When someone says the name Shinya Tsukamoto, many different things come to mind. ‘Creepy,' might be one. ‘Weird' might be another. Most people might think of him as ‘the guy who made Tetsuo: The Iron Man,' the gory cyberpunk classic which he is most likely known for. However, very rarely will someone associate the word ‘beautiful' with Tsukamoto's work.
‘Vital' might be the one exception. This blend of romance and horror tells the story of Hiroshi Takagi immediately after a devastating car crash that has erased his memory and taken the life of his girlfriend. During the recovery process, Takagi happens to stumble across an anatomy textbook in his closet and remembers his pre-accident studies. Takagi decides to enroll in medical school, during which he is tasked with dissecting cadavers. There is one cadaver in particular that he begins obsessing over, and the more he works on dissecting it, the more his memories come back to haunt him.
This movie is just as bizarre and disturbing as Tsukamoto's other titles, but has a slow, contemplative pacing to it which separates it from the rest. In addition, the colors and lighting in this movie are extremely unique, bound to stay in one's mind for hours after watching it. Tadanobu Asano gives one of his most underrated performances as a sad, somnambulating Hiroshi Takagi trying to recall his past life. And, of course, Tsukamoto fans will be pleased to see the director make a brief appearance in a minor role as well.
Like all other Shinya Tsukamoto movies, ‘Vital' is not for the faint of heart. But unlike most of his other titles, there is an eerie, mesmerizing beauty to this film which sits in the minds and stomachs of viewers for days afterwards: For most, it might be hard to realize how strange ‘Vital' is until first overcoming how hauntingly touching it is.
