A haunting, masterfully executed dark fantasy tragedy.

The 1997 adaptation of Berserk is an absolute masterclass in character development, atmosphere, and tension. The relationship between Guts and Griffith is beautifully written, making the inevitable descent into horror hit incredibly hard. Susumu Hirasawa’s soundtrack is legendary and elevates the grim, hand-drawn 90s aesthetic perfectly. It loses half a star only because of the abrupt, agonizing cliffhanger ending and some aged, static animation frames. Otherwise, it is a timeless masterpiece.