Ep 11. The Back Alley/Headless Statue

Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre season 1 episode 11, titled "The Back Alley/Headless Statue," follows two separate stories. In the first story, "The Back Alley," a man named Yamaguchi becomes obsessed with a mysterious alley that seems to constantly change its layout. As he explores the alley, he begins to feel as though he is being watched and stalked by an unknown entity. Meanwhile, a group of young girls stumble upon the alley and decide to explore it for themselves. They soon realize that they are not alone in the alley and that there are sinister forces at play.

In the second story, "Headless Statue," a statue of a woman with no head stands in the middle of a park. When a young boy named Ryuichi touches the statue, he is transported to a mysterious, otherworldly realm. There, he meets a strange girl who tells him that the statue is cursed and that he must find the woman's lost head in order to break the curse. With the help of the girl and his friend Miyu, Ryuichi sets out on a perilous journey to uncover the truth behind the statue and save himself from its malevolent influence.

Overall, "The Back Alley/Headless Statue" is a haunting and atmospheric episode that showcases Junji Ito's unique brand of horror. From the eerie, ever-shifting alley to the cursed statue and its otherworldly realm, each story is expertly crafted to create a sense of unease and dread. The episode is sure to delight fans of Ito's work and anyone who enjoys a good scare.