"For Centuries, It Slept Far Below The Sea Until Modern Man...
Ever Searching... Ever Probing Deeper Into The Unknown...
Disturbed Its Peace... Then It Rose... From the Depths...
Slowly... Surely... Unrelentingly... To Wreak Its Vengeance... To Kill...
To Destroy A Civilization That Wanted To Know Too Much!"
Varan the Unbelievable (1962)
Directed by: Ishir� Honda
American Version directed by: Jerry A. Baerwitz
Approx. Running Time: 70 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Listing on the A.K.A. Page: CLICK HERE
A Second Opinion: Popcorn Pictures
Buy it on VHS at:
Movies Unlimited
Buy it on DVD at:
Video Daikaiju
My Rating:
The Characters
Commander James L. Bradley- A United States military commander in
charge of the anti-saline chemical experiments. Of all the salt-water lakes he could've done said tests on,
he chose the one that contains a giant monster.
Anna Bradley - Commander Bradley's Japanese wife. Besides cooking for her husband, she's
also his acting secretary and takes notes for him. Now the cooking part isn't so bad, since women back then
had nothing better to do (like vote), but taking notes for him? C'mon lady! That lazy bastard
can do it himself!
Captain Kishi - The Japanese military officer that's in charge of keeping the
villagers of Kunish-Hiroshima in line. He does that job well enough until Varan arrives on the
scene to cause havoc and general panic among the islanders.
Matsu - Who does this child belong to? He's apparently a local villager who swings
by the Bradley place to help Anna with the chores. Instead of helping though, he usually wanders back
to the village.
The Villagers - The superstitious inhabitants of Kunish-Hiroshima. Their main
role in this film is to point at Varan, then scream and run.
The Japanese Military - Despite having tanks, machine guns, and heavy artillery, they
can't put a dent in Varan. Luckily some quick thinking on Commander Bradley's part saves the
day.
Varan - Known to the local villagers as Obaki. This reptilian creature has been
awakened by Commander Bradley's anti-saline tests and is none too happy. It crawls out of the nearby
lake and tramples on some miniature buildings. It's defeated when a truck full of anti-saline
solution explodes beneath it. (Note: Varan has the power of flight which is not exhibited
in this Americanized version of this film.)
The Plot
I hate it when a perfectly good Japanese monster movie is Americanized! Usually these type
of films suffer from bad dubbing (which actually adds to the charm of these flicks), but the American distributors
went the extra mile for Varan. For starters, the movie has been terribly hacked up by
U.S. editors (the original uncut version of Varan is seventeen minutes longer!).
Then new footage containing American actors was inserted into various spots. Finally, Akira Ifikube's
musical score was (probably) dumped for some stock music (which is an inexcusable act!). Even
Godzilla: King of the Monsters didn't go through that much change!
Well Varan the Unbelievable begins with a badly edited montage of buildings being trampled
while frightened people run away. Then we get a voiceover from Commander James Bradley. Apparently,
the United States navy has sent him to the village of Kunish-Hiroshima to
test an experimental anti-saline chemical. If it proves successful, said chemical will replace
the expensive process of water distillation. The only real problem is that the local villagers
refuse to relocate and I don't blame them. They make their living from a lake that is about to
be doused with experimental chemical agents. Even if the villagers were temporarily relocated, would it
ever be safe to use that lake's water ever again?!
Since the villagers refuse to cooperate at all, Commander Bradley asks for some military assistance.
What he ends up getting is a small army of mechanized infantry and tanks. Seeing that things may
get out of hand, James decides to let the villagers stay. Supplies can be brought in from Japan
and the soldiers will guard the lake's coastline to keep anyone from entering or drinking the water.
Since everything has finally been worked out, the anti-saline tests are conducted, but there's
one strange thing. Every water sample that Commander Bradley takes over the course of several
days is full of mud. It's as if something alive is stirring up the bottom of the lake (GASP!).
