Tidal Wave 日本沈没

Tuesday November 6, 2018 6:30 PM

Directed by Shiro Moritani, 1975

86 minutes, Japanese with English subtitles and English dubs

Get spooked with these 70’s and 80’s films that explores some dark, apocalyptic and mysterious themes coming from Japan during the ‘occult film’ boom that was all the rage during that time in Japan. The films are in conjunction with a special lecture by Japanese film scholar Professor Alex Zahlten in November. Prof. Zahlten will discuss some basic shifts in the relationship to media / the media environment that transpired in Japan during this shifting bubble era. Some viewers may find the films disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.

A huge earthquake in the Pacific ocean sends a gigantic tidal wave rushing towards Japan. Panic ensues as the desperate civilians flee the coastal areas. Volcanic eruptions and and firestorms burn cities to the ground. A weather research group discovers that Japan is moving towards the Japanese trench, which would bring the entire country under the ocean. What will they do to avert the collision course?

Directed by Shiro Moritani, with additional sequences directed by Andrew Meyer. Cast includes Keiju Kobayashi and Lorne Greene. Writer Shinobu Hashimoto, based on the novel by Japanese Science Fiction writer Sakyo Komatsu.

The version we are screening is the re-released version by New World Pictures with additional edits and sequences by Andrew Meyer.

To learn about other DARK & OCCULT films in the series, click here > NIGHTMARE DETECTIVE, TETSUO THE IRON MAN, VITAL