Reviews

Straight Jacket is a short 1 hour-ish ova that is as simple and schlocky as it comes. It’s story takes place in some alternative universe where magic is used as an energy source for about everything. It doesn’t really delve into the world or the potential or ramification of using magic since most things in their world look mostly unchanged from ours, with the exception of demons pooping in now and again. It’s less interested in its world as it’s a means to set up action set pieces for the demons and the people who fight them, straight jackets.

In terms of a narrative the only good thing the show had going for it was that it was well structured despite being three episodes. Each episode had its own purpose with the first one setting up the world and characters, the second setting up more characters and conflict, and the final one being the resolution. The problem is that everything that is packed into it is pretty damn uninteresting. The characters of the show are as one-dimensional as they come with very little when it comes to character traits to make them interesting to watch. Some do have development and backstory, but nowhere near enough to make them anymore better. The antagonist of the show are just vapid that the person pulling the strings really has very little going for him. The plot of the show is just forgettable as its all just a means to set up more demon fights, and one of the characters finding out about who the antagonist is just comes of as too convenient.

The only thing holding this show up is the production value and even then it’s not so great. Almost everything just comes off as possible from the the character designs, the background and buildings, and even the demons. Yes the demons besides having as much body horror going for them as possible none of them are that memorable or unique despite their grotesqueness. The animation for the ova is also just ok when it comes to the battle sequences and the movement of the demons, but not that good that they bring awe to the viewer. The only part that i found worth noting in the visuals was the directing. While it wasn’t the best, it was interesting enough when it came to presenting certain scenes isally as a means so that they could animate less. In the sound department it mostly uninteresting and is the same as most shows, however the soundtrack for the show is pretty decent although it adds little to the narrative of the show.

This show is just plain as day shock. Not the best shlock to be released, but not the worst as well. It’s just a short watch for the promise of watching some demon death action because that’s what this show sets itself up to only do.