Bullies get what they deserve in "Full Circle"

Full Circle (2016)
Starring: Michelle Shampton, Abby Main, David Schwering, Morgan Nash, and Cameron Gall

Director: Abby Main

Rating: Six of Ten Stars

Three bullies (Gall, Nash, and Schwering) are set upon by a mysterious, blood-thirsty avenger (Main) after they pick on the wrong girl (Shampton).

"Full Circle" is another of those obscure student films that I've uncovered in the dark and dusty abandoned corners of YouTube. The story is structured like the original "there's a killer on campus"-type films where teens and twenty-somethings are brutally murdered... but you, as the viewer, can't help but feel like cheering the killer on because the victims are so reprehensible. There are a couple twists, however, that lifts this film above so many others of this type. 

There are some negatives here, though, and they mostly focus on lead actress Michelle Shampton. For about half of the film's running time, you'll think that she might be suffering from some mental disability because she seems abnormally cheerful. Eventually, we learn the real reason for her behavior and the issue is that Shampton was just going a bit over-the-top with her performance. In the scene where this becomes obvious, we actually get a look at proof that she actually is a pretty good actress. It's a shame that this appears to be the only film she was in. (This is true of all the cast members, actually.)

Another (nitpicky and personal) complaint is the artificial film "aging" artifacts that have been added to "Full Circle". Based on the overall look of the footage, I am guessing that it was originally shot with a digital camera and the desaturated to achieve the black-and-white look. It's done better here than in many other student efforts I've watched over the years, but adding streaks and other fake "old movie" flaws to the film is taking this a step too far. In my opinion, such effects should only be added to a film that its creators are trying to make look like it's from the "olden days" (which is not the case here), or the damage is so extreme that a claim can be made that it was "restored from footage recovered under desperate circumstances after it was nearly destroyed". The light "damage/wear-and-tear" touches to a film that's clearly set in the 1990s or 2000s are more distracting than anything else. Or at least it is to me.

Despite those two paragraphs of negativity, I feel this is a film that's well worth you time, if you like works of the "disgusting people get their due" variety. The fact that it has a couple plot twists that put it a little outside the norm makes it even better. So, take a few minutes out of your busy day and check out "Full Circle". (You might even be able to get away with watching it at work, since it's a silent movie and you just turn down the volume on the music!)

Violins and Violence

 
Here's another neat student film that has been recovered from the distant, abandoned corners of YouTube! Made by Indonesian college students, but with English dialog. It has a 1970s slasher or proto-slasher film, and I might have given it an Eight-star rating if there'd been some well-executed gore or stabbings instead of a symbolic graphic. Still, the general atmosphere of the film--powered by great lighting and camera work, and the chilling, detached demeanor of the lead actress--coupled with the story twists make this a fine way to spend a few minutes if you like horror flicks. (The color tints also add to the mood and mystery of the picture.)

The Violin Player (aka "The Violent Player") (2006)
Starring: Silena Cheung, Andra Fembriarto, Maggie Leung, and Tim Powers
Director: Andra Fembriarto

Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

A Saturday Strip...

We hope you enjoy this graphic tale of a lady who takes it all off! (Music to set the proper mood can be found here.)

A fun horror movie spoof!

Night of the Living Bread (1990)
Starring: Vince Ware, Katie Harris, Robert J. Saunders, Gina Saunders, Stephen R. Newell, Kevin J. O'Brien, and Steve Heminghausen

Director: Kevin J. O'Brien

Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

When a strange explosion at a factory causes bread to animate and attack the living, will anyone survive to see the sun rise again?

"Night of the Living Bread" is a fun, well-executed spoof of the genre-shaping zombie flick "Night of the Living Dead" (1968). In its eight-minute running time, it touches hilariously on all the key scenes and story elements of George Romero's most famous flick... but with the zombies being replaced by slices of bread and hamburger buns.

