10 Netflix originals to leap into this February

Spectros – February 20

Netflix’s newest Brazilian series is a supernatural thriller revolving around five teenagers who get involved in mysterious happenings in Liberdade, São Paulo, the predominantly Japanese community in the Brazilian city. The premise is a little vague, but the teens uncover a mystery connecting the present to a reality in 1908 and encounter supernatural elements from both the Japanese and Brazilian occult.

Shinto ghosts and Brazilian witchcraft blend together as the teens struggle to uncover secrets and save the city from avenging ghosts. It sounds pretty cool, but in case you’re not sold yet, Spectros is written and directed by Douglas Petrie, who also wrote for shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Daredevil. It should be a fascinating mix of American style fantasy narrative and Brazilian/Japanese cultures. Plus, I think Petrie knows how to write for a group of teenage ghost hunters.

Puerta 7 – Feb 21

Here is another interesting example of Netflix facilitating a collaboration between an American writer and a foreign language production. This Argentinian legal drama/crime thriller/sports drama was created by Ozark writer Martin Zimmerman (whose mother is from Argentina). The series focuses on the infamous Argentinian football fan club called Barra Bravas who are feared by fans and police alike for their violence and intimidation tactics.

While the Bravas originated in Argentina, similar clubs have popped up throughout Latin America as well. The series is said to weave together three main narratives: one in which a woman attempts to cleanse one club of corruption and redeem her family name, another chronicling a young man’s initiation into the Barra Bravas, and the third about two warring factions within the same club. It should be intriguing to see how the multi-cultural collaboration will affect the style and tone of the finished product.