Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre (2023–…): Season 1, Episode 8 - Layers of Fear/The Thing that Drifted Ashore - full transcript
AJIME SHELL MOUND SITE
Professor Soya.
What is it, Yamaoka?
Sorry to interrupt, I just had a question
about this stratum.
Is this a crustal fold or sedimentation?
Based on its age, I highly doubt
it could be a crustal fold.
But if it doesn't look like
horizontal pressure has been applied,
what could've caused
the distortion of this stratum?
Hmm...
It almost looks like
the profile of a human face lying down.
Doesn't it?
And there's another stratum
parallel to this.
Listen, can you try digging a bit
underneath that spot?
Sure.
Isn't that...
A skull? Seems so.
It looks to be the skull of a young child.
But just how old is it?
Do you think there's correlation
between this bone and the sedimentation?
Yes, it very well may be
traces of a ritual.
A ritual?
Yes, a form of burial. In this case,
it seems like
they gradually covered the corpse
with thin layers of clay.
By layering the clay like this, the tomb
would've taken the shape of a giant doll.
So you think that tomb
got buried into the ground?
It's only a theory for now,
but if we analyze the stratum,
we should be able to figure it out.
If that is the case,
then this is a huge discovery, isn't it?
- Indeed.
- Amazing.
I don't remember today's weather forecast
saying it would rain.
- Yamaoka, we've gotta preserve the site!
- Right!
We need a blue tarp to cover it!
- Grab your tools!
- Don't let it get washed out!
- Wrap this before it gets worse!
- Okay!
"LAYERS OF TERROR"
Goodness,
you must be exhausted, Reimi.
Thank you for sitting through
your father's 13th annual memorial.
Come on, Mom, give me a break.
I'm not a kid anymore.
I'm fine attending memorial services.
Aww, but I miss when you were little.
You would always ask me to hug you.
"Mama, hug! Mama, hug!"
You really were completely precious
when you were that age.
That's enough, Mother.
I don't know why you left
that talent agency.
You were so cute back then, it felt like
you were in a new commercial every week.
If you kept it up,
you probably would've been a star by now.
Yeah, maybe. But it just wasn't for me.
I guess I'm too much of an introvert
for something like that.
Being a TV personality was tough.
I hardly got to spend time with Mother.
Reimi, love.
If I had known you felt that way,
I would've taken you out of it.
It's okay.
I'd do anything to go back
to when you were two
and spoil you the way I should have.
I could give you all the hugs you wanted!
You can say that you didn't get
enough attention,
but it was still more than I ever got.
From getting acting lessons
to orthodontics, you got everything.
It's not like we were rich,
so instead of investing a little in both
of us, they put it all into you.
I still have my jagged teeth
to show for it.
Narumi.
What exactly are you trying to say to me?
Jealousy's an ugly look.
Reimi couldn't have crooked teeth
as a celebrity.
You kept doting
ever after she stopped being one.
Because unlike you, Narumi,
Reimi had potential.
No amount of money could've fixed you.
'Cause you're ugly.
What did you say?
Narumi, look out!
Guys! Are you okay?
Reimi!
Reimi, are you okay?
Reimi's face... Reimi's beautiful face!
It's your fault any of this happened!
And now she has to pay the price!
Why did this happen...
Oh, doctor! Please give us some good news!
She's regained consciousness.
Oh! What a relief.
However... something's strange.
It's best you come and see for yourself.
Huh?
Her face! But how could...
There's... another face.
That's right. The hypodermis
peeled off to expose another epidermis.
I've never seen anything like it.
Come here.
What exactly am I looking at?
Your daughter.
And the multiple layers that make her up.
Huh?
Her brain, internal organs,
and skeletal structure
that should normally exist
are nowhere to be seen.
Uh, the only thing to be found
are all these layers of epidermis.
Ma'am, your daughter's body is entirely
made up of multiple layers of skin.
That's impossible.
Stop joking around and tell us the truth.
I'm having a hard time believing it
myself, but it's the truth.
Reimi...
I'm sorry!
If what you say is true,
she's no different
than a Baumkuchen!
