The Discarnates is a very touching supernatural tale from director Nobuhiko Ôbayashi, who also gave us the hugely entertaining, crazy cult classic Hausu (1977).
The film's central character is recently divorced TV drama writer Hidemi Harada (Morio Kazama), who learns that his friend and work colleague is planning to date his ex-wife. Not in a good place, Harada is rather abrupt when his only neighbour, a lonely young woman named Kei (Yûko Natori), knocks on his door looking for company. He sends her packing.
The film then develops into a melancholy ghost story, as Harada decides to visit the place where he grew up, before his parents were tragically killed by a truck. Visiting a vaudeville theatre, the writer encounters his dead father and is also reunited with his mother. Over the following days, he spends time with his parents, experiencing much happiness.
Things are also going well for him at home: he apologises to Kei for his rudeness and soon begins a passionate affair with the woman, who is insecure about the burn scars that she has on her chest (meaning that Harada can only make love to her from behind!).
Eventually, Harada tells Kei about his trips to see his dead parents, something that alarms the young woman: she tells him that his visits are draining his lifeforce, and reveals to him his haggard reflection in a mirror. He must tell his mother and father that he can no longer see them or he will die...
Harada making the journey to the place of his childhood reminds me a lot of one of my favourite Twilight Zone episodes, Walking Distance, and like that story, the message in The Discarnates is 'don't live in the past, make the most of the present'. Through his experience with the ghosts of his parents, and his relationship with Kei, Harada comes to terms with his grief, learns to appreciate life and becomes far more content with his lot. It's heartwarming stuff, but Obayashi also has a surprise in store for the ending, which adds a touch of horror and plenty of gushing blood. I'm not going to ruin it for you but it's a lot of fun.
8/10.
Based on the 1987 novel Strangers by Taichi Yamada, which was also turned into the film All Of Us Strangers in 2023 (not seen that one yet -- I wonder how it compares...).
