Those who have ever dreamed of seeing a piece of Kaiju history on the silver screen can now celebrate! Daiei’s The Whale God is set to be screened at the Forbidden Worlds Film Festival. For all of the Kaiju fans in the United Kingdom, this is the first time this legendary feature has reportedly been in theaters in the West in nearly 60 years!
The Whale God was Daiei’s first real practical-driven Kaiju film, releasing in 1962 – three whole years before their smash hit Gamera, the Giant Monster. The film follows a small Japanese fishing village haunted by a strange, ginormous whale that continues to destroy the lives of those fishing its waters. A loose adaptation of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick and an adaptation of Kōichīro Uno’s novel (published the year before), this film, written by Onibaba’s Kaneto Shindō and directed by Tokozū Tanaka, is a must see for any fan of practical effects, Kaiju films, or fans of Japanese cinema.
Boasting both an impressive cast and massive, life-sized special effects, the film stars many powerhouse Japanese actors from the early days of Daiei studios. The story fallows Shaki, played by Kōjirō Hongō of Gamera franchise fame, as he attempts to avenge his family after they fell victim to the titular whale god. Also starring Shintāro Katsu from the Zatoichi franchise as well as Takashi Shimura from Seven Samurai and the original Godzilla. The Whale God’s tense atmosphere is lifted by the presence of music from the iconic composer of Godzilla, Akira Ifukube. This underappreciated flick is sure to please any Kaiju fan, and as Daiei’s first practical Kaiju movie, it is a must-see if you are able to make it to the festival.
The Forbidden Worlds Film Festival, taking place at the Bristol Megascreen in the United Kingdom, runs from the 28th of May to the 1st of June. This genre film festival is perfect for fans of low budget features, horror, action, and just about any sort of sci-fi films. This year’s theme is “Forbidden Worlds of the Deep,” with all of this year’s screenings focusing around films that take place either on the water or deep below the sea. The Whale God will be presented by film scholar and Kaiju expert Steven Sloss. Steven is releasing the upcoming book BFI Film Classics: Godzilla and will use his expertise to discuss the evolution of the Kaiju genre, from its film history down to its roots in mythology.
Want to the The Whale God but cannot make it over to the UK? No fear! Our friends over at SRS Cinema have released not just the Blu-ray for this film, but a DVD and VHS option as well. If you’re able to, make sure to check out The Whale God over at Forbidden Worlds Film Festival!
