Parasite Eve

Japan Release: 1997
Running Time:
120 minutes

Parasite Eve


Japanese Title

パラサイト・イヴ
[Parasaito Ibu]

Distributor: Production:

Toho
Fuji TV / Kadokawa / Robot

Biologist Toshiaki Nagashima has dedicated his career to researching mitochondria. Through experiments, he understands the symbiotic relationship the organisms have with the human body. Tragedy strikes, though, when the doctor's wife of only a year is left brain dead from a car accident. Consumed with grief, the biologist sneaks off with her liver. Delusional, Nagashima plans to keep his wife "alive" by making a culture out of her mitochondria. The doctor's efforts end up being too successful, as the culture begins to rapidly multiple. After briefly possessing the doctor's assistant, the culture reveals its true form: Mitochondria Eve...

Live Action Science Fiction

Box Office - Stock Footage - DVDs - CDs - Pictures - Background - Concept Art - Cut Scenes - Reviews

Titles

International Title

-

Initial US Title

Parasite Eve
US Distributor: ADV Films (2001) / Time: 120 Minutes

Alternate Titles

Parasite Eve
[Literal translation]

 


Aliens, SDF & Misc.



Staff

Cast

Directed by Masayuki Ochiai
Writing credits Ryoichi Kimizuka, Hideaki Sena
Produced by Koichi Murakami, Takio Kawai, Daisuke Sekiguchi
Music by Joe Hisaishi
Cinematography by Kozo Shinozaki
Film Editing by Yoshifumi Fukazawa
Toshiaki Nagashima Hiroshi Mikami
Kiyomi Nagashima Riona Hazuki
Sawako Asakura Tomoko Nakajima
Mariko Anzai Ayako Omura
Etsuko Odagiri Hisako Manda
Mutsuo Ishihara Noboru Mitani
Takatsugu Yoshizumi Tetsuya Bessho
Tatsuro Ohno Goro Inagaki
Shigeru Kataoka Kenzo Kawarazaki

Posters


Box Office

Release Date: February 1st, 1997 (Japan)
Distribution Earning: ¥490,000,000 / $3,500,000 (Japan, Rough Figure)

DVDs and Blu-rays

United States Region 1 Parasite Eve ADV Films (2001) Order
Japan Region 2 Parasite Eve Fuji (2004)

CD Soundtracks

Parasite Eve
Parasite Eve
(POCH-1621)

Background and Trivia

  • Based on a 1995 novel, of the same name, by author Hideaki Sena. In 1998 this novel also spawned a video game, also of the same name by Squaresoft.
  • Director Masayuki Ochiai has stated that the producers wanted the love elements of the film emphasized more. In fact, it was a constant struggle between the director and the producers to maintain the horror elements of the movie. Noted in Fangoria #195, published 2000.
  • Madonna purchased the rights to remake the movie in the US, with the concept being the pop star appearing as the title character. This was brought up during a Fangoria interview with the director, Masayuki Ochiai, in 2000. The legacy of this story is somewhat convoluted, being first reported on in 1999 by IGN. They state the remake is based on the video game, while Squaresoft (makers of the game) denied this. As a result, this would indicate that the rights were acquired either to remake the novel or movie, rather than the more popular video game. However, nothing ever came of the idea.

Reviews

Forrest Freund Star Rating
October 10, 2002