Parasaito Ivu
Tags: psychological, suspenseful, murder, neo noir, paranormal, violence, cult, flashback, tragedy, revenge

Plot synopsis:
Mitochondria are the "power house" of biological cells. It is thought that they were originally separate organisms, and a symbiotic relationship between them and early cellular life has evolved into their present position as cell organelles with no independent existence (see endosymbiotic theory).
The novel's plot supposes that mitochondria, which are inherited through the female line of descent, form the dispersed body of an intelligent conscious life-form, dubbed Eve, which has been waiting throughout history and evolution for the right conditions when mitochondrial life can achieve its true potential and take over from eukaryotic life-forms (i.e. humans and similar life) by causing a child to be born that can control its own genetic code.
Eve is able to control people's minds and bodies by signaling to the mitochondria in their bodies. She can cause certain thoughts to occur to them and also make them undergo spontaneous combustion.
The conditions Eve has waited for have arrived; she has found the perfect host in the body of Kiyomi Nagishima. At the start of the book, Eve is the mitochondria in Kiyomi's body. She causes Kiyomi to crash her car; Kiyomi survives but is brain dead. Kiyomi's husband is Toshiaki, a research assistant teaching and researching biological science. Eve influences Toshiaki and a doctor to ensure that one of Kiyomi's kidneys is transplanted into the teenage girl Mariko Anzai as an organ donation. As part of Kiyomi's body, the kidney is also a part of Eve; this prepares Mariko to be a suitable host for giving birth to mitochondrial life, as her immune system would otherwise rebel.
Eve influences Toshiaki to grow some of Kiyomi's liver cells in his lab in sufficient quantities to provide Eve with an independent body, he thinks that he is doing this as an experiment using different cultures of the liver cells. Forming some of the cells into a body, Eve possesses Toshiaki's assistant Sachiko Asakura and intermittently takes control of Asakura to work upon the cultures. Eventually, she takes control of Asakura during a conference presentation speech and announces her presence. Leaving Asakura's body, she returns to the lab. Toshiaki pursues her, and she rapes him in the form of Kiyomi to capture some of his sperm, which she uses to fertilize an egg of her own production. Moving to the hospital, she implants this egg in Mariko's womb. The egg develops into a child that is born almost immediately.
Eve anticipates that her child will be able to consciously change its genetic code, thus being an infinitely adaptable "perfect life form" capable of replacing humanity and similar life-forms. Mariko's body will be host to a new race of these life-forms.
The experiment fails, since Toshiaki's sperm carry a separate line of "male" mitochondria (inherited through sperm) that will be wiped out in the new order; these resist the change by fighting for control of the child's body, causing it to switch between male and female forms. The child dies; Toshiaki also dies, merging his body with the child's to control the bursts of psychokinetic-like power it gives out in its death throes that threaten to kill many people.
In the novel's epilogue, it is revealed that some samples of the Eve cells in Toshiaki's lab survived. Fortunately, they are destroyed shortly after being found.

Review: But the ending eschews the usual thriller big finish for something haunting and rather beautiful, making one feel this is more a love story than anything else, but a really strange one.
The movie has terrific atmosphere and is really pretty original, and while it is sometimes a bit on the lethargic side I thought it was fascinating..
This is a movie that recently received a release on DVD from ADV Films.
Many terms and concepts within the storyline are actually workable, at least early in the film.
This may seem like a minor point, but after watching numerous films that don't bother to do any research about the subject manner, it was nice to see someone pay attention to some technical details.
Now, again, this is only for the first half of the film as the second half delves into some fairly weird biological twists.If you are looking for a monster movie, this is not it.
However, if you are interested in seeing a film that has better-than-average acting, a decent, albeit strange, relationship, and a good sci-fi storyline, this one will entertain.
This script, taken from the novel by Hideaki Sena, understands that idea.I have never read the novel, nor have I played the video games based upon it, so I cannot say how well they all relate.
I have read that the video games are actually sequels to the novel, and that some fans of the video games expecting a similar product in this movie have been disappointed.
