"Varan the Unbelievable" (1958) [Kaijuly]

by Joseph Perry and Mike Imboden

In our “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict” film reviews, Joseph and Mike give their thoughts on a slice of cinema. For this installment, it’s the original 1958 Japanese version of Varan the Unbelievable (Daikaijû Baran), which is part of our 3rd annual “Kaijuly” look at some giant monster films (of which we both love thanks to seeing them in our childhood of the 60s and 70s).

Synopsis

A prehistoric behemoth is unwittingly awoken from hibernation due to a U.S-Japanese military experiment for economic means on its watery lair.

The Good

Joseph: The titular beast in Varan the Unbelievable didn’t get a lot of love from Toho after his debut film, merely appearing in a supporting role in Destroy All Monsters (1968) and a stock-footage cameo in Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). He certainly gets a lot of screen time in this feature, though. As usual with Toho daikaiju pictures, the monster-suit design looks cool and the attack scenes and mankind’s battles against the creature are a blast. Varan is no pushover, either. He holds his own against the army, which leads us to my comments in the next section.

Mike: Varan the Unbelievable features some surprisingly good creature design and practical effects for a movie of its time and budget. The winged, reptilian monster Varan himself is a rather unusual creation with a striking silhouette, particularly during his gliding scenes. Even though it's not always flawless, the miniature work is frequently very endearing and demonstrates a sincere attempt to bring destruction to life on a small scale. There are some really tense scenes that create a sense of dread, especially when Varan is not visible. The movie also benefits from a reasonably simple plot that advances at a respectable clip, steering clear of convoluted subplots.

The Bad

Joseph: For monster movie fans who complain about too much human drama and not enough monster action, Varan the Unbelievable has you covered. This approach also shows why it is important to have interesting human characters and drama, something this film is short on with its stumped scientists and army personnel, and journalists who provide either comic relief or a rather undercooked romantic angle. Soldiers battling a giant beast with ineffective weapons can only be interesting for so long before it gets repetitive and borderline boring.

Mike: Regretfully, Varan the Unbelievable has a number of serious flaws. The human characters are mostly one-dimensional and forgettable; they are more plot devices than interesting individuals. Their responses to the growing crisis frequently come across as clumsy or unpersuasive. Even though the pacing is generally good, there are times when it drags, especially in scenes that are primarily about military strategy and lack genuine tension. Though thrilling at first, Varan's appearances eventually become a bit formulaic, and the destruction scenes don't have the variety of set pieces found in more ambitious kaiju movies.

The Verdict

Joseph: If, like me, you are down for watching pretty much any old school kaiju movie, then you should have at least an amusing time watching Varan the Unbelievable. If you are a connoisseur of only the finest giant monster movies, the film won’t offer much new or truly engaging.

Mike: Rather than being a secret treasure, Varan the Unbelievable is more of a cult favorite. With its sincere attempts at spectacle and its concentration on a single, destructive creature, the movie perfectly captures the essence of 1950s monster cinema. Although it has some impressive practical effects and a distinctive monster design that make it stand out, its poor character development, repetitive action, and generally uninspired script keep it from becoming a true classic.