Get ready for a wild ride as we dive into the bizarre world of Godzilla vs. Hedorah, a monster movie that will leave you questioning everything!
In the early ’70s, the Godzilla franchise was facing a creative crossroads. Enter Yoshimitsu Banno, a renegade filmmaker who decided to shake things up with his unique vision. Banno’s Godzilla vs. Hedorah is a true anomaly in the Godzilla canon, and not just because it’s the only film he wrote and directed.
The premise is utterly bonkers: Godzilla, the radioactive king of monsters, takes on a slimy, pollution-born creature named Hedorah. It’s like a superhero movie where the villain is pollution itself! And get this, it was released as Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster in the US, a title that sounds more like an eco-friendly cartoon than a Godzilla flick.
But here’s where it gets controversial… Hedorah’s origins are explained in the film’s opening: an alien probe carrying a slimy creature crashes on Earth, and this creature starts absorbing pollution, growing bigger and bigger. It eventually crawls out of the water, inhaling factory smoke, and becomes a flying, upright monster. Godzilla, ever the protector, steps in to fight this pollution-fueled beast.
The tone of Godzilla vs. Hedorah is all over the map. Banno wanted to keep it light for kids, but the script was dark and violent. Producer Tomiyuki Tanaka added comedy scenes to balance it out, resulting in a film that’s absurd, bleak, and whimsical all at once. It’s like a Saturday morning cartoon with a dark underbelly.
And this is the part most people miss… Despite the light-hearted music and marches, the film has an underlying sense of hopelessness. When Hedorah starts killing thousands, humanity throws a massive party, knowing their time is up. It’s an apocalyptic twist that contrasts sharply with the whimsical trumpets.
The final fight is a two-pronged attack. The Japanese military uses a drying-out ray to remove Hedorah’s moisture, and then Godzilla steps in for the final blow, blasting Hedorah’s eyeballs with his radioactive breath. It’s a unique battle, requiring more strategy than your typical Godzilla smackdown.
Despite its strangeness, Godzilla vs. Hedorah didn’t revive Godzilla’s waning popularity. In fact, the producers hated it so much that Banno was fired, and his planned sequel, Godzilla vs. Redmoon, was never made.
Today, Godzilla fans embrace Hedorah for its weirdness. It’s a unique beast, unlike any other Godzilla movie, and that’s why it’s worth a watch. So, are you ready to dive into this bizarre world?
Thoughts? Agree or disagree? Let’s discuss in the comments!