A Baumkuchen!
Uh, that's right.
Something with a similar structure
I can think of
would be the rings you find
on a tree stump used to date its age.
By that comparison, these layers
are traces of your daughter's growth.
Traces of her growth?
The center here
is what she looked like as a fetus,
and as you get closer to the outside,
one year old, two years old,
three, four, five, six,
seven, eight, nine, ten,
11, 12, 13, 14,
15, 16, 17, 18, 19...
and finally, 20 years old.
Which would mean that this outer layer
here is your daughter's current form.
Then is it possible
a younger version of Reimi exists
deep within the current Reimi's body?
Yes, at least,
her younger appearance does.
But, ma'am, I recommend we conduct
more tests on your daughter's body.
- It's vital for her treatment that we...
- That won't be necessary.
I'm taking Reimi home.
Narumi, I expect you to take care of Reimi
once we get her home from the hospital.
Listen. We've been cursed, Mom.
Huh?
Don't you remember that strange tomb
buried in the ruins of Ajime
that Dad excavated 21 years ago?
I'll never forget the photo of the
sediment where they uncovered that skull.
It looked just like Reimi's MRI image.
That tomb must have been cursed,
lying in wait.
When Dad uncovered it, he broke the seal.
Dad was never the same
after he found that skull,
and this explains why.
And while he died nine years
after digging up those ruins,
the curse must've passed down onto Reimi,
who was born just one year
after Dad came home
from the excavation of that tomb.
I thought I was the only one
who was cursed.
If you don't believe me, look.
My body's made of multiple layers, too!
CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE
PROTECT THE CHILDREN
My poor Reimi.
Do your wounds still hurt?
Not nearly as bad.
Good. Now all we need you to do
is focus on resting
so your wound gets fully healed.
'Kay.
Pretty girl.
I have an idea
to break the curse.
We hold a memorial service
for the skull that Dad found.
I know Seito University has it,
but if we explain...
As if I'd waste my time doing that!
Have some respect, Narumi.
Huh? But, Mom...
Mom.
We won't know if it works until we try it.
This is a curse, after all.
No, no, it's not a curse,
it's just an illness.
One that your mom can heal.
- So you leave the worrying to me.
- Mother.
You keep saying you'll heal me, but how?
Mommy will find you a great doctor!
Would you stop talking down to me
like a child?
No amount of modern medicine
can fix something like this.
I don't need you doting on me.
I'm an adult!
Reimi, please!
Get your hands off me, you creep!
I'm not your little Reimi anymore.
so stop acting like I am!
It's infuriating!
It's your fault I look like this,
and your fault we crashed!
Little Reimi! Little Reimi!
I know you're in there.
If you can hear me, say something,
my two-year-old Reimi...
You want a hug from Mama, little Reimi?
All you have to do is ask.
Don't you want to come out
and play with your mama?
We could have so much fun together
if you would just answer me, little Reimi.
Sweet Reimi...
Please answer me, sweet Reimi.
I know you're there.
Please come and hug me.
Mama.
Mama.
Mama.
Mama, hug... please...
Little Reimi, you heard me!
Oh, how I've missed your voice!
Let me out, Mama. I want out, Mama!
Of course you want out.
My poor dearest one!
But what can I do?
What can I do to get you out?
Reimi? What's wrong?
Mom, what do you think you're doing?
Have you gone insane?
I promise it's fine.
I'm just peeling off the bad skin...
There's no other option but to peel Reimi
down to her two-year-old self.
Hurry! We have to peel her now
while the bad Reimi is passed out!
Listen to yourself!
Mama.
Mama, I'm scared.
Hurry up and let me out of here.
Hang on just a little longer,
cute baby Reimi.
Mama's gonna get you
out of that dark, cramped place.
I'm coming, sweetie!
First, I have to carefully
peel away the bad skin.
Mom, please! Stop this!
Not yet! I'm so close!
Just a little bit more!
- Mama, hug now.
- Oh!
At last! We finally meet once again.
my sweet two-year-old Reimi.
Don't worry.
I'm gonna peel off your body too!
