Review of Higurashi: When They Cry – Kai

I seldom do a full review of a series when it is separated by separate seasons. A lot of people seem to be of the mind that separate seasons should only qualify as a whole series, and while I'm not exactly opposed to that thinking, I'm reluctant to let my "completed" list get killed that much. A man must remain credible, y'know? That said... Higurashi: No Naku Koro Ni and Higurashi: No Naku Koro Ni Kai are based off a VN of the same name as the first season. It follows the one-month events of five friends in the village of Hinamizawa, where tragedy strikes thegroup and all members perish as a result. However, when all is said and done, time reverts to before tragedy occurred and new events unfold, with everyone unaware of the looping cycle of tragedy that keeps the village from progressing beyond this single month.

From the outset, Higurashi feels slow. It does a lot to build on the mysterious nature of "Oyashiro-sama's curse" while not really providing insight into how it manifests. Many questions are presented about the influential members of the village and the "Dam War" but nothing is fully answered until the end.

The fact that it's a slow-burn should not dissuade you from picking it up, though. Part of the appeal is that the series has its events unfold and lead the audience on a ride as the peaceful calm of Hinamizawa is peeled back to expose the more darker nature cowering beneath. If you're looking for a really good psychological-horror series to watch, Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni and its sequel Kai are for you!