The following contains spoilers for Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre Episode 11, “Alley,” now streaming on Netflix.
In Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre, Netflix adapts some of Ito’s most iconic manga stories. It’s been eagerly anticipated by fans for some time now, with many eager to see which ones hold true to the originals, and which tales have been changed. It’s ultimately a mixed bag; some are loyal to the source material while others vary a bit, per the “Séance” story.
Episode 11 of Maniac, titled “Alley” follows Ito’s lore quite closely, focusing on a working professional in Ishida trying to figure out if the room he’s renting is haunted. It turns out that it is, which connects to the former owner, Shinobu, and people she murdered in the alley next door. However, as a resolution is garnered and Shinobu’s karma catches up with her, there are some plot holes and mysteries left hanging.
How Did Shinobu’s Father Cover Up Her Kills?
Shinobu was bullied at school, but one day she lured her haters into the alley. She murdered the three, which resulted in her panicked father placing them beneath the manhole below. However, it’s never explained how he was able to hide the foul stench of rotting corpses.
The public would smell the dead, plus parents could have tracked their kids to Shinobu’s home once they worked with investigators and teachers. At that point, the scent would have alerted everyone, so Maniac would have done well to shed more insight into this.
How Does Shinobu’s Mom Not Smell Her Dad?
Sadly, Shinobu would kill her father as he grew nervous over his sins. She placed him below too, hiding the truth from her mother. Again, it’s never explained how the lady wouldn’t smell the decay, of her husband as well as the past victims. In fact, the Maniac anime doesn’t address her asking about the man, worrying over how he went missing, or even questioning Shinobu. The story merely asks fans to suspend their disbelief and accept these points in an incoherent manner.
Why Didn’t the Past Tenant Bring the Cops?
These spirits would haunt the alley and the room Shinobu had. But as she went off to study, they’d harass the tenants who moved in and paid rent. One guy confronted Ishida to clue him in to the spirits in this chapter. However, it’s never explained why he didn’t go to the press or the cops.
The media could have brought eyes to the case — especially those of the parents who had lost their children years before. It seems odd that the man has a meltdown with Ishida but then disappears, not even letting Shinobu’s mother know there were ghouls nearby.
Did Shinobu’s Mother Kill Her?
Shinobu drops Ishida off the window and down to the alley, killing him in the finale. However, when she tended to him and tried to climb back up, the rope broke and she fell. Once night came, the ghouls were after her. However, it’s never revealed what they did, nor does the Maniac anime confirm if her mother had a hand in it.
There’s an ominous shot of the mom cutting veggies by the sink, then disappearing with the knife, implying she did know about Shinobu’s past. Still, this is kept obscure, plus the fact that the rope broke hints it was natural rather than a cutting. That said, this could have been cleared up as that shot of the mother hints at something more.