This is one of those flicks where too much talk by a reviewer will ruin the fun of watching it (which you can do by clicking below, in this very post), so I'll just highlight two things that make this film so good: First, the cast of actors plays everything completely straight (with one exception); this heightens the comedic absurdity of the story. Second, the film has a jump-scare that is so unexpected that even a jaded horror film viewer like myself was startled by it.

Check out this great little flick and have your day brightened. (It will be ten-times more enjoyable if you're familiar with the film its making fun of, but I think it can be enjoyed by any fans of classic horror films.)

'Black Paradox' stumbles at the end

Black Paradox (Viz Media, 2022)
Story and Art: Junji Ito
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars

Four strangers unite around a shared desire to commit suicide and vow to support each other by doing it together. Their attempt goes awry when doppelgangers interfere... and this launches them into a terror-filled journey that could shape not only their destinies but the future of humanity.

"Black Paradox" is a slightly different offering from Junji Ito. While it's got a number of intensely horrific moments, it's mostly a slow-burn work that mixes hints of cosmic horror with urban legends, folk lore, a mounting atmosphere of conspiratorial paranoia, and bits of old-fashioned melodrama. In addition, Ito introduces a cosmology of his own devising and slowly reveals the unique positions the four main characters hold in it... and it all adds up to a thrilling and mysterious ride that keeps growing more intense as the intertwined plotlines of the included stories unfold.

Although "Black Paradox" is told in an episodic format, the episodes become more and more tightly linked as the book progresses. In the end, what emerges is a novel-length tale ala "Remina" but which plays more to Ito's strengths for doing short stories in the way "Sensor" and "Uzumaki" did by having more-or-less standalone episodes linked by an overarching storyline that build toward a single climax.

Unfortunately, as excellent as "Black Paradox" is, it suffers from the same flaw as "Sensor" does: After a spectacular beginning and middle, the end doesn't quite deliver on the promise because it feels rushed and half-baked. The problem is more severe in "Black Paradox", because not only do the last two chapters feel like they are rushed, but there are several important plot elements that remain unexplained, because they are dropped entirely; for example, the doppelgangers mentioned in the teaser summary are never explained. We also needed more development of a couple characters that are introduced during the second half of the book--particularly Dr. Suga--but the rush to wrap things up is so frenetic that there's no room for it. 

So, ultimately, what could have been one of Ito's finest works--and one that might even be rife for a sequel, especially in the light of the dropped plot-threads--is a good and entertaining read, but not great. If it had been more like "Uzumaki" and less like "Sensor", I suspect I would have given it a Ten Rating--there is so much potential set up during the first half of the book that is never fully delivered upon.

If you're a fan of Junji Ito, you won't regret the time spent on "Black Paradox"... but you will find yourself wishing there was more.

Take Couple Minutes to See 'Your Time is Up!'

Your Time is Up! (2021)
Starring: Nhan La
Director: Leon Truong
Rating: Six of Ten Stars

A young woman (La) has a fateful encounter with Death.

Our month-long Halloween celebration may have come to an end yesterday, but this tidbit of horror felt like it belonged on the Day of the Dead... so the spookiness continues!

According to notes from writer/director Leon Truong, "Your Time is Up!" was made first and foremost as an exercise in creating a film that captured the look and feel of a silent movie. While he wisely didn't attempt to dress up actress Nahn La as if it was 1919, he did reach the stated goal of this project by using lighting and special effects techniques similar to what filmmakers in the silent era had access to and then manipulating the resulting footage digitally in post-production.

Musical Monday with the Linda Lindas

What if B-movie maestro Charles Band (the creator of many oddball doll-driven horror films) was to write and direct a music video? Well, we're pretty sure it would turn like something like the one for "Talking to Myself" by the Linda Lindas.

Talking to Myself (2022)
Starring: The Linda Lindas
Director: Ryan Baxley
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

Here's a film to step up the Halloween spirit!

