Eko Eko Azarak: Wizard of Darkness (1995)

Directed by Shimako Sato

Country of Origin: Japan

An afterschool study session turns deadly when a supernatural force traps some high school kids in the school building after nightfall. Once the body parts start flying, a completely freaked out student body are forced to turn to the new girl, Misa Kuroi (Kimika Yoshino), who just happens to be a totally badass witch. But who is responsible for this madness? Could it be goth funboy Mizuno, the lascivious lesbian teacher Miss Shirai (Mio Takaki), or could it be that Misa herself causing all of these satanic shenanigans?

If you're craving some wild Japanese horror then look no further than Eko Eko Azarak. There's a big dash of perversity and sleaze in this supernatural horror fest based on the manga by Shinichi Koga. This movie is as subtle as a brick to the face and kinda stupid. I love it. It's bloody, stylish, trashy, and highly entertaining. Yoshino is cool as a cucumber as Misa and would return for the first sequel. Miho Kanno, who played the titular Tomie in the 1998 film, is on hand as the goodie two shoes class rep.  

Director Shimako Sato went on to write and direct the sequel the following year before moving into television production in the 2000s. Screenwriter Junki Takegami has had a long running career writing for action anime spanning three decades but may have retired in 2018. Eko Eko Azarak gets freakin’ wild and did well enough to get some sequels, so it’s surprising that these two didn’t make more horror films together. If you can track down the 1970s manga by Koga, then do it. While I don’t think it was ever officially published here in the good old US of A, you can find translated copies on the Internet. The web is pretty cool. I’m serious!

"I hate half-assed flakes."