Godzilla vs. Hedorah
Movie, 1971, Showa era, Set in The smog monster
Godzilla vs. Hedorah is #11 of 35 in release order and #10 of 35 in chronological order in the Godzilla.
The story
An ever evolving alien life-form arrives on a comet from the Dark Gaseous Nebula and proceeds to consume pollution. Spewing mists of sulfuric acid and corrosive sludge, neither humanity nor Godzilla may be able to defeat this toxic menace.
Godzilla vs. Hedorah recap
A tiny alien life form arrives on a comet and feeds on the pollution of Japan's seas, growing into Hedorah, a sludge monster that sinks tankers and leaves its victims as skeletons. Dr. Toru Yano is scarred studying it, and his young son Ken believes Godzilla will come to fight pollution. Hedorah moves onto land, sucks up factory smoke, and changes into a flying form that sprays acid mist, killing thousands. Godzilla fights it but is badly hurt: it loses an eye and its hand is burned by Hedorah's acid. Yano realises Hedorah is made of mineral sludge and can be killed by drying it out, and the army builds two giant electrodes on the slopes of Mount Fuji, where Ken's friends hold a last protest party against pollution.
Godzilla vs. Hedorah ending explained
Godzilla dries Hedorah to dust between the electrodes and walks back into the sea. When the electrodes fail, Godzilla charges them with its own breath, then flies after the fleeing Hedorah by firing its breath downward, drags it back and dries it until the remains crumble. Godzilla pauses to look at the surviving humans before leaving, and a final card asks whether another Hedorah will come.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Godzilla vs. Hedorah
Godzilla vs. Hedorah is streaming on HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Apple TV and Fandango At Home.
Ratings
IMDb 6.1/10, Rotten Tomatoes 67%
Where it fits
- Release order: after All Monsters Attack, before Godzilla vs. Gigan.
- Chronological order: after All Monsters Attack, before Godzilla vs. Gigan.
What to watch before Godzilla vs. Hedorah
In release order, 9 Godzilla essentials come before Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971), from Godzilla (1954) to Destroy All Monsters (1968).
Cast
- Akira Yamanouchi as Dr. Toru Yano
- Hiroyuki Kawase as Ken Yano
- Toshie Kimura as Toshie Yano
- Keiko Mari as Miki Fujiyama
- Toshio Shiba as Yukio Keuchi
- Yoshio Yoshida as Gohei - fisherman
- Haruo Suzuki as JSDF Officer
- Kentaro Watanabe as Announcer B
- Yukihiko Gondō as Mean General
- Eisaburo Komatsu as Fisherman
- Tadashi Okabe as Scientist
- Wataru Ōmae as Helpless Police Officer
Directed by Yoshimitsu Banno.