No one's been able to reach them
since they took a direct hit from typhoon number 2 ?
Yeah, and then they were hit back to back
by typhoons three, four five and six.
Nobody knows the situation, or if its 6 000 residents are okay.
News crews were sent in, but so far nothing.
Well, Kurouzu-Town is just beyond this tunnel.
Let's go ! Tornado !
Are you all right ?
Sakagami ! Endo... What should I do ?
I have to get help...
It feels like there's something in the air...
Is it my imagination, or is my breath actually forming into spirals ?
Where is everyone ? Why's it so quiet around here ?
All this damage... is from the typhoons ?
That's a news chopper !
A whirlpool ?
- You have to hide ! - Slowly !
Yeah !
Kurouzu Elementary ahead ! Prepare to attack at once !
Combine !
That looks like fun. Maybe I'll join the Butterfly Gang, too.
Don't even think it ! A lot of people died trying to copy those guys !
"The Butterfly Gang" ?
A bunch of thugs who're using all this as an excuse to run wild.
Thank you so much. I really owe you one.
Don't mention it. You're hurt !
- Are you okay to walk ? - Yeah.
- Are you one of those aid volunteers ? - Mitsuo, you have to walk more slowly.
No, I'm a reporter with Toyo TV. I'm Chie Maruyama.
- Toyo TV ?! - Keep your voice down.
So that's why you looked familiar !
I'm Kirie Goshima. This is my brother, Mitsuo.
We've been out looking for supplies. The way things work,
is if one of us makes a sudden move, it will instantly trigger a whirlwind.
The town believes it could be linked to the energy of the six typhoons
that got sucked into that pond.
The one with the whirlpool ? That's Dragonfly Pond.
What do you mean... The pond sucked up the typhoons ?
No one really knows what happened for sure.
That's why we have to creep along. As slow as a snail.
Even breathing too hard can set one off, so speak softly.
Sounds like the Butterfly Effect.
The flapping of a butterfly's wings creates a storm somewhere in the world.
Well, let's head back to where we've been taking shelter.
We need to treat those cuts.
This is it. Come on in.
- Come on, move over a little ! - Quit shoving, damn it !
- Look, it's more people ! - There's no more room ! Get out !
That's not fair ! We were living in this house before you !
- Welcome back, dear. - You have a guest ?
It's gone crazy... Spirals have driven the town crazy.
I'm sick and tired of your muttering, kid.
Crazy... It's all gone crazy...
I've had enough... Get the hell out !
Shuichi ! Are you okay, Shuichi ?
There's a little more elbow room now.
- So, what do we do now ? - We have to look for another shelter.
There aren't anymore. They're all packed now !
Then we'll just have to keep looking.
It's too dangerous out here with the whirlwinds.
What we have to do is get out of this town as fast as we can !
Yeah, except...
Everybody says that there's no way out.
All I want to do is stay here. And get back to my pottery.
I want to rebuild my kiln and perfect my art
to master the art of the spiral !
For that, I need clay from Dragonfly Pond !
That's impossible ! Dragonfly Pond is a huge whirlpool now !
Crazy... It's all gone crazy...
We're almost near the end. Town's about to turn into a spiral.
Trust me, it's going to become a spiral !
What are those things ?!
They're snail people ! There's been a lot more of them lately.
Something smells good... Like meat being grilled !
Mitsuo !
It's that gang from before...
Mitsuo !
This one's pretty much done.
They're eating snail people...
Kid ! Want some escargot ?
What escargot ? They used to be human beings like us !
What ? "Used" to be humans ?
Whatever. How about it, pretty ladies ?
Why don'tcha come join us ? You'll feast like queens.
We're not interested in joining your Butterfly Gang.
We stopped being the Butterfly Gang a long time ago.
Flower nectar just doesn't cut it anymore.
We're the Dragonfly Gang now. A bunch of carnivores.
- We're Jumbo dragonflies. - Not little dragonflies.
You stay away from them !
Piss off, old man. If ya wanna live.
I said stay away !
- No, Dad ! - Honey !
What have you done ?!
- Ditched us. - Guess we gotta catch up.
