Review of Shiki

Although slow to start, Shiki is a really interesting anime that depicts a continuous struggle between a village, and a ruthless vampire outbreak. All in all, the whole show is consistent with its relatively dreary subject matter - which is suitable in the way it builds and builds on a death count throughout to really give the viewer a sense of severity and scale: everything draws towards a climax. After watching a few episodes, the story becomes inevitable, but you're still curious as to what follows. The main entertainment here - besides the gore: we'll get back to that. Is seeing the conflicting ways in whichthe characters/villagers adapt and develop in what the show conveys as an almost apocalyptic-like scenario - despite how the village is so insignificant on a larger scale.

Alike a lot of successful horror/actions, Shiki isn't afraid to "kill off" (though it's arguable whether someone's dead or not in this show) particularly important characters. It's great at bringing forth a dark, suspenseful atmosphere, that goes hand in hand with the relentless, sombre civil war between the species.

As the show persists, it becomes a lot deeper - the "corpses" are FAR from mindless. They struggle, and emote equally, which really highlights an even bolder war: between good and evil. Regardless of who you think you're in favor of, Shiki will force upon you this sense of emotional struggle and morals. Really making you question who's in the right - if anyone...

In terms of a minus side; some of the earlier episodes are particularly uneventful, the art is Ok, and the story is more concept based than "twisty and turny". This may drive viewers away, but i implore you to stay. Stay and observe as the ever-changing state of the village, revolutionizes the way the characters coexist - or fail to.