Narumi! Get over here!
Start peeling!
Uh... I don't understand.
Where's the rest of her?
Where is she?
It's the curse.
Mom, where...
Mom, stop it! What are you doing?
I had the most brilliant idea.
I must be affected by the curse too.
So I'll peel my skin all the way down
to my 38-year-old self
and give birth to sweet Reimi again!
Narumi, watch closely.
Here I go!
Mama...
Mama, hug now.
I find I often
have dreams of the sea.
But it's always the same dream.
In it, I'm endlessly
drifting in the ocean,
up until I come across an ancient fish
so large, that seems to have defied death
and made its way into the present day.
It felt like its existence
had been forgotten by the universe.
Yet there it was.
"THE THING THAT DRIFTED ASHORE"
It's huge.
- Wow.
- Where did that even come from?
- It's gotta be fake, right?
- It looks real to me.
- Maybe it's for some kind of movie?
- What's wrong with its face?
What do you think? I'm at a loss for what
those strange protrusions are on its body.
Got any ideas?
Well... my best guess is that those parts
luminesce similar to an angler fish.
If that's the case, then it must use that
luminescent light on the deep-sea floor
in order to light its way
through the dark.
Just imagining it is spine-tingling!
There's getting to be too many onlookers.
I agree. Tell the police
we need to keep bystanders away.
Understood.
This heat is terrible.
Everything okay, miss?
Are you feeling ill?
Yeah, but just a little.
And a bit dizzy.
I don't blame you. Especially
in these temperatures.
You should get into some shade and rest.
Thanks, I appreciate it.
I need everybody to take a step back
from the creature.
And whatever you do, don't touch it!
This thing smells terrible.
That's because
it's already started to decay.
This is the discovery of the century!
We can't afford to just let it rot away.
Then let's make it quick.
Did you come out here
all alone today?
Yeah. When I heard the news,
I couldn't resist the urge
to see it for myself.
Same here. I don't know why, but I came.
If I'm being honest here,
I actually despise the ocean.
It's embarrassing,
but I'm kind of scared of fish.
I actually hate the ocean, to be honest.
Why? Are you scared of fish,
or can't swim?
Oh, sorry. It's none of my business.
No, it's...
It's because someone I knew
disappeared at sea.
Do you remember that accident
seven years ago
where a ferry sank off the coast of Izu
and everyone aboard went missing?
He was on that ship.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Was he a friend of yours?
Actually, he was my fiancé.
You think he's still out there?
I doubt he's still alive.
Mr. Shiota, you got any ideas
what this hideous thing could be?
Uh, judging from the size, probably a...
Oh. Hey, come take a look at this.
What is it?
Humans.
- What's wrong?
- I can see a person over here.
I'm going to be sick.
What do you think's happening over there?
Huh?
How very strange...
Judging from the location,
they should be inside the intestines.
But from the looks of it,
they haven't been digested at all.
Very strange.
Before people think we're barbaric,
we should slice it open
and pull out the deceased.
All right.
- So many!
- White as ghosts!
They're alive!
[gasps
It's him! It's Tadashi!
This is my fiancé who vanished
off the coast of Izu seven years ago!
Are you positive that it's him?
Yes. I couldn't forget his face.
Did she say Izu?
She must be referring to the accident
that left everyone aboard missing.
You mean to tell me
all these people are the passengers?
They somehow managed to stay alive
for seven years,
despite being trapped
inside this creature's intestine?
Is such a thing even possible?
Can you hear me, Tadashi?
It's Mie. I've been waiting for you.
I miss you.
Miss Mie.
He's not himself anymore.
They're acting like parasites.
- Parasites?
- Huh?
That's right. It only makes sense
if they ingested that creature's nutrients
from inside its intestine
to survive the last seven years, right?
Interesting. But can human beings
really act as parasites
within the bodies of other creatures,
and live as long as seven years?
Hey, Mr. Insect.
Do you want to hear the story
about the woman who came here yesterday?
I was surprised to hear that there are
people like that out in this world.
Oh, yes, you feel the same way, don't you?
You know, that woman
also had an insect on her face.
