Moderately Scary Horror: Othello J-Drama Review

Review of Episodes 1-2

Shakespeare’s Othello is about sexual jealousy where the hero Othello kills his wife Desdemona, manipulated by Iago, which leads to his downfall. We are not sure how far the series has done justice to this classic tragedy. We are yet to find out the connection between Shakespeare’s Othello and the J-drama. The genre is horror and the first two episodes showcased moderately scary horror.

May not be a Traditional Adaptation

The setting is a drama theatre company called ‘Engine’ where actors come and do their rehearsals. The main character, Yamaguchi Mai and supporting characters meet in a dirty building where they do their rehearsals. But problems arise when a new actress join the troupe. She is always dressed in black which signifies that she is not good news. She has an enigmatic smile and the actor who plays her, Oda Lisa, manages to maintain the mystery surrounding her.

Read the storyline herehttps://mydramalist.com/732491-othello

There is just one reference to Shakespeare’s Othello in the first two episodes. The cinematography is typical of the usual Japanese horrors. It is very dull and the drama theatre itself is always dark and dim. Disturbances happen slowly and gradually as the stain spreads through the poster of the company.

Above all, the execution is very realistic and the actors seem like behaving rather than acting. There are one or two jump scares but the horror scenes involving blood and hair which are rather disturbing and makes you cringe in disgust. Yet, this is a moderately scary horror. Again, this might not be strictly dark humor or horror comedy, but it carries the elements of both. And some scenes make you uncomfortable.

The mystery maintained is enough to watch this drama. And, there are so many things that happen, which make you guess over and over, even though this is not an out and out thriller. We are yet to find out about characters and the drama is interesting to watch. Othello is gripping despite its flaws and I am excited to find out how the makers have brought Shakespeare’s Othello in a horror genre. It is definitely worth streaming.