"I've found an excellent adaptation of Uzumaki, my favorite manga, and all horror fans should watch the anime series on Max right away."
It is surprisingly underrated, despite having a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
With the arrival of October, many are searching for the best horror movies to stream. However, beyond the classics and chilling new releases, a popular streaming service has launched an adaptation of a manga by Junji Ito that could contend as one of the best horror series of the year: Uzumaki. After feeling disappointed with the 2000 movie (which can be found on Prime Video in the U.S. and Shudder in the U.K.), it's refreshing to see an adaptation that truly does justice to the original material.
Uzumaki: Spiral Into Horror is a series consisting of four episodes that immerses the viewer in its disturbing universe from the very first chapter. The story quickly establishes itself in the town of Kurouzu-cho, where the inhabitants suffer from the influence of strange spirals. Although the concept is surreal, it captures attention without delay, focusing on the obsession and paranoia surrounding these spirals, almost as if it were a disease. The series presents a dark and disturbing tone, similar to that of other successful works on Max, drawing a parallel with The Sopranos.
One positive aspect is that even those who haven't read the manga are drawn in by the narrative. My partner watched the first episode with me, and since then, they have been eager to follow the series weekly; interestingly, we find ourselves as intrigued by the spirals as the characters on screen, although with fewer terrifying elements in our reality.
The visual aspect is undoubtedly one of the most striking points of this adaptation. The series maintains the black-and-white design of the manga, becoming an animated version of its artwork. This is a wise choice since the earlier film adaptation, which was in color, failed to capture the essence of the original story. Ito's frightening world resonates better without color, which is an approach that should be retained.
The beauty of the art contrasts with the disturbing images. I've decided to omit several unsettling moments to avoid ruining the experience. For those who have already read the manga, they will likely anticipate certain iconic scenes, and even though I knew what to expect, I couldn't help but feel discomfort. From transformations to mutations, or people collapsing psychologically due to the spirals, nothing can fully prepare you for what's to come, and it's even worse when it's animated.
Uzumaki has been in development for a long time, and I'm glad that so much effort has gone into making it faithful to the original material. With such an excellent story, there’s no sense in straying too far from it. This series ranks among the best animes you can watch.
Aside from this, there are many other horror offerings to enjoy. I also recommend Teacup by James Wan and some indie horror video games (Cult of the Lamb is my favorite). But for now, dive into the terrifying world of Uzumaki. You won't regret it.
