Varan the Unbelievable

Plot Varan the Unbelievable

Varan the Unbelievable is a 1958 tokusatsu kaiju film produced by Toho Company Ltd., and the company’s last black-and-white kaiju film, despite the release of Rodan in color two years earlier.

It was released to Japanese theaters on October 14, 1958, while the heavily edited American version was released in American theaters on December 12, 1962.

Varan the Unbelievable

A pair of red-trimmed off-white butterflies are found living in Japan. The insects are native to Siberia, so scientists find it strange that they would be discovered so far away from their homeland. In response, an expedition is dispatched to their habitat, located along the Kitami River, to discover why the insects might be living in Siberia.

Two members of the scientific community helm the expedition, but are mysteriously crushed by something that the police can only describe as “powerful”. The nearby villagers of the Kitami River insist that the deaths were a result of the wraith of their mountain god: Varan.

Varan the Unbelievable 1958

Further intrigued, a larger expedition is then dispatched to the area. This time the investigation is funded by the film company “20th Century Mysteries Solved”, an organization that seeks to uncover the truth behind the two deaths to report on it. Staff of the firm Yuriko and Horiguchi lead the expedition along with Kenji, a member of the scientific community.

Varan the Unbelievable – The Movie

The expedition travels further inland and stumbles upon a village doing a ritualistic prayer to their mountain god. The priest of the village warns the travelers that their presence will make the monster angry. The warnings fall of deaf ears, though, and the problem escalates when Ken, a young local boy, runs out of the village after his dog.

The villagers are warned not pursue, as the priest explains that such action would anger the mountain god. Kenji challenges the priest’s warning, asking if their beliefs are worth endangering the life of a child. The three members of the expedition then decide to take matters into their own hands and rescue the boy. The trio is separated, however, in the thick fog.

Varan the Unbelievable – The Movie 1958

Kenji and Horiguchi return to the village to rally the locals to help them, telling them their beliefs are little more than superstition. The villagers, minus the priest, agree, and head toward the lake to rescue Ken. Once there, Ken, along with Yuriko, are discovered. Their reunion is cut short, though, by the monster Varan rising from the Kitami River.

The villagers flee back to their homes, but Varan gives chase. The aquatic monster enters the village, killing the priest who was guarding the entrance. The beast then proceeds to tear apart the huts inside. After the destruction, the monster retreats to his underwater lair.