Let's go !
- Kirie ! - Chie !
Two female targets escaping at 12 o'clock ! Combine and pursue !
Roger !
Chie ! Look where I'm pointing !
The tornado is pulling us down towards Dragonfly Pond !
We'll get sucked in !
Who the hell is that ? Double back !
Shuichi ?
Crazy... It's all gone crazy...
- Easy... - Walk slowly !
A whirlwind ! Get down !
We lost a few more...
- Hey ! You all right ? - Yeah. We're all okay.
I came here five days ago to work as a volunteer.
I arrived here four days ago to help search for family
that I lost contact with, but it seems hopeless.
We've tried repeatedly to escape this place,
but there doesn't seem to be any way out.
Go in any direction and you end up back here.
It's like the roads twist back on themselves.
I walked down the tunnel for ages with no end in sight.
Eventually, the tunnel kept twisting.
It got so bad, I nearly slid down into the darkness below.
I had no choice but to turn back.
My gosh !
We also thought about escaping by sea.
The typhoons had wrecked all the boats, so we built a makeshift raft.
Soon after, we saw another group set out on their own improvised raft.
They were swallowed by a whirlpool that appeared out of nowhere.
Right before our eyes.
Looks like there's no escape. But we could be the lucky ones.
That's right. The trauma some have faced was so severe,
it drove them to madness.
So tell me, where did you guys come from ?
All the row houses are taken and a whirlwind injured my mom,
so she can't move. So for now, we're here.
Hi, mom. Are you still in pain ?
I'm doing fine. Did you find your father ?
We looked for him everywhere, but still no sign.
I knew it, he was killed when that whirlwind carried him off !
Don't worry, Mom ! I'm sure he's okay somewhere !
It's not really safe here. Maybe there's a row house with space.
Let's look around.
I can't figure it out. Even concrete buildings
are near collapse, so how are those busted row houses standing ?
Yeah. I know what you mean. And they were built a long time ago.
How many of em are there ?
I've never counted, but there are some in the middle of town,
and more along the outskirts.
Then some of those outlying houses might have room.
But if we keep walking at this pace, we won't make it there before dark.
We never introduced ourselves. My name is Tanizaki.
- And I'm Takemoto. - Nice to meet you.
We met everyone back in town a while ago. We're all pretty exhausted.
Something's wrong with my back... Can you take a look for me ?
Your back ?
Looks like he's already started to transform.
Probably won't be long until he's a snail person.
Why are so many more of us suddenly turning into snail people, Shuichi ?
Maybe it's because we're moving so slowly...
So slowly that the curse of the spiral can now catch up to us.
We might be its next victims.
What do you mean ?! Check me now !
- No, you're fine. - How about me ?
Togawa... There's a spiral mark on you.
- Tell me you're joking ! - Keep your voice down !
Doesn't matter, we need to hurry and find a row house.
We don't even know what's causing people to change into snails !
How can you be sure that it's any safer inside ?!
Do you think this spiral mark will go away once we're inside ?
How should I know ?
But we do know it's definitely the safest place in town.
Please ! Let us in !
I heard that you turn into a snail if you stay outside !
Get lost ! We don't have any room ! Try somewhere else.
You can't do this ! I'm begging you, let me in !
I'm already starting to turn into a snail !
Move along ! I couldn't care less what you're turning into !
You're sick ! I'm getting inside one way or another !
- Yeah ! - Us too.
All together now !
It opened !
- Those bastards ! - Blow !
- Let's go ! - Together !
We did it ! Get inside !
- What's happening ? - I told you we don't have any room.
We tried to keep watch, but more people snuck in !
And look what happened ! With all the shoving around,
our bodies got so intertwined that now we can't untangle ourselves !
What are they doing over there ?
They're trying to cover their exposed bodies with that loose scrap wood.
They want to extend the house...
- They're extending the row house ? - Yeah.
Maybe we could add on to the side of it...
Hang on, Tanizaki ! Are you actually planning on staying here ?
We should be thinking of ways to escape first !
Even if we got into a row house,
if we turned into one of those monsters, it would be a living hell !
Get down !
