Uzumaki
is Japanese Horror based on the graphic novel of the same name. This
one is very weird and very original.
Written
by The Zombie Master Lee
Roberts December 11, 2007
Release: 2000 Directed by: Higuchinsky Written by: Junji Ito (manga), Kengo Kaji
(screenwriter)
Starring:
Eriko Hatsune as Kirie Goshima Taro Suwa as Yasuo Goshima Fhi Fan as Shuichi Saito Ren Osugi as Toshio Saito Keiko Takahashi as Yukie Saito
As I quest to find the best horror films, I have been
attracted more and more to what the Asian film makers have to offer.
They have brought much needed originality to a somewhat stagnant genre
over the past few years. This 2000 Japanese offering is one such film
that is chock full of originality.
First things first; Uzumaki is
“spiral” in Japanese. The small town of Kurozu-cho
is cursed. Something, or someone, is causing the towns inhabitants to
become obsessed with spirals. The story revolves around Kirie Goshima
(Eriko Hatsune) and her long time friend Shuichi Saito (Fhi Fan) whose
father, Toshio Saito (Ren Osugi), has become fascinated with the
design. He has a need to film and collect anything that even resembles
a spiral. Toshio is so obsessed that he finds a rather unique way to
commit suicide. Toshio’s death has a maddening affect on
Shuichi’s mother, Yukie (Keiko Takahashi). Yukie is sent to a
mental hospital where she proceeds to destroy everything that has a
“spiral”, including taking a knife to her finger
prints.
Shuichi
and Kirie are confronted with two goals; they must find out what is
going on in Kurozu-cho and they must get out of Kurozu-cho before they
get caught up in the spiral.
This has got to be one of the weirdest movies I have ever seen. Taken from a
Junji Ito manga (graphic novel) of the same name, this Japanese treat
is a cross between Lovecraft and David Lynch. Higuchinsky makes use of
the little town atmosphere with a strong cast and a somewhat
disorienting directing style to make a classic yet very original
J-Horror film.
I
recommend Uzumaki to any fan of Japanese horror or
the horror fan that wants a change of pace. Don’t try to
figure it out though as you will surely get a headache. Just sit back
and enjoy. Questions
or comments about Uzumaki? Contact us!
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