Parasite Eve

Parasite Eve

Year: 1997

Runtime: 120 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Masayuki Ochiai

RomanceHorrorScience Fiction

It’s not a virus… it’s evolution. A scientist realizes his dead wife is an organization of mitochondria bent on making a new species that will wipe out humanity.

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Timeline & Setting – Parasite Eve (1997)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Parasite Eve (1997). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Laboratory, Hospital, Nagashima's Home, Conference Hall, Rooftop

The story unfolds across a university-grade laboratory where mitochondrial research is pursued. It moves through a hospital where Mariko's condition is monitored, and into Nagashima's private home where personal life collides with his work. A science conference hall becomes the stage for a chilling revelation, and the rooftop finale ties science to fate.

🔬 Laboratory 🏥 Hospital 🏠 Home 🗼 Conference Hall 🏙️ Rooftop

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:57

Main Characters – Parasite Eve (1997)

Meet the key characters of Parasite Eve (1997), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Toshiaki Nagashima (Hiroshi Mikami)

A brilliant researcher studying mitochondrial inheritance and tissue regeneration. His obsession grows after his wife's coma, pushing him to use her liver for experiments and to dismiss colleagues who challenge him. This hubris leads him toward dangerous methods that threaten the boundary between discovery and humanity.

🧠 Obsessive ⚠️ Reckless 🔬 Scientist

Kiyomi Nagashima (Riona Hazuki)

Nagashima's wife, initially supportive, becomes entangled as the mitochondria collective manipulates her. Her life unfolds under the influence of voices and compulsions that drive her actions in the service of the research. Her arc reveals how a person can be exploited as a vessel in a larger evolutionary scheme.

❤️ Love 🧠 Manipulated 🎭 Influenced

Mariko Anzai (Ayako Omura)

A young donor patient whose initial health improvement masks a disturbing biological transformation. Her body becomes a focal point for the mitochondria's attempt to find a new womb, linking her fate to the rise of the Eve life-form. Her experience underscores the human cost of reproductive-focused science.

🏥 Hospital ⚠️ Danger 🧪 Transformation

Takatsugu Yoshizumi (Tetsuya Bessho)

A medical professional who informs Nagashima about Mariko's changing condition and becomes part of the investigation into the Eve threat. He embodies cautious scientific reasoning and collaborative effort in the face of a looming crisis.

⚕️ Doctor 🧪 Scientist 🕵️ Investigator

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:57

Major Themes – Parasite Eve (1997)

Explore the central themes of Parasite Eve (1997), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧬 Genetics

Genetic inheritance and the promise of tissue regeneration drive the plot, highlighting how maternal lineage can influence identity and power. The pursuit of a genetic solution tests ethical boundaries and autonomy over living bodies. The film questions who owns genetic material and whether lineage should dictate future evolution.

🔥 Evolution

A mitochondria collective seeks a new evolutionary path by inhabiting human hosts. Transformation is intimate and terrifying, using bodies as vessels to propagate an emergent life-form. The story frames evolution as both a promise and a peril, blurring the line between salvation and catastrophe.

⚖️ Ethics

Unchecked scientific ambition collides with moral responsibility as consent and autonomy are challenged. The Eve entity raises questions about the value of individual life and the right to shape humanity's future. The ending invites reflection on whether progress justifies the costs inflicted on people.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:57

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Parasite Eve Summary

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Parasite Eve Timeline

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Parasite Eve Timeline

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More About Parasite Eve

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