Uzumaki

[Mofo Rising]

Finally got a chance to see this one after enjoying the original manga when it was serialized in the now defunct magazine PULP.  Not bad, although it's a pretty strange adaptation.

For those not "in the know", UZUMAKI is the story of a small Japanese town that is cursed by the spiral, which is what uzumaki means in English.  It follows a high school girl (don't all Japanese horror movies?) as she slowly watches everybody around her succumb to a bizarre obsession with the shape of the spiral.  First her childhood friend's father, then her classmates, then pretty much everybody else.

This movie gets its creep factor from the way the spiral starts materializing in the bodies of those affected.  It's also where the original manga excelled, in twisting the human form (literally) in sickening ways.  There's also some neat stuff involving the psychology of obsession.

Why I say it's a weird adaptation, this movie isn't really played straight.  Lots of slightly over the top tricks and skewed effects.  You couldn't really say it's real life.  But then, how could it be?

****Slight SPOILER****
I never got to finish the original manga, as PULP was cancelled before the story finished, so I was wondering how it would turn out.  I hoped I wouldn't have to sit through some dumb resolution, and the movie payed out in spades.  Excellent way to end it, in my opinion.
****End SPOILER****

I have to admit, I've grown a real taste for these Japanese horror movies.  They have such a different flavor than American or European horror movies.  How many places in the world would have a movie where the main antagonist isn't even a person, but rather a geometric shape?

[dean]

Japanese horror movies rock.  I think it's because the ideas are fresh, and generally very creepy anyway.

Haven't heard of Uzumaki, but after hearing this, I must locate a copy and watch it!

Cheers

[Dunners]

Spoilers on Uzumaki's manga ending
====

The town ends up engulfed by a spiral hurricaine sent to some cursed or alternate dimension and everyone there goes insane eating the 'snail people' and the main character and her childhood friend I think end up turned to stone or something and the spiral dissapears leaving an empty town..sorry I haven't read it in a year or so.
======

[kakihara]

Is this a Takeshi Miike movie?

[Mofo Rising]

kakihara wrote:

> Is this a Takeshi Miike movie?


Nope.