In the new Netflix show Parasite: Slug-like parasitic creatures have come to Earth They enter defenseless humans and use them as hosts, altering their bodies in grotesque ways This Korean horror series is not for the faint of heart

Based on the Japanese manga "Parasite" by Hitoshi Iwaki, it debuted in 1989 and has become one of the best-selling manga of all time It has since spawned two live-action films and a TV series, "Parasyte -the maxim-," which aired in the US and Europe in 2015 on Adult Swim's Toonami block

and has a Rotten Tomatoes critics score of 100% based on a sampling of five reviews It currently has a unanimous perfect score However, its viewer score, based on less than 50 ratings, currently sits at 81%

"Parasite:" "The Grey," which premiered on April 5, ranked second on Netflix's top 10 shows list, ahead of the epic "3 Body Problem

Critics have become enamored with Korean versions of popular manga and anime series, and audiences seem to be almost following suit, making this somewhat disturbing tale of a parasitic invader a remarkable film

A series of mysterious parasites fall from the sky When curious humans get too close, they are violently taken over by the creatures, who invade through various openings, including ears and other difficult places The humans taken in by the parasites are forced to band together to form an army to fight for the aliens who are trying to take over the world

Jeong Soo-in (Jeong Soon-ae) receives the parasite, but is not completely taken over The parasite is unable to reach her brain, and as a result, she becomes a half-host, half-human, who coexists with the parasite and has some control over the parasite's ability to transform The parasite can transform the human into a grotesque monster with an exploding head, stretch, or change into a form suitable for combat

Soo In finds herself working with Seol Gang Woo (Koo Gyo Hwan), a gangster looking for his sister by tracking down parasites, and Choi Joon Kyung (Lee Jung Hyun), the leader of a task force charged with eradicating all parasites The violence and spectacular transformations that occur when least expected are unrestrained, especially since it is impossible to tell at a glance who is infected and who is not

It should be noted that while the story differs from the animated and manga "Parasite" series, there is an important connection that ultimately ties the two together

Reviewer response to "Parasite" is positive: Reviewer response to "Parasite the Grey" is positive across the board

Decider's Joe Keller affirmed that the series has "enough action" to hold viewers' attention, but that the story behind Suyin's mutant existence "will keep us watching"

Meanwhile, Craig Mathieson of Australia's The Age said the series works best as a "horror story," praising how "possessed humans transform into and back into monstrous forms," and felt the disturbing monster transformations were high points

"The paradox is that the monster is a human being

All six episodes of "Parasite: Parasite: The Grey" Season 1 are available on Netflix, so there is no need to wait for additional episodes to air