When
They Cry: Kai: Season 2 (2007/Sentai Blu-ray Set)
Picture:
C+ Sound: B+ Extras: C Episodes: A-
Hinamizawa
is a your average small town in the countryside, a town with it's own
quaint little customs and cultures, in fact a town so small it's
entire school fits into one classroom. Keiichi just recently moved
there and meets four cute girls... Rena, Sion, Mion, Satoko and Rika
who help him get used to Hinamizawa. But as he learns of
Hinamizawa's past, he learns of the murders during dam project. As
he learns more of the violent riots of anti-dam project, he also
learn of the Hinamizawa curse, every year someone will die at the
Cotton Drifting Festival. Is it really a curse or is the entire town
murderous psychopaths? Include Keiichi's 5 new playmates? As they
are trapped it a cycle of tragedy, horror they are cursed to died and
be reborn to re-live their tragedies forever, is there a way to break
the cycle?
Better known as 'Higurashi no Naku Koro ni', When
They Cry is more like a series of short stories where there are
several story 'arcs'. Each arc is a different version of the same
story with a different perspective, murder/mystery plot. Characters
will die and be returned with each new arc. The true horror of the
series how close the horror is and the characters never realize it
until it is too late.
- Prologue -
30 years have passed
since Hinamizawa was erased off the map and sealed away. But what
really happened? What is the truth behind the mysteries of all the
murders, a curse? Poisonous natural gas? Government cover up ...or
something else?
- Disaster Awakening -
Satoko is worried
about Rika who seems to have two personalities inside her ...one
telling of their coming deaths. Rika is a clairvoyant and has died
and lived countlessly through her re-incarnations. Tired of fate, is
the better to give in or try and change fate?
- Mass Slaughter
-
Riki decides to try and change Hinamizawa and their fates. By
preventing 'key' events from happening they can either save her
friends or prevent them from becoming murderers. It seems no matter
how hard they try there seems to be outside forces, forcing them to
face again and again the terror of death. This time around, they
learn of the Hinamizawa Syndrome, a disease that turns anyone into
murders if they try to leave Hinamizawa.
- Festival
Orchestrating -
The Hinamizawa Syndrome is a rare disease, while
some believed it existed, most believe it was just some fake
psychosis. Takano a young researcher, surrounded by violence and
tragedy decides to research and prove her grandfather's research of
the 'Hinamizawa Syndrome'. However, in order to do her research she
lacks three things, funds, supporters and live specimens. Through the
countless years Takano is funded by the government, supported by the
3 great family of Hinazawa as they provided the specimens she needs.
The government is interested in researching and creating a biological
parasitic weapon, the 3 great families has used the Hinamizawa
Syndrome over the years to remain in power and control of Hinamizawa.
In order to end the cycle of death and rebirth, they must first save
themselves from each other from their tragic fates, then stop the 3
great families while preventing government involvement and finally
stopping Takano from ever starting the research. Through Rika's
clairvoyance and their countless re-incarnations Keiichi, Sion, Mion,
Rena, Satoko and Rika are able to remember each of their past tragedy
and events, only after more countless flashbacks and deaths are they
finally able to save everyone, including Takano. By saving each
other, they wrest control from the great families and 'saves' Takano
from her tragedies by preventing the tragic death of her parents,
thus ending the cycle that lead up to the creation for research for
the 'Hinamizawa Syndrome'.
Tired of the usually cute anime?
When They Cry is all about cute murderous little loli's.
While it is not a R-rated series, the story certainly is for a more
mature audience. They don't show any of the actual deaths or
killing, but the aftermath and the bodies. It gives a whole new
definition to "Watch out for the cute ones." If anyone can
make make death look cute, leave it to the anime.
Oddly,
the digital High Definition 1.78 X 1 image is again in 1080i, NOT
1080p and it is one of the poorest performers Sentai has issued
unfortunately, especially since the show is so good. Expect
problematic playback with digititis, artifacts, some staircasing and
other annoyances, even when the color is good much in line with the
previous season reviewed elsewhere on this site. The lossless
Japanese DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0 Stereo track, on the other
hand, sounds really good and has some Pro Logic-like surrounds, so
that helps. Extras include trailers.
-
Ricky Chiang
