GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA ゴジラ対メカゴジラ | Gojira tai Mekagojira (1974)

• Director: Jun Fukuda
• Cast: Masaaki Daimon, Kazuya Aoyama, Reiko Tajima, Akihiko Hirata
• 1974 | Film: 84 mins | Japan | Japanese with English subtitles | Event: 20:45 – 23:10 [18+]

An Okinawan prophecy appears to foretell Earth’s destruction at the hands of Godzilla, only for the true Godzilla to reveal his doppelgänger as a mechanical alien weapon.

GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA ゴジラ対メカゴジラ | Gojira tai Mekagojira (1974) celebrated the 20th anniversary of the mega franchise by bringing seasoned director Jun Fukuda back for his fifth and final kaijū battle. His successful farewell film resurrects monster Anguirus – who first appeared in the OG sequel, GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN (1955) – and introduces two fan favourites, godmonster King Caesar and alien mecha nightmare, Mechagodzilla.

The film continues the hectic TV pace that Fukuda brought to the Godzilla series and is one of the most violent in the whole franchise. SFX maestro Eiji Tsuburaya passed away in 1970 and the new team responsible for creating mass monster destruction – under the direction of Teruyoshi Nakano – abandoned Godzilla’s family-friendly ethos. Here, the kaijū bleed in battle and their alien overlords get shot in the neck, unleashing arterial sprays of lurid green blood.

BAR TRASH first encountered GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA in our fourth sensational season, MONSTER MAYHEM! A childhood favourite for many Godzilla fans, the film played to a sold out crowd in our second venue, Rule Zero (RIP). We’re delighted to bring it to Genesis Cinema for an encore in celebration of Godzilla’s 70 years stomping the planet, and the film’s own 50^th Anniversary.

Polite notice: We are screening GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA in Japanese with English subtitles from the best available digital source. 

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic, Token Homo. Films are served with themed drinks, introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles/captions where possible. Tickets from £3. Adults 18+ only. ///