What if ninjas still carried out top-secret missions to protect Japan in the modern day, hiding in plain sight as an average family? That compelling idea forms the foundation of House of Ninjas, a new Netflix thriller tracing the exploits of the Tawara clan. They seem like everyday folks running a struggling sake brewery, but beneath the surface, they are highly skilled warriors upholding ancient traditions.
When we meet rebellious young slacker Haru, he wants nothing to do with the family business, haunted by tragedy from past ninja operations. However, after a mysterious mass poisoning, duty calls the reluctant Tawaras back into action for their shadowy government handlers. Before long, the truth of their secret identities and deadly capabilities rips through their attempts at normalcy.
As conspiracies ensnare both the family and Japan itself, Haru grapples with his conflicting loyalties to his heritage as a ninja descendent and his budding romance with sweet reporter Karen. Meanwhile, the rest of the quirky but lethal Tawaras bring humor and heart to the brewing crises.
With thrilling fights, cryptic villains, family bonds, and dashes of comedy and romance in the mix, House of Ninjas shapes up as an energetic blend of genres buoyed by the appeal of its ninja premise and charismatic leads.
A Family of Shadow Warriors Emerges
House of Ninjas centers on the Tawara clan, esteemed “shinobi” who have secretly undertaken missions through the centuries to protect Japan from threats. After the tragic death of eldest son Gaku during a mission six years prior, the Tawaras try to abandon their ninja duties and live normal civilian lives.
Patriarch Souichi runs the family’s struggling sake brewery, while his wife Yoko and college-age daughter Nagi chafe at their enforced idleness. Quiet young son Haru works nights stocking vending machines, reluctant to reengage with his shinobi lineage haunted by loss. Yet when a mysterious mass poisoning occurs, the secretive Bureau of Ninja Management (BNM) calls the skilled warriors back into action.
Initially Souichi refuses, but crafty BNM operative Jin and enthusiastic underling Masamitsu leverage the family’s failures to force their cooperation. While the Tawaras resent again risking their lives on opaque missions, family members find themselves unable to resist employing their singular abilities, even as Haru pursues a risky romance with inquisitive reporter Karen.
As Haru and Karen investigate the shadowy Gentenkai cult led by the mesmerizing Tsujioka, evidence suggests the Tawaras themselves may be enabling a conspiracy threatening Japan’s future. Nagi’s brazen heists also land her in hot water, even as Souichi discovers his mother’s illness has returned. Soon the shinobi family must reunite against adversaries armed with chilling new biochemical poisons.
In the riveting climax, the truth of Gaku’s death surfaces alongside betrayals close to home. Torn between duty and independence, love and clan, the conflicted Tawaras must overcome long-buried rifts and grief to face their destinies. By the final shocking twists, lifelong secrets reshape their understanding of the past, even as newly forged bonds give hope for a united future.
More Than Meets the Eye
At its foundation, House of Ninjas explores the tension between destiny and free will when it comes to family legacies spanning generations. Though the Tawaras try to shed their shinobi lineage to prevent further tragedy, avoiding fate proves impossible. Yet the clan members, especially Haru and Souichi, defy their expected roles and refuse blind loyalty. Family bonds give them the courage to question opaque duties and fight independently for principle.
Connected to these central themes, the show maintains an energetic yet poignant atmosphere. The premise suggests a rollicking, stunt-filled adventure about quipy warriors hiding magical talents. And indeed, the discovery of the Tawaras’ secrets does unlock humor, zippy banter and slick, brutal fight choreography. Yet a pervasive sense of loss and yearning matches the soul-searching going on. Unorthodox filming angles, moody lighting and a smooth percussive score help set the melancholic mood haunting the family.
As mysteries multiply and bonds strengthen, the overall tone remains lively, warm and driven by appealing characters. Brief moments of levity and whimsy leaven brewing crises without undercutting high stakes. Despite facing formidable enemies with devastating biochemical tools, the family-centric nature of the plot keeps the mood from becoming too ominous. Viewers are left concerned yet hopeful as the unconventional clan navigates threats both intimate and national in scope.
A Winning Clan Inside and Out
At the heart of House of Ninjas lies its exceptional ensemble cast, breathing life into the plight of a family of conflicted shadow warriors. As undercover agent Haru, Kento Kaku delivers a quietly tormented performance as a young man weighted by anguish and duty. Through subtle gestures and soulful gazes, he movingly conveys Haru’s inner turmoil over past violence and forbidden attachment to reporter Karen. Meanwhile, his father Yosuke Eguchi perfectly captures middle-aged resignation as Souichi, a caring patriarch drained by loss. Eguchi’s weary affection toward his family helps explain his character’s overprotective stance.
As matriarch Yoko, Tae Kimura provides vital comic relief, portraying a restless housewife whose kleptomaniac outbursts and skillful manipulation of local beat cops lightens the mood. Vibrant Aju Makita also shines as college student Nagi, evoking a mischievous blend of petulance, sass and grief. Her mercurial presence onscreen energizes scenes. And as young Riku, expressive Tenka Banka blends innocence and uncanny wisdom beyond his years.
