Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971) Review | Godzilla Island Archive

Note: This article is from godzillaisland.com in 2013. Frank's (Godzilla Island) views have since matured and changed one day we will review this classic on the channel but in the meantime, here is the Godzilla Island Archive version.

The Plot

The movie opens with a boy named Ken playing with his Godzilla toy. A fisherman arrives at his house looking for Ken’s father, Dr. Yano, and shows him a strange dead fish—black and tadpole-like, but not a tadpole. On TV, Dr. Yano and Ken see reports of a monster sinking an oil tanker and several other ships.

Dr. Yano and Ken head to the bay where the fisherman found the strange fish. Dr. Yano dives underwater in scuba gear while Ken stays on shore as a lookout. Underwater, Dr. Yano spots Hedorah, the monster attacking the ships. Hedorah leaps toward Ken, but Ken’s quick thinking and knife manage to wound it. Meanwhile, Dr. Yano is unaware and is attacked by Hedorah. Ken calls for his father in terror, leaving viewers thinking Dr. Yano has been killed.

The next scene reveals that Dr. Yano somehow survived, though half his body has turned dark gray. Reporters gather at his house, and he insists they photograph his disfigurement to warn the public about Hedorah.

Dr. Yano begins experimenting on the dead fish the fisherman brought. He discovers that when broken apart in water, the pieces come back to life as tadpole-like creatures. Multiple creatures can join together to form a larger entity—revealing that Hedorah is born from pollution and litter on Earth.

Ken begins dreaming of Godzilla fighting pollution and insists Godzilla will save the world from Hedorah. Soon after, Hedorah arrives on shore, feeding on industrial pollution and growing larger with every meal. Godzilla is drawn to the stench and begins battling Hedorah. During the fight, chunks of Hedorah scatter, form their own entities, and continue collecting pollution.

Hedorah later transforms into a deadly flying form, releasing poisonous gas that kills thousands instantly. Godzilla suffers injuries, including an eye wound, similar to Dr. Yano’s disfigurement.

Dr. Yano discovers Hedorah can be immobilized if dried out and informs the military. Massive electrodes are set up on Mt. Fuji to dry Hedorah. During the climactic battle, Godzilla uses his atomic ray to power the electrodes while fighting Hedorah. Despite multiple attacks and Hedorah’s ability to regenerate, Godzilla finally crushes Hedorah completely, leaving only dust. Godzilla then returns to the ocean, leaving viewers questioning if Hedorah could return.

My Thoughts

Hedorah is a confusing mix: it seems targeted toward a younger audience with Ken as the central child character, but the movie is surprisingly graphic for kids. We see a lot of more death in this Godzilla film than the normal, people reduced to bones, Dr. Yano mutilated, and where a child is left crying on the shore.

As a Godzilla fan, I enjoyed the film, but it’s easy to see why it gets mixed reviews. Some scenes are over-the-top, like Godzilla flying a super campy addition. Certain sequences, like the “Save The Earth” musical number in a trippy bar scene, are confusing and strange, adding a surreal, almost hallucinatory tone.

An interesting production fact: the actor wearing the Hedorah costume once had appendicitis and was operated on without removing the costume, as it was an emergency procedure and it was a difficult suit to take apart.

The writer tried several times to make a sequel, including involvement in the 2014 Godzilla movie, and even wanted another Hedorah focused film, though it was never produced. Hedorah’s only brief return was in Godzilla: Final Wars & eventually in a Godzilla Day Short.

Overall, this movie is a must-watch for kaiju and Godzilla fans. While it may be a bit graphich and scary for children, it’s a unique take on Godzilla vs. pollution, blending horror, sci-fi, and social commentary.