This
is the first in what has become a booming new Japanese horror phenom:
the legend of Hikiko. It's a story based on a Japanese urban legend about
an abused young girl, beaten by her parents, causing slight deformities.
In turn, this results in her being bullied by classmates until she commits
suicide (some variations of the legend suggest that she was killed by
her father). Regardless, the dead girl comes back as a human-hating spirit
usually targeting school girls.
For Hisaaki
Nagaoka's film, a girl named Hikiko Mori is teased and bullied relentlessly
by her classmates, resulting in her accidental death. Holding a grudge
against bullies, Hikiko's spirit now haunts her former school. Slowly
she is gathering the strength to exact vengeance. A group of frightened
school girls decide to investigate the rumors but they are too late.
Actress Seiko Iwaido most always uses the Mai Takahashi pseudonym. Her
first theatrical role came in Takashi Ishii's GREAT
YOKAI WAR where she played Kawahime, the River Princess. This
was followed by Sion Sono's STRANGE
CIRCUS and the grim horror film THE
BOOTH. Miss Iwaido also appeared (uncreditted) in director Hisaaki
Nagaoka's subsequentSLAUGHTER
ISLAND.
A Japanese
film with English subtitles; widescreen format, uncut (63 minutes)
DVD encoded for ALL REGION NTSC FORMAT; Extras include original trailer.