Memories (1995)

I finished Memories a couple hours ago and I’m still noodling on it. This was much deeper than I ever expected, and the subjects it touched on feel like they need more time to process than a quick 90-minute runtime allows.

The first segment, Magnetic Rose, resonated with me the most. It’s essentially a sci-fi animated haunted house movie about how pain gets trapped and repeated like a ghost in a machine forever - sucking those who enter into its simulation of reality and destroying them in the process. I want to know more about what we see, but I also know that would ruin it. I just can’t stop thinking about it.

Stink Bomb was more of a comedy and reminded me of the Tales from the Crypt segment with Stephen King where moss overcomes everybody and eventually kills everyone. It’s kind of a comedy and honestly isn’t that good either, but it’s okay.

The final segment about fascism felt more like an allegory or myth about the dangers of erasing history and demanding absolute mindlessness from all inhabitants. Parts of it feel incredibly prescient today, but it’s depressing as hell. Actually, all three segments are.

And then out of nowhere, one of the best techno songs I’ve ever heard in my entire life closes out these absolute downer short films. It’s incredible and somehow brings everything together perfectly.

Highly recommend checking this out. For those curious, the end credits song is “IN YER MEMORY” by Takkyu Ishino.

Also on Letterboxd