EM: Embalming
(aka: Enbamingu)
(Artsmagic Region 1 NTSC DVD)
(1999)
review by Head Cheeze

In the sublimely funny and satirical horror/drama EM, we are given several elbows to the ribs by director Shinji Aoyama, as he creates a deliriously over-the-top world in which organ farming, evil cults, politcal agenda, and schizophrenia are the order of the day. Highlighted by playful homage to the films of its era and beyond (from glimpses in round mirrors ala' Ringu to a particularly inspired rear-screen projection during a driving scene that evokes Branded to Kill ), this film with the deadly serious subject matter takes nothing seriously at all.

Miyako, a sullen, detached embalmer, who is as dead on the inside as her subjects are on the outside, takes on a new case involving the son of a powerful political figure. However, the leader of a religious cult (who holds sway over the deceased's family) finds that the embalming practise Miyako employs impedes the body's reassimilation into the Earth, and commands her to stop. Miyako ignores the demands, and finishes her work, only to find that, while she is away, the head of her subject is stolen. Under pressure from the powerful family, Miyako sets out to find the head, following a trail that takes her into a dark world of organ theft, murder, and madness.

EM attempts to be both a spine-tingling drama and balls-out satire, but really doesn't manage to do either particularly well. While I found it darkly funny, I don't think viewers unfamiliar with Aoyama's sources will get the joke, and the film isn't scary or suspensful enough to stand on its own as a horror movie, either. However, EM is such a quirky flick that it's not a total loss. The film is never boring, features a fair share of gruesome moments, and is visually well-realised; it's just a shame that Aoyama couldn't seem to get a handle on what it is he was really trying to say with it all.

The DVD from Artsmagic is a bit of a mixed bag. I found the 16x9 anamorphic transfer to be uneven, with some scenes looking so grainy and artifact-ridden as to suggest that this transfer was pieced together from several sources of varying quality, and, while not unwatchable, the overall result is a bit distracting. The smattering of extras include a 20 minute interview with Aoyama, a commentary track by Midnight Eye's Jasper Sharp, and filmographies/biographies for assorted cast and crew.

Chances are, if you're a seasoned fan of Japanese cinema, you'll find a lot to like about EM, as Aoyama's swipes at the genre are plentiful and, oftentimes, laugh out loud funny. Those who appreciate the quirkiness inherent in Japanese horror may also enjoy the film, but casual viewers seeking an effective thriller may want to look elsewhere.