Reviews by:
@the_owlseyes
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“The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it”
Albert Einstein
We create monsters to feel better about the evil which resides in all of us, to fell like good people in a vicious world. We're monsters, nothing more than savages who have learnt how to use their brains for an higher purpose. Maybe we're less violent but violence evolves and molds us. We've become worse than killers, we've become accomplices and perpetrators of psychological abuse. It happens every day and every day we shut our mouths because we don't want to change anything and to avoid losing our privileges, which are just illusions built by a society based on sand.
Is there good in the world?
Are you good?
Act
PLOT
"Supernatural, semihistorical, horror anthology series, where each season is inspired by a different infamous or mysterious real life historical tragedy" or "Horror is real".
SCRIPT
It's an horror series based on characters and it's all about them. The first season is about comradery, vices, the harship of leadership, loneliness and the sense of desolation. The second one is about family, infamy, war, discrimination, the relevance of the past and remembrance. Both have are characterized by spiritualism and how it factors in our daily life. I think that the first season, where the characters don't have an arch, is intended to be an hopeless story about mankind's nature. The second is hopeful because shows us the fact that only by accepting the past and telling the truth we can have a future and build something new. Overall all the characters are pretty sympathetic but they aren't righteous and that makes it a particularly grounded show.
Script: 8/10
ACTING
The first season has better acting and more charismatic leads. This is pretty noticeable. I think that Jared Harris is the one who sells the series and makes it impressive. Sure, in the first season the supporting cast is great but it's hard to single out someone who is not Harris. The second season has a weaker lead in Derek Mio and a mixed supporting cast. I think that the best performer of the second season is the actress who interprets the demon, Kiki Sukezane. I think that the second season could've been better with different actors, but probably the producers didn't have the budget for better actors. Overall is an impressive script and I'm impressed.
Acting: 8/10
PHOTOGRAPHY
This show has stunning shots, where there's an alternation between lights and shadows. Colours have a relevance, especially in the first season where white is as frightening as darkness. Chromatic symbolism is also present in the second season but it's more subtle. Nonetheless is used in a competent way. I like the fact that in the season there're some filters to determine the difference between the past and present and the life and afterlife.
Photography: 9/10
EDITING
Another strength of this show, which is characterized of long takes, side-to-side movement and generally the camera is used in a dynamic way when it's needed and long, pensive shots to increase the sense of fear. Sometimes it uses slow zoom ins to make us realize the viciousness of some people. I like how it parallels the past and the future, without fading cuts, to show how the current situation is influencing the characters. It is used in the first and the second season, but I think that the editing is better in the first. Overall I like it, because it's used to help convey the shows themes.
Editing: 8/10
SPECIAL EFFECTS
Practical effects are top notch but the cgi is a bit clumsy. They try to hide them behind shadwos and blurry landscapes but, when they're under light are a bit off putting. I think that the first second lose a bit of quality cause of it. Somehting which makes the second season great is exactly the fact that there's a large use of SFX and VFX are used only to refine them. I think that the second season could be considered a step up in terms of quality.
Special Effects: 7/10
SOUNDTRACK
Both seasons feature a gripping soundtrack which holds you on your seat. I think that the first season has a more interesting theme, even though the second doesn't lose much in quality. I like it because it achieves a lot without being flamboyant, as the series style. In the first season it makes us feel the coldness of the pole's ice and in the second it's a blend of japanese sounds and an underlying horror theme of afterdeath. I think that this is what makes this series original and appaling.
Soundtrack: 8/10
COSTUMES
They're great because they respect the time period of both season and fit the characters perfectly. In the second season they have also a role in the plot. I think that there's a lot of care and attention to details. Something which needs to be acknowledged. Obviously they aren't particularly original but they are coherent, and that's enough.
Costumes: 8/10
CONCLUSION
Script: 8/10
Acting: 8/10
Photography: 9/10
Editing: 8/10
Special Effects: 7/10
Soundtrack: 8/10
Costumes: 8/10
AVERAGE: 8
It's a marvellous series with compelling stories and characters. There's an attentation to details which is impressive and it's noticeable in the costumes, editing and photography. It's one of the best horror shows I've ever seen and I think that you should watch it because it could entertain and give what I can consider a cathartic experience.
Director: Tim Mielants, Edward Berger
Screenplay: Andres Fischer-Centeno
Cast: Jared Harris, Tobias Menzies, Paul Ready, Adam Nagaitis, Ian Hart, Nive Nielsen, Ciarán Hinds, Derek Mio, Kiki Sukezane, Cristina Rodlo, Shingo Usami, Naoko Mori, Miki Ishikawa, George Takei
Soundtrack: Marcus Fjellström, Mark Korven
Cinematography: Florian Hoffmeister, Frank van den Eeden
Running Time: 48 minutes
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