My life was spared
only because the insect on her face
allowed me to take notice of it.
Professor Soya.
What is it, Yamaoka?
Sorry to interrupt, I just had a question
about this stratum.
Is this a crustal fold or sedimentation?
Based on its age, I highly doubt
it could be a crustal fold.
But if it doesn't look like
horizontal pressure has been applied,
what could've caused
the distortion of this stratum?
Hmm...
It almost looks like
the profile of a human face lying down.
Doesn't it?
And there's another stratum
parallel to this.
Listen, can you try digging a bit
underneath that spot?
Sure.
Isn't that...
A skull? Seems so.
It looks to be the skull of a young child.
But just how old is it?
Do you think there's correlation
between this bone and the sedimentation?
Yes, it very well may be
traces of a ritual.
A ritual?
Yes, a form of burial. In this case,
it seems like
they gradually covered the corpse
with thin layers of clay.
By layering the clay like this, the tomb
would've taken the shape of a giant doll.
So you think that tomb
got buried into the ground?
It's only a theory for now,
but if we analyze the stratum,
we should be able to figure it out.
If that is the case,
then this is a huge discovery, isn't it?
- Indeed.
- Amazing.
I don't remember today's weather forecast
saying it would rain.
- Yamaoka, we've gotta preserve the site!
- Right!
We need a blue tarp to cover it!
- Grab your tools!
- Don't let it get washed out!
- Wrap this before it gets worse!
- Okay!
"LAYERS OF TERROR"
Goodness,
you must be exhausted, Reimi.
Thank you for sitting through
your father's 13th annual memorial.
Come on, Mom, give me a break.
I'm not a kid anymore.
I'm fine attending memorial services.
Aww, but I miss when you were little.
You would always ask me to hug you.
"Mama, hug! Mama, hug!"
You really were completely precious
when you were that age.
That's enough, Mother.
I don't know why you left
that talent agency.
You were so cute back then, it felt like
you were in a new commercial every week.
If you kept it up,
you probably would've been a star by now.
Yeah, maybe. But it just wasn't for me.
I guess I'm too much of an introvert
for something like that.
Being a TV personality was tough.
I hardly got to spend time with Mother.
Reimi, love.
If I had known you felt that way,
I would've taken you out of it.
It's okay.
I'd do anything to go back
to when you were two
and spoil you the way I should have.
I could give you all the hugs you wanted!
You can say that you didn't get
enough attention,
but it was still more than I ever got.
From getting acting lessons
to orthodontics, you got everything.
It's not like we were rich,
so instead of investing a little in both
of us, they put it all into you.
I still have my jagged teeth
to show for it.
Narumi.
What exactly are you trying to say to me?
Jealousy's an ugly look.
Reimi couldn't have crooked teeth
as a celebrity.
You kept doting
ever after she stopped being one.
Because unlike you, Narumi,
Reimi had potential.
No amount of money could've fixed you.
'Cause you're ugly.
What did you say?
Narumi, look out!
Guys! Are you okay?
Reimi!
Reimi, are you okay?
Reimi's face... Reimi's beautiful face!
It's your fault any of this happened!
And now she has to pay the price!
Why did this happen...
Oh, doctor! Please give us some good news!
She's regained consciousness.
Oh! What a relief.
However... something's strange.
It's best you come and see for yourself.
Huh?
Her face! But how could...
There's... another face.
That's right. The hypodermis
peeled off to expose another epidermis.
I've never seen anything like it.
Come here.
What exactly am I looking at?
Your daughter.
And the multiple layers that make her up.
Huh?
Her brain, internal organs,
and skeletal structure
that should normally exist
are nowhere to be seen.
Uh, the only thing to be found
are all these layers of epidermis.
Ma'am, your daughter's body is entirely
made up of multiple layers of skin.
That's impossible.
Stop joking around and tell us the truth.
I'm having a hard time believing it
myself, but it's the truth.
Reimi...
I'm sorry!
If what you say is true,
she's no different
than a Baumkuchen!
A Baumkuchen!
Uh, that's right.
