EM: Embalming (DVD)  Starring Reiko Takashima, Yutaka
Matsushige, Toshio Shiba, Hitomi Miwa, Kojiro Hongo, Masatoshi
Matsuo, Seijun Suzuki  Directed by Shinji Aoyama  Released by
Arts Magic  While the process has been used here in the States,
and indeed in many countries throughout the world, for many
years now, embalming is still not a widely used preservation
method in Japan. Because of this, an embalming usually has to be
specifically requested by the loved ones of the deceased, and
it’s still viewed with a lot of controversy on the subject of
the soul’s ability to pass over if the body is embalmed.
Aoyama’s first foray into the horror field, EM: Embalming tells
of a female embalmer, Miyaki (Takashima), who is asked by a
wealthy politician to embalm his son after his apparent suicide
off a high rise. Before she can complete the task, however, her
assistant is knocked unconscious by some thugs and the body’s
head is inexplicably stolen from the body.  Together with
detective Hioka (Matsushige), she attempt