Eko Eko Azarak - Wizard of Darkness 2003 Horror Movie Review

Misa Kuroi is a girl with problems.  First off, she is the new girl, recently transfered and finding herself plagued by rumors. Secondly, the rumors are true.  She is secretly a powerful witch, the most recent in a long line of witch-girls to inherit the power.  (“Eko Eko Azarak” is her chant to summon her mystic powers.)  Thirdly, someone else in her school is summoning Lucifer and sacrificing her classmates so that she may be crowned empress of the universe.  Not a good start for the poor girl.


If it all sounds a bit like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” well, it is, although the comic series that “Eko Eko Azarak” is based on predates “Buffy” by about 20 years.  No matter who influenced who, the basic premise is familiar, and comparisons can be made.  But “Eko Eko Azarak” is no hip, slick-talking teenage drama.  The violence is gory and the sex is explicit, and the students of this high school do more screaming and dying than worrying about fashion.


The basic premise of this first film in the series (followed by two more, as well as a television series) has 12 students being held after class to take a test.  There is some funny business going on, and the teacher is having a lesbian affair with one of the students.  At some point in the evening, the students realize that they cannot leave the school, and the windows can’t be broken.  On top of this, the number “12” appears on the blackboard, and begins to magically count-down as the students begin to die.  Begin the panic.


Of course, Misa Kuroi manifests her hidden magic for a showdown with the mysterious villain.  An effects-laden battle of will and powers is the only end for this dark path.  But how many students will survive, and how close will the evil witch come to summoning Lucifer?


Overall, this is a fun flick and a solid horror/magic film.  The lesbian affair is very sexy, and Kimika Yoshino as Misa Kuroi is a good actress.  After all, you can’t go wrong with a film whose tagline is “Come, darkness and vicious spirits. Lucifer, let this cute girl be the empress of the universe”