Kazuo Umezu's Horror Theater: House of Bugs

All the J-horror fans should always be skeptical of the anthologies that have been coming to the US on DVD. They're made for TV on a low budget, lower than their more infamous theatrical release cousins. However, when a prime director like Kiyoshi Kurosawa is involved, you expect a little better. His segment of the tribute of Umezu Kazuo (of whom Kurosawa is a big fan) is much like a poorly executed remake of his film Undo. The performances are weak, the pacing is deadly slow, and there's not even a pay off for the gore hounds and fans of the gotcha scare. Perhaps Kurosawa's predilection for psychodramas leadened what might have been one of Umezu's most chilling mangas, or perhaps it's just that Umezu's doesn't translate well.