Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris 4K 1999 Ultra HD 2160p

Story Movie

Schoolgirl Yana finds a giant egg in a cave, which, according to legend, is home to demons. A small monster hatches from the egg, and the girl decides to tame it. The monster grows, and with it grows the threat to both Japan and all of humanity. If the fire-breathing Gamera does not come to the world’s aid and destroy the bloodthirsty monster, a new apocalypse will ensue.

Review 4K Movie

Whether or not a third installment was originally planned, it was made. And *Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris* was released clearly on the eve of a potential catastrophe at the end of 1999, because the ominous atmosphere established in the first part of the trilogy reaches its peak here. Susuke Kaneko imbued the third installment to the utmost with mysticism, horror, and a sense of the inevitable end of the world approaching. In terms of its gloominess, the third film surpassed nearly all other kaiju films, and it seems not all viewers appreciated this.

Teeth and claws. That is exactly what catches the eye when looking at Godzilla from the third installment. The giant lizard has never looked so terrifying and ferocious, and even just its head appearing in a flashback sets the tone for the entire film. After watching “Defender of the Universe”, there was a certainty that the Gyaos would return, bringing death and destruction with them. This is exactly what we see in the third film, where the blows of fate strike one after another. While Gamera fends off the Gyaos’ attacks, which result in the deaths of hundreds of people, Iris—an incredibly beautiful yet cruel creature with a purpose entirely opposite to Gamera’s—is quietly gathering strength.

In *Iris's Revenge*, the ornithologist Nagamine, beloved from the first film, returns, and Asagi continues to influence the events. The new characters, however, are mysterious and sinister: Ayana, a girl harboring a grudge against Gamera; Mito Asakura, who dreams of gaining great power; and Shinya Kurata, who holds unknown secrets. It is not all that common for humanity to directly influence the actions of giant monsters, which makes “Iris's Revenge” a special film.

Many sci-fi films touch on the balance of nature. There’s plenty of talk on this topic in the Gamera trilogy, and the third film clearly shows evil’s dominance over good, as every detail—big and small—suggests that hope for civilization’s salvation has long since vanished and the end of the world is inevitable. No matter how desperately good resists, it has its limits—Gamera never gives up, expending his last strength, but for what? What will happen next? The flames flaring up in the battle zone with Iris will engulf the entire world, just like the shadow cast by countless flocks of Gyaos. Such thoughts are evoked by the open-ended finale, in which a boundless, immense power looms, one that seems impossible to overcome. Humanity is utterly powerless, and its time is running out.

Superb acting, the inimitable musical score by Ko Otani, and excellent cinematography make the film very rich and mysterious, one that can be watched over and over again largely because nothing like it existed in the previous films.

“Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris” may disappoint those who aren’t ready to accept such a bleak ending, but this installment simply cannot be ignored. It is a unique film that combines themes of ancient civilizations, mysticism, and epic battles, all heightened by a sense of an apocalypse that is already very close at hand. Because of this abundance of dark elements, the film has become one of my all-time favorites.