neat.”

17) John C. Reilly as Marlow.

Marlow is honestly the beating heart of this entire freaking movie. Reilly is able to bring such warmth to the character who is already pretty damn strong in the writing. He shows a respect to nature and the island, he is incredibly kind despite his situation, but that doesn’t mean he’s a pushover. The way he speaks of his lost friend - a former enemy to boot - and the family he misses just wrenches at your heart strings. It is Marlow which propels this film past an empty monster movie to make it an emotional and human adventure where you are rooting for the main characters. I just…I really freaking like Marlow.

18) The film cutting between the three separated parties (Conrad’s party, Packard’s party, and Chapman on his own) could easily have fucked up pacing but the filmmakers are able to do it well enough that it doesn’t mess with the flow of the story. Pacing is never lost.

19) I love the scene where Marlow is caught up on history, like putting a man on the moon and the Cold War. Also I saw this in Chicago like four to five months after the Cubs won so his line about, “Did the Cubs win the world series?” got a good reaction.

20) If you ever want to know how to develop your characters simply, I recommend that you look at the scene where Conrad talks about his late father. Because that’s really what character development is. Small moments where we are made to understand the characters better.

21) I haven’t really talked about Terry Notary or Toby Kebbell’s motion capture work as the titular monster and I really should. It’s easy to forget that there’s an actor behind a character like Kong who just seems so naturally otherworldly, which I think just speaks to how well the performers and motion capture artists do their job. You’re not thinking about the actor behind the part or even if there is an actor there. They embrace the role of Kong so completely that you don’t question you’re just watching Kong on screen.

22) So there’s a moment in the middle of the film when you sort of forget how dangerous Skull Island is, but the movie does a good job of reminding you of the danger by abruptly and shockingly killing of John Ortiz’s character. There was this woman in the theater who jumped so hard when he got swept up by those pterodactyls it made the whole movie better.

23) The mass grave skirmish.

I mentioned this a lot when I was posting about Hitchcock movies last year, but tension does not come from speeding the story up but by slowing it down. That is especially true in this scene, as (in a very Jaws like way) we don’t see the Skullcrawlers for a lot of it but we know they’re there. Meanwhile I absolutely love the way one of them swallowed a camera with a broken flash so that sound and flash of light is what tells you they’re near. Also this is a fucking badass image:

24) Just a quick little thing: I love that this movie doesn’t have a romantic subplot. At all. You can easily ship characters (Brooks and San are two characters I ship), but the film doesn’t take the time to develop any romances which makes sense because THEY’RE ON A FREAKING MONSTER ISLAND TRYING TO GET OF! So yeah, I like that there’s no romance in this movie.

25) The scene where Packard is trying to kill Kong has a number of nice visual parallels with when Kong beat on the helicopters, mainly when Packard clenches his fists.

26) Cole’s death is incredibly heartbreaking because he’s hoping the Skullcrawler will swallow him with two grenades in his hand, but it just whips him against a mountain where his death didn’t even accomplish what he hoped it would. This is why the film takes so much time to develop these characters: so they’re deaths hit harder.

27) Kong VS Skullcrawler

Okay, this is freaking awesome. In the same scene Kong uses a tree as a spear/bat thing to beat on the Skullcrawler BEFORE HE USES A BOAT PROPELLER AS A WEAPON TO WAIL ON THE THING! Also Weaver gets to shoot a flare at the Skullcrawler like a total badass. Honestly this scene is just filled with so many incredible visuals and a wonderful sense of fun from beginning to end. It’s just a really freaking good climax.

28) I’m so happy Marlow survived, that we get to see him return home to his wife and son. I get a little teary every time I see that.

29) Okay, let me tell you something about this post credits scene.

First of all, this is awesome. But I mentioned before that I saw this in the theater. Well when they’re showing all the monsters I hear this guy behind me eagerly say each of their names. “Mothra! Rodan! King Ghidorah!” The movie ends, I turn around to this guy and say, “I don’t know who you are but I feel like I should give you bumps.” This unfortunately speaks to my own biases about what I expected someone who geeks out about Japanese movie monsters to look like, but I was not expecting an African American man in his 60s with the biggest smile on his face ever. AND HE GAVE ME A FIST BUMP! I’ve seen 507 movies in theaters over the course of 8 years and that is one of my favorite stories ever.

