DVD Corner

School In The Crosshairs Blu-ray Review

“School In The Crosshairs” is another oddball Nobuhiko Obayashi film.  

Scripted by Taku Mayumura, 1981’s “School In The Crosshairs” is a Japanese sci-fi film that revolves around teenagers Yuka and Koji who are students at a school together. Yuka is a kind hearted top student at the school while Koji is a not so great student and a member of the Kendo club. Their lives (and potential blossoming romance) become interrupted by a series of wild events involving Yuka developing psychic powers, Yuka encountering a suspicious psychic alien who tries to recruit her, and the school getting a new student with psychic powers (Michiru) who develops a fascist takeover over the school. How will things play out? You’ll just have to see for yourself.

Director Nobuhiko Obayashi of “