Godzilla Minus One
Godzilla Minus One
In postwar Japan, Godzilla brings new devastation to an already scorched landscape. With no military intervention or government help in sight, the survivors must join together in the face of despair and fight back against an unrelenting horror.
Hipster ZOMBIE reviewedFebruary 19, 2025
Godzilla. Post War Japan. Composer Alira Ifukube’s thunderous Godzilla march playing throughout. This is the Godzilla film we have been waiting for and the only film in the storied franchise to ever win an Academy Award.
Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, this 2023 film returns to the post-war setting of 1945 Japan, blending gripping human drama with awe-inspiring kaiju action. The result is a Godzilla film that is both emotionally resonant and visually spectacular. Unlike many previous Godzilla films, Minus One is deeply focused on its human protagonist, Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki), a kamikaze pilot who abandons his mission and is haunted by survivor’s guilt. As he struggles to rebuild his life in war-ravaged Japan, a new terror emerges—Godzilla, more menacing than ever. The film excels in portraying the psychological toll of war, making its characters feel raw and compelling rather than mere spectators to destruction. It’s a testament to the film’s overall story to deliver us human characters whose stories are so compelling that you don’t even miss when Godzilla isn’t on the screen. That is this film’s greatest achievement.