King of Thorn

Adapted from a serialized Japanese graphic novel, the feature-length 2009 anime King of Thorn serves up a bloody, apocalyptic sci-fi spin on Sleeping Beauty, with a twist of Alien. In 2012, the contagious and fatal Acquired Cellular Induration Syndrome—also called the Medousa Virus—strikes, turning victims to stone and setting off a global panic. A biotech giant (suspected of creating Medousa to fulfill Christian end-times prophecy) retrofits a Gothic Scottish castle as a high-tech hibernation center to house an international selection of patients, who will be revived in the future when a cure is found. But something goes wrong, and the sleepers awaken to a nightmare of ravenous monsters and giant brambles throughout the ruined complex. Solving the enigma of Medousa (in between monster battles) turns out to be a mind-bending sort of everything-is-connected-to-everything-else metaphysical whirl that can become somewhat confounding, although the superb CGI graphics make for a visually mesmerizing watch. Presented in a dual-language release, rated TV-MA, extras include an interview with director Kazuyoshi Katayama. Recommended. (C. Cassady)