Screentone Nightmares: Hideout
Hideout is a short manga series written by Masasumi Kakizaki and published in Big Comic Spirits in the summer of 2010. All nine chapters were released in a single volume the following winter. Kakizaki made his debut in 2001 with the series X-Gene, a three volume science fiction/action story about unique individuals who can turn into animals. (kind of sounds like X-men meets Animorphs. Maybe worth a look.) Most of his work concerns action and drama in a historical setting, including the 22 volume youth-in-prison epic Rainbow which was adapted into a 26 episode anime in 2010, but with Hideout he detoured into our beloved realm of terror. Let’s see how he fared in the genre.
I was surprised to see that Hideout had made its way onto so many horror recommendation lists around the web since it was coming from a body of work that didn’t have much to do with horror at all. The cover, however, draws one in immediately and I didn’t want to pass it up. I was interestingly surprised by what I got inside. After a cold open with some stunning full-color pages (I’ll leave those for you to discover on your own as I want to keep this article series to black and white previews only) Hideout introduces us to Seiichi Kirishima, a down on his luck mangaka, and his wife Miki as they embark on a vacation to an unnamed island off the coast of Japan. It’s clear that there are tensions between the couple and this trip is intended to mend their relationship. Miki scoffs at Seiichi’s plans and attempts at romance. Eventually he convinces her to accompany him to a secluded waterfall in the jungle and on the car ride there we get a glimpse of the tragedy that’s driven a wedge between the two. Things are getting dark, uncomfortable, and then a storm hits.
Predictably, the couple get lost. Unpredictably, and to Miki’s horror, Seiichi makes his true intentions known in the lonesome darkness of the rain swept night. A chase ensues and we are led to the ultimate setting of our story: a dank and ominous cave hidden deep in the heart of the island. From here things go sideways for everyone involved. Seiichi and Miki have just invaded the home of something grotesque and the only way out is through. Over the ensuing chapters Kakizaki delves into the backstory of the couple, the moments and mistakes that landed them in their current situation, and the choices, or lack thereof, that can run a life off of it’s tracks. In the present, we are forced to watch as our characters devolve to their base instincts, casting their masks of humanity aside in the name of survival. There are no happy endings in this bleak affair, only horrors that come to light in the darkness.
Hideout was a highly enjoyable read and unique in its familiarity. There’s something incredibly western about the pacing and tropes of this story, calling to mind the brutality of 2000s torture-porn films like Frontier(s) and Antichrist. Brutality is accurate here, mind you. This story is bleak and harsh. Like I said, there are no happy endings to be found and I’m not sure these characters would deserve it anyway. Most fans of horror will also be eye-rollingly familiar with the “this was supposed to be a new start for us…” premise, a favorite of classics and modern Netflix-fodder alike. This is all pretty interesting through the Japanese manga filter, though. As a westerner, I’m used to ideas in manga being a bit alien to my palette so this turned out to be a unique experience. If, however, that makes you think this may be a little too bland for your own tastes, let's talk about that art. I was totally blown away by the artwork in this manga. The atmospheric detail and technical ability at play here are praiseworthy. Kakizaki’s skill is wildly impressive and his grotesque minutia borders on the work of Bernie Wrightson in it’s extravagance. It catches the eye in a way that begs the reader to study each scene. I would love to see this series adapted into an animated film with that same detailed style and although the remainder of the artist’s work doesn’t grab me in theme, I may check it out for the art alone. Hideout is a short and enjoyable read, polished and hideous all at once, that’s certainly worth your time. I’m hoping for more horror work from this mangaka in the future and will report back if I explore any of his other manga and find it noteworthy.
Join Justin as he chats with actor Lisa Schrage about her vast book collection, Prom Night II, becoming Mary Lou Maloney, long lost film props, her first horror conventions, and more!