Look ! We're already in hell !
Would you rather die out here or stay alive inside ?
I want to get outta this place !
He's right ! There has to be a way out of here !
Look over there !
Rescue ships !
Finally, they've come to save us !
Isn't this great, Kirie ? We have to go tell your mother and Mitsuo !
But we still don't know where my dad is...
This is all we have left ? Nowhere near enough to satisfy us.
There's some meat over here !
- Meat ? - It's snail people meat !
The Dragonfly Gang must have left this !
"Snail people meat"... We're calling them "meat" now...
Still... It's not like we have a choice... Right ?
They taste good, I wish I would've eaten one sooner !
When Okamoto finishes turning into a snail, let's cook him right up !
You better eat some, too ! You won't survive if you don't !
It's not even human anymore ! Eat !
Shuichi...
The shelter is gone... What happened ?
Sis !
- Mitsuo ! - I'm over here !
Were you hit by a whirlwind ? Where is mom ?!
- She got carried off by a whirlwind ! - What did you say ?
Kirie, wait ! Look at Mitsuo's back !
If we can get out of town before he turns into a snail person,
I'm sure he'll return to normal ! Once he's safe,
I'll come back and continue looking for our mom and dad.
How can you, though ? The tunnel and sea aren't safe.
The mountains are still an option.
There might be a forest path that no one has discovered yet.
It's no use... We've been marked by the spiral's unyielding curse.
You're right. It's better than us doing nothing.
Yeah. Let's pick a direction.
It's no use...
Sis, my back is itching like crazy.
Hang in there, we're almost out of town. You'll feel better then.
The row houses are centered around Dragonfly Pond.
Look there !
Someone's building onto that row house down there
and setting off whirlwinds !
Wait, is that... Isn't that Tanizaki ?
Where you running to ?
I'll have this house extension done by the time you get back !
- How far does this path go ? - I'm tired...
It's strange, we should have reached the road ages ago.
Looks like more newcomers have wandered into town.
Takemoto ! How did you get here ?
- What about you ? - What about us ?
We're trying to get out of Kurouzu-Town.
This path should lead through the mountains to the next town over.
What do you mean ? The road's that way !
We saw you going up the mountain and that's why we followed you !
All the roads in this town loop back on themselves !
- We'll never get out of here ! - You have to calm down !
Let's just keep going and see what's up ahead.
Damn it... It's like we're going around in an endless circle.
- Let's eat ! - I wonder what they're like raw.
Sounds delicious !
- He hid in his shell ! - You're too slow !
- Let's crack him open ! - Hold it !
Did you know that there are bugs that eat snails like this ?
- That's enough ! - Don't eat it all !
- Kirie, let's get out of here... - Yeah.
The spiral has them...
Got any clue where we are or how much farther ?
I have no idea.
I told you there was no escaping here. We've been marked by the curse.
A tree stump can tell you which way is north.
- Shuichi... Come back to us... - Dad ! It's my dad !
You have to calm down ! He's not real.
It almost feels like time is slipping through our fingers.
As if we're moving in slow motion...
- Why are you running away from us ? - We're not running away...
You wanna tell me why that kid's back look so swollen ?
That's just his backpack.
He looks so tired. I'll carry him.
- Let me. - Sure... Thanks.
I'm so hungry... Are there snails out here ?
Of course not. Why would they be in the mountains ?
- I knew it ! - How should we eat him ?
Run for it !
Mitsuo, think you can crawl down this cliff ?
You can do it ! Come on, just go !
You have to go ! Go, or I'll smack you !
Go ! You have to hurry !
I'll come back for you, I promise !
- Trying to ditch us again ? - Better hand that snail over to us !
- You wanna eat this one raw, too ? - Of course we do.
You remember how good it was when we ate Okamoto ?
When we squeezed into his shell and ate his soft cheeks and sweet face !
It was delicious !
- The Spiral's cursed them... - Let's go back to town for now.
This can't be Kurouzu-Town !
We must have stumbled on another city the spiral's cursed !
No, this is Kurouzu-Town.
Row houses ?
They extended the row houses, building outwards on both ends.
How is that even possible ?
