Toss Your Mind in a Whirlpool: "Uzumaki" Manga Review
66Uzumaki
Tagline: "Spiral into Horror."
Author: Junji Ito
I've read a few of Ito's books (strange man), but Uzumaki is my own personal favorite. Uzumaki presents a horror outside of the human experience. The title means "Spiral."
Similar to the Richard Gere feature The Mothman Prophecies, this comic book might merely exist as a quaint pastime if not for the somewhat relevant inspiration: there is a common pattern of spirals in the natural world. The book is not presented as a "true story" as Prophecies was. Nonetheless, the prevalence of the spiral in nature is eerie to say the least.
The pattern not only exists in an ill-fated coastal town in Japan, it also twists reality to conform with the spiral. It assaults not only the Faustian explorer but innocent citizens on the verge of realizing their boring small town is built on a malevolent crossroads.
Film
This is a must-see for visually-stunning bizarre imagery and suspenseful plot (though if you've read the books, you know what to expect.) Clean cinematography, potent special fx, and moody music create a massive permeating Oz factor. Watch in the day time! The final scene ( a collection of stills) cannot be explained, you have to see it for yourself.
Article copyright 2010. Nicholas Malizia. All rights reserved.
Like Live-Action Anime/Manga movies?
Live Action Anime or films based on anime (Japanese animated films) and Manga (Japanese comic books.) This is a great list of fun films. Uzumaki is only one of the film adaptations of a manga.
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Thanks for the comment, ruffridyer.
The movie was truly one of the weirdest I've ever seen, which is just fine for a lot of people who enjoy psychological thrillers and "mind-bending" features (please, don't misunderstand as "horror" movies, audience. The other day a girl in my class gave "Saw" as an example of a Psychological Thriller -_- very sad moment. lol!)
You were right to detect the Lovecraftian elements. H.P.'s inspired a score of japanese authors and artists as well as in the U.S. ( noticeably in RPG's like Dungeons and Dragons, ex. "The Mindflayers"/ Cthulhu and the "Kuo Tua"/ Dagon or old ones.)
I like weird japanese thrillers AND H.P. Lovecraft so... win-win! XD ha ha
ruffridyer Level 4 Commenter 11 months ago
I watched the movie and found it strange yet compelling. It seemed like it had an Lovecraftian mood about it.