PARASYTE PART 2 - THE SHOWDOWN (2015)

Genre: Sci-Fi/Adventure
Director: Takashi Yamazaki
Cast: Shota Sometani, Eri Fukatsu, Sadao Abe, Ai Hashimoto, Nao Omori, Tadanobu Asano
Runtime: 1 hr 58 mins
Rating: NC-16 (Violence and Sexual Scene)
Released By: Encore Films 
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 21 May 2015

Synopsis: Parasyte baby is born. The parasytes have evolved into formidably scary forms and can attack in ways mere bullets can’t stop. Shinichi and Migi have no choice but to hurl themselves into the fight against the complex attack of the Parasytes. What if, instead of devouring and dominating humanity, some of the parasites wanted coexistence? The final showdown begins..

Movie Review:

Parasyte Part 1 ended off with a compelling cliff hanger, and has set the stage for Parasyte Part 2. As the Parasytes keep up with their disguises and permeate into different segments of the human society, does this spell doom for the human race?

To appreciate Parasyte Part 2 better, it is important to know the two key characters’ background from Part 1. First it’s Shininchi, the protagonist, who is the only human who escaped the fate of having his brain eaten up by a parasyte despite it entering his body. The parasyte, later named Migi, gained control of only his right hand. Another character is teacher Tamiya, a parasyte who is obsessed with experiments. In fact she was pregnant and gave birth to a human child, just so she could understand and learn the mysteries of motherhood. She also appears to be the mastermind in organizing the parasyte community, lobbying co-existence with human beings.

Parasyte Part 1gave a really great backdropand set high expectations on Part 2. However, Parasyte Part 2 has failed to pull through and deliver. Much of the human drama was overly sensationalized, which resulted in a narrative that rather lacked focus. First there was action, the showdown between Shinichi and the formidable parasyte Miki. Then there was the sappy part about Tamiya sacrificing herself in order to protect the human child she gave birth to. Then there’s the deliberation on the fragility of the parasytes. And then later it suddenly evolved to a sex scene between Shinichi and his sweetheart which was totally unnecessary.Too many happenings and an attempt to put everything together only spell haphazardness in the entire story telling.

Actions was the only part which lived up to expectations and got further enhanced by outstanding CG. The final showdown between Shinichi and Miki at a nuclear waste disposal facility is a definite to-watch-out-for. Even so, all the other strengths in its predecessor seemed to have disappeared, which is indeed a great pity.

Previously, this reviewer did mention about a fitting creative adaptation of the manga which Parasyte Part 1 excelled in. However, the same cannot be said for Parasyte Part 2. This movie attempted to condense too many other sub-stories in one seating and caused a dilution of what is supposed to be the ‘essence’. Even the part where a human was wrongly identified as a parasyte gave no room for the viewers to ‘feel’ or to be able to process the gravity of that folly judgment.

The conclusion was also one that was overly cheesy and clichéd. A very deliberate comparison between the deed of a serial killer and the humane side of the parasyte was not the best way to bring out the same meaning. This only leaves the viewers with the last impressions that the movie is one which is preachy and didactic. 

Movie Rating:

(The Parasyte series sure had a strong start, however Parasyte Part 2 lacked in both rigor and robustness)

Review by Tho Shu Ling