Now I’m a bit late to the party on this one – Godzilla Minus One originally hit theaters in 2023. Unfortunately, I missed the theatrical release, but the film has recently launched on Netflix. I’ve always enjoyed Kaiju films: It’s insane to me that over the past few years, the market has been largely dominated by American-made films despite the genre’s Japanese origins. The last Japanese-produced Godzilla film was Shin Godzilla, released in 2016. Godzilla: Minus One is produced and distributed by Toho Studios and is directed by Takashi Yamazaki.

Godzilla: Minus One brings the story of the King of Monsters back to its roots, taking place in the late 1940s. During the post-war era, the Japanese government is left to pick up the pieces of its society following the defeat of the Axis powers in World War II.

Our story follows an ex-Kamikaze pilot, Koichi Shikishima (played by Ryunosuke Kamiki) who encounters Godzilla in the final days of the war. The monster destroys the repair station he has stopped at, killing everyone except the protagonist and a sole mechanic named Tachibana. When the monster re-emerges once again, Shikishima takes it upon himself to bring it down to restore his honor and avenge his comrades.

Minus One takes a much more mature approach to the idea of Godzilla. Here the creature is more of a force of nature representing the untold destruction unleashed upon the people of Japan by nuclear bombs. Godzilla is a terrifying presence that acts as the motivation for our characters to undergo some compelling arcs, dealing with complex topics. I enjoyed the film’s profoundly anti-war stance and the theme of finding hope within tragedy.

We see the consequences of war on full display within set design, government politics, and the lingering effects of the regime upon the common people. Our main protagonist struggles with survivor’s guilt, post-traumatic stress disorder, and self-harm encouraged by societal pressures. Godzilla: Minus One critiques both Japanese culture, as well as the American response advocating for peace using a fantastical framing device.

It’s these aspects that really help Minus One stand out as something more than a simple monster movie, and the execution is fantastic throughout. Not only that but the visual effects on Godzilla itself are fantastic. Never has the creature looked more realistic while still maintaining some of the charms of the old-school rubber suit that originally brought the creature to life in 1954. Particularly impressive to me was the atomic breath, which was utilized to devastating effect.

The biggest weakness of the film for me was simply its overuse of one of my least favorite tropes, that being the fake-out death. Often the story leans on this trope for the sake of added drama. I find this unnecessary considering the story already has enough tension to begin with in the form of a giant monster.

This has the adverse effect of lessening the sense that our hero’s actions have any real consequence. It also ruins my sense of immersion as the story defies logical explanations for ulterior motives. Life is unfair and I always enjoy seeing characters persevere through struggle instead of sacrificing it for a happier ending.

Nevertheless, I would highly recommend Godzilla: Minus One, and I consider it a must-watch for any Godzilla fan. It’s also a great jumping-on point for those who want to get a sense of the character and the franchise as a whole. At first glance what seems to be a simple story of man versus nature will expand into something more meaningful and no less powerful.

Phenixx Gaming is everywhere you are. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Also, if you’d like to join the Phenixx Gaming team, check out our recruitment article for details on working with us.

Phenixx Gaming is proud to be a Humble Partner! Purchases made through our affiliate links support our writers and charity!

Godzilla: Minus One

8

Score

8.0/10

Pros

• Strong themes
• Godzilla visuals
• Complex main character

Cons

• Fake-out deaths