Steps (2022)
Starring: Mori Christian and Kris Cummins
Director: Russell Miller
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars

A woman (Christian) movies into her just-purchased house, only to discover that the previous owner has left something behind...

"Steps" is a expertly paced and well-filmed haunted house tale. It mostly avoids the jump scares that so many creators of short films (and long-form horror films, too, for that matter) rely so heavily on. What we get here is good old-fashioned tension building through escalating weirdness

The only non-nitpicky complaint I can voice about this film is also a compliment: As the film ended, I wanted to know more. More about the main character, more about the house she purchased, more about the person who sold it to her, more about the previous owner/inhabitants... just more. Generally, stories like this that don't have the slightest hint as to why the supernatural events of the film are happening bother me. I generally feel like there should be some slight hint as to why this curse is upon a particular place or is happening to a particular person. There are some exceptions, though, like what we have here--a film so engaging that it sparks my imagination and causes me to make up the greater story surrounding it. That, in turn, makes me wish that I could know the REAL story beyond the edges of the story we are told.

But why don't you take a few minutes to check out "Steps"? Even if you aren't as impressed with it as I was, I think you'll agree that it's an excellent short film, as well as a great way to boost the Halloween Spirit!

'Ripped' is strong

Ripped (2007)
Starring: Paul Gray and Freda Evans
Director: Christian Linke
Rating: Six of Ten Stars

A artist (Gray) finds a mysterious sketchbook that gives him the power to eradicate what he draws from existence.

"Ripped" is another excellent film that I found while wandering through the deep recesses of Facebook. I thought I recognized the filmmaker's name, but I can't find anything else that's done that I might have reviewed, nor can I find him anywhere on my contact lists. I hope he's done other things since leaving film school, because this is a really neat film.

Writer/director Christian Linke says he was inspired to make this film by episodes of the original "Twilight Zone" series. He's done a great job capturing the look and mood of some of the most iconic episodes of that show while also bringing an appropriate silent movie aesthetic to the actors' performances that echo the best of what that era had to offer. The storytelling is fast-paced, the camera- and lighting-work is creative, and the special effects are simple and effective. Linke did a fine job in general.

There are only two things that dragged the film down from the Seven Rating I was thinking about to the Six Rating that I ultimately gave it. 

First, I found some of the stock music that Linke used distracting. One bit featured a motif that I knew from somewhere, so I found myself thinking more about where from than what was happening on screen. Once I placed the music, I began to wonder why he chose that particular piece; was he trying to evoke the very famous films and even more famous character that it's associated with, or was it just coincidental? (This could just be a "me" issue--I have the same problem when Chinese films lift famous film scores and use them for scenes and genres that have nothing to do with where it was taken from. It could be I notice these things more because I'm a nexus point for film-buffery and music criticism, so this might be a non-complaint complaint as far as most viewers are concerned.)

Second, I kept wanting the stakes to be a little higher, especially in light of the ending. When the Arist realized he could make things vanish via the magic sketch pad, he should have moved onto things far more impactful than just nick-nacks, escalating past annoying pets and to people in quick succession. The film is so well-made that this isn't a huge problem, but it still something I had to "ding" it for.

All that said, I think if you enjoy things like "The Twilight Zone" and "Tales From the Crypt" or classic short-form horror comics, I think you'll get a kick out of "Ripped". Take a few minutes to check it out... and perhaps even let me know in the comments if you could tell what music I found distracting.

At the intersection of silent movies and torture porn...

Dental Care (2022)
Starring: Jamison England and Simon England
Director: Jamison England
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

Terry (Jamison England) is captured by an insane dentist (Simon England) who is bent on giving him the perfect smile.

Does anyone remember "Saw" and the unpleasant flood of "torture porn" movies that followed in its wake (in addition to the sequels the film itself spawned)? I do, and I disliked almost every one of the genre I had the misfortune of seeing; many I couldn't even motivate myself to write reviews of. I even found myself panning films featuring performers I liked, such as the talented Suzi Lorraine.