Kong: Skull Island is crazy fun and much better than you might expect it to be. The human characters are surprisingly well developed and acted very well, while the film does not skimp on the giant monster action that helps give the movie its entertainment value. John C. Reilly is a particular standout among the cast, but literally I cannot think of a poor performance in this entire film. The visuals are strong, it is paced excellently, and all in all it’s just a very good film I think you should see.

[nemesisthetoy]

Warning, potential spoilers for my story and a wall of text

So, let’s start with my two OCs, Skullcrawler 13 and Bruce the Muto.

When I made them I decided to tie their origins into events that had actually happened within the Monsterverse.

So Bruce was born during the Muto Crisis of 2014, while 13 was born in an APEX lab around 2016.

And here’s where their traumas come to play.

Bruce lost everything on that one fateful day, his mother, his father, even his siblings were burned alive by humans, with his egg narrowly avoiding the same fate thanks to him getting buried beneath the rubble that made the Muto nest. He wants nothing more than to repair and replace what he had lost, which is why he begins to cling onto the one creature that doesn’t fear him.

13 is similar yet different. She didn’t have one bad day, she had one horrific life! For 8 years she was trapped in a large metal cell, only able to talk to the Skullcrawlers next to her (Skullcrawlers 1 and 12). She didn’t even understand what was going on until APEX killed her father (number 1). After that she lived a life filled with dread knowing that her captors could and would kill one of her family at seemingly random. Her existence was practically defined by fear and dread of the safety of her and her remaining family. When she finally escapes, she’s the last Skullcrawler alive in that facility, and she has nothing left when she leaves.

She is afraid, afraid of what human colonies can do to those closest to her, and how much longer it hurts when she loses someone close. She wants to shut out anyone who tries to get too close to her emotionally, but she can’t. Like it or not, she is dependent on her Muto companion, as it is because of him that she is able to escape from almost any situation that could end with her dead.

Bruce on the other hand, is actively trying to know her better and get closer to her, not necessarily out of romantic interest (though he wouldn’t exactly say no to that), but out of a genuine need for someone else in his life.

Both Titans have a mutual feeling of pity for the other, as they both know what it’s like to be the victim of humanity (from their perspective anyways).

As the story goes on, both Titans have opportunities to show compassion to the other and show that they care for the other via their actions (13 just showed that in the latest chapter of my story) since there is also a communication barrier that they have to work through.

So to summarize, one is actively trying to understand the other better, while the other is trying her her hardest not to catch feelings.

Soooo… remember how a while back I asked about how to write a ship with 2 characters with similar trauma for my OCs? Well, I wanted to soundboard an idea by you to see if I the dynamic I’m planning to make could work.

If you want that I'm here to listen.

[brokehorrorfan]

24 References You May Have Missed in Kong: Skull Island

Having had a blast with Kong: Skull Island on the big screen, I was eager to delve into the special features that accompanied the home video release. Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts' informative audio commentary is a highlight, as he points out a myriad of references that are peppered throughout the film.

Ranging from obvious to quite subtle, the influences stem from films, video games, anime, and manga. Here are 24 references you may have missed in the film:

1. The reveal of Kong in the prologue is inspired by the video game Shadow of the Colossus.

2. The neon lights reflected on the phone booth as Samuel L. Jackson takes a call early in the movie are based on a similar shot in The Conversation.

3. The Athena logo seen on a boat in the Bangkok scene is Vogt-Roberts' "dumb, unnecessary nod" to Alien, because the A's are in the same font as Alien's title.

4. Vogt-Roberts' pays tribute to his fist film, The Kings of Summer. Its stars, Nick Robinson, Moises Arias, and Erin Moriarty, briefly appear in the background of two shots just before Tom Hiddleston's character is introduced in Saigon. Later, the names of soldiers killed on Skull Island are those of The Kings of Summer writer Chris Galletta and producers John Hodges and Peter Saraf.

5. The overhead shot of Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson's characters talking with boxes stacked up alongside them is a "weird homage" to first room you play in Metal Gear Solid.

