Henna Ie (2024)

Adaptation so bad the creator calls it "Garbage"

I’m not a horror fan in fact, I usually avoid jump scares but I was drawn to this story because it approaches horror from a unique angle. It’s disappointed to see what they did to the source material. Even the creator, Uketsu, reportedly dismissed the film with a single word: “Gomi” (Garbage).

What started as a viral YouTube video and evolved into a successful novel and manga has been completely squandered. Uketsu goal was to create "horror for people who don't like horror," focusing on psychological unease rather than cheap thrills. Having watched the original videos and read the manga, I was genuinely captivated by Amemiya and Kurihara deductions. The mystery behind those strange floor plans was supposed to be unsettling because of its logic.

The movie should have been a slow-burn. A slower pace would have allowed the audience's own imagination to build the tension. Instead, while watching this adaptation, I found myself questioning if this was even Hen na Ie (The Floor Plan) at all. It felt more like a bizarre, misplaced version of Gannibal.

To make matters worse, the ending was left wide open, clearly baiting a sequel. It’s honestly frustrating. I feel truly sorry for Uketsu; he crafted such a brilliant, atmospheric story, only to see it dismantled like this.

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