While the entire familial cast boasts sterling chemistry, Riho Yoshioka brings additional warmth to the production as journalist Karen, Haru’s tender love interest. Yoshioka makes Karen’s intelligence and compassion equally evident. Yet the most unforgettable character may be the silent grandmother played by veteran actress Nobuko Miyamoto, who dominates the frame through sheer talent and gravitas.
Bolstering the leads, charismatic villain Takayuki Yamada mesmerizes as cult leader Tsujioka, prove an ideal foil with his cryptic mysticism. Overall, with its balanced blend of humor, action and pathos, the House of Ninjas cast enlivens thrilling storylines with emotional depth and leaves viewers cheering for their success.
Skilled Shinobi Behind the Scenes
Matching the clandestine talents of its protagonists, House of Ninjas boasts top-notch technical mastery supporting its multilayered story. Director Dave Boyle crafts suspenseful sequences through modulated pacing and strategic edits. One first-person setpiece filmed to seem uncut ratchets up tension. Boyle also excels at framing dialogue through dynamic camera angles. His shots often position characters on diagonal axes, with foreground subjects partially obscuring those behind to underscore simmering conflicts.
The show’s ominous lighting design and muted palette likewise boost the mysterious atmosphere, with inky shadows cloaking penthouse lairs. Quick-cut montages of poison vials and gleaming knives make palpable the threats facing Japan. On the other hand, scenes in the family’s sake brewery bath settings in homey sunlight. The juxtaposition mirrors that of the Tawaras’ double lives.
Fight choreography proves another strong suit, showcasing the leads’ physicality through tightly shot grappling and weapons play. Blood spurts feature CGI embellishment, but practical stunt work adds grit. Even Nagi’s infiltration of an art museum via climbing silk dazzles through deft wire work and green screen compositing.
Altogether, polished editing, cinematography and spot-on locations provide compelling visual texture. The layered production design reflects characters grappling between opposing poles —past and future, disclosure and secrecy, stability and chaos. Much like the shinobi at its core, House of Ninjas slyly leverages multiple technical strengths to bolster its storytelling mission.
Missed Marks in the Shadows
For all its exhilarating action and captivating characters, House of Ninjas occasionally stumbles in plotting and execution. Early episodes struggle to find an ideal balance between brisk pacing and emotional depth before hitting their stride. And the show’s overarching mystery introduces compelling questions about the destiny of Japan but never fully connects disparate narrative threads.
Certain directorial choices also falter, like English pop songs that feel incongruous with scenes’ intended tone. Low light filming challenged the crew as well, resulting in fight scenes that favor style over visual clarity. Twists meant to surprise sometimes come off predictable or absurd instead, straining believability. And while charismatic in their nonchalant villainy, antagonists like snake oil salesman Tsujioka lack satisfying complexity or backstory.
Nevertheless, the show’s weaknesses never fully undermine its considerable strengths in choreographing complex stunts and nurturing the Tawara clan’s bonds. Niggling flaws merely suggest room for tighter plotting and improved execution should House of Ninjas return for a second season. By devoting more attention to polish, the skillful shinobi saga could hone its promising vision into an exemplary offering. For now, moderate shortcomings scarcely blunt fans’ overall enjoyment, given the show’s emotional payoffs, humor and eye-popping action.
Join the Tawara Clan’s Captivating Mission
Blending action, drama and wit, House of Ninjas delivers a thrillingly bingeable saga. Martial arts fans will appreciate its fresh take on a family of covert agent warriors blessed with extraordinary talents. Yet with its complex characters tackling universal themes, the show also allures viewers simply seeking an emotionally resonant story.
Anchored by sensitive writing and soulful performances like Kento Kaku’s haunted Haru, House of Ninjas explores the tension between familial love and the burdens of fate. If the overarching mystery proves imperfectly constructed, moments unveiling the clan’s humanity and sacrifices ring powerfully true. Socially relevant themes of corruption and consolidation of power in the shadows lend further intrigue.
For all its occasional pacing issues, the flaws pale next to the show’s humor, cultural insight and catharsis. We witness a broken family transformed by crisis into a team wielding hardship into hope. Both taut and big-hearted, House of Ninjas emerges as a wholly binge-worthy drama perfect for anyone craving surprising twists alongside the ultimate underdog story: ninjas battling as much inner turmoil as global threats. The only question left is whether the Tawara’s exhilarating mission continues in an equally gripping second season.
The Review
House of Ninjas
With its thrilling action, heavy drama and doses of levity, House of Ninjas artfully explores the bonds and burdens of an unlikely clan of secret shadow warriors. Anchored by sensitive writing and soulful performances, this slick, addictive saga breathes fresh life into the ninja genre.
PROS
- Slick fight choreography and stunt work
- Strong cast chemistry and lead performances
- Creative modern ninja family premise
- Surprising plot twists and reveals
- Social commentary on power and corruption
- Emotional exploration of grief and duty
CONS
- Slow pacing early on
- Messy overarching mystery
- Underdeveloped antagonists
- Spotty lighting and music choices
