Human Vapor: The Vengeance of a Man Turned to Mist

During a live television interview, a strange vapor similar to mist approaches the luminary and, after "entering" the drink he was sipping, causes him to explode into a thousand pieces from within in front of the cameras, under the astonished eyes of journalist Kyoko Kono and millions of viewers. Shortly after, a mysterious man claims responsibility for the murder in an interview granted to the same reporter, revealing his desire to seek justice for the forgotten victims of the abuses perpetrated by the so-called White Center, a secret project that mercilessly exploited individuals considered expendable.

In Human Vapor, the investigations are entrusted to the expert detective Okamoto, who has just returned from a long suspension from duty caused by Kyoko, with whom the policeman has a personal history. Meanwhile, two young YouTubers, a brother and sister, also try to find out more about what is happening, as the trail of deaths progressively increases with each passing day. 

Human Vapor: Before and After

There is something profoundly nostalgic about an operation like Human Vapor, as we are faced with a remake of a film released over sixty years ago. The original, with the same title, was directed by Ishirō Honda, the director of the first, legendary Godzilla (1954), and until today it was jealously guarded by Toho, the historic Japanese production company that has now decided to open the doors of its immense catalog to the world of streaming, with this new adaptation exclusively landing in the Netflix catalog.

An operation personally endorsed and thoroughly re-adapted by Yeon Sang-ho, the South Korean author who made the zombie-movie Train to Busan (2016) and the apocalyptic series Hellbound famous worldwide. A true mastermind who is trying to breathe new life into Eastern fantastic cinema, to the point that even in the eight episodes of this new project, his signature supernatural style is palpable.

As is obvious, many things have been changed compared to the prototype, and it is primarily the premise, concerning a "vaporous" villain, that has remained intact. The screenplay here offers greater ambiguities and a much denser web of intrigues, capable of keeping the viewer's attention and curiosity high until the last episode, then leaving the door open for a further continuation of the franchise.

Into the Heart of the Mystery

If the beginning of the season hints at a potential revenge story from someone who, a victim of monstrous experiments, is now endowed with incredible powers, Human Vapor then transforms into a hybrid of genres, mixing the most visceral body-horror with conspiratorial thriller, complete with references to j-horror with the entry of the streamers. There are also nods to the j-pop universe, with an ad hoc music video shot by the fictional female group Dream Succubus.

At times, perhaps not all elements coexist harmoniously, with at least a couple of situations risking to appear partially forced, but the pace remains at decent levels without excessive drops in tone, also thanks to the management and space dedicated to the three main character groups - the journalist, the policeman, and the YouTubers. And from a technical standpoint, the series holds its own quite well, with good quality special effects ensuring the right dose of healthy action-fantasy entertainment.