6. Samuel L. Jackson's character saying "Hold onto your butts" is the film’s most obvious tribute; a call-back to the oft-quoted line Jackson delivers in Jurassic Park. Vogt-Roberts requested it be put in the script, thinking Jackson wouldn't want to say it, but the veteran actor did so without question.

7. The shot of the helicopters entering the storm before reaching Skull Island is inspired by the vibrant landscapes in Mad Max: Fury Road.

8. Vogt-Roberts envisioned the film as "Apocalypse Now mixed with King Kong." Most notably, the helicopters flying in and dropping bombs on Skull Island echoes Apocalypse Now's "Ride of the Valkyries" scene.

9. The mountain visible in the distance as the helicopters approach Skull Island (actually shot in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay) is taken from the video game Journey.

10. The lettering and serial number on top of the record player featured in the film matches the box that houses the Ark of the Covenant at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

11. There are several throwbacks to the original 1933 version of King Kong. The first comes when Kong eats a solider out of helicopter. Vogt-Roberts states, "One of the things that I love about the '33 version ... is that Kong ate people."

12. The shot of a solider impaled by the giant spider's leg is, in fact, an homage to the iconic scene from Cannibal Holocaust. Vogt-Roberts admits that he cannot believe it made it into the film.

13. Kong fighting a giant squid is an update of a similar scene in Toho's King Kong vs. Godzilla.

14. Kong slurping the squid tentacles off his face is an homage to a similar shot in Oldboy. Vogt-Roberts showed it to director Park Chan-wook, who thought it was amazing.

15. John C. Reilly's character wears a jacket that prominently features a Lizard Company patch. This is a slick reference to Taxi Driver, in which Travis Bickle dons a King Kong Company patch.

16. The boat that John C. Reilly's character assembled out of plane parts is named Gray Fox after a character in Metal Gear Solid.

17. The name of the Japanese soldier, Gunpei Ikari, derives from Gunpei Yokoi, co-creator of Metroid and original designer of the Game Boy, and Shinji Ikari, the protagonist of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

18. The sword belonging to Gunpei Ikari, which John C. Reilly's character keeps and later uses, features same two-triangle design as the blade in Princess Mononoke.

19. The sequence in which John Ortiz's character is captured and dismembered by prehistoric birds features two references: a first-person-shooter-style viewpoint inspired by Call of Duty, followed by a silhouette in front of the sunset reminiscent of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial's flight in front of the moon.

20. Kong’s standoff against the soldiers toward the end of the film is inspired by Dragon Ball Z and Evangelion, in that Kong looks Saiyan and the size of the moon and skyline are exaggerated. The final fight between Kong and the Skullcrawler is also influenced by the same two sources.

21. The villainous monster known as the Skullcrawler took a long time to design, ultimately culling from the two-legged creature in 1933's King Kong, the inelegance of the monster in The Host, No-Face from Spirited Away, the first angel in Evangelion, and Cubone from Pokemon.

22. The moment of tension between the soldiers and the rest of the humans, all with weapons drawn, after Kong is taken down is inspired by Full Metal Jacket. Vogt-Roberts admits, "Obviously the intensity is probably nowhere near that."

34. The nods even extend to the film's sound design: When Samuel L. Jackson's character is on the radio, the static is a fusion of the probe droid from Empire Strikes Back and the radio static from The Conversation. Similarly, the sound of the boat starting has shades of Star Wars' Millennium Falcon.

24. Although Kong: Skull Island takes a very different approach to the kaiju movie than 2014's Godzilla, Vogt-Roberts does include a nod to that film. When Kong and the Skullcrawler start fighting, it's shown through Brie Larson's character's camera lens until she's swept away just as the action is picking up, similar to how Godzilla teased the audience with monster battles.

Vogt-Roberts confesses that he only points out a faction of the references, teasing that he may one day publish a master list with all of them. How many did you pick up on?

Despite the slew of influences, the young director constantly challenged himself to subvert expectations and do things that hadn't been before. In doing so, he crafted a wildly entertaining, fantastical spectacle. Read my full review of Kong: Skull Island here.