Something with a similar structure
I can think of
would be the rings you find
on a tree stump used to date its age.
By that comparison, these layers
are traces of your daughter's growth.
Traces of her growth?
The center here
is what she looked like as a fetus,
and as you get closer to the outside,
one year old, two years old,
three, four, five, six,
seven, eight, nine, ten,
11, 12, 13, 14,
15, 16, 17, 18, 19...
and finally, 20 years old.
Which would mean that this outer layer
here is your daughter's current form.
Then is it possible
a younger version of Reimi exists
deep within the current Reimi's body?
Yes, at least,
her younger appearance does.
But, ma'am, I recommend we conduct
more tests on your daughter's body.
- It's vital for her treatment that we...
- That won't be necessary.
I'm taking Reimi home.
Narumi, I expect you to take care of Reimi
once we get her home from the hospital.
Listen. We've been cursed, Mom.
Huh?
Don't you remember that strange tomb
buried in the ruins of Ajime
that Dad excavated 21 years ago?
I'll never forget the photo of the
sediment where they uncovered that skull.
It looked just like Reimi's MRI image.
That tomb must have been cursed,
lying in wait.
When Dad uncovered it, he broke the seal.
Dad was never the same
after he found that skull,
and this explains why.
And while he died nine years
after digging up those ruins,
the curse must've passed down onto Reimi,
who was born just one year
after Dad came home
from the excavation of that tomb.
I thought I was the only one
who was cursed.
If you don't believe me, look.
My body's made of multiple layers, too!
CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE
PROTECT THE CHILDREN
My poor Reimi.
Do your wounds still hurt?
Not nearly as bad.
Good. Now all we need you to do
is focus on resting
so your wound gets fully healed.
'Kay.
Pretty girl.
I have an idea
to break the curse.
We hold a memorial service
for the skull that Dad found.
I know Seito University has it,
but if we explain...
As if I'd waste my time doing that!
Have some respect, Narumi.
Huh? But, Mom...
Mom.
We won't know if it works until we try it.
This is a curse, after all.
No, no, it's not a curse,
it's just an illness.
One that your mom can heal.
- So you leave the worrying to me.
- Mother.
You keep saying you'll heal me, but how?
Mommy will find you a great doctor!
Would you stop talking down to me
like a child?
No amount of modern medicine
can fix something like this.
I don't need you doting on me.
I'm an adult!
Reimi, please!
Get your hands off me, you creep!
I'm not your little Reimi anymore.
so stop acting like I am!
It's infuriating!
It's your fault I look like this,
and your fault we crashed!
Little Reimi! Little Reimi!
I know you're in there.
If you can hear me, say something,
my two-year-old Reimi...
You want a hug from Mama, little Reimi?
All you have to do is ask.
Don't you want to come out
and play with your mama?
We could have so much fun together
if you would just answer me, little Reimi.
Sweet Reimi...
Please answer me, sweet Reimi.
I know you're there.
Please come and hug me.
Mama.
Mama.
Mama.
Mama, hug... please...
Little Reimi, you heard me!
Oh, how I've missed your voice!
Let me out, Mama. I want out, Mama!
Of course you want out.
My poor dearest one!
But what can I do?
What can I do to get you out?
Reimi? What's wrong?
Mom, what do you think you're doing?
Have you gone insane?
I promise it's fine.
I'm just peeling off the bad skin...
There's no other option but to peel Reimi
down to her two-year-old self.
Hurry! We have to peel her now
while the bad Reimi is passed out!
Listen to yourself!
Mama.
Mama, I'm scared.
Hurry up and let me out of here.
Hang on just a little longer,
cute baby Reimi.
Mama's gonna get you
out of that dark, cramped place.
I'm coming, sweetie!
First, I have to carefully
peel away the bad skin.
Mom, please! Stop this!
Not yet! I'm so close!
Just a little bit more!
- Mama, hug now.
- Oh!
At last! We finally meet once again.
my sweet two-year-old Reimi.
Don't worry.
I'm gonna peel off your body too!
Narumi! Get over here!
Start peeling!
Uh... I don't understand.