Being familiar with the game, it was surprise to find out that 1) it was based on a novel that would count as a prequel, and 2) it was well thought out and drove home the originality of such a villain living within us.
It's just that in here, it give a more scientific (yet easy to understand) approach to the series' overseas (in many ways) origin and climax, and also shows that, as cheesy as it sounds, love conquers all.
It is a little slow at first, but there are things that keep your interest, so yes, it really is a good watch, even if you're not a fan of the game, or didn't know it was a game at all.
Great Sci-Fi Film.
Parasite Eve is a great sci-fi film.
It is intense, suspenseful, dramatic, romantic and quite different than any other film in the genre.
There might be a version in English of Parasite Eve, but I think, like in any other foreign film, the original language adds a lot more to the movie.
So in this case Japanese is more effective and the film should be viewed in its original sound.
From start to finish the film grows in intensity without ever failing to keep the audience entertained wondering, imagining, and trying to anticipate the conclusion.
Overall, besides being a "scientific" sci-fi movie, the main ingredient through the film is love, loss and the endless possibilities after...5 stars *****.
But in this case, it's not a parasite hidden in the human spine which wants to free itself and have its own life but rather the mitochondria in the human body.
It's up to one lonely and desperate Japanese scientist to stop them after his beloved wife was killed as it was long-term planned by the mitochondria.Like in many other modern Japanese horror and science fiction movies, the pace of PARASITE EVE is slow and often melancholic.
But the daring storyline of the movie and the tension which is built slowly but surely until the climatic finale is worth watching anyway.Japanese cinema has become an interesting alternative for lovers of the fantastic film genre.
The way how Japanese films tell their story differs a great deal from Hollywood productions.
If you have a chance to see PARASITE EVE, go see it or even buy it on DVD or VCD.
You don't need the game to enjoy this film...
I'm a BIG fan of the game and it was interesting to see how they blended elements of the original story into the storyline of the SquareSoft title.It is an interesting concept...
The ideas that the film presents are original, and displayed in a pretty original way.
It's a little slow moving at first, but it does start to pay off towards the end.
I'm not much of a fan of subtitled films, but I couldn't stop watching.
It had nice special effects and they didn't go overboard like many of the films out nowadays, plus it has a great storyline, also unlike many films nowadays.
This contrast is in parallel with the story that first evolves around the love of life and later the sorrow of death and some really weird consequences.If you get the chance to see it and you like romantic thrillers this is one for you..
I had stumbled across this film after playing parasite eve 2 (so many years ago).
I thoroughly enjoyed the game and thought they should make a movie, thinking that it would be far more interesting than the resident evil movies and so on.
I now get US DVD, I got this one thinking I would give it a try.To begin with let me say, do not watch this movie expecting it to be like the square soft versions of the Parasite Eve franchise, this movie can before, and while it has a slower pace than the rest of the installments, I still believe that it works very well.The story begin with a man who is a scientist, and on the eve of he and his wife's anniversary, she falls victim to a horrible car crash, she is pronounced, brain dead.
The organ goes to a young girl (who is apparently the mother of Aya Brea, the central character of the game, though there seems to be some debate amongst fans) and the young girl begin to experience strange occurrences.The film is very deep emotionally compared to most others in the J-horror genre, there are, however, some freaky bits such as Mariko in the hospital.
One thing that should be mentioned is the special effects, they are quite good for a Japanese movie made in 1997.One of the downsides to this film is there are moments where the tension simply turns to tedious and while I believe overall the film turned out OK, there is a point, in the hospital where I just tuned out.
The final scene is very emotional and is a very solid finale.In conclusion this movie is worth seeing, while it is not perfect, it should entertain movie go-ers and fans of parasite eve alike, as it gives them a chances to see the events leading up to the game..
This is one of a class of horror films, that seems to have begun with "Eyes without a Face" (1960), then "The Brain that Wouldn't Die" 1962, followed by dozens of instances, including the "real" movie Embryo of 1976.
Its never love in the way we have it in the world, but selfish obsession built on top of movie romance.
