Wow! Such a good movie.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

A comment on a chat board suggested that this series (film and TV) was not merely as good as Buffy, but actually "better." I have noted in other reviews that Whedon and Buffy literally changed the face of television (in terms of expectations of plot, casting, action etc) so to state the case mildly I was intrigued and ordered this DVD. Verdict? Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. This is the second time I have tracked down a hard to find DVD based on a single comment (the last one was Kiltro, also reviewed on IMDb, a rare South American martial arts film that was supposed to be riveting but instead deserved to be riveted) and the second time I have ended up astonished at what some individuals will consider to be quality. Let's be clear - I love both Japanese films and TV. I did a review of Lone Wolf and Cub here, after watching it beginning to end, a multi-year series and still consider it one of the best works of its kind. This is not even in the same league. It fails on all counts. The young actress playing Misa has an interesting face, but that novelty wears off in the time it takes to cook an egg. The special effects are considerably beneath what was available in the 90s when this was produced, suggesting budget issues. The script is horrendous, even when you take into account that it takes place in a high school and is spoken by high schoolers. The supernatural elements appear to be stolen from Hammer Studios in the 60s and border on silly. The direction is lugubrious. In all, completely forgettable, and should have been forgotten, if not for misguided fanboys in chat groups prattling on about things they simply do not understand.

I can't say it was a movie worth watching but I can't say it is totally bad either. There are much worse out there. There were just a few things that bothered me in the movie other than it's bad acting and all the other stuff that goes along with bad low budget movies. Now also keep in mind I have never read the manga, saw the anime or TV show or any other thing related to the Eko Eko Azarak series. I just saw it on a list of recommendations someone put up on a list of little known Asian Horror that should be seen. Misa has a locket that she is shown talking to with hair in it but there is never any explanation of what it's meaning is to her and who that hair had belonged too. You can tell it is obviously important to her because for one thing, she is shown talking to it when she is upset after the very much obviously jealous Mizuno accuses her of being a murderer. She also gives it to Shindou for protection later on. Since its obviously an important object it would have been a better story if it gave more explanations and so you can get a better understanding of the character. Little development/explanation/character back ground given in the movie also was a big down side in the movie. You don't really get to grow any empathy for the Misa because all you really get to know is she never can save the people she cares about and so then she feels the guilt of so many people dying around her and that she sucks at being a witch according to her. It would have been more effective if there was a deeper explanation of that and flashbacks of her attempts at trying to save the people she cared about only to lose them. When Mizuno is trying to get everyone to hate her by saying people keep dying around her and what not, I didn't end up feeling sorry for her I just feel more disgusted that no one just told him to shut-the-heck up because it is obvious the only reason why you are trying to turn people against her is because she can actually do what you attempt to do and do so very poorly. It makes you hate him but not feel sorry for Misa because you don't know any details about it!I also have a problem with the protective circle Mizuno made. I know that you can make it with anything but given that he doesn't have any kind of power he likes to believe he has it would have been smarter if he used salt. YES, I know that he is a pompous idiot who believed he had power and NO, I don't see how finding salt in a school would be weird given that it is a school so should have a kitchen, but really if I am terrified for my life and I studied the occult I would have used every measure I could to keep myself protected. Salt should have power even if you don't.While I don't have as much problem with the charm Misa gave Mizuki for protection I would have liked to know the "how so" and the more on the "how it did what it did" at the end of the movie. I would explain more of what I mean of "how it did what it did" but that would be spoiling the movie and I am not spoiling the ending of the movie. There was more about then ending I would have liked further explained of why Misa said what was trying to be done couldn't be done but again I won't explain further because it would spoil the end.I guess you can say my biggest grip with the movie is that there is too little explanations for just about all the important things in the movie. Oh and of course the stupid pervert teacher Numata. He can openly grope the girls and stick his hands up their skirt but Miss Shirai and Tanaka hide their relationship? Eh? Yeah, they do more than just touch but still... There is a ton load more of lesbian relationships in Asian horror than any American horror I don't see why Shirai and Tanaka was more "in the closet" than the perverted Numata.There is however, one thing about the movie that I was very happy they did. In most (not all) horror movies that I have seen that has magic/witches in it, it is always show as something bad and evil. This movie did say that the pentagram can be used for both good or bad depending on it's use(drawn). Can't think of any movie off the top of my head that had magic/witches in it that pointed out in the beginning that there is a good side.Would I recommend this movie? Probably not but I don't feel like I wasted an hour and a half of my time watching it.

This film had to have some sort of source material as the movie seemed to need some back story or something. You are introduced to Misa and it just seems you should already know who she is or something. Well I shall tell you what she is, she is a witch that uses her powers for good, but is not really all that effective in this movie. Which is a huge problem, the movie plays like a sequel, like you should have already been introduced to this character and that you should have seen her in action because in this particular film she is hugely ineffective. This Misa girl is a new student at a school, she is there to try and prevent these awful things that are about to happen. Strange things are going on as a strange ceremony is about to take place and gruesome murders are about to take place. The movie has a good deal of witchcraft and they try to throw a few surprises at you along the way. Granted I thought that it was relatively simple to figure them out, but I could not see the ending coming. Who could? It made no sense, one minute you see the hero dispatched the next she is back saying "I told you it would not work." No explanation on why things did not work or anything. Then the movie ends. It has its moments and for the most part I enjoyed it, I liked the kills and I liked that the one guy I thought they were going to make the jerk turned out to be okay. There is a bit of sexual scenes in the movie, but nothing that really lasts all that long, just adds a hint of spice. The main problem with this film though is the fact it just seems to be a sequel, that we should have been introduced to this character and seen her in all her glory. She is made out to be so powerful, but she does not really do a whole lot in the entire movie other than be held captive like all the other students. It was an okay movie, but I do hope the other two parts are a bit better at presenting themselves.

Version: Japanese, with English subtitles (by SBS)With my knowledge of Japanese horror movies limited to the 'Ringu' and Takashi Miike's 'Audition', I caught this on SBS one night. I really liked 'Audition', but I found the Ring movies to be rather boring, so I watched this few expectations. When it was over, I was pretty impressed.Misa Kuroi (Kimika Yoshino) is a witch, her secret means she gets transferred from school to school. Rumours constantly follow her - they say that people in her presence are prone to dying. Naturally, dark forces at work at her new school, and one night, Misa and twelve other students (that makes 13, get it?) are locked in the school. They will all die unless Misa can protect them.Story wise, it isn't very original, but its still rather interesting. Horror wise, it is pretty good. Dealing with the occult and supernatural, 'Wizard of Darkness' is stylish and gory. Nice special effects, and what surprised me was the fact that there were good actors in what is essentially gory teen-horror.It gets a bit Japanese at times, and if you've seen a few Japanese horror or action movies, you'll know what I'm talking about, e.g. unusual situations involving lesbians. If you don't like these movies, then maybe its best to avoid 'Wizard of Darkness, as it features unusual situations involving lesbians, among other things.8/10 - Check it out if you like Japanese horror, or horror in general.