Content Warning: Body horror, familial abuse, and change of gender used as a jump scare.
Synopsis:
In hushed breaths and trembling whispers, those who dwell beneath Mount Hinatsugi recount the legend of a demon that looks like a woman who lives on the mountain. It is said she kidnaps those who dare climb it, trapping them there to be her servants forever. What begins as a group of students eager to explore a pre–World War II mountain village quickly spirals into a nightmare where legend and reality collide.
The Good:
Aki Shizimiyu’s style evokes the feeling of reading a classic shojo story. Even the more gore-filled aspects of body horror are quite gorgeous to look at. Full page panels and double page spreads are used sparingly throughout the manga, adding to their impact when they come up in the story.
Beyond its masterfully-rendered body horror, Hinatsugimura explores themes of familial abuse, examining how attempts at care and love can become so toxic that they ultimately harm the very person they’re meant to protect. It leverages its horror elements to explore these themes in ways that other genres might struggle to achieve.
The Bad:
One-shot manga may be shorter by design, but that doesn’t mean they can’t fit a compelling story in the compact confines of their pages. Unfortunately, Hinatsugimura feels like it frontloaded all of its best ideas and rushed to an ending best described as “meh.”
One of the scariest things in the world is the unknown, and the story does a good job of exemplifying this in the first three chapters. Only subtle hints are given as to what may be happening on this cursed mountain, with strong displays of body horror along the way, allowing the reader to try and fill in gaps with their own mind as to the true horrors behind why everything is happening.
This changes in chapter four, where the previous short stories seem forced into becoming a combined narrative that feels extremely rushed towards a final conclusion. Without as much mystery behind the horrific happenings, the story becomes much more dull as it races towards its rather bland ending. Because the story began in such an engaging place, the unsatisfying ending hurts all the more.
There is also a moment meant to be shocking in chapter two that I found rather uncomfortable as a trans reader, and not in the good kind of way you want when picking up a scary read. It’s also disappointing, as it could have led to a fascinating plot point to explore if done better, but the plot beats and characters are totally dropped from the story thereafter.
The Verdict:
Hinatsugimura opens with a striking story that is built upon with evocative imagery. Yet, its momentum falters as it hastens toward a conclusion that feels underdeveloped. Readers more interested in atmosphere than resolution will still find much to admire, but I find it difficult to fully recommend without reservation.
Hinatsugimura is available from Yen Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Indigo, Kinokuniya, and the Crunchyroll Store.
If you liked Hinatsugimura you might also like…
- Brain Damage by Shintaro Kago
- Pet Shop of Horrors by Matsuri Akino
- Tomie by Junji Ito
Credits:
Story and Art: Aki Shimizu
Translator: Eleanor Summers
Letterer: Madeline Jose
Editor: Danielle Niederkorn
Design: Wendy Chan
Published in English by Yen Press
Thank you to Yen Press for providing a review copy. Receiving this copy did not affect the reviewer’s opinions as expressed here.
Article edited by: Anne Estrada
The Good
- Aki Shizimiyu’s illustrations are gorgeous throughout.
- Uniquely explores themes of toxic familial relationships.
The Bad
- The story feels rushed.
- The strong beginning makes the weak ending all the more noticeable.
- A poorly done scene for shock value may leave trans readers uncomfortable in a bad way.
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