So, when "Dental Care" veered quickly into torture porn territory--with its innocent victim being set upon in a gruesome and merciless fashion by an evil madman for no apparent reason other than to be gruesome and merciless-- it was quite a surprise to me that I found myself liking it (even as I squirmed at certain moments). While it's possible that my tastes have degraded since the early 2000s, I like to think that the actual reason for me liking this film is that it despite the torture porn vibe, it gets a number of things right that lesser films get wrong--at least when it comes to being effective horror films.

Areas in which "Dental Care" succeeds are both in direction and cinematography. There's a sense of griminess about everything in the film that suits the subject matter perfectly; Jamie England knows that sometimes "less is more" when it comes to what gets shown on screen in a horror film; and the films final few moments are executed so fabulously that a number of famous filmmakers could benefit from taking a look at.

Click below to watch "Dental Care"... and please let me know if you agree or disagree with my take!

An interesting effort from a new filmmaker

Loop (2022)
Starring: Bryn Wilson and Christian Gillam
Director: Aaron Delaney
Rating: Five of Ten Stars

A young woman (Wilson) takes the path less traveled... and finds herself trapped in the Twilight Zone with a mysterious fellow wanderer (Gillam).

"Loop" is another gem that I discovered in the distant corners of YouTube while searching for interesting things to watch and write about in this space. I assume it's an effort by a beginning filmmaker, and I think that if he sticks with it and masters his craft, we'll be treated to great stuff in a few years.

The basic idea and execution of "Loop" is an engaging one, but it's one that is very tricky to execute and which could become very boring to watch, very fast. Delaney, however, keeps things moving and shows a near-perfect sense of timing with the points at which he introduces plot complications and story elements as the film unfolds. This film got my imagination going, and I find myself thinking about the unanswered mysteries it presents, long after the end credits rolled. There's no higher praise I can give a film other than to say it left me with questions that I have fun puzzling out answers to.

As much as I enjoyed "Loop", I can't ignore its technical flaws. Delany makes several ambitious attempts at in-camera edits/effects that he doesn't quite pull off, and the sound mixing leaves a lot to be desired--the dialogue is too soft and the soundtrack music is too loud. There are also a couple points where the camera should have placed in a slightly different place to avoid having a sign in the background. That sign undermined the sense that the characters are trapped in some unknowable paranormal place and thus came dangerously close to spoiling the whole film. (As it is, that sign is responsible for me giving this film a Five instead of a Six Out of Ten Stars.)

If you have a few minutes, check you "Loop" by clicking below. I hope you find it as interesting and imagination-stirring as I did!

2/2/22 -- Day of the Doppelgangers!

Today, on 2/2/22, we're sharing stories about doppelgangers, here and at Terror Titans. We hope you enjoy... and we hope you don't encounter your doppelgangers in your wanderings today.

Doppelganger (2020)

Starring: Michael Diulus

Director: Michael Diulus

Rating: Six of Ten Stars

A writer (Diulus) drifts off to sleep while working and finds himself in a struggle for his soul.

"Doppelganger" is a straight-forward, no-frills supernatural horror short that captures the feeling of dreams dead-on. I appreciate its simplicity, and it shows that a single person with a camera and a good eye can create a great experience for the viewer. (The only criticisms I have amount to little more than nitpicks. But I think the main character might have an easier time writing if he sat at a desk; I was more worried for the laptop than his safety for a while there; and the strangling bit was... well, a bit too obvious that it was just one guy and a camera making the film.)

Check out "Doppelganger" by clicking below. I think you'll like it.

You can see more from Michaek Diulus on his YouTube channel by clicking here. 

The Mystery of Ninecrow must be revealed!

While researching something entirely different, I stumbled upon the series "Ninecrow" by Dora Mitchell.

