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All Kaiju Attack: Earth SOS!

All Kaiju Attack Lead

All hail Godzilla, King of the Monsters – and eco-warrior? Through a selection of diverse Japanese monster movies, we explore how kaiju carnage connects to our relationship with the natural world.

From the very first Godzilla film in 1954, with the most famous kaiju serving as a symbol of trauma and the unpredictable and uncontrollable force of nature, Japanese monster movies have engaged with environmental themes in different, complex ways. Behind the thrilling, fantastic scenes of monster battles lies an intelligent critique of humanity’s meddling with the balance of nature and the terrifying consequences that result.

Through a selection of kaiju films across four decades, including a rarely screened Gamera film, we delve into the environmental themes of this underappreciated genre, which pays tribute to nature’s power and considers the balance between progress and preservation. 

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