Mothra vs. Godzilla

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The Way of the Sword Presents: Kaiju Summer, Vol. 4 !

Hosted by Ryan Ferguson and Aaron Allen!

Godzilla faces off against the benevolent insect monster-god Mothra in this clash of the titans, a crossover battle between two of Toho Studios’ most popular monsters – the last in which Godzilla would figure as a malevolent villain rather than a fearsome hero. Mothra vs. Godzilla marks a creative high point in the Godzilla series, with pointed social commentary from director Ishiro Honda, a masterful score by Akira Ifukube, and astonishing special-effects work by Eiji Tsuburaya.

Presented in Japanese with English subtitles.

Schedule*:

7:00pm – Introduction to the film by hosts Ryan Ferguson and Aaron Allen

7:15pm – Film screening

8:45pm – Post-film presentation and discussion

9:30pm – Event concludes

*Times are approximate.

Ryan Ferguson

Ryan Ferguson is a film programmer and musician based in Hamilton, ON. He was the lead programmer of the AGH Film Festival between 2014 and 2021 and is the former Curator of Film at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. Ryan currently programs the theatrical and special event film screenings at The Westdale. Japanese historical and contemporary cinema is Ryan’s primary area of interest, and ‘The Way of the Sword’ is part of a series of film programs he is developing to provide more exposure to the lesser seen corners of Japanese Cinema.

Aaron Allen

Aaron Allen is a lifelong fan of horror, exploitation, and cult genre film with a special love for Japanese giant monster movies. From 2012 to 2024, he was the director and lead programmer of the Hexploitation Film Festival in Hamilton, ON. Currently, he co-hosts The Way of the Sword’s annual Kaiju Summer programme.