Godzilla vs. Hedorah Review

Review of Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971) by screenqueeen: 👍 4/5

The timing for this installment is somewhat serendipitous what with today being Earth Day, plus the overtly happy animated segment showing the distribution of face masks by the Japanese government. What works best about this inspired versus flick is that none of the environmental messages on display are ever in your face or imply victim blaming (the audience included). The only thing that comes close is the Bond-style song first heard in the opening credits and then quite a few times throughout, but it's so catchy and well done it doesn't matter.

Hedorah is the first kaiju to actually surprise me since King Ghidorah. He's also, so far, the first to visibly injure Godzilla and for a good portion is forced to fight and operate with the use of only one eye. Come to think of it, both Godzilla and Hedorah are blinded in one eye as well as the father conducting the Hedorah experiments. If it's supposed to be an "eye for an eye" lesson I wouldn't be surprised but sheesh.