Parasyte

The whole story of parasitic creatures taking over human brains was originated from Hitoshi Iwaaki’s early 1990s manga. Since that time “Kiseijuu” (Parasyte in Japanese) comics were sold around 11 million times. Impressive number, right? Last year big screen business sharks decided to start fir in the fans’ hearts and produced anime series named Parasyte the Maxim and two live-action movies, first of which was released at the Tokyo International Film Festival.

Actually, I hate Hollywood movies about alien invasion. Especially famous one with green Martians whose heads exploded after the first sound of Slim Whitman’s “Indian Love Call”. However, I cannot deny that first part of a Parasyte manga’s adaptation happened to be simply stunning. It kept me glued to the screen for roughly 110 minutes!

 Well, some of you who have not read the manga or watch anime may have no idea what I am talking about. Okay, get ready for some spoilers. Parasyte is a story of 17-years old Shinichi (Shota Sometani) unlucky to live in the world where flesh-eating aliens take over the humans by entering their brains. Thanks to having earphones while sleeping, Shinichi’ brain remains intact and body-snatching alien has no choice but to take over his hand. That is how the story of friendship between meat-eaters begin. The idea is not that brand-new. Remember one of the series of the sci-fi TV show named LEXX where humans were controlled by alien worms penetrating their bodies? 

like to mention few words about the director, Takashi Yamazaki. He is a really famous person in the Japanese cinematography highly praised for his 2013 controversial war movie “The Eternal Zero”. After the great success only surpassed by megahit “Frozen” Yamazaki cannot just go unnoticed. I am not surprised at all that Parasyte movie arrived in cinemas with a lot of hype. Well, he is well-worth of that appraisal! Diving into all the craziness, Parasyte movies is certainly something unique, something genuine that we don’t get on the big screens too often.

One should definitely grudge against the visual effects looked not very convincing. Instead of hunting down the realistic look, director decided to make it cartoony and plastic-like. I have absolutely no problem with it. At all! If you are familiar with Japanese cinematography you would confirm that this is often used in Japanese manga adaptations. It just becomes the part of the Parasyte movie’s style. Moreover, I was so scared to see one of the first victims’ head instantly cut down as if several sharp machetes sliced their way through the jungles. Pretty convincing gore&grind!

Yeah, I definitely enjoyed time spent watching the battleship of blood-thirsty aliens and humans suddenly left naked in front of outer threat. Nor only because I love the weird Japanese movies. I just loved the way main protagonist transformed from the shy and non-talkative schoolboy to the brave mankind’s crusader. Wish my boyfriend could do it!