Imprint (Masters of Horror - Takashi Miike)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: B-     Extras: B-     Episode: C

 

 

In an earlier article, I gave my thoughts on the Masters of Horror television series... what it could have been, as well as what it turned out to be.  Now I’ve been presented with one of the newer discs put out in the series - Imprint, from Ichi The Killer director Takashi Miike. This episode tops out the other ones that I’ve seen this far.  While I admittedly have not been keeping up with the releases as of late, it doesn‘t seem that many of the long-established masters of the genre have been able to match the enthusiasm of some of the newer talents being brought in.  Mostly, the marquee value names have been sleepwalking through this as though they’ve been presented with a math equation that they’re already familiar with but still having to show the work.  There is no turning back.  Trying to create something that they have since lost touch with is a futile exercise and the results shown in this series have yet to be little more than mediocre.

 

Better luck at least seems to have been bestowed upon the directors with more recent success - with what they’ve done at least bearing a resemblance to what they’ve shown through their feature film work.  Their fingers are definitely placed closer to the pulse of what makes a workable modern horror film.  Even with a story like the one contained here, which is not good enough to stand on its own outside of the series - it at least demonstrates solid production values; and shows some of the more interesting effects work that I’ve seen on this program.  Of course, it was graphic enough to be banned by cable.

 

The cinematography here is competent and the overall look does not fall victim to the washed-out colors and false aging applications in an attempt to convey atmosphere.  Regrettably, this is a look common to both this series, as well as many modern horror vehicles outside of it as well.

 

We’re instead presented with a palette of color, further accented by a diversely selected wardrobe.  It’s a refreshing change from the drab look of most current horror pieces, which are practically never set in period these days, rarely venturing to any time before the 1970’s - a decade which now seems to be in vogue not only in the horror genre, but in almost all avenues of pop culture as well.

 

I have yet to venture into this filmmaker’s catalogue - not even having seen Ichi yet.  But, judging from several of the reactions to that film that I’ve heard, I can gather that he has a penchant for violence not seen in most American horror for many years.  However, while there is torture contained on this disc that will likely make just about anybody wince, I wasn’t subjected to anything that would make me believe that it was ever banned from cable broadcast.  Oh well, it adds to the shock value I suppose.  The episode itself, while better than the others I’ve seen is still rather mundane.  Admittedly, were it not for the scenes of violence and some well done practical effects use, I doubt that it could hold interest for very long.  While the story is open to interpretation, it is perhaps too open-ended to have much of a point at all.  Perhaps the fairest comparison would be to say that this is a botched attempt at making an approximation of a Twilight Zone episode were Rod Serling to flip his lid.

 

The extras are fairly decent here, and based on my recollection, more entertaining than those on the earlier discs in the series.  Largely comprised of behind-the-scenes documentary fragments, there is also a collection of trailers comprised of an ever-growing catalogue of the Masters Of Horror, as well as an audio commentary track with Chris D. and Wyatt Doyle of NewTexture.com.

 

The episode is presented in an anamorphically enhanced widescreen format of 1.77:1. The transfer seems to be well done, displaying a consistently clean image with a good balance of color throughout that thankfully lacks any bleeding or distortion.

 

The audio is decent, but nothing you’d use to show off your new sound system.  The disc contains both Dolby Digital 5.1 surround and 2.0 Dolby Stereo surround tracks.

 

 

-   David Milchick