"Ninecrows" is a serialized webcomic that Mitchell began in October of 2020. It has the tone and pacing of a young adult horror novel, or a high-quality made-for-TV psychological thriller. It's the story of Amanda, a teenager who moves to an isolated small town with her Mom, following her parents divorce. She soon discovers that there is something very odd about the place, including strange lights in the wooded mountains high above the town and a pattern of girls mysteriously disappearing when they are about her age. When her mother starts to undergo a personality change, Amanda tries finding allies that can help her unravel the mysteries of the town--but is there anyone or any thing what is at it seems in this strange town?

As of this writing, Mitchell's about 100 pages in and is currently serializing the fourth and final chapter. So far, I've loved how the story's unfolded and how Mitchell has been upping the stakes and laying on the mystery and dialing up the horror. I am looking forward to seeing how it all wraps up, especially given the completely new mystery that was introduced in the something-of-a-cliffhanger ending of Part Three.

I have read the three completed chapters. I generally don't comment on these sorts of web serials (or comic book storylines, period) until they're complete and I can evaluate the entire work. In this case, though, I am interested enough in what's going on that I want to see Mitchell encouraged to finish it! And what better encouragement it there than to know there's an audience out there?

Go check out "Ninecrows". You can read the completed parts, thus experiencing the series the way I did, by clicking on the links below:

Part One -- Part Two -- Part Three

Or you can read the tale as it unfold, one page at a time, by clicking here.

The spooky scary skeletons come out to play!

Continuing the Shades of Gray Halloween 2021 celebration, we've got creepy, scary skeletons thanks to artist Bryan Baugh and one of our favorite cover artists Leo Moracchiolli!

More Cosmic Horror from Junji Ito

Sensor (Viz Media, 2021)
Story and Art: Junji Ito

Rating: Nine of Ten Stars

Wataru is a self-described "no-name reporter" who becomes drawn into a struggle between cosmic forces when he crosses paths with Kyoko, a mysterious woman with hair that literally glows.

"Sensor" is the latest work from comic book horror master Junji Ito. It was originally serialized in Japan during 2018 and 2019, and the English translation of the collected edition was released in August of 2021. Like "Uzamaki", this is a cycle of short stories that combine to tell a single novel-length tale. As such, Ito played to his strengths, avoiding the mistake he made with "Remina": He does good short stories, but long-form is definitely not his strength.

As such, this is a project that plays to Ito's strength as a storyteller. As "Remina" showed, Ito can't quite pull off a novel-length tale if he's structuring it like a novel. However, in this book, he instead is presenting a series of short stories that ultimately combine into one long story. And it works beautifully.

With "Sensor", the book opens with a prologue that initially seems only loosely connected to what follows--with the mysterious Kyoko spending decades in suspended animation within a cocoon formed around her when a village of people who worshiped a cosmic force they called the Akashi was destroyed in a sudden volcanic eruption. Each of the stories that follow, however, tell a stand-alone story that has elements that tie back to that prologue, and these ties get stronger as the book unfolds. Eventually, as the book reaches its climax with a clash between good and evil on a very literal cosmic scale, it becomes apparent that every story have, in fact, been closely related to each other; our hero, Wataru, may have seemed like he was following loosely connected threads, but we discover at the end that he had been trapped in a web of pre-destiny since even before his first encounter with Kyoko.

According to Ito's afterword to the book, "Sensor" (which was originally published under the title "Travelogue of a Succubus") was originally conceived as a story that would have had strong similarities to "Tomie", the series that propelled him to international fame.

This early piece of promotional art certainly looks like it's for a serial about a succubus and the horrors she leaves in her wake as she travels:

However, from the very first installment, "Sensor" was already showed signs of not being what the title was implying. Instead, this prologue lays the foundation for a tale of cosmic horror that the likes of H.P Lovecraft probably would have gotten a kick out of. It is to our benefit that Junji Ito followed his creative instincts and abandoned the original concept for the series (and that his editors allowed him the freedom to do so). The story he delivers is excellent, as is the way each chapter initially seems to stand alone, but that they ultimately add up to a single narrative. 

