Vital (2004)

100% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(2,550 ratings)

Japanese body horror auteur Shinya Tsukamoto, still best known in the U.S. for Tetsuo, teams with hipster icon Tadanobu Asano for the psychological drama Vital. Asano plays Hiroshi Takagi, who wakes from a coma, his memory seriously impaired, and decides, to the relief of his parents (Kazuyoshi… More Japanese body horror auteur Shinya Tsukamoto, still best known in the U.S. for Tetsuo, teams with hipster icon Tadanobu Asano for the psychological drama Vital. Asano plays Hiroshi Takagi, who wakes from a coma, his memory seriously impaired, and decides, to the relief of his parents (Kazuyoshi Kushida and Lily), to go back to medical school. His memory returns slowly. Eventually, Hiroshi remembers that he had a girlfriend, Ryôko (Nami Tsukamoto) who was with him when he wrecked his car. She was killed in the crash. As he and his classmates begin to work on human cadavers, Hiroshi catches the attention of another top student, a driven and manipulative young woman named Ikumi (Kiki). The two become involved in a twisted relationship of sorts, but Hiroshi is more and more focused on his work. He comes to believe that the corpse he's working on in the lab is Ryôko's. Distraught, he goes to visit the dead girl's parents (Jun Kunimura and Hana Kino), who offer little comfort. Meanwhile, the other students are disturbed by Hiroshi's growing obsession with his "subject." Vital was shown by the Film Society of Lincoln Center as part of the 2005 Film Comment Selects. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Shinya Tsukamoto
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Jun 9, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Jan 24, 2006
Studio: Tartan Films

Critic Reviews

David Rooney, Variety
Macabre yet oddly poignant, graphically physical but also metaphysical, clinical yet unexpectedly soulful.
Anton Bitel, Eye for Film
Vital sees Tsukamoto, a director who is never less than fascinating, in his finest form, tackling the mysteries of human identity with an elegiac calm. Vital viewing.
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
Beautiful and disturbing, this Asian horror art film explores the intersection between madness and grief with a serene calm that belies the psychological turmoil under its silken surface.
Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
Vital offers its share of disturbing images and gristly medical-lab sound effects, but in the end, its pursuit of closure is surprisingly hopeful.
Jon Popick, Planet Sick-Boy
As expected, Tsukamoto attacks as many of your senses as possible.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tsubaki S

Tsukamoto's exploration of the human body continues in this film, and even goes to new area for the director by exploring not only the body but the mind. In some ways it steps in a different light from previous films by Tsukamoto, but this might be probably one of his most… More
Tsukamoto's exploration of the human body continues in this film, and even goes to new area for the director by exploring not only the body but the mind. In some ways it steps in a different light from previous films by Tsukamoto, but this might be probably one of his most tightly directed flicks. Asano gives one of his most restrained performances in a while, fitting quite well with the also very restrained direction. And that might be partially the thing that keeps this from being a lot better. The film feels way too sterile and cold, while Snake of June and Bullet Ballet actually felt that they were going somewhere, this just feels like sitting on a chair and staring at something for too much time.
Lee ?

Art-house movies aren't usually my cup of tea but the morbid nature of the story interested me enough to capture my attention. It's about a guy that survives a car accident but looses his memory in the aftermath who then enroles in medical school and his memory soon starts… More
Art-house movies aren't usually my cup of tea but the morbid nature of the story interested me enough to capture my attention. It's about a guy that survives a car accident but looses his memory in the aftermath who then enroles in medical school and his memory soon starts to come back to him slowly during his dissection classes as he unknowingly starts to cut up the dead preserved body of his former dead girlfriend. It's a tad slow but quite beautiful and hypnotic to look at and the story is touching and emotional without being too melodramatic. It won't be for everyone, and even though I didn't find it great, it ended up being a pleasant surprise.
Steve K

Somber, fascinating film about one man's journey to reclaim his memory of his life and love... while he dissects her corpse. Not as graphic as it sounds, this is a very adult film that probes identity and emotion without really wallowing in the visceral.
Kylie B

Aside from the attractiveness of Tadanobu Asano and the two female leads, this film has a lot to reccommend itself. I enjoyed the very emotionally stilted acting, and has plenty of tension to keep the viewer hooked.
Christopher B

Another good one from Tsukamoto. An exploration of death and a man gradually remembering life by dissecting his dead girlfriend. Bizarre and elegant in places, a great addition into the Tsukamoto canon.
FanGirl B

It's decent in that creepy kinky way. I saw it less than a week ago and already almost couldn't remember it though.