Catch a day of daikaiju movie screenings this August in Derby, UK. Photo courtesy of Satori Screen. Artwork by Ed Pirrie (colored by John-Paul Bove). Godzilla and Mothra TM & © TOHO CO., LTD. Gamera and Daimajin © KADOKAWA
Official Site: https://www.derbyquad.co.uk/kaiju-a-go-go/
Special Thanks to Peter Munford
After two hugely successful GODZILLA-A-GO-GO events, QUAD - Derby and Satori Screen are expanding their focus a little to take in some other spectacular monsters from Japan, with a day of screenings at the QUAD arts center in Derby on Saturday 23 August 2025.
Never fear, Godzilla will still feature, but this time he is joined by such classic monsters as Mothra, Gamera, Daimajin and more! Tickets are now on sale.
KAIJU-A-GO-GO!
Saturday 23 August 2025
QUAD - Derby
The Market Place, DE1 3AS Derby, United Kingdom
Screening Schedule:
1:00pm – MOTHRA (PG)
3:00pm – RETURN OF DAIMAJIN (12A)
6:00pm – GAMERA – GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE (PG)
8:00pm – GODZILLA VS BIOLLANTE (12A)
Passes to see all 4 films are priced at £30 (standard), £25 (concessions) and £20 (under 16 years old). Just add a ticket to each of the four films at the relevant price band to your basket and a discount will be applied during checkout. Individual film tickets are also available at QUAD’s normal ticket prices.
Tickets and more information are available at: https://www.derbyquad.co.uk/kaiju-a-go-go/
© TOHO CO., LTD.
MOTHRA (1961)
Director: Ishiro Honda, Running Time: 101 Minutes, Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
Following reports of human life on Infant Island, the supposedly deserted site of atomic bomb tests, an international expedition to the heavily-radiated island discovers a native tribe and tiny twin female fairies called “Shobijin” who guard a sacred egg. The overzealous expedition leader kidnaps the Shobijin to exhibit in a Tokyo stage show but soon they summon their protector, hatching the egg and releasing a giant caterpillar. When Mothra arrives in Japan and transforms into her final form, the nation and its people face their destruction.
Psychedelically colourful, with an intelligent, benevolent protector as its lead kaiju, MOTHRA was radically different to every other monster movie that had come before it, and it remains a classic of the genre to this day.
© KADOKAWA
RETURN OF DAIMAJIN (1966)
Director: Kenji Misumi, Running Time: 79 Minutes, Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
On the shores of the mystical Lake Yakumo sit three villages. The despotic Lord Danjo Mikoshiba has his eye on the fertile lands of the peaceful Chigusa clan, and takes the opportunity to invade during a ceremony marking the passing of Lord Chigusa. His cruel actions force the new young lord of the clan, Juro into hiding among their neighboring allies, the Nagoshi. With the Nagoshi also under threat from Mikoshiba, Juro’s bride-to-be Sayuri prays to the towering stone idol situated on the island in the middle of the lake, but Mikoshiba, fearing warnings of retribution for his evil acts from the ancient god Daimajin, orders his men to destroy it, an unspeakable act that cannot go unpunished.
Director Kenji Misumi directs the action scenes of the second Daimajin film with the customary stylistic flourish of his entries in legendary sword-fighting sagas such as TALE OF ZATOICHI (1962) and LONE WOLF AND CUB (1972-74) series, while the special effects sequences devised by Yoshiyuki Kuroda are as breathtaking as ever.
© KADOKAWA
GAMERA – GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE (1995)
Director: Shusuke Kaneko, Running Time: 97 Minutes, Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
Following a long absence from the big screen, Gamera made a triumphant return to form in time for his 30th anniversary, with upgraded special effects and a more serious tone.
A colossal guardian monster named Gamera appears in Japan alongside a trio of man-eating flying creatures called Gyaos. A high school student discovers that she possesses a connection to Gamera and that together they are the only ones capable of stopping Gyaos from destroying humanity.
TM & © TOHO CO., LTD.
GODZILLA VS. BIOLLANTE (1989)
Director: Kazuki Omori, Running Time: 104 Minutes, Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
This time, Godzilla’s foe is one of the series’ most wondrously strange kaiju creations: Biollante—a mutant plant genetically engineered from the cells of a rose, a renegade scientist’s dead daughter, and Godzilla itself. With a wild plot encompassing spies, psychic children, and bonkers biotechnology—and some of the coolest special effects in the history of Japanese cinema—GODZILLA VS. BIOLLANTE stands as a high point in the ever-evolving mythology of the King of the Monsters.
About QUAD
QUAD is Derby’s Cultural Hub providing contemporary art exhibitions, film, cinema, integrated digital media work and a range of educational and creative activities that is inspirational, innovative and inclusive.
About Satori Screen
Satori Screen is QUAD’s monthly night bringing rare opportunities to see East Asian cinema on the big screen. Every month there will be an exciting screening taken from the best of cult Asian cinema, past and present, introduced by QUAD Film & Marketing Officer Peter Munford.
Join the Satori Screen Facebook Group to join the conversation and be kept up to date on East Asian film screenings at QUAD.