The only complain I can field about "Sensor" is that it's too short. I felt like the overarching plot seemed to resolve too quickly between the true threat to Wataru's safety coming into to focus in Chapter Five, and the climax unfolding in Chapters Six and Seven. It feels like this book needed to be at least three or four chapters longer--perhaps even twice the length of the seven that it lasts. I feel this way, partly, because because I liked Wataru as a character, and I wanted to see him have more intriguing encounters, but I was also impressed with the way Ito wove a larger story through the background of a series of short ones. I wanted more of this--brief stories that unfolded against a backdrop of events that couldn't possibly be connected yet somehow seemed to be. 

If you've enjoyed Junji Ito's work in the past, or if you're new to it and want to read some excellent horror comics, I strongly recommend you get a copy of "Sensor".

Look Kids! Creepy Comics!

 A comic to get you in a Halloweenish mood!

'The Stranger' leaves unanswered questions

The Stranger (2020)

Starring: Helen Crevel, Richard Boland, Mark Topping, and Kieron Attwood
Director: Alexander Dunn
Rating: Six of Ten Stars

After the mysterious disappearance of her father (Topping), Kate (Crevel) and her husband (Boland) return to the house she grew up in, the last place he was known to be. The trip intended to put affairs in order instead results in the revelation of secrets and a descent into terror.



"The Stranger" has an air about it of a psychological thriller/supernatural horror movie from the 1950s or 1960s. The atmosphere is mostly one of underplayed dread, and the true nature of the supernatural (or superscientific?) horror at play in the story remains in question until... well, in the case of this film, until the very end and beyond.

While I could rightfully criticize this film for weak sound mixing, second-rate sound effects, wooden acting, and lackluster camerawork and lighting that doesn't take advantage of the black-and-white media, I'd only be doing it because I want more! And I want more in a good way.

Some films end with the viewer feeling unsatisfied, with a "That's It?" sensation. You'll be saying "That's It?" at the end of this one, too, but it'll not because you're unsatisfied, it's because you'll want to know what happens next. For all of its technical weak spots, "The Stranger" has such an interesting story and leaves so many mysteries and unanswered questions as the end credits flick by on the screen (and even adds one during those credits) that the only disappointment you'll feel is that it's over and those questions are left for you to imagine the answers to.

"The Stranger" is available for viewing on YouTube, and I am embedding it here for your convenience. If you have 15 minutes of free time, I recommend checking it out. And if you have a few additional spare moments, you can leave a comment below to let your fellow readers know if I've steered you right or wrong with suggesting this neat little film.

Don't litter or the Mask Man will get you!

Mask Man (2021)

Starring: AJ Ashok

Director: AJ Ashok

Rating: Six of Ten Stars

A litter bug (Ashok) has a bizarre and life-altering encounter.

While I was annoyed by the self-important Mask Nazis roaming around forcing their obsession with face masks on the rest of us over the past year-and-a-half, I was REALLY pissed off by those damn masks were strewn in parking lots and on sidewalks everywhere. because the pigs who had worn them were too lazy to dispose of them properly in a trash can. I hope that the Mask Nazis and their filthy habits are well behind us now.

When I first came across AJ Ashok's short silent horror film "Mask Man", I hoped that he'd made a film about some supernatural terror would haunt a Mask Nazi who was also a pig and just threw their disposable masks on the ground instead of in the trash. Alas, it is not my revenge fantasy brought to the screen, but it is an interesting little anti-littering film. (Even if I come to the conclusion that Ashok must live in a strange place... or do adults really carry snack-sized bags of crisps and juice boxes with them while out for a stroll?)

Click below to enjoy Ashok's moody little film. And remember: Don't litter.

