I doubt anyone will have anything to contribute to this topic, but I wanted the excuse to post these two pictures… I accidentally photographed the giant monster chameleon from the 1959 movie Journey To The Center Of The Earth. First is my photo, second is a still shot from the film.
(My photo is actually a Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)).
I have not ever accidentally captured a movie monster, but the iNatter in me wondered about the monster from Journey To The Center Of The Earth.
Is it an Argentine Tegu Salvator merianae, painted red? @petezani @cthawley
This is cheating for sure, but this diorama from the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, depicts a Godzilla movie happening in Pittsburgh with the Spotted Lanternfly as the menace. This was fall 2024 and the lanternfly was being depicted as a highly invasive pest. The lanternfly observation is from Pittsburgh
This Anolis sagrei was devastated when the casting director declared it neither fast enough nor furious enough to appear in Godzilla Wants Revenge (1998).
I love this.
According to Mark Berry’s The Dinosaur Filmography (a critical reference for any naturalist), the “chameleon monster” as he calls it was a “two-foot long tegu lizard”. It changes color during it’s appearance in the film which was achieved by painting it red!
The giant lanternflies fighting Godzilla are funny on a whole different level.
Not really but I call this true bug: Count Dracula Bug
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/215760316
I captured the terrifying appearance of a startled jackrabbit, also seen in the less-than-horrifying horror film Night of the Lepus (1972).
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1416022
Whether espionage agents ought be considered monsters is a debate for another forum but here is another Anolis sagrei who felt disheartened for being passed over for a plum cinematic role.
He should be disheartened. He showed a better depth of emotion.
