The Supernatural Crime Anime That's Heating Up On Netflix
The horror and crime genres are different in many ways, but they share some crossover elements which complement each other rather well. For a start, crime and horror often revolve around dangerous mysteries that force the characters to contend with insurmountable dangers and face their mortality head-on in the process. Elsewhere, they're both fascinated with the unknown and trying to make sense of it. In regards to crime fare, this is especially true for detective stories, many of which see their protagonists enter the heart of darkness and solve problems that would terrify most regular folks. With all of that in mind, it's understandable why some creators have combined horror and detective tropes to create some compelling entertainment that embraces the best of both worlds.
The latest TV show to adopt this approach is "Trese," a supernatural detective anime that's currently available to stream on Netflix. Based on an award-winning Filipino comic by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo, "Trese" follows the titular character (voiced by Shay Mitchell), a warrior shaman, as she helps the Metro Manila police in solving cases of the spooky kind. However, what makes "Trese" different from other noir-flavored crime-horror crossovers is that its nightmarish creations are mined from mythologies that aren't really covered in the western corner of the globe.
Trese finds terror in Filipino folklore
Horror fans who aren't well versed in Southeast Asian legends and folklore will undoubtedly find "Trese" to be a welcome departure from the spooks and creatures which haunt most Hollywood releases. As Den of Geek notes, "Trese" features an abundance of strange and fascinating monsters, ranging from the "duwende" (little elf creatures who grant people good and bad luck) to humanoid horse creatures known as "tikbalang." That being said, western viewers will probably recognize The White Lady, as most cultures around the world have embraced that legend to some degree. The American version even appeared in the pilot episode of "Supernatural."
Those are just a few examples of the horrors found within the frames of "Trese." The Netflix series features plenty of callbacks to the Philippines' rich history of ancient lore and magic, given a fresh makeover in a modern, hip anime that boasts plenty of action and thrills. Check it out if you're in the mood for something scary and educational. By the time it's over, you might find yourself stumbling down a rabbit hole of real-life spooky legends from the Filipino haunted archipelagos.