Where's the rest of her?
Where is she?
It's the curse.
Mom, where...
Mom, stop it! What are you doing?
I had the most brilliant idea.
I must be affected by the curse too.
So I'll peel my skin all the way down
to my 38-year-old self
and give birth to sweet Reimi again!
Narumi, watch closely.
Here I go!
Mama...
Mama, hug now.
I find I often
have dreams of the sea.
But it's always the same dream.
In it, I'm endlessly
drifting in the ocean,
up until I come across an ancient fish
so large, that seems to have defied death
and made its way into the present day.
It felt like its existence
had been forgotten by the universe.
Yet there it was.
"THE THING THAT DRIFTED ASHORE"
It's huge.
- Wow.
- Where did that even come from?
- It's gotta be fake, right?
- It looks real to me.
- Maybe it's for some kind of movie?
- What's wrong with its face?
What do you think? I'm at a loss for what
those strange protrusions are on its body.
Got any ideas?
Well... my best guess is that those parts
luminesce similar to an angler fish.
If that's the case, then it must use that
luminescent light on the deep-sea floor
in order to light its way
through the dark.
Just imagining it is spine-tingling!
There's getting to be too many onlookers.
I agree. Tell the police
we need to keep bystanders away.
Understood.
This heat is terrible.
Everything okay, miss?
Are you feeling ill?
Yeah, but just a little.
And a bit dizzy.
I don't blame you. Especially
in these temperatures.
You should get into some shade and rest.
Thanks, I appreciate it.
I need everybody to take a step back
from the creature.
And whatever you do, don't touch it!
This thing smells terrible.
That's because
it's already started to decay.
This is the discovery of the century!
We can't afford to just let it rot away.
Then let's make it quick.
Did you come out here
all alone today?
Yeah. When I heard the news,
I couldn't resist the urge
to see it for myself.
Same here. I don't know why, but I came.
If I'm being honest here,
I actually despise the ocean.
It's embarrassing,
but I'm kind of scared of fish.
I actually hate the ocean, to be honest.
Why? Are you scared of fish,
or can't swim?
Oh, sorry. It's none of my business.
No, it's...
It's because someone I knew
disappeared at sea.
Do you remember that accident
seven years ago
where a ferry sank off the coast of Izu
and everyone aboard went missing?
He was on that ship.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Was he a friend of yours?
Actually, he was my fiancé.
You think he's still out there?
I doubt he's still alive.
Mr. Shiota, you got any ideas
what this hideous thing could be?
Uh, judging from the size, probably a...
Oh. Hey, come take a look at this.
What is it?
Humans.
- What's wrong?
- I can see a person over here.
I'm going to be sick.
What do you think's happening over there?
Huh?
How very strange...
Judging from the location,
they should be inside the intestines.
But from the looks of it,
they haven't been digested at all.
Very strange.
Before people think we're barbaric,
we should slice it open
and pull out the deceased.
All right.
- So many!
- White as ghosts!
They're alive!
[gasps
It's him! It's Tadashi!
This is my fiancé who vanished
off the coast of Izu seven years ago!
Are you positive that it's him?
Yes. I couldn't forget his face.
Did she say Izu?
She must be referring to the accident
that left everyone aboard missing.
You mean to tell me
all these people are the passengers?
They somehow managed to stay alive
for seven years,
despite being trapped
inside this creature's intestine?
Is such a thing even possible?
Can you hear me, Tadashi?
It's Mie. I've been waiting for you.
I miss you.
Miss Mie.
He's not himself anymore.
They're acting like parasites.
- Parasites?
- Huh?
That's right. It only makes sense
if they ingested that creature's nutrients
from inside its intestine
to survive the last seven years, right?
Interesting. But can human beings
really act as parasites
within the bodies of other creatures,
and live as long as seven years?
Hey, Mr. Insect.
Do you want to hear the story
about the woman who came here yesterday?
I was surprised to hear that there are
people like that out in this world.
Oh, yes, you feel the same way, don't you?
You know, that woman
also had an insect on her face.
My life was spared
only because the insect on her face
allowed me to take notice of it.