Following the success of The Terror’s impressively creepy first season which saw an ill-fated polar expedition plagued by a murderous polar bear-type creature, the anthology series returns with its sophomore edition intent on cranking up the supernatural element. Once again based on historical events, The Terror: Infamy covers a period in the 1940s and beyond when Japanese residents on the West Coast of America were relocated to ‘internment camps’ following the attack on Pearl Harbour. It is a disgraceful section of American history, the lives of 120,000 US citizens of Japanese ancestry losing their homes, livelihoods and in many cases their lives.
On its own, this is a fascinating, and horrific story, and in this tense and unpleasant environment creators, Alexander Woo and Max Borenstein have introduced a bakemono, a malevolent shape-shifting spirit from Japanese folklore. With similarities to the recurring imagery inherent in the J-horror films from the 1990s, there are moments of genuine atmosphere and titular terror, and yet for some reason, the series doesn’t quite hold together. The performances are largely impressive, the visuals striking and the subject matter of both historic and horror interest. But the pacing is unpredictable, with some episodes rather pedestrian, and the revelatory moments don’t quite carry the intended impact, overshadowed perhaps by the horror inherent in the reality of the situation itself.
Similarly disappointing are the extras present on this Blu-ray. With such an interesting and largely unknown central subject, you might have expected a documentary or two, some insight into the events portrayed. Given that a little research enhances the viewing experience this feels like an oversight.
The Terror: Infamy is available on Blu-ray now.