Kong: Skull Island is available now on 4K Ultra HD, 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD via Warner Bros.

[nemesisthetoy]

Cell days (story below cut)

”No, not again! NOT AGAIN!!!”

The words echoed throughout the metal cell, #12 just lost another sibling to humanity’s pride.

For seven years his family had been trapped in metal cubes, separated from each other by steel walls that could be electrified at a moment’s notice.

He couldn’t even see his own family, the only thing he could do was listen.

Listen to the horror that happened every time one of his siblings was released from their cells.

He could hear the screams, the sounds of flesh being torn, and the horrific voice, that awful voice, the voice of a monster that should never had existed.

The voice that called out to the heavens, challenging any creatures that it deemed below it.

It was a nightmare to have to live though such events every time humanity wanted to play with their mechanical toy, but the worst part was that he couldn’t tell when it would happen again.

The announcement always caught him and his siblings off-guard, and always resulted in the same events repeating themselves and the death of another of his siblings.

One thing was clear, they had to escape!

…

“With the loss of #8 today, that leaves only 5 of us left.” came a voice from the next cell over.

It was his sister in the cell to his left, #13.

“We need to find a weakness to these walls, before they burn through the rest of us!”

”Sister, we will, we will find a way out of here, we just have to calm down and think.”

”I can’t concentrate, the screaming is still echoing in my mind!”

”How about this, let’s play a little game to try and get our minds off that right now, then we can go back to planning.”

”Alright, let’s do it.”

……

”Are you feeling better?”

“A bit, at the very least I can concentrate a little.”

“Ok, let’s compare notes, did you notice anything new today?”

”Well, I did notice that whenever the speaker is talking, that the vibrations in the floor seemed to slow down, as counteractive as that seems. I think that speakers drain power from our cells’ shockers, so if there’s a time to escape, it would be then.”

“Yes, that would explain why our cells aren’t electrified when they release one of our siblings. But what about that thing outside, do you have any ideas on how to stop it.”

”I’m afraid not, aside from what it sounds like, we know nothing about it.”

“Well I have a theory, my guess is that the reason the humans only release one of us at a time is that they are training it to fight. So maybe, if all of us broke out at once we could team-up on it and slay it!”

”Not bad! So the next time the speakers turn on, start clawing at the door, over time we may be able to weaken it to the point where we can break it down!”

”Excellent! I’ll relay that to the others!”

”Ok, I’m gonna try and sleep now, goodnight 12!”

”Night 13!”

…

“Hey 11 can you hear me?”

“You and 13 were scheming again weren’t you?”

”Yes, and we actually have a plan now! When the speakers turn on again we need to begin clawing at the door, we may be able to break out at the same time!”

”But what about the electricity and the thing outside?”

“The electricity will be down and we‘ll team up on the monster outside!”

”…Your crazy, but it’s the only plan we got, I’ll relay it to number 10.”

”Thanks 11, how are you faring right now?”

”Not too good to be honest, humans cut my meal portions again, and oh yea, ANOTHER ONE OF US JUST DIED!”

”…ok, just holler if you want to talk”

”I’m just gonna relay your message and go to sleep, night 12!”

“Night 11.”

…

It had been two days since the human’s toy had gained a mind of its own and rebelled.

The cell doors had been clawed to hell, with only centimeters of steel left to protect the hydraulic locks that kept the Skullcrawlers imprisoned.

The time to finally escape was near, and soon the last three could finally feel the dirt beneath their claws, and the sun shining on their scales.

All they needed was one last announcement on the loudspeaker.

One more announcement was all that was standing between them and freedom.

#12 was pacing in his cell, waiting, he could hear chatter coming from outside his cell, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying.

For the first time in his life, he was hoping for the loudspeaker would turn on.

He was waiting for the power to flicker just long enough for him and his surviving siblings to claw though their doors and finally be free.

But instead, something horrible happened.

#11 was just sitting in his cell waiting for his morning meal, when suddenly the floor of his cell started vibrating with such an intensity that he had never felt before.

Suddenly, KRA-ZAAAAAAAP!

11’s screaming echoed throughout the laboratory, causing the sound to ring within 12’s ears.