Several nights later, something huge comes ashore and scares a soldier to death! The look on
his face was priceless! Due to this and other evidence (such as giant footprints) Bradley has
Captain Kishi surround the lake with soldiers. The next night something is sighted in the lake
and the soldiers open up everything they've got at it. The creature temporarily submerges, but
becomes brave enough to wander ashore. The Japanese military proves to be completely useless
(as usual), and Varan begins his small path of destruction. While wandering aimlessly on land,
Varan ends up strolling through a canyon. The giant monster's presence alone causes a soldier
to fall backwards into a gorge. And as fate would have it, Commander Bradley, his wife Anna, and
Captain Kishi happen to be nearby as well. They fare much better than the aforementioned soldier
and manage to seek refuge in a cave. Varan tries it's best to pull them out of said cave but the
giant monster quickly loses interest and meanders off.
It isn't long before Varan travels into some (heavy yet still largely ineffective) military
resistance. Tired of getting hit with tiny explosive shells, Varan hightails it to the open sea and makes a beeline toward
the city of Onita. Varan manages to capsize a small fishing boat and enjoys a leisurely swim
until some Japanese jets and battleships arrive on the scene (are we to assume that World War II never happened?). The giant creature submerges and nonchalantly watches dozens of depth
charges explode all around it. Bored once again, Varan marches ashore and attacks Onita. In the
meantime, James, Anna, and Captain Kishi are still at the canyon and have just repaired their
broken radio. Commander Bradley radios in and tells the soldiers in Onita to distract Varan with
flares. (Wait what?! Didn't they pull the same stunt in Gigantis the Fire Monster? What gives?! And
how does he know this will work for sure?!)
Naturally James' plan does work and Varan is lead to Onita airport for the final showdown. Commander
Bradley devises a plan, involving a nearby army truck loaded with a surplus of anti-saline
solution. So does James carry out this daring plan? Of course not! Instead, a random civilian (probably the
hero of the uncut Japanese version of Varan) drives said army truck toward the
approaching daikaiju (giant monster). The guy parks the vehicle beneath Varan and runs like hell because it's
rigged with explosives. Poor Varan is unaware of what is about to happen and is soon doused
with the anti-saline solution. The wounded beast painfully crawls back out to sea, and Commander
James Bradley gives the audience one final poetic speech (which is featured below in the Memorable Lines
section)!
It is common knowledge to my friends and family that I'm a sucker for any giant monster movie. And despite
the suckiness of this Americanized release of Daikaiju Baran, I still liked it. Yes folks,
despite the endless chatter, the shoddy editing, and Varan's lack of screentime, this film holds
a tiny place in my heart. Also, this movie marks Varan's only major role in a Japanese monster
movie. It's not until Destroy All Monsters that we get to see Varan again, but only for a mere
ten seconds or so! Interestingly enough, Varan was going to be a major co-star in GMK (short for
Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidora: Giant Monsters All Out Attack) alongside Baragon and Anguirus. In the
end however, Toho went with the perennial favorites of Mothra and King Ghidorah (both of which
have been overused). Perhaps one day, Varan will get another shot at being in the spotlight. Until,
then, feel free to check out his only starring role. (Note: For daikaiju purists [not unlike myself],
you can order a DVD of Daikaiju Baran from Video Daikaiju.
I believe it's in widescreen format and has English subtitles, plus it contains all the footage that the
Americanized version is missing!)
Memorable Lines
Anna: "They bring shame to my honorable husband." James: "No, worse than that. They bring tears to my wife."
James: "There's visual evidence that saline chemical having merged with salt water has
toxic effects on fish." (Reviewer's Note: James comes to this brilliant conclusion
after seeing dead fish float to the surface of the lake.)
James: "More than half of the Earth's surface is covered by water, it's fathomless depths
uncharted, unexplored. Who can really say that Obaki does not lurk somewhere in the
deep waiting for the right moment to return. Could happen. Maybe a hundred years from
now, maybe tomorrow. It might even happen today."
Things To Watch For
Beginning - Crowds of screaming people and toppling buildings! So far so good!
2 minutes - Varan the Unbelievable!
4 minutes - Commander Brandon's wife doubles as a secretary.
13 minutes - Haha. Nice try kid!
23 minutes - The anti-saline chemical is fired into the lake.
26 minutes - James throws a hissy fit!
28 1/2 minutes - Hahaha. A soldier dies of fright!
35 1/2 minutes - Varan comes ashore as the army fires on it!
