Uzumaki (1998)

Australian Premiere – 4K Restoration

“Required viewing for horror fans, Japanese-cult-cinema fans, and anyone who digs settling in for an unsettling David Lynch evening.” – Mark Rahner, Seattle Times

Based on the work of legendary award-winning horror mangaka Junji Itō, Uzumaki tells the nightmarish story of a small town whose inhabitants become increasingly obsessed with and tormented by spirals. As the community descends into madness, schoolgirl Kirie and her friend Shuichi attempt to unspool the mystery.

Japanese music-video director Higuchinsky brilliantly captures the surreal absurdity of Itō’s body horror visuals, from grotesque snail-like mutations to a swirling black hole in the sky. Distorted camera angles and exaggerated performances hypnotise and unsettle the audience, dragging them deeper into the mysterious curse of the spiral.

Screening as part of FLESH//GHOST//MACHINE: Japanese Nightmares.