So I just watched
Imprint
SERIOUSLY over-the-top trailer:
http://eiga.com/official/imprint/trailers/qt_1000k.mov
This film was made to be part of the Masters of Horror series, so it serves more as a short film more than an actual full length feature (63 minutes).
Imprint delves into the realm of whimsical horror, telling the tale of an American searching for his long lost love among an island of "demons and whores." To my surprise, the film was done in English, leading to, I believe, some questionable acting but overall I come away from the film feeling pretty satisfied.
Miike definitely has a way to create artistic horror. This film has a torture scene that is so incredibly well directed that you can't help but cringe at its utter beauty (with a nod to the pornographic nature of horror by alluding to sadomasochism and degradation). The movie starts a little slow, but it is the painfully meticulously structured images that compel you through it. Once again I am reminded of Lynch, using uncomfortable sexual themes to test the audience's endurance and remind us all of our own voyeuristic tendencies as well as graphic twist that would make Eraserhead proud. I am also reminded of Kubric's Eyes Wide Shut in its own regard, being highly stylized and tortured, with a bit more shock horror absurdity.
The movie is definitely flawed, but I do believe that its strengths outweigh its weaknesses. Does anyone else have thoughts on Imprint?
Takashi Miiki is
easily becoming my favorite horror director.
Edit: So apparently even though Miike did this film for Showtime's Master's of Horror it went unaired, most likely because it was too explicit (go figure; a horror show being
explicit).