Uzumaki

Name: Uzumaki (Japanese)

Spiral into Horror (European)

Director: Higuchinsky (Akirhiro Higuchi)

Release Date: February 11, 2000 (Japan)

Introduction:
Uzumaki means spirals or vortex in English. This movie is based off of a horror manga of the same title by Junji Ito. The storyline has been somewhat simplified in the movie version, but still retains the general form of the manga. Despite the European name of the director, he is actually Japanese! While this movie is light on the scares, it makes up for it with an abundance of highly entertaining black humor and trippy strangeness.

Synopsis:
In the town of Kurozu-cho, strange things are happening! Kirie Goshima, a high school student, is on her way to meet her boyfriend, Shuichi, when she stumbles across his father engrossed in the figure of a snail that he is videotaping. Though she calls him, he fails to respond. Kirie leaves Shuichi’s father, and is scared by Yamaguchi, a male classmate of hers that has a severe infatuation with Kirie. After blowing him off, she waits for Shuichi at the tunnel into town. They discuss the strange behavior of his father, Shuichi surprises Kirie and asks her to run away with him.

Shuichi’s father’s strange behavior is only the first of many bizarre occurrences happening in the town. It seems as if everyone has become obsessed with spirals, to the point where people begin to transform into giant snails. Kirie and Shuichi try to uncover the mystery behind these eerie happenings, but are confronted with the disturbing deaths of the townspeople.

Review:
I found this movie to be quite amusing, if not a bit unorthodox. The acting of the main characters seems somewhat trite at times, but this does little to retract from the movie. I was torn between disbelief and hilarity for most of the movie, though I couldn’t help but feel sympathetic and confused towards the end. A warning though: don’t watch this movie while you’re under the influence of anything hallucinogenic; it’s enough of an acid trip by itself!

The only complaint I have about this movie is its ending. I feel like there should have been another half hour tacked on to at least shed a bit of light on what is causing this town to go completely haywire, though I guess this allows for the movie to be viewed multiple times; you still want to find out what actually happens!

Overall, if Aracard and Hello Kitty managed to have a child who was obsessed with spirals, you would get the essence of the strange, but enticing piece of cinema. Go watch it! It’s worth the ninety minutes of your life!

Ratings:
Entertainment: 9
Scares: 2
Gore: 6

Recommended (though not if you’re looking for something completely terrifying)

Video:

Online Videos by Veoh.com

So sorry that there are no subs! I'll try to find another one if I can, but Veoh's being a bitch and taking down all the videos for this site. Here's the crunchyroll link:
Uzumaki-Crunchyroll :)