Giant Horde Beast Nezura

Giant Horde Beast Nezura[2] (大群獣ネズラ, Daigunjū Nezura, lit. 'The Great Rat Swarm') is an unfinished 1964 kaiju film directed by Mitsuo Murayama and produced by Daiei Film. The film's production was shut down by the health department because the wild brown rats used were escaping the set and had the potential to transmit disease to the surrounding area.[4] Despite the project's cancellation, the studio was not dissuaded from producing more kaiju films, and released Gamera, the Giant Monster the following year.

"Nezura (1964 film)" redirects here. For the 2021 film, see Nezura 1964.
Giant Horde Beast Nezura
Japanese teaser poster
Directed byMitsuo Murayama
Screenplay byKimiyuki Hasegawa
Produced byHidemasa Nagata
Starring
CinematographyYonesaburō Tsukiji
Edited byNoriaki Yuasa[1]
Production
company
Release date
1964 (television)
Running time
20 minutes[2][3]
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese

Plot

At a Food Research Institute located on the island of Sasashima south of Tokyo, scientists develop a revolutionary high-calorie food source labeled the "S602." One of the scientists discovers the nutrient has terrible side effects that cause mutation in those who consume it. Plans to continue with the experiments of S602 are halted and the current supply is supposedly disposed of. An infestation of rats on the island leads to a number of disappearances. An investigation uncovers giant rats attacking and eating livestock, as well as human victims. One of the dead man-sized rats is dissected for study, and a decision is made to spray poison gas on the island to kill all the rats. Many of them escape to the sea and Tokyo is invaded by a horde of rodents as well as an enormous mammoth-sized rat. The rats eventually cannibalize each other, thus eradicating the threat on its own.

Development

The film developers were inspired by Hitchcock’s The Birds "animal attack" concept, but decided to replace birds with giant rats.[5]

Cast

Production
  • Directed by Mitsuo Murayama
  • Screenplay by Kimiyuki Hasegawa
  • Produced by Hidemasa Nagata
  • Edited by Noriaki Yuasa[1]
  • Assistant Directing by Kozo Watanabe
  • Modeling by Ryosaku Takayama[1]

Filming

Filming began on September 30, 1963.[7]

Release

The film was scheduled to be released on January 1, 1965.[7]

Monsters

The monsters featured in the unfinished film known as Nezura (ネズラ, Nezura) modelled by Ryosaku Takayama and played by guinea pigs and brown rats.[7]

Legacy
Main articles: Nezulla the Rat Monster and Nezura 1964

In 2002, Creative Axa and Happinet Pictures produced a horror film inspired by the unmade film titled Nezulla the Rat Monster and in 2020, 3Y Film produced a crowdfunded film in cooperation with Kadokawa.[8] Featuring several cast members from the Gamera franchise including Yukijirō Hotaru, Mach Fumiake, and Akira Ohashi.[9]

References
  1. 平山亨 『仮面ライダー名人列伝』、1998、風塵社、page 153-154
  2. LeMay, John (2019). The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies: The Lost Films. Roswell, NM: Bicep Books. ISBN 978-1701683945.
  3. Miller, Stephen (2020-01-25). "Lost Projects: Giant Horde Beast Nezura". The Kaijuologist. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
  4. Supekutoru man vs raionmaru : Ushio sōji to pī puro no jidai. Tomio Sagisu, 富雄 鷺巣. 太田出版. 1999. ISBN 4-87233-466-3. OCLC 676157356.CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. Johnson, Ted (2017-06-15). The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies: The Lost Films. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. pp. 172–173. ISBN 978-1-5481-4525-5.
  6. "Contents, Vol. 30, 1963". Acta Haematologica. 30 (6): I–IV. 1963. doi:10.1159/000208140. ISSN 0001-5792.
  7. venoms5. "Nezura Beasts and Garasharp: The Aborted Monster Movies of Daiei Studios". Retrieved 2021-05-07.
  8. Inc, Natasha. "特撮映画「大群獣ネズラ」の舞台裏描く「ネズラ1964」製作決定、クラファンも実施（写真15枚）". 映画ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  9. "Makuake｜ガメラの原点！製作陣の挫折と奇跡を描く『ネズラ1964』を映画化したい！｜Makuake（マクアケ）". Makuake(マクアケ) (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-05-08.
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