LoneApothecary I had an idea of what to expect going into this movie. I was familiar with the reputation of the Guinea Pig series, and I'd read a little bit about the film, but I got more than I expected.The story is simple. A painter finds a mermaid in a sewer, notices that she has an infection, and brings her back to his house to nurse her back to health as well as to paint her. What follows is a slurry of blood, tumorous flesh, and worms. So many worms.The effects are well done, and they're downright repulsive at times, but if you have a strong enough stomach, and an amply twisted mind, you may appreciate it. If the thought of worms being pulled out of pus-oozing sores grosses you out, steer clear. If you're hunting for more gross-outs, then dig right in.The acting and the sound design were wonky, but I don't think the movie is worse off for it. In fact, I think it makes the movie better, because of the hilarity that ensues. The movie as a whole has a darkly comedic air to it, which I really enjoy. The questionable subtitles I had made it even funnier.This movie is a wonderful mess, and those who can appreciate it may very well love it. You'll laugh, you'll get grossed out, and then you'll laugh some more. If you ask me, it's a work of art, and it deserves an 8/10.

runthehills-1 This is the story of a man. Not any man, but a painter. He lives a happy life in Japan, painting pictures, but he goes into the sewers, and what does he find??? A mermaid. A beautiful mermaid, asking him to draw, and paint a picture of her. But she gets some infectious disease that literally starts eating away at here body, and in the end she dies.Now it sounds great. And don't get me wrong, it was good. But not that good. I am 14 years old, and i saw this movie, and i was surprised. I've been told that these movies are some of the most "disturbing, morbid, and macabre" movies available. While there were some "interesting" parts, there were none that surprised me, or even shocked me. I come from a family were horror movies are around everywhere. Nightmare on Elm Street, Hellraiser, Hostel, Saw, Friday the 13th, Halloween. But i've always wanted to dip into Asian horror movies as they are said to be for only the strongest of stomachs. The only scene that was somewhat "intense" was the bugs/ worms, because i hate insects. Not my greatest interest at all.The moral is the man who loves his mermaid, ends up killing her to save her from the pain, little does he realize is that he is schizophrenic and it is his wife with her 8 month old fetus child, still in womb. This is sad, as he is also said to have loved his wife, but he thought she was already dead. It was also very dark.The story was incredible... Bad. The story was just long, and boring, the only thing that will keep ya going is the effects.Know, the effects were wicked awesome. The blood, and the Tumors, everything was cool.Acting: as this is a low-budget horror movie, don't expect any Russel Crowe or Tom Cruise performances. The main actor, the painter, some of his expressions were more funny than serious. But maybe thats Japanese culture that I'm just unfamiliar with.Overall: A decent horror movie, if there was a better story, would've won Oscar (just joking), the effects are really the only thing that'll attach you, and the dark depths of the story might entice you as well. My greatest would have to be a 6/10!

Nikolaus Maack A painter finds a mermaid in a sewer. Then she starts to get sick. "Paint me," she insists.There's gore and disturbing scenes, but the story itself seems to have a depth to it. Even if there really isn't much of a story at all. I blame my love for the movie on my psychology degree, and my own dreams. The sewer is the unconscious. He takes the mermaid from the sewer to save her, to make art out of her -- only she's infected. But if she came out of his unconscious, then really, isn't he the one that's infected?There is definitely a sort of Cronenburg, Kafka, "Picture of Dorian Gray" feel to the movie. Repulsive, and yet I couldn't stop watching, even as I squirmed in my seat.Definitely not for everyone, but what's there is powerful -- even though the acting and special effects sometimes make the movie feel more like camp than true horror.

haildevilman Hideshi Hino is famous in Japan for his violent graphic manga. He tends to touch on disease, holocaust, and WWII flashbacks. It shows here.Hino decided to make a GP film with an actual story. You have to wonder however if the artist in this story is a self-portrait. If so, I wonder if Hino has TOO MANY dark secrets.The main reason for this film, it seems, is to see how far it can go. Can we let the Mermaid get sicker just to keep painting? And did the FX guy get top pay? The grainy film and sub par editing add to the nightmare. Do NOT let your kids see this.