Scream Girls (2008) | Merits of Sin | Region-Free (DVD)

Title: Scream Girls (2008)

Genre: Drama, Horror

Plot Synopsis:

Hikiko Mori was bullied to the point of death, and now her restless spirit haunts the halls of her former school. As her legend grows among students, a group of girls sets out to uncover the truth behind the ghostly presence. Their search leads them into a chilling investigation where trauma and revenge take horrifying form.

Cast and Crew:

• Director: Hisaaki Nagaoka

• Writers: Yûta Takahashi

• Cast:

  • Kyoko Kawai as Kaoru

  • Mai Takahashi as Reiko

  • Shion Fujiwara as Emiri

  • Erika as Yuki

  • Keiko Shirasu as Misaki

IMDb Link:

Scream Girls (2008) 

Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. Miguel – ★★☆☆☆
   “This movie was genuinely difficult to watch, and I’m still trying to figure out where the line is between an ‘authentic’ depiction of abuse and trauma versus an exploitative one. Regardless, it wasn’t at all what I expected. Nor would I say it’s similar to the vast majority of Japanese horror films from this period.”

2. Mal Jutley – ★★★☆☆
   “A super low budget, grim and depressing film about an urban legend of a girl that gets bullied and her spirit is out for revenge. At an hour long it still manages to pack a brutal punch with some of the abuse shown. The plot’s all over the place but it does enough to leave a mark.”

3. Goregirl – ★★☆☆☆
   “A bit of a mess. Not scary, not emotional. Just kind of mean-spirited. The subject matter deserved better execution.”

4. Eloise – ★★☆☆☆
   “It doesn’t do much to distinguish itself from other low-budget Japanese ghost stories, but I appreciated the attempt at commentary on bullying. Execution is lacking though.”

5. SpookyKen – ★★★☆☆
   “Definitely rough around the edges, but there’s a sincerity to it. The ghost stuff is minimal – it’s more of a sad school drama than horror.”

Meta Description:

A grim and emotionally charged Japanese horror-drama from 2008, Scream Girls follows the legend of a bullied girl’s vengeful spirit as students uncover the terrifying truth behind her death.