larry The first half of this film is perfectly executed. It really takes a toll on you emotionally because you really get a chance to feel for toshiaki and all of the things he's going through.In the second half of the film (when the "horror" portion starts) things take an odd twist. I have really mixed feelings about this half because in a way it didn't do the first half justice but at the same time it was an essential piece in bringing the two halves together.I also don't understand why some people are saying the film was slow? The first hour of the film was CRUCIAL in developing the plot and characters for the second half.All in all I really liked it, if you can appreciate the romance and the weird plot this movie has to offer I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

rosscinema Japan in the last decade has made some pretty challenging horror films that require your constant attention and while I'm the first to admit that this is clearly not one of the best it's still an interesting story that's worthy of being checked out. Story is about a scientist named Toshiaki Nagashima (Hiroshi Mikami) who works with cells and he has a theory that ancient surviving cells called Mitochondria symbiotically live within other cells that inhabit our bodies. Toshiaki's wife Kiyomi (Riona Hazuki) is involved in a traffic accident and declared brain dead by doctors but Toshiaki learns that a young girl named Mariko (Ayako Omura) needs a kidney transplant. Another doctor named Tatsuro Ohno (Goro Inagaki) convinces him to get his wife's kidney but Toshiaki tells him that he wants Kiyomi's liver.*****SPOILER ALERT*****Tatsuro transplants the kidney into Mariko and Toshiaki starts to culture Kiyomi's liver cells in his lab and before you know it the cells in the culture grow into this gelatinous goop that takes the form of Kiyomi. Meanwhile, Mariko is having problems of her own as her uterus is changing and Toshiaki learns that the Mitochondria need Mariko to give birth to a new life form!This film is directed by Masayuki Ochiai who gives the viewer a film that is very visually stimulating and in one shot during an operation the camera is looking up through the incision at the doctor! This story is taken from a novel by Hideaki Sena but it also became a popular video game and some of the events that take place are from the game itself. Ochiai shows patience in the way that he tells this story and at certain points the film does tend to drag with a few scenes that go on a bit long. The story itself I found reminiscent of the films that Hammer Studios use to make in the 1950's and 1960's and I think both Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing would be very much at home working with a script like this. The film benefits from two performances and the first is from the radiant Hazuki who is so beautiful that we understand her husbands obsession with trying to keep her alive. But the best performance comes from Mikami who is a very good and respected actor in Japan and it's interesting to watch his character go from bookish doctor to obsessive scientist and then to a state of desperation trying to save the world. This is certainly nowhere near as intriguing as "Audition" but it does play well if your a sci-fi buff which I am so on that merit it's a film that deserves a look.

MidnightHeaven Being familiar with the game, it was surprise to find out that 1) it was based on a novel that would count as a prequel, and 2) it was well thought out and drove home the originality of such a villain living within us. Unlike the game, this is more tame and has no need for action and bullets blazin'...not that there's anything wrong with that :0). It's just that in here, it give a more scientific (yet easy to understand) approach to the series' overseas (in many ways) origin and climax, and also shows that, as cheesy as it sounds, love conquers all. It is a little slow at first, but there are things that keep your interest, so yes, it really is a good watch, even if you're not a fan of the game, or didn't know it was a game at all. It's a rare find, but it's worth a try even once :)

Lars-58 I got this title on Video CD without any prior information on it. I didn't even know what genre it was. After seeing it it's one of my favorites!The plot evolves very subtly for about the first half. Then through some fluid storytelling it all changes into a sci-fi mystery. Beautifully shot and very good acting. Almost dreamlike settings mix with harsh laboratory milieus. This contrast is in parallel with the story that first evolves around the love of life and later the sorrow of death and some really weird consequences.If you get the chance to see it and you like romantic thrillers this is one for you.