Nerawareta gakuen

Another Japanese teen sci-fi horror film in the "Eko Eko Azarak" vein that downplays the science fiction and horror elements in favor of exploring the emotional and psychological plight of the main character (played by ultra-cute Kazumi Murata). As such, it's slow and overly talky, and the action pieces and special effects sequences are sparse and all too brief. Fortunately, actress Kazumi Murata is charming enough and endearing enough to carry most of the film, and the awkward adolescent chemistry between her and boyishly handsome Shuji Kashiwabara is both touching and sincere. "Eko Eko Azarak: The Series" actress Hinako Saeki shows up as the main villainess and her fierce persona boosts the creepy factor of the film quite a bit. Like so many films of this genre, it won't play well to everyone, but it's worth checking out if you're interested in seeing how a group of Japanese high school girls handle a scary supernatural situation without slipping into gore and exploitation territory.