jbrd's Full Review: Masters of Horror - Takashi Miike: Imprint
Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.
Asian horror, for me, is quite a genre I usually find uninteresting. For one, I really don't like reading subtitles since your eyes are distracted from the movie. I have heard some people say that Asian horror is much scarier than American's horror. I have never watched an Asian horror film until now. Imprint is one of the Masters of Horror episodes, a series you have read quite a lot of reviews on it from me.
Imprint is a tale about this American journalist who is search for a prostitute that he has loved for years and had left behind years ago. He travels to an island where he thinks she is located. An island where your sins will make your death a living hell. The journalist stumbles across a courtesan who's face is deformed. Her tale is a tale of grotesque thoughts and dirty secrets that the journalist will not soon forget...nor will the viewer.
Imprint is very interesting. You are surrounded by mysterious people throughout much of the film and I think that is why I was so intrigued by this film, now matter how disturbing it was(for a few scenes, I wanted to stop watching it). The characters are extremely bizarre that you really want to know their background and see what dirty secrets they hide. Imprint is told most of the time in flashbacks, the mysterious courtesan telling the story on how the journalist's lover became dead, or so he thinks. The flashback technique is used at the right amount and at the right length. Never does it get overbearing or boring at any time.
Imprint is brought to you by Takashi Miike who did Audition and Ichi The Killer. Imprint is directed so well, I really think this film could not have worked with any other director. Miike makes Imprint a beautifully grotesque film that shows snow-white innocence and sins dirty as the devil himself. The way Miike presents these two qualities together in one is stunning. Excellent visuals and the violence is sometimes overbearing to even the gorehounds. Did someone say violence? Imprint is uncut and uncensored and did you know it was banned from being put on TV? Sounds like fun to me.
Acting wise, it's good. The only person I thought was really bad is the main character, Billy Drago who over-reacted his role really bad that I found him depressing. Everyone else was excellent. The script, written by Daisuke Tengan, is well-crafted. It isn't boring at all and the story is told extremely well. I just don't get the ending at all. It doesn't explain itself too well.
Imprint is just a great modern horror film. I am not proud to say that I love this film because it isn't something to be proud of. It's disgusting. It's unsettling to even the gorehounds. It's pure horror! Still not convinced? Imprint has no English subtitles! Everything is in English so go buy this film now. I bet you won't regret it!
Masters Of Horror: Imprint Information:
Genre: Horror
Running Time: 63 minutes
Year: 2006
Rating: UNCUT! featuring Strong Gory Violence, Sexual Content/Nudity and Language
Recommended:
Yes
Viewing Format: DVD Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age
In 19th century Japan, an American journalist (Billy Drago of "The Hills Have Eyes") searches for the prostitute he'd loved and left behind years earl...More at HotMovieSale.com
Part of the MASTERS OF HORROR series this Takashi Miike feature stars Billy Drago THE HILLS HAVE EYES as an American journalist on a search for his pr...More at Family Video
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