Reviews

Jin-Roh isn't your typical dystopian movie, you won't find any all-encompassing analysis about the authoritarian society of this alternative Japan, you won't find tales of rebel heroes fighting against the system nor brutal wars between countries; instead, focused on the protagonist Kazuki Fuse and the microcosm of the Special Unit he is part of, it flows at a slow, pensive pace. Silence and stillness dominate the scenes except for slashes of clamor, action and violence that last only for a brief moment and show how much disquiet and unsettled was that uneasy peace.

Jin-Roh is built around, parallel and at the same time against the symbolical meaning of “Little Red Riding Hood”, crafting a deep, meaningful reflection about the roles of victim and perpetrator, with an almost meta-ethical flavor to it.

Aestethically speaking there's not much to say, and in a good way: consistent and fluid high-quality animation dyed in colours reflecting the atmosphere, from a grey, clouded calmness to a thick darkness with red flashes mixed in, plus a good amount of weapon and action fanservice when needed.

This masterpiece paints a visually stunning picture of a dystopian world, framed not with front shot but from the side, where realism, sad contemplation and meditation replace epic fast-paced action, giving an original, honestly harsh, meaningful twist to the political-thriller genre.