1. Executive Summary "Imprint" is the 13th and final episode of the first season of Masters of Horror , directed by legendary Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike ( Audition , Ichi the Killer ). It originally aired (or rather, famously did not air) on Showtime in 2006. The episode is notorious for being the only one in the series’ history to be banned from broadcast by the network due to its extreme and graphic content.
While unavailable on television for years, "Imprint" was released on DVD and has since become a cult classic, representing the absolute limits of horror television. It is essential viewing for fans of extreme cinema, Japanese horror, and psychological torture. | Attribute | Details | |---|---| | Series | Masters of Horror (Season 1, Episode 13) | | Director | Takashi Miike | | Writer | Daisuke Tengan (based on the novel Imprint by Shimako Iwai) | | Original Air Date | Unaired on Showtime; DVD released January 31, 2006 | | Runtime | Approx. 60 minutes | | Country | United States / Japan (co-production) | | Language | English / Japanese | 3. Synopsis (Spoiler Warning) The story is set in the late 19th century. An American journalist, Christopher (Billy Drago), travels to a remote, sinister island in Japan to find his lost love, a prostitute named Komomo . imprint masters of horror
Always ensure you are watching the uncut, unrated director’s cut . There is no "censored" broadcast version available commercially, but avoid fan edits. 7. Comparison to Other Masters of Horror Episodes | Episode | Director | Tone | Gore Level | Ban Status | |---|---|---|---|---| | Imprint | Takashi Miike | Psychological / Torture | Extreme | Banned from TV | | Cigarette Burns | John Carpenter | Cosmic / Giallo | Moderate | Aired | | Jenifer | Dario Argento | Body horror / Tragedy | High | Aired (but heavily edited) | | Sick Girl | Lucky McKee | Body horror / Romance | Moderate | Aired | The episode is notorious for being the only
| | Availability | |---|---| | DVD/Blu-ray | Included in Masters of Horror Season 1 box sets. The standalone DVD is out of print but easy to find second-hand. | | Streaming | Available on Tubi (free with ads), Peacock , Pluto TV , and Shudder (often rotating). Check your local region. | | Digital Purchase | Amazon Prime Video, Apple iTunes, Google Play (uncut version). | | Attribute | Details | |---|---| | Series
He meets a deformed, haunted woman known as (Youki Kudoh), who promises to tell him the truth about Komomo’s fate. The episode then unfolds as a series of nested, unreliable flashbacks, each revealing a more horrific version of events.
Watch it if you want to see the single most transgressive hour of American television history, directed by a master of transgressive cinema. Avoid it if you are sensitive to bodily mutilation, pregnancy horror, or extreme psychological anguish.