Wrath of Daimajin

Director - Kazuo Mori (Rampaging Dog, Violent Hawk)

Starring - Hideki Ninomiya (Daimajin, The Space Giants), Shinji Hori, and Masahide Iizuka (Human Torpedos)

Release Date - 1966

Genre - Fantasy/Horror

Tagline - "A wave of evil has been unleashed"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Daimajin and Return of Daimajin are rather unique kaiju films when you compare them to the more popular or mainstraim kaiju films that were coming out of Japan during the 60s and 70s.  The third film in the trilogy, Wrath of Daimajin, is the oddest of the three.  Though it is set up like the previous two films in regards to being a period piece with fantasy aspects and drama before the last leg of the film unleashes the kaiju fun, it's put together like a children's film.  I never really noticed that during my original viewings but where I'm older now I can see and appreciate that more now.  It's a lot of fun and one that children can get behind.  It might be considered the weakest of the three by many fans but I like it.  I could appreciate it a little more if I hadn't watched the other two films previously.  

    The film follows a small village where the men have been taken by an evil warlord and his army to perform hard labor.  When one of them is able to escape and return to the village it inspires several children to make the trek across the dangerous mountain to find their loved ones.  However, the mountain and soldiers put the children's lives in peril forcing one of them to pray to the god of the mountain unleashing the Daimajin on them all.

     Wrath of Daimajin once again delivers a similar story to the other films but it's focus on children does make it feel a little different than the other two.  It's fun but nothing that makes it truly stand out from the other two films.  The acting in this one is probably my favorite of the three films.  The young cast is great.  Their experience is limited but they are great.  They are comfortable in front of the camera and do an amazing job at bringing their little but big characters to life.  The supporting cast is exactly what you would expect after watching the other films but it all comes together to work.  The story for this one is basically the same premise as the other two films but with some minor changes.  The film still follows a village in turmoil while an evil general/warlord forces reign upon them.  However, instead of the film following the villagers, it follows children who try to save the day before Daimajin unleashes his wrath.  Nothing too drastic but just enough to stand out from the other two.  Finally, the film is not bloody but if you stick with it you will have the same kaiju fun as the other two films using similar effects.  Overall, Wrath of Daimajin is just as fun as the other films.  I would not recommend watching them all together but they are all equally as enjoyable.