Vampire Girl vs Frankenstein Girl (4 Stars)

This is the third Japanese film I've watched in a row. Yes, I'm a big fan of Japanese cinema, especially Japanese horror films. This is a horror mixed with comedy, as the title might suggest, but the humour is subtle. The film doesn't play for jokes, but the viewer has to chuckle over some of the more absurd scenes. Like when the "Frankenstein girl" detaches her arm and attaches it to her head to use it as a propellor and fly.

But let's get to the plot, most of which takes place in a Japanese school. Judging by appearances the classmates are about 16. Keiko is the classroom beauty, and also the leader of the clique of cool girls. Her father is the school's headmaster, which is an additional factor in her favour. Her boyfriend is Mizushima, the only good looking boy in the class. Things go well until a new exchange student arrives, Monami, who also wants to be with Mizushima. On Valentine's Day Monami gives Mizushima chocolates, which I'm told is a tradition in Japan; on February 14th women give chocolates to the men they love. What Mizushima doesn't realise is that Monami is a vampire, and she's added her blood to the chocolate filling which turns him into a vampire.

The jealous girls fight over the boy, but Keiko is no match and Monami kills her. Luckily her father spends time in the school science lab trying to bring the dead back to life. He kills other schoolgirls and stitches their body parts together with Keiko's head to resurrect his daughter. Keiko uses her new superhuman strength to battle Monami once more to win back her boyfriend.

Cheap looking special effects. A ridiculous plot that strains credibility to the limit. And yet it's good fun. More enjoyable than the (objectively) better film "13 Assassins" which I reviewed earlier today.

Click here to view the trailer.