By Kyle Flynn

Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One stands above the vast majority of the fray when examining the landscape of commercial blockbusters over the past few years. Outside of the most obvious factor being the quality of the film, the fact that it was made on such a small budget, and managed to have mainstream success as a foreign language film in the West, increased the mythos around the film. The sequel, Godzilla Minus Zero, brings audiences right back into the world that invoked those feelings of thrill the first time.

Godzilla Minus Zero finds us in the aftermath of Minus One, where Godzilla “dies.” With the emergence of a new kaiju and the possible threat of Godzilla still looming large, our characters must face the possibility of two kaiju wreaking havoc in Japan. Koichi Shikishima, played by Ryunosuke Kamiki, has now settled into life with Noriko, played by Minami Hamabe, and his adopted daughter Akiko, played by Sae Nagatami, when he is asked to advise on how to help with the situation at hand.

What was achieved in form with the first manages to be elevated and maximized here for full effect. The core tenet of making an effective sequel often comes down to how they expand the world and the characters. With the driving questions that make up the primary plot in the film being the same as in the prior film (How do we defeat something we don’t understand? How can we preserve human life? etc.), it’s a miracle that the film doesn’t feel like a regression from the first film. I also found myself more forgiving of the flaws in the writing, including historical revisionism and large exposition dumps that often talk down to the audience because the action goes so hard. The film deserves its R-rating because it finds moments of ingenuity in its action; there are moments where Godzilla has parts of his limbs ripped off, and I could feel the chills in my spine from the grotesque method of finding a piece of interesting action to include within the film, especially when compared to the tame, cartoony action of the Godzilla X Kong movies in the States.

This is all made possible by the excellent direction of Yamazaki, who brings out stellar performances from each actor. Hidetaka Yoshioka returns as Dr. Noda from the prior film, delivering what feels like a performance that immediately resonates with your soul. Kamiki and Hamabe, who serve as the primary anchors of the film, deliver performances that encapsulate the human characters’ fear and a heartfelt perseverance in finding an end to the situation. The chemistry they have with the young performer creates a palpable way for you to connect emotionally amongst the Monster Action that happens. 

The experience of watching Godzilla Minus Zero captures you. From the first scene of the film, it lets you into the action and immediately immerses you in Yamazaki’s vision. The visual effects are as impressive as films that trump the budget and deceptively hook you in. The emphasis on the characters’ emotional state in a post-Godzilla world remains close to the soul, especially through the eyes of our main characters, who are clearly not mentally prepared to fight Godzilla again. Despite not really having an active role in the story, it’s undeniable that Akiko is the heart of the narrative. At the end of the day, we are fighting Godzilla, regardless of the morals,  to preserve the lives of those who deserve to live in a world centered on peace when so much division exists and so much fear is present. 

🌟 🌟 🌟 1/2 stars