'Lovesickness' is more greatness from Junji Ito

Love Sickness (2021, Viz Media)
Script and Art: Junji Ito
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars

"Lovesickness" is the latest hardcover collection of tales by Japanese horror comics master Junji Ito. I refrain from calling Ito's work "manga", because I think his style should appeal even comics readers who usually claim to dislike Japanse comics. (I still have issues with the lazy translations that have been the norm for the past couple decades, but that war was lost long ago, so now all I can do is knock a star or two off my final rating.)

The majority of the book is taken up by the multi-part saga from which the book draws its title. Structurally, it occupies a place between Ito's "Remina" series (where all the sections add up to a novel-length horror story) and Ito's "Tomie" (where most of the stories stand alone, but are linked thematically and by recurring characters). The parts of "Love Sickness" stand individually, but they add up to a chilling tale of a curse and restless spirits that almost destroy a small town. The story threads involving the main characters add up to a greater tale, but the way the individual smaller story arcs intertwine with each other to form a larger, unified story plays to Ito's strengths in spinning short horror yarns while also delivering a novel-length experience. 

Individually, each story in the "Lovesickness" cycle delivers haunting tragedy and blood-chilling gore, but they also build upon each other, bringing the reader an increasing sense that this is going to end badly for everyone involved. Even the final chapter, which serves as a denouement to the greater "Love Sickness" story cycle stands on its own, and it provides closure to the story that's equal parts spooky and uplifting and completely perfect.

"Lovesickness" is further noteworthy, because it will surprise longtime Ito readers with the directions it goes in as it unfolds. There are characters who you expect to survive who don't, and visa-versa. It's also nice to see a long-form story from Ito with a young guy as the main character instead of the young girl we're used to seeing. Finally, both the main ghost in the story--a tall, impossibly handsome young man--and the mystery surrounding his origin is among Ito's best-drawn and -written work so far. The mists swirling around the mystery man, as well as the spirits he assembles around him are goosebump-inducing. (I won't go into the details of the horror scenarios in each individual story, other than to say they all invoke elements of traditional Japanese ghost stories while incorporating elements of modern youth- and pop-culture, bringing new levels of darkness and horror to each.

Once "Lovesickness" wraps up, Ito introduces us to the Hikizuri Siblings. This group of unpleasant freaks are featured in two stories, both of which are dark comedies. I've said in previous reviews of Ito's work that it's generally very different than any other horror comics, but that is not the case here. The two tales starring the Hizikuris--one where the youngest sister (the beautiful one) runs away from home and finds a boyfriend, the other where the ghost of the family patriarch seems to appear during a seance--are surprising only because they are similar in nature to the tales one used to read in comics like "House of Mystery" and "Scream" and numerous titles from NUELOW Games. They are not among Ito's best works (even if, artwise, the second story has some very impressive moments), but it's nice to see him flex his talent for funny stuff. 

Rounding out this collection are three stand-alone short stories--one that is among the best Ito's ever done, one that is average for him, and one that makes me wonder if something was lost in translation or if he has some personal significance to him, because it's pretty weak.

"The Mansion of Phantom Pain" is an intriguing idea about a house that seems to be haunting its occupants and crushing them in body and spirit. It's got some great art, is very atmospheric, but the story itself is badly executed and left me with too many "why don't they do this?" and "why did they do that?" moments in regards to the characters. Ito's done worse, but he's also done much better; this might be an idea that he should return to later and perhaps develop over several stories ala "Uzumaki" or "Tomie".

With "The Rib Woman", however, we Ito at his best and most horrific; everything he does well is featured in this story. We start with a girl, who, feeling pressured by society's standards of beauty, undergoes surgery to have a couple of her ribs removed. This sets her, and her friends and loved ones, on a collision course with the supernatural... which Ito's pen and brush bring to life in spectacularly gory fashion. There are many reasons why this story will stay with you after you're done reading it. Further, similar to the way "Lovesickness" contained commentary on youth culture, "Ribs Woman" is something of a metaphor for the dangers of unnecessary, body-altering surgery just to conform to some arbitrary standard of beauty forced upon us by others.

