Tomie

Manga has been spawning film adaptations for decades, so it’s understandable that casual fans can’t always keep abreast of titles never released outside of Japan, often lacking subtitles and prohibitively expensive to check out. Case in point, Junji Ito’s Tomie, which has nine movies and a TV series based on the original material to date, but is still virtually unknown outside of certain circles of fandom.  The original horror manga follows a supernaturally seductive teen who is able to replicate herself from any part of her dismembered body, spreading her madness like a biological disease.  Director Ataru Oikawa doesn’t quite have the resources to replicate the manga’s success, but this first J-horror installment definitely has something lurking under the surface.

 

Trying to recover her memories from an “accident” three years prior, Tsukiko (Mami Nakamura) suspects that something evil is circling her carefully rebuilt life.  And in fact, Tomie (Miho Kanno) – or at least her head – has taken residence in the apartment right below and is plotting a slow-burn vengeance that will eventually infect all the important people in Tsukiko’s life.

 

Oikawa’s film doesn’t lend itself to an easy summary.  But the addition of a curious police detective, who’s been digging into Tomie’s history, helps keep the narrative on course.  Tomie herself is an imaginative creation, part unholy succubus, part playground bully, with echoes of J-horror iconography both classic and recent.  But the script is so unfocused, bouncing between protagonists while building up the unexplained threat, that it ends up being a case of past-tense thrills.  Tomie is frightening because we’re told so, not because of anything the audience actually sees.  That’s works to the film’s advantage for a while, but eventually it’s time to put up and shut up…something Tomie just never pulls off.

 

Still and all, getting the first Tomie on Blu-ray – for the very first time outside of Japan, mind you - is a good start.  Arrow’s limited edition features a commentary track, interviews with Oikawa, Nakamura and production Mikihiko Hirata, plus a collector’s booklet and reversible sleeve.  Tomie, here’s hoping you stay in touch!

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