From revelation to destruction : Godzilla : king of the monsters and John’s Apocalypse in conversation

Abstract

Recent scholarly work on the influence of the Book of Revelation on popular cinematic, literary, and visual apocalyptica has shown steady growth. These studies not only highlight the influence and the processes of de‑ and recontextualisation of Revelation and other apocalyptic texts, but also employ popular apocalyptica as dialogue partners in critical engagement with ancient writings. The aim of this article is to introduce another such dialogue partner in the form of Godzilla: King of the Monsters. The discussion begins with a brief review of recent scholarship on the dialogical interaction between modern apocalyptica and Revelation. This is followed by a plot summary of the most recent Godzilla reboot films, with particular attention to the influence and echoes of Revelation. Finally, several reflections are offered on how Godzilla: King of the Monsters may function as a dialogue partner for reading Revelation. The central premise is that, as with other modern apocalyptica, there exists a two‑way hermeneutical exchange between Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Revelation. Each provides alternative lenses through which to interpret and view the other, opening possibilities for renewed ethical engagement with these ‘texts’.