Of all the kaijyu movies Toho has produced in the '50s, this probably is the least well known. It was originally available in United States in a super 8 format under the title "Varan the Unbelievable", and sported American actors. The one reviewed here is not this Americanized version but the original Japanese version called "Daikaijyu Baran" (Literal translation: Giant monster Baran). Being a kaijyu eiga fan, I used to hear about this monster a lot and wished I could find a copy for a long time. I'm happy that it is now available on DVD.
Baran gets its inspiration from Japanese flying squirrel called musasabi and it was intended to be a flying monster from the start. What makes this movie little weak is the lack of character of the monster itself. In most Japanese kaijyu movie, there's a subplot that justifies the character of the monster, but in this movie this is lacking. He's supposed to be some sort of god to the village people, but when he shows up, he's just a giant reptile out for destruction.
This is a cult classic kaijyu movie, and definitely worth a watch before it disappears into obscurity again.
Baran gets its inspiration from Japanese flying squirrel called musasabi and it was intended to be a flying monster from the start. What makes this movie little weak is the lack of character of the monster itself. In most Japanese kaijyu movie, there's a subplot that justifies the character of the monster, but in this movie this is lacking. He's supposed to be some sort of god to the village people, but when he shows up, he's just a giant reptile out for destruction.
This is a cult classic kaijyu movie, and definitely worth a watch before it disappears into obscurity again.