They only started expanding when we left !
You said it earlier, time was slipping through our fingers
while we were wandering in the mountains.
How do they fit together so well ?
It's like they were made to be connected in a spiral shape.
Maybe it's actually the opposite.
Maybe long ago, there was just one spiral structure.
Over the years, it slowly decayed and crumbled,
leaving only a handful of scattered remnants behind.
And now, what we see here is the town in its original form.
This is it. I have to go inside and look for my mother and father.
You two should go and find a way out. I'll catch up with you later.
Don't be ridiculous, Kirie. We'll help you find them.
The heart of the spiral...
I want to solve the mystery of the spiral myself !
- Tanizaki ! - It's you kids.
How long has it been ? You all haven't aged a bit.
- Wait, how long has it been ? - Years.
There's still some gaps here and there,
an alley blocked with concrete, and the remains of old walls,
its turned this place into a real maze. The expansion should be done soon.
The residents have been working on extending the houses from the inside.
Hard workers, I'll give them that.
Would you possibly know where my parents are ?
My mom and dad were both carried off by whirlwinds.
- My father is a potter. - Your dad's a potter ?
I've heard about a couple that was still making pottery by Dragonfly Pond.
- Wait ! Are you serious ?! - Yeah.
I've never met him myself, but I hear he keeps going on
about how "Pottery's the art of the spiral."
- I knew it, they're alive ! - Kirie ! That's great !
Thank you so much, Tanizaki ! I'm heading there now !
Good luck.
I'd be surprised if you're able to get anywhere near there, though.
Hell, even I've never been to Dragonfly Pond.
I wonder if the entire spiral is packed full of people like that.
If this is Kurouzu-Town in its original form...
Why would the people back then have built something like this ?
It's possible that this has happened over and over again since then.
Maybe every century, or few centuries,
the spiral's curse descends on its domain.
And each time, the inhabitants revert it to its original state.
But if that's true,
wouldn't there have to be a record of it or something ?
Maybe something happened to break the line of tradition at some point.
Maybe everyone who could have passed those memories
were erased along with them.
That's it... I can't keep walking anymore.
Look there.
Somebody's being cremated over there.
We can use it as a guide ! We have to hurry, before it fades !
Look, there's an opening over there !
Hurry, before it closes up !
No, Chie !
- Kirie... - Chie !
- It connected ! - It connected !
- Same here ! - It's all connected now !
This was under Dragonfly Pond !
I'm going in. My mom and dad are down there, I know it.
We'll both go.
Okay.
Come on.
Take me with you !
There must be something truly spectacular waiting down there !
- Let go of me ! - Take me with you !
Get off her !
Shuichi !
Can't hold on...
It was a huge ruin like nothing I'd ever seen before...
There was this blinding light.
I had seen it in the spiral stairway, it was being produced by these spirals.
All around me was a vast sea of people...
They must have come from the row house above.
And now they were all staring, transfixed, at the spirals.
Shuichi, where... Shuichi, are you here ?
It's almost like they're becoming one with the ruins.
Mom, dad... I was hoping I'd find you down here.
Kirie...
Shuichi !
Kirie... Look at all of these ruins.
It was this all along. This was the truth behind the curse.
It almost seems like it's alive.
Yes. And I think it has a will of its own.
The spirals draw the gaze of whoever sees them towards its center.
Whatever the ancient builders intended for this structure,
these ruins are now acting on pure instinct,
luring in the unsuspecting living above, as it hungers with each century.
Shuichi, if that's the case, what's gonna happen to us now ?
I don't think I can fight the spiral curse anymore.
Kirie... Do whatever you have to do to get out of this place.
Something tells me that the curse has almost run its course.
I don't have any energy left to fight it, either.
I want to stay here with you.
Just like that, the spiral curse that plagued our town came to an end.
This small, eerie town of ours turned to dust as time marched on
and was reborn as a new city.
And maybe...
... this time around, its people will live peacefully.
Eri ! Welcome back.
Satoshi...
Would you ever consider leaving this town together ?
At least, until those ruins stir from their slumber once more.
Subtitling: FAST TITLES MEDIA