Review of Shiki

The horror genre rarely lends itself to be well done especially in anime. Shows like Higurashi, Elfen Lied, etc. - although good shows in their own right - were a sort of glass ceiling that served to bound the entire genre. Making a horror show more engaging, terrifying, entertaining, gruesome, and heartfelt than that was unheard of - neigh impossible. Shiki, however, completely shattered my expectations. The opening theme of the anime beckons the viewer to partake of the terrifying yet somehow gruesomely beautiful world of Sotoma. To this day, those dark soulless eyes that pool themselves on the eyes of some of the female charactersstill haunt me in my sleep.

From the opening, the town of Sotoma is elegantly and painstakingly painted in its extravagant color, brightness, and its contrasting murderours darkness. The viewer is introduced to who we think would be our tale's main character and the love interest. But just as I was beginning to suspect I was stepping into just another cheesey lovestory, the artful series composers punched me in the face with one of Shiki's many dark surprises.

I could not help but feel like one of the many helpless bitten townfolk; Shiki had managed to sink its vampiric teeth into my neck and I was hooked. I was drawn by the enchanting town by day, the dark terror by night, and the many carefully crafted personalities wandering the town. The odd background music compounded the mystery and terror haunting the air, drawing me further and further in.

Without giving away anything regarding the plot, I restrain myself to simply say that truly Shiki worked its magic on me, changing my initial opinions and views.

To merely say Shiki was well-done is an understatement; it is an utter masterpeice in the horror genre; something to leave one scared, questioning, and haunted long after the last episode.