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Kiseiju
Parasyte: Part 1
Japan 2014
produced by Genki Kawamura, Keiichiro Moriya, Takahiro Sato, Minami Ichikawa (chief executive), Yoshio Nakayama (chief executive), Shuji Abe (executive), Seiji Okuda (executive), Akihiro Yamauchi (executive) for Dentsu, GyaO, KDDI Corporation, Kodansha, Nippon Shuppan Hanbai, Nippon Television Network (= NTV), Robot Communications, Shirogumi, Toho
directed by Takashi Yamazaki
starring Shota Sometani, Eri Fukatsu, Ai Hashimoto, Kazuki Kitamura, Masahiro Higashide, Tadanobu Asano, Miko Yoki, Jun Kunimura, Hirofumi Arai, Pierre Taki, Sadao Abe (voice), Satoshi Araki, Kimiko Yo, Nao Omori
screenplay by Ryota Kosawa, Takashi Yamazaki, based on the manga by Hitoshi Iwaaki, music by Naoki Sato, visual effects by Kiyoko Shibuya (director), Takashi Yamazaki (supervisor)
Parasyte
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Of late, too many people have turned up as minced meat to still call it
a coincidence - but then there's no explanation at all for this ... Well,
there is of course, as the earth has been invaded by alien parasites that
invade human brains via ears or nostrils to take over their brains and
turn them into shapeshifting monsters who take on the temporary shape of
humans to feed on other humans. But Migi the parasite accidently entered
his host Shinichi's (Shota Sometani) body via his hand, and now instead of
taking over his brain, he just controls his right hand - much to
Shinichi's horror at the beginning, as one obviously doesn't want one's
hand to be a shapeshifting monster (that at least takes the shape of a
hand most of the time), but eventually the two of them do get along, also
because Migi learns to speak Japanese pretty well, and is soon smarter
than Shinichi. Thing is, there are of course other parasite-possessed
humans around who think little of Migi, and even less of humans, so they'd
be more than happy to turn Shinichi into minced meat as well - but Migi
every now and again saves Shinichi, relying on his shapeshifting talents
and instincts (he can sense the possessed), and even if he claims it's
only out of self-preservation, the two develop a bond. Eventually,
Shinichi and Migi meet Ryoko (Eri Fukatsu), who's one of the possessed,
but who's also with child, so she's much more sympathetic to the fate of
humankind, and some others of her race think like her. But with the
possessed having fallen into two factions, war is inevitable, and of
course Shinichi and Migi are of course fighting at the frontlines ... Now
I have to admit, Parasyte Part 1 is not a perfect film, it's a bit
too convoluted, sometimes confusing as well as confused, and sometimes
just a bit repetitive ... but dang is it a great ride: So do expect
grotesque monsters and effects work, gore aplenty, but also plenty of
whacky humour, a fittingly unfittingly cute hand-creature, plenty of
over-the-top action, and scenes that make your jaw drop every other
minute. So definitely worth a look!
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