Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni - 8/10 Sugar Cubes

"When the Humans Die: Again... and again... and again..."

Props to the idea, but if the consumer doesn't know what the heck is going on by the last episode, there's something to worry about.

So, from the average human being's perspective, this is about a town that restarts after death. People begin happily, then someone goes nutso and starts killing people. (The crazy person is almost always someone different). Then, once the killing stops, the town starts over and all happens again.

I saw this whole season and a good portion of the next and I can tell you there are some scenes in here that will make you hide from the tv screen. One gave me chills and still does when I think about it. In the first 2 seasons of this there are some pretty gruesome torture devices for one thing.... (just sayin'! Be prepared!)

I know there is a plot, but that was totally lost on me for a LONG time. WELL into season 2. I had to do some research to figure out what the heck I was watching. Still, to let you know, it is about a girl who sees all of these negative occurrences over and over and goes back between passively accepting that this is how she must live and hope for a good future. The town, for the most part, doesn't remember the tragedies.

Genre: Gruesome tragedy, Mystery, Horror

Disclaimer: Like Saw? Like Jigoku Shoujo? Like Gunslinger Girl? You'll love this. Didn't like their reaction to getting killed the first time? No worries. You'll see a different reaction in 3 or 4 episodes or so...

Note: The characters appear cute and the kids go to school. ^.^

Overall: It is somehow very interesting. I think what keeps you watching is figuring out what is going on and then seeing how the characters react to it. To get the most out of it, you may want to watch it twice. For its genre, it does VERY well and gets the horror thing across perfectly... Too perfectly... But it does take longer to get what is going on here than it does to understand Serial Experiments Lain... so 8 sugar cubes.

*Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni = When the Cicadas Cry