Starring - Hiroko Yakushimaru (G.I. Samurai, Sailor Suit and Machine Girl), Ryoichi Takayanagi (The High School Girl With a Machine Gun, Let Him Rest in Piece), and Masami Hasegawa (Curse of the God Dog, The Tragedy in the Devil-Mask Village)
Release Date - 1981
Genre - Sci-Fi
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
Cult Epics has really took care of me lately by sending over several of their releases on blu for review. I've found myself somewhat burnt out on horror after spending the entire month of October binging as many horror movies as I could. These releases from Cult Epics have come in handy as I watch some non-horror flicks to reset my horror battery so to speak. After watching His Motorbike, Her Island and Dakota, it was time to toss in the Japanese sci-fi flick from 1981, School in the Crosshairs. I want to thank Cult Epics for sending this one over!
The film follows a young girl who uses psychic powers to make herself popular which helps her in her school's student election. Things become a bit difficult for her when a new student arrives and starts gaining popularity as well putting her sure win in jeopardy. Things take then take an unexpected turn when she learns that she is psychic as well.
I knew absolutely nothing about School in the Crosshairs besides the fact that it was directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi who directed His Motorbike, Her Island and the title makes me uncomfortable as an American. I had no idea that this one would have a supernatural aspect to it but I did find myself really enjoying it. The acting in this one is very well done. A lot of the characters are very well written with a lot of depth for the cast to work with. The cast does a great job in their roles but some of the emotional range is lost when the viewer is reading the subtitles. The story for this one is not what I was expecting from the title but I can see why the film was given that title. While it does cause a sense of dread among American fans, it is a title that does reflect certain aspects of the film. A teenage girl with psychic powers dueling it out with another student with psychic powers could have went in so many directions. Fans of Carrie will immediately think wish it went the horror path. However, it goes the more logical route, in my opinion, with the girls using their gifts as a way to win a class election. It's fun and works for the run time without overstaying it's welcome. Finally, the film is not a bloody flick so those of you looking for a bloodbath will be very disappointed. Hell, if you thought the title was something else completely like I did then I would suggest checking out Duck!. Overall, School in the Crosshairs is a fun Japanese sci-fi flick that may not be for the average Horror Society reader but fans of sci-fi and fantasy will dig it. Check it out!
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