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King of Thorn
King of Thorn
いばらの王 -King of Thorn-
2010 ·109 min ·Japan · 12+
6.7
IMDb 6.3 КП 6.8
Fantasy, Animation, Science Fiction
Director: Kazuyoshi Katayama
💬 Based on the comic «King of Thorn» byYūji Iwahara
Trailers King of Thorn
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A mysterious virus, nicknamed Medusa, is spreading around Japan, turning its victims into stone. Given the impossibility of finding an immediate cure, the government opts for cryopreserving a select group of patients until they come up with a solution. Kasumi, one of the chosen ones, has been asleep for years and her awakening, more than a bed of roses, is a bed of thorns, and happens in the midst of total chaos where monstrous creatures lie in wait all around.

Kana Hanazawa
Actor
Toshiyuki Morikawa
Actor
Eri Sendai
Actor
🏆1 win & 2 nominations total

King of Thorn is a visually ambitious science fiction film that attempts to blend fairy-tale motifs with post-apocalyptic horror. While many viewers praise its unique premise and atmospheric world-building, it is frequently criticized for its reliance on genre clichés and a narrative that struggles to balance its ambitious plot within a single feature length.

Production The film utilizes strong visual production design, including high-quality 3D models and evocative landscapes.
Score The soundtrack is frequently cited as a highlight that effectively complements the film's tense, otherworldly atmosphere.
Originality The film reinterprets classic 'Sleeping Beauty' mythology through a gritty, post-apocalyptic lens, creating a distinct conceptual framework.
Acting The cast is composed of archetypal characters—such as the generic soldier and the traumatized child—that many find flat and lacking meaningful development.
Screenplay The narrative trajectory is mixed: some appreciate the surreal, dream-like progression, while others feel the plot is cluttered with excessive subplots that prioritize spectacle over coherent logic.
Pacing The pacing is divisive; viewers split between those who appreciate the rapid, action-heavy momentum and those who feel the story is rushed and would have benefited from an episodic series format.
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