Uzumaki

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Uzumaki

Released Feb 11, 2000

1h 31m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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61%

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28 Reviews

57%

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5,000+ Ratings

Kirie (Eriko Hatsune) and Shuichi (Fhi Fan) are friends in a small town who notice that Shuichi's father, Toshio (Ren Ôsugi), has become utterly obsessed with snails, videotaping them in his garden and gathering items that resemble the spiral patterns on their shells. Kirie sees spirals elsewhere, too, even in the way people dress and comport their bodies. When the curiosities turn to tragedies, Shuichi wants to escape to Tokyo, but Kirie is determined to stay and figure out what is going on.

Critics Consensus

Uzumaki uses its creepy, David Lynch-inspired atmospherics to effectively build a sense of dread, but ultimately fails to do anything with it.

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Scott Tobias

AV Club

Uzumaki progresses like the life cycle of a butterfly, only the subjects begin as human beings and contort into giant snails, powerless to stop their bodies from betraying them.

Oct 19, 2018

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Dennis Harvey

Variety

Pic duly places less emphasis on narrative than on the sort of surreal set pieces that might have worked better in the graphic-novel form.

Feb 11, 2010

Full Review

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Adapted from a horror comic by Junji Ito, this debut feature from Japanese music-video director Higuchinsky begins eerily but doesn't take long to descend into silliness.

Apr 18, 2007

Full Review

Jorge Loser

Espinof

... A chimera in itself, so bizarre that it's disturbing, so extravagant that it becomes more and more valuable with each passing year. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 5/5

Oct 1, 2024

Full Review

Jason Shawhan

Nashville Scene

The spiral is always turning, you know, growing outward even as it pulls you in, first by sight, then by thought, and by then far too late.

Sep 9, 2021

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

A brilliant horror film with an original idea and style to spare.

Rated: 4/4

Jun 3, 2006

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Audience Member

Based on the delightfully horrific manga by Junji Ito, it is a film obsessed with its theme meaning "spiral", there is also a subtle undertone of H.P. Lovecraft's "Shadow over Innsmouth". The color palette, cinematography and subliminalness work so well with this strangely splendid little movie. The brilliant ending imagery goes directly back to the manga as it could only be done for a finale, and with such an artistically somber flair. Shot in two weeks, it is a quirky flick, more weirdly unsettling rather than scary, although there are a few jumpy and creepy moments. The film is a classic example of j-horror done beautifully.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/24/24

Full Review

Tony L

The first hour is definetly a pretty faithful adaptation to Junji Ito's manga in terms of eerieness and horror but the last 30 minutes was way too rushed and the ending went too far of from the book, but I do like the mysteriousness behind it. It wouldve definetly been better if it was a longer movie but its still an enjoyable experience non the less.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/05/24

Full Review

Joshua H

One of the worst adaptations of a manga i've seen,fails to capture the fear and terror of junji ito's horrifying manga,you're better off spiraling away from this one

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

09/02/24

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Khalil F

Just read the book, they skipped 90% of the book, stuff all the chapters into one chapter with everything happening at the same time, removed characters pivotal to the story, ending completely changed, and none of the chapters actually finish.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great. Effects still hold up. Ending a little lackluster though. Final chapter could have been done better

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/02/21

Full Review

Audience Member

I was expecting the unique visuals to carry this film but sadly it did not.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

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Higuchinsky

Director

Eriko Hatsune

Kirie Goshima

Fhi Fan

Shuichi Saito

Ren Ôsugi

Toshio Saito

Hinako Saeki

Kyoko Sekino

Masami Horiuchi

Reporter Ichiro Tamura

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Synopsis

Kirie (Eriko Hatsune) and Shuichi (Fhi Fan) are friends in a small town who notice that Shuichi's father, Toshio (Ren Ôsugi), has become utterly obsessed with snails, videotaping them in his garden and gathering items that resemble the spiral patterns on their shells. Kirie sees spirals elsewhere, too, even in the way people dress and comport their bodies. When the curiosities turn to tragedies, Shuichi wants to escape to Tokyo, but Kirie is determined to stay and figure out what is going on.

Director: Higuchinsky
Producer: Sumiji Miyake, Dai Miyazaki
Screenwriter: Junji Ito, Kengo Kaji, Takao Nitta, Chika Yasuo
Distributor: Tidepoint Pictures LLC
Production Co: Omega Micott Inc, Star Max, Space Shower TV, Shogakukan, Tokyo FM Broadcasting Company
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 11, 2000, Original
Release Date (DVD): Oct 13, 2009
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Stereo