Seven Orifices – Review | Netflix Series

SEVEN ORIFICES on Netflix is a new sci-fi drama series from Japan (org. title: Messô mo nai). It debuts with the first four out of eight 20-minute episodes. This is not your average show. Read our Seven Orifices series review here!

SEVEN ORIFICES is a new Netflix miniseries from Japan (org. title: Messô mo nai). It’s a sci-fi drama with a very intriguing core story about these orifices that suddenly appear. In that sense, it’s not unlike the spaceship orbs in Arrival. However, the actual storyline focuses on individual characters.

The entire miniseries has eight episodes which have been released weekly in its native Japan. The final episode has yet to be released which is probably why we’re now getting the first four episodes. With runtimes around 20 minutes, the first half of the series is a quick watch. But it will not be for everyone.

Continue reading our Seven Orifices miniseries review below. Find it on Netflix from May 24, 2024

Holes or orifices?

In many plot descriptions for Seven Orifices, the actual orifices are called “holes”, which seems odd to me. Not only because the series is named for what they are, but because once you see one of them, I can’t imagine describing it as a hole.

It’s these 7 huge orifices that have an entrance on one side, but some kind of skin on the back side. Like a bowl balancing on the edge and where you can’t see the bottom even though you know you should be able to. I mean, you can see the back.

It’s like those portals set up in New York and Dublin right now. Well, except you can’t see what’s inside the orifice, only that light appears to be somewhere deep inside it which makes it seem like it must lead to somewhere.

Anyway, in Seven Orifices, this strange phenomenon appears in random places at the same time. One is floating in the sky and can only be seen from an airplane window. Another is in the middle of a road, in a field, or even smack-dab in the middle of the city.

Want to go inside an orifice?

Obviously, everyone is confused at first and regardless of attempts to find out more, they remain a mystery. As time goes by, people go on with their lives and just get used to them. Also, many people decide to go into the orifices. So far, nobody has returned from going into one.

However, some of the early researchers who volunteered were wearing equipment that still sends back vital signs, so the conclusion is that people don’t want to return. A bit of a stretch, I’d say, but people want to believe.

A man named Ozawa appears who worships the orifices as a God, which is the typical reaction in my mind. When we don’t understand something – or can’t explain it – we either hate or worship it. Ozawa is selling the story that salvation can be found if you go into one of the orifices.

Eight followers of Ozawa gather at a resort facility to prepare to go inside one of them. The eight people are Kawabata, Sugaya, Matsuoka, Aoyama, Watanabe, Shingo, Iguchi, and Okamoto. Following Ozawa’s rule, they give their life story – which is recorded – before entering.

This is the core element of the series.

From gorgeous CGI to sketches to a stage

The core story may revolve around the strange orifices that suddenly appear in seven different locations. They look very organic and feel alive somehow. This part is very much CGI and offers gorgeous visuals.

Admittedly, I felt they looked a bit like the back entrance of a living creature – if you get my drift – so I didn’t get the need to go in there.

In any case, the seven orifices may be the wrap-around story, but the actual series is very much like an anthology. Whenever we get some background story on the orifices and how people reacted, it’s shown via sketches that look like courtroom drawings.

It works as storytelling but it’s also just one of the many visual styles in this Japanese Netflix series.

Each episode is the story of a new person, who wants to go into one of the orifices. When we get their life stories, it’s in the form of a play on a classic theatre stage. Complete with props and the same few actors playing the roles of the people in each of their lives.

Sure, it’s strange, but it also makes for intense storytelling that allows your imagination to fill in the blanks.

Start watching Seven Orifices on Netflix now!

The Seven Orifices miniseries from Japan (org. title: Messô mo nai) was created by Kato Takuya and it will not be for everyone. I absolutely recognize that. However, it’s worth a shot if you’re ready to surrender to the concept and style.

Also, you must be ready for some slow-burn stories and much drama without any sci-fi elements.

As someone who loves the theatre, but doesn’t go to plays nearly enough, I found myself getting into each life story. It’s an immersive experience that I felt worked well. However, I also suspect that many will dislike it.

Especially because we know those weird orifices exist and we want to get back to understanding them better. I could almost forget about the orifices when watching someone’s life story, but once I saw those orifices that appeared to be living and almost breathing, I would rather the series stay on those.

With these first four episodes out, I am intrigued enough to want to return for the final episodes. Admittedly, it’s to know more about the orifices, so I really hope the series will deliver on that.

The first four episodes of Seven Orifices are out on Netflix on May 24, 2024.

Details

Screenwriter & Director: Kato Takuya
Cast: Tsutsumi Shinichi, Nakagawa Taishi, Sometani Shota, Kamishiraishi Moka, Morita Kokoro, Furutachi Kanji, Furutachi Kanji, Nakajima Tomoko, Kubota Masataka