Day of Resurrection (1980)

After a virus devastates the global human population, survivors in Antarctica desperately try to find a cure and save the human race.

Director:

Kinji Fukasaku

Writers:

Kôji Takada (screenplay), Kinji Fukasaku (screenplay)

Stars:

Masao Kusakari, Tsunehiko Watase, Isao Natsuyagi

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Masao Kusakari	...	Dr. Shûzô Yoshizumi
Tsunehiko Watase	...	Yasuo Tatsuno
Isao Natsuyagi	...	Cmdr. Nakanishi (as Isao Natsuki)
Shin'ichi Chiba	...	Dr. Yamauchi (as Sonny Chiba)
Kensaku Morita	...	Ryûji Sanazawa
Toshiyuki Nagashima	...	Akimasa Matsuo
Haruki Kadokawa	...	Team Member - Showa Station
Tadashi Takatsuki	...	Team Member - Showa Station (as Chû Takatsuki)
Takeshige Hatanaka	...	Team Member - Showa Station
Chikara Gonoue	...	Team Member - Showa Station (as Riki Gonoue)
Eiji Yuki	...	Team Member - Showa Station
George Kennedy	...	Adm. Conway
Bo Svenson	...	Maj. Carter
Stephanie Faulkner	...	Sarah Baker
Julie Khaner	...	Secretary - Palmer Station

Storyline

A US military-engineered virus, released during a plane crash, kills almost the entire human population. The only survivors are scientists and military personnel in Antarctica, who desperately try to find a cure and save what is left of the human population from further destruction.

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Plot Keywords:

virus | antarctica | vaccine | submarine | pandemic | 

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Taglines:

A story of survival and resurrection.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

English Japanese French German Spanish Russian

Release Date:

26 June 1980 (Japan)

Also Known As:

The End

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$16,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Haruki Kadokawa Films, Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

156 min 103 min (alternate cut)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film takes place in 1982, 1983 and 1988.

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Goofs

It is highly improbable that any systems (even nuclear launch systems) could be still powered after a full year with out someone alive to maintain them. If all human operators would vanish from a nuclear power plant it is safe to assume that something bad would happen very soon.

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Quotes

President Richardson: [watching the sun set, for what he suspects will be his last time] I wanted my name to be entered into the history books, but I wanted it to be for something meaningful, something lasting. What could I have done that would have made the slightest damn bit of difference... wha... what could I have done?

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Crazy Credits

The Japanese version mixes English and Japanese writing during the opening credit sequence. The English-speaking actors' names are in English and the Japanese cast and crew members' names are in Japanese.

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Alternate Versions

As of 2006, the full 155-minute version of this film is officially available on DVD in the United States. BCI Eclipse released the full Japanese version in anamorphic widescreen as part of their Sonny Chiba Action Pack, which also includes the films Golgo 13 and Bullet Train (which are also featured in anamorphic widescreen transfers). This release keeps an original Japanese title card and the Kadokawa logo before the film begins, which is something that the deluxe Japanese DVD set deletes (albeit, it is an inconsequential deletion). The BCI Eclipse release is not the butchered 108-minute cut. It is labeled on the box as the "Uncut International Version".

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Connections

References Earthquake (1974)

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Soundtracks

You Are Love (Toujours Gai Mon Cher)
Music by Teo Macero
Lyrics by Janis Ian
Performed by Janis Ian

User Reviews

Too Close to the Truth

Firstly let me say that this review is based on the full uncut 156 minute version of the movie.

After watching this I can see why it was a financial failure when it was released and did not get more publicity. It is easy to see that the powers that be in the US and other countries featured would have preferred it never be seen. Just too close to the truth of what has happened on a smaller scale more than once.

Ironic that a virus created by the US that kills almost everyone gets labeled Italian Flu. Do some real research of Spanish Flu that killed millions and you will know what I mean.

This is a movie full of big name actors of the time, but you need to see the uncut 156 minute version to do it justice. All of the big names perform their roles well and while being very bleak the movies gets the story across with appropriate use of subtitles.

Do not expect high end CGI or special effects, there are none, just a well put together movie that IMHO stands the test and is worth seeing some 35+ years later.

Probably one of the best Armageddon movies you will see if you are prepared to sit thought it. This is not a hollywoodised movie in any way.

Solid 8/10 for me, not sure I would watch it again though, a little bit too real for comfort.