The final story, "Memories of Real Poop", may or may not be autobiographical, but it is definitely an attempt at lighthearted humor drawn from from every day life. Unfortunately, it's not very successful... or maybe I just don't get this story of a kid who buys a hyper-realistic, plastic poop and then plays a prank with it. 

"Lovesickness" may end on a bit of a low note, but the vast majority of the book is well worth any horror fans time, especially if you're already familiar with Junji Ito's work. Even horror fans who have convinced themselves they hate "manga" will like this book. (That said, I will repeat the complaint I've been making for 20 years: This book is another lazy translation that's marred by the fact the "localization" is half-assed in the sense that you have to read the book "backwards", because Japanese is read from right to left instead of left to right as English is.)

'Remina' delivers horror, but isn't Ito's best

Remina (2020, Viz Media)
Story and Art: Junji Ito
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

A rogue planet emerges from a wormhole and the astromoner who discovered it names it after his daughter, Remina, who becomes an instant global celebrity. When it becomes apparent that the planet is a destructive force, and that it is heading straight for Earth at unimaginable speeds, all of humanity turn from loving Remina to hating her... and soon, she is hunted by mobs who believe that if they sacrifice her, the Planet Remina won't destroy the Earth and all of humanity.

I have said in previous posts (here and here, for example) that Junji Ito is one of the few people who is a true master of the very difficult art of creating effective horror comics. That view is reaffirmed  with "Remina", in which Ito uses a backdrop of literal cosmic horror to deliver commentary on a whole host of negative aspects of the human race, as well as reminding the reader that disasters can also bring out the best in some of us. And, ultimately, in "Remina", the world doesn't end with a bang, or a whimper, but with the largest slapstick comedy routine since time began. (And, no, I am not breaking my self-imposed rules on spoilers here; there is really no OTHER way this story could end than with the destruction of Earth. This is something that's obvious when you're ten pages in, and it keeps getting reinforced as you progress through the book.)

However, there is a weakness in "Remina" that underscores where Ito's true strength lies: In telling short stories.

Although "Remina" uses the same sort of cosmic, Lovecraftian horror that Ito has previously drawn on in "Uzumaki", this book does not invoke the same level of gut-wrenching horror in the reader that his previous work did. Although the tales in "Uzumaki" add up to a single, novel-length story, each is also a self-contained short story. The longer tale in "Remina" never reaches the level of intensity that's present in the "Uzumaki" tales--even if the crucifixion/human sacrifice scenes come close. 

Similarly, there are several stories in Ito's famous "Tomie" cycle that convey the message that obsession is a destructive force (whether it be adoration or hatred) and that the human tendency to mob action will always end badly both for the actors and for the thing or person being acted upon more effectively than is done here.

What I think "Remina" shows very clearly is that Junji Ito is far better at telling short stories than he is at creating novel-length works. This isn't a bad book; it's just not as good as some of his other works. The horror is more impactful in his short stories than what we get here, and the characters are more interesting overall, despite the room Ito has to develop them in this longer format work. That said, I understand that the title character of this work is something of a useless dishrag and perpetual victim by design. At no point does she have it in her to be the figure deserving of the admiration nor scorn and hatred that the entire world heaps upon her in their superstitious zealotry. Therefore, she never rises to the occasion of fighting back in any way, but instead is swept along by events and defended at every turn by others.

Thematically, Remina is a perfect lead character for this story, but she pales in comparison to other Ito leads--female or male--and she really isn't the right character to carry a long-form story like "Remina". That said, though, she IS the perfect heroine to be in the extended aerial chase scene toward the end of the book, during which she is literally being swept along by circumstances completely out of her control.

Artwise, the book is of the caliber we've come to expect from Ito. The Lovecraftian imagery of the Planet Remina's surface is some of the most bizarre and intricate he's created, and the rest of the art is as sleek as it always is. The work here may lack some of the intensity of some of his other efforts, but it is nonetheless still very in the quality of workmanship that is displayed.