The was no announcement, no warning, not even a reason to shock 11, but they did, with a charge greater than what had ever came before!

11 had been fried alive.

”11? 11!!! Talk to me, please!” Cried 12!

It didn’t make sense, 11 had been perfectly good all day, why would they suddenly kill him!?!?

The Skullcrawler couldn’t ponder this question for long, as shortly after 11’s cell had fried poor 11, the floor to his cell began to violently vibrate!

Truly desperate, 12 began to claw the door to his cell with every last ounce of strength he had!

There wasn’t going to be a last announcement, humanity was done playing around with them, and were ready to throw them away.

”13! Claw! CLAW FOR YOUR LIFE!!!” screamed 12.

He could feel the floor’s shaking increasing in ferocity, but the lock was so close, he just needed to claw out a little bit more steel!

KRA-ZAAAAAAAP!

(master post link)

[monarch-afterdark]

Superspecies History: Death Jackal

Welcome once again to Monarch: After Dark, the digital gateway between you and the organisation dedicated to understanding and navigating this troubled new world we live in.

We return now to our regular superspecies coverage with a Skull Island denizen that is as much a threat to itself as it is to humans, the Death Jackal.

(Pictured above: A pack of Death Jackals ambushing Aaron Brooks' expedition team, circa. 1995)

Monarch Database File: Death Jackal

Monarch Designation: Spinae mortem

Height: 6-12 feet

Species Designation: Necroserpere dromaeosaurid, Canus (sub-division)

-----

One of a few non-avian dinosaur species that have persisted into the modern age, the Death Jackal is a ravenous pack hunter armed with the speed of a leopard and the bite strength of a great white shark. Having evolved vaguely mammalian traits, milky-white blood and a partially exoskeletal spine tipped with a sharpened mane of fibers running down its back, the Death Jackal is a far cry from the dromaeosaurs of the Cretaceous, while still keeping the core recognisable traits of that family.

Part of the Necroserpere group of superspecies, alongside the Skullcrawlers, the Death Jackals have a ravenous and constant desire to feed, never quite satisfied with any meal. While the Skullcrawlers take to simply hunting anything that moves within their sight, the Death Jackals instead turn to cannibalism during bouts of starvation. Known to quickly turn on members of their packs or even themselves, the Death Jackals are considered by Monarch to be a greater threat to themselves than they are to humans.

Despite their cannibalistic tendencies, the Death Jackals are still a grave threat if they decide to target humans, able to kill with just one bite. They can often be seen flocking to carcasses of larger animals, participating in week-long feeding frenzies alongside other superspecies.

(Pictured above: A taxidermied Death Jackal kept at Monarch Outpost 14, "Hollow Dark", circa. 2014)

In 1995, almost immediately following their crash landing to Skull Island, Aaron Brooks' team were ambushed by a pack of Death Jackals. Their survival expert, Helen Karsten, was killed and dismembered by the pack while everyone else took shelter in a cave. Soon after, Kong had arrived and dispersed the pack after crushing some of them under his fist.

Aaron's team would later encounter Death Jackals descending on a Sirenjaw carcass to feed, alongside Psychovultures. More would appear later, after mythographer Walter Riccio betrayed the rest of the team, but he fended them off with weapons fire.

In 2014, a taxidermied Death Jackal was kept within Monarch Outpost 14, codenamed "Hollow Dark", the site of Dagon's skeleton and the original site of the MUTO spores from 1999.

In 2021, during part of their training for an upcoming Hollow Earth expedition, Audrey Burns was ambushed by a Death Jackal. The creature was shot dead before it was able to cause any bodily harm.

By 2027, Death Jackals residing in the Hollow Earth were among the creatures hunted and taxidermied by Raymond Martin.

-----

And that's all she wrote for the Death Jackals! While certainly a frightening encounter at first glance, you may not have as much to fear from the Death Jackals as you would from some of the other fauna on the island. Sights of Death Jackals that have mangled themselves to try and satisfy their own hunger are common, and quite disturbing.

Until next time,

Monarch: After Dark

[maryxglz]

Birth of Kong comic series connects the dots of Skull Island — first look

If the last frames of Kong: Skull Island left you reeling and sweating until the next appearance of the ape who would be King, Legendary Comics has your salve — a prequel and a sequel to the story of the world’s iconic monster.

The re-imagined story of Kong will officially continue in Skull Island: Birth of Kong, a new comic series launching April 12 that will mark the first continuation in Warner Bros. and Legendary’s MonsterVerse. Consider this comic to be your official link between 2014’s Godzilla, this year’s Kong: Skull Island, the 2019 sequel to Godzilla, and 2020’s Godzilla vs. Kong.

EW has an exclusive first look at the new series, written by Arvid Nelson with art and colors by Zid. You officially have our permission to go apesh–.

The original monthly series will both precede and follow Kong: Skull Island, filling in the story of the secret scientific organization Monarch and its return mission to the now-evolved island, two decades after the events of the film. Intriguingly, the comic will reveal the mythic origin story of Kong, going deep into his dramatic birth and the war between his ancestors and the Skullcrawlers that resulted in Kong being the last of his kind.

The story then catches up with him, 20 years after Kong: Skull Island, and reveals how this young ape has grown. It’s all against the backdrop of a father-son relationship between Houston Brooks (played by Corey Hawkins in Kong: Skull Island) and his son Aaron, both of whom work for Monarch but disagree over the dangers that Skull Island presents to the outer world.

Skull Island: Birth of Kong (available in print and on Comixology on April 12) will introduce new monsters unseen in the film and connect the pieces of the movie to what’s on the horizon in Legendary’s budding MonsterVerse. That means you, Godzilla.

[nemesisthetoy]

Ocean Time (Story below the cut)

The two Titans slept peacefully together throughout the night, fully content with each other’s presence.

The moon had set and the sun rose, but now hidden behind a thick layer of cloud that had formed in the night.

When the Muto had awoken, his Skullcrawler companion had broken off pieces the Red Beast’s corpse into different portions for the duo’s breakfast, leaving the tail right where she had slept the night before.

That was the first thing he noticed, the second was the numb feeling coursing throughout his entire body.

It wasn’t enough to keep him locked in place like yesterday’s pain, but it was still very agonizing.

But first things first, be needed food, and he was very fortunate to have it right in front of him.

The tail had sand across its bottom and had lost a bit of its flavor during the night, but it was still a satisfying breakfast for the young Muto.

He had just met that strange creature two days ago, yet they had already done so much for him, it made him wish he could do something for them.

But before he could do that he needed to address the numbness coursing throughout his body, and he figured the best way to do that was a dip in the ocean.

Perhaps the cool water would help.

He let out an audible “Thank you” to his companion before moving towards the water.

Slowly but surely, the young Muto dragged himself along the beach and into the ocean in front of him.

The cool water nipped away at his numb body, as he slowly began to regain control over his limbs.

There was a slight sting on his front left hook, no doubt from the bite mark his companion had given him when they fled from the Human Colony.

...

The Skullcrawler had been keeping a close eye on her companion ever since his close encounter with the Red Beast.

After all, he was the last Titan to at the very least NOT show hostility to her.

Though she did wish he wasn’t the only one left of her family.

If only the power had gone out sooner, then she could have shared this beautiful day with 11 and 12.

The poor Skullcrawler ended up going down into her own head, reflecting on how much she missed her brother, 12.

It felt as if a piece of her identity was ripped away when 12 died, as he was the only creature she was able to confide in.

All the games they tried to play together, all the conversations they had, they were each other’s support through the cell days, without him she would have lost hope years ago.

Even in his last moments, he tried to help her!

IT WASN’T FAIR!

HE SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAD DIED IN SUCH A TERRIBLE WAY, HE DESERVED TO ENJOY BEING FREE, HE DESERVED SO MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT THOSE HUMANS HAD DONE TO HIM!!

The Skullcrawler then heard a splash in the water, and a chill flushed down her spine.

She looked around quicky to see what had just happened.

Someone new?

A friend?

A foe?!?

What was it!?!

Wait, WHERE DID MY COMPANION GO!?!?!

It was then that she noticed her companion floating the water.

A wave of relief washed though her body as it became apparent he made the splash.

She then walked over to the shoreline to keep him in her sight.

...

The Muto had his wings spread to their full size over the water in order to help him float while he recovered movement in his legs.

He then noticed that his companion was looking a little downcast at the moment, and that they were nearing the point of tears.

He tried to call to them, but the Skullcrawler didn’t seem to hear him.

It was almost like they were in some kind of trance.

Guess he had to try something a bit louder.

When he felt like he was able, the Muto raised his wing slightly and slammed it down in order to make a splash.

That got their attention.

Their head jolted up and looked around frantically before fixing her eyes on him and eventually calming down.

The Skullcrawler walked over to the beach, and for a moment they had a look of relief and content on their face, but slowly that look started to fade back to the gloomy trance he found her in.

There had to be something he could do for her.

...

The Skullcrawler couldn’t help but to fall back into her previous train of thought.

All the grief and hatred washed back into her mind like a tidal wave.

As her view of her surroundings began to fade, a splash of water hit her in the face, snapping her out of her thoughts.

She saw her companion giving her a humorful smirk with his tongue sticking out ever so slightly.

He looked quite goofy, which was odd considering how it went against his whole aesthetic.

Not one to back away from a challenge, she retorted by sticking her hand in the water and splashing some in his face.

The Muto turned his head to the side, grinned and retaliated with another splash from his front limbs.

Little by little their game escalated until 13 decided to jump in after him.

The water stung at the wound on her right arm, but not nearly to the point of her calling quits.

Using the entire length of her tail, 13 created a splash big enough to carry a wave towards her companion.

Her companion used his wings to create his own counter-wave to hers.

The water met in the middle and created a massive tidal wave that then burst and absolutely soaked both of the Titans.

They both laughed and played the whole day until the light began to fade and the rain began.

For a while, 13 was able to forget about what had happened before then, carrying a bright smile as the two swam back to the island.

Her companion took note of this and was satisfied to have been able to help her in some way.

(Master Post Link)

[nemesisthetoy]

The New Land (Story below the cut)

The moon had set and the sun had rose, but there wasn’t anything moving on the small island.

There were only two creatures there, sleeping on the sand beach before the cliff, a Skullcrawler and a Muto.

The sun had taken to the center of the sky before the Skullcrawler awoke.

The night had been cold and misty, but she had slept well, thanks to her companion keeping her warm throughout the night.

She unwrapped her arms from her companion, and shook off the sand from her back.

”Augh, my arm still hurts from whatever those humans did to it.” she assessed.

The wound was starting to from a scab, but the majority of the wound was still fresh and bleeding.

The Skullcrawler looked to her companion, he hadn’t moved a centimeter from where she placed him.

”It’s obvious that he’s still alive, he is still breathing after all.” Thought the Skullcrawler.

“It’s probably best for him to sleep right now, after all, he did just get me out of that metal hell.”

”Wait a second, where exactly are we?”

The Skullcrawler decided to investigate the island since a) this could be the island her father told her about and b) she was absolutely starving!

What had it been, 3, 4 days since she last ate?

There had to be something else on that island!

However, there was pretty much nothing noteworthy for a Titan there.

The only things there were a lighthouse, a couple of wind turbines, and a small wooden dock that the two Titans had inadvertently destroyed in the middle of the night.

She could walk a lap around the edge of the island and be back where she started in less than ten minutes.

It was painfully obvious that this wasn’t the island that her father’s stories took place on.

”Father…”

It had been so long since she had actually thought about what her father had told her before he became the humans’ first victim.

With yesterday’s adrenaline rush long gone, the cloud of survival instincts had lifted from her mind.

Now, she was left to deal with the full thoughts and memories of what happened yesterday.

How humanity decided to murder her brothers for no reason, and the fear in 12’s voice when he screamed at her to claw for her life, and the horrific scream he made when he died.

The sounds began playing on loop in the Skullcrawler’s mind, barraging her to the point of tears.

“Why, why was I the only survivor!?!“

“Why did my family have to die such horrific deaths!?!”

“How could humans be so cruel!?!”

The questions haunted her mind, giving her an explosion of grief.

(master post link)