Netflix's new sci-fi thriller, 'Human Vapor,' presents a unique premise: a killer who can transform into toxic vapor and infiltrate victims from within. The film, which hails from Japan, follows a detective and a reporter as they attempt to apprehend this elusive antagonist.
The story kicks off with a shocking event during a live morning news segment on the JNT network. As Kyoko Kono (Yū Aoi), a reporter, interviews a professor about renewable energy, a mysterious smoke engulfs the professor. The smoke enters his body, causing him to expand and then explode in a gruesome display broadcast live.
Detective Kenji Okamoto (Shun Oguri) of the Metro Police is brought onto the case, despite being on suspension. He is reactivated and given his badge at the scene. His investigation takes a personal turn when he discovers Kyoko is the primary witness. A prior encounter five years earlier, during her early reporting career, had forged a connection between them and was linked to Okamoto's suspension.
Simultaneously, Kyoko and her colleagues receive a package containing only an empty box with a QR code. Scanning the code reveals a video confession from a man (Uta Uchida) claiming responsibility for the professor's murder. He announces a press conference to answer questions from news outlets that broadcast his video in its entirety.
Despite warnings of a potential chemical attack, a crowd gathers at the designated ramen shop, but the man from the video fails to appear. Kyoko, however, manages to track him down and secure an exclusive interview. During their conversation, she learns that the killer is seeking revenge for actions related to a project called the White Center, with the professor being the first victim. Both Kyoko and Okamoto soon realize the difficulty in capturing a killer with such extraordinary abilities.
'Human Vapor' sets up a dual narrative: the immediate investigation into the titular vaporous killer and the underlying mystery of the White Center and the motivations behind the revenge plot. The film also delves into the complicated past between Kyoko and Okamoto, exploring their relationship and the events that led to his suspension.
Okamoto is portrayed as a by-the-book detective, with a father who also served on the force. His connection to the superintendent general since childhood does not prevent his suspension, the details of which are gradually revealed. The film hints at a developing deep personal relationship between Okamoto and Kyoko, evidenced even in brief interactions like a stakeout where he advises her on how to calm herself by listening to her heartbeat.
Shun Oguri delivers a compelling performance as the weary, rule-abiding detective Okamoto. The film also introduces vloggers Kaho and Fujita Fujikawa (Suzu Hirose and Kento Hayashi) who become involved in the investigation, adding another layer to the unfolding mystery.
The film is noted for its unique premise, reminiscent of other sci-fi mysteries. While the thriller plot may not sustain an entire eight-episode season, the developing backstory between the two leads is expected to compensate for any perceived narrative gaps. The narrative poses questions about the killer's powers and the secrets of the White Center, promising a complex investigation for both the characters and the audience.