That way we tap date movies, and imply what happens in some cases after the wedding.The second half reports on the result of this obsession applied to "keeping" his love through applying the tools of his research, and is a sort of tragedy.
In all the cases I know, the results are shaped by what cinematic effects are possible at the time.
This gave a dynamic to the relationships between the Drs, & their respective patients, as well as the links between all of the main characters.The camera & light work was exceptional, & I look forward to watching the movie again, just so I can pick one aspect to focus on at a time, allowing me to absorb them systematically.I recommend Parasite Eve to anyonwwe,without a doubt is one of the best foreign films I have seen in a long while.A++.
The first half of this film is perfectly executed.
It really takes a toll on you emotionally because you really get a chance to feel for toshiaki and all of the things he's going through.In the second half of the film (when the "horror" portion starts) things take an odd twist.
I have really mixed feelings about this half because in a way it didn't do the first half justice but at the same time it was an essential piece in bringing the two halves together.I also don't understand why some people are saying the film was slow?
The first hour of the film was CRUCIAL in developing the plot and characters for the second half.All in all I really liked it, if you can appreciate the romance and the weird plot this movie has to offer I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did..
Romantic science-fiction movie..
I've noticed that many people associate the movie with a series of RPG video games with the same title.
In fact you will be very disappointed if you set about watching it with strong conviction that you are about to see some action movie in Resident Evil style.Instead, plot of Parasite Eve base on a very romantic, warm story and intelligent science-fiction elements.
Before I watched the movie I had thought about how the director will present all that I've read in Hideaki Sena's book.
The movie is naturally less detailed but even though some changes in plot has been made it sill maintain this one of a kind (romantic, intelligent) climate of the book.
Moreover whole story includes very interesting and true scientific facts about evolution of cells (and humankind).In my opinion "Parasite Eve" is excellent movie with remarkable music of Joe Hisaishi (known mostly from films of Takeshi Kitano and works for Ghibli studio e.g. Totoro and Spirited Away).I would recommend watching this film, first of all, to people who like romantic, maybe a little bit sad stories, which stands at high moral level and are raising audience's spirits.
I strongly believe that those who like intelligent s-f stories, based on real scientific ideas will also appreciate and enjoy this movie..
~~~I only vaguely remember the playstation game this movie is related to.
~~~I only vaguely remember the playstation game this movie is related to.
However, I have sat thru the experience of this DVD, & I must say that it is an interesting film indeed.
However, I have sat thru the experience of this DVD, & I must say that it is an interesting film indeed.
I like the fact that it takes some real, tangible scientific data, & uses it for the basis of a well-written, well-acted piece of cinema.
I like the fact that it takes some real, tangible scientific data, & uses it for the basis of a well-written, well-acted piece of cinema.
This gave a dynamic to the relationships between the Drs, & their respective patients, as well as the links between all of the main characters.The camera & light work was exceptional, & I look forward to watching the movie again, just so I can pick one aspect to focus on at a time, allowing me to absorb them systematically.I recommend Parasite Eve to anyone,without a doubt is one of the best foreign films I have seen in a long while.A++.
the story is so absurd, and i mean absurd in a bad way, that the very mention of it makes me, and anyone else who knows about it, explode into a pitying laughter for whoever decided to undertake this masterpiece of failure.
This film about killer mitochondria and the undying love of a scientist who has lost his true love rather slow (it drags a lot) when it isn't being just straight out confusing.
The acting is good, but it was all for naught as the special effects are lacking and the story is tedious.
A missed opportunity, as I'm not a fan of video game films, yet this film WOULD have been better if it were just that.My Grade:D+ DVD Extras: Theatrical Trailer; and a trailer for "The Hypnotist" (which looks MUCH better than this film, i should've watched that instead).
I'm a fan of book to movie releases.
Regardless of whether I've read the book or not, I enjoy spotting the differences and considering how well the movie conveys the gist of the plot and how the actors portray the characters.
This time round however, I was sorely disappointed.My first contact with the Parasite Eve series was during the Playstation game's release in the 90s.
Enthralled by the bioscience driven story, with the chill of the idea that your own body might rebel against you, I began looking up the original novel that started it all.
The plot, essentially a prequel to the game, completely blew me away.
It explained so much of the game's background in a style of brutal science fiction horror.This movie, an adaptation of the novel, abandons most of that.
While I can forgive the fact that the special effects aren't exactly 'up to standard' given that it is a film from the 90s, I cannot forgive the utter mangling of the plot and the bad acting.
I honestly don't understand how they managed or decided to drag the film out to two hours long while failing to convey even half of the original story.Instead of the evenly paced bioscience thriller where the rush to stop Mitochondria Eve actually *fails* and her scheme is only foiled by a miscalculation on her own part, a frightening salvation of mankind only by a single chromosome; the plot is inexplicably dissolved into a two hour long, woodenly acted angst-fest of a man who forgot his wedding anniversary and greatly regrets not spending time with his wife.
The story of the mitochondria rebelling seems to take second place to this, especially in the anti-climatic 'grand finale' where he somehow stops the independently acting Mitochondria from carrying out their plot because for some reason, in the process of making their host fall in love with him, they have come to develop feelings for him too (or imply that 'Kiyomi', his wife, is still 'in there', which is even cheesier and more unbelievable).
To top it off, the movie even fails to provide the aftermath of what happens to the other characters, leaving behind plot holes aplenty.All in all, if you really want to something that stays true and keeps to the spirit of Parasite Eve, just order the book off Amazon, they actually have it translated now..
Fairly interesting Sci-Fi film.
Japan in the last decade has made some pretty challenging horror films that require your constant attention and while I'm the first to admit that this is clearly not one of the best it's still an interesting story that's worthy of being checked out.
Story is about a scientist named Toshiaki Nagashima (Hiroshi Mikami) who works with cells and he has a theory that ancient surviving cells called Mitochondria symbiotically live within other cells that inhabit our bodies.
Another doctor named Tatsuro Ohno (Goro Inagaki) convinces him to get his wife's kidney but Toshiaki tells him that he wants Kiyomi's liver.*****SPOILER ALERT*****Tatsuro transplants the kidney into Mariko and Toshiaki starts to culture Kiyomi's liver cells in his lab and before you know it the cells in the culture grow into this gelatinous goop that takes the form of Kiyomi.
Meanwhile, Mariko is having problems of her own as her uterus is changing and Toshiaki learns that the Mitochondria need Mariko to give birth to a new life form!This film is directed by Masayuki Ochiai who gives the viewer a film that is very visually stimulating and in one shot during an operation the camera is looking up through the incision at the doctor!
This story is taken from a novel by Hideaki Sena but it also became a popular video game and some of the events that take place are from the game itself.
Ochiai shows patience in the way that he tells this story and at certain points the film does tend to drag with a few scenes that go on a bit long.
The story itself I found reminiscent of the films that Hammer Studios use to make in the 1950's and 1960's and I think both Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing would be very much at home working with a script like this.
The film benefits from two performances and the first is from the radiant Hazuki who is so beautiful that we understand her husbands obsession with trying to keep her alive.
But the best performance comes from Mikami who is a very good and respected actor in Japan and it's interesting to watch his character go from bookish doctor to obsessive scientist and then to a state of desperation trying to save the world.
This is certainly nowhere near as intriguing as "Audition" but it does play well if your a sci-fi buff which I am so on that merit it's a film that deserves a look..
This film was beautifully laid out, the plot being subtle and uncontrived, the characters acting a bit outlandish at times, but still with a realism that allowed the forward movement of the tale.
Overall, I'd recommend this movie to anyone willing to commit a few hours of their time to the intense psychoanalysis of Japanese story telling needed to grasp even a small portion of this film.
I like slow and arty movies just fine, but I'm sorry that this doesn't qualify.
I rented the movie because I liked the video game and the underlying scientific elements are the same.
The movie, however, has an incredibly slow pace.
After the first half hour, my husband and I actually turned up the playback speed, so we watched the last 90 minutes in 30.
I also think that the plot, while reasonable in principle for most of the movie, takes a wrong turn at the end and gives you a love-conquers-all resolution that just makes it too easy to win.