Opened: November 3, 2023

Directed by: Takashi Yamazaki

Starring: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando, Kuranosuke Sasaki, Mio Tanaka, Yuya Endo, Kisuke Iida & Sae Nagatani

With a story that invests in its characters, great visual effects and an effective score, Japan’s low-budget Godzilla Minus One is a better kaiju film that the hundred-million-dollar films Hollywood has been producing.

WWII kamikaze pilot Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) survives by faking plane troubles but encounters Godzilla near its end. Returning home with survivor’s guilt, he takes in Noriko (Minami Hamabe) and baby Akiko (Sae Nagatani). All their lives are threatened when Godzilla appears in Tokyo.

The movie smartly brings in Godzilla right away for an exciting attack with his full body in plain view. It starts the film action-packed and leaves the viewer excited for what’s to come. Luckily, you’re grounded into Shikishima’s story quickly and understand the demons he’s fighting, which helps the non-Godzilla portions not drag on.

Final say: Come for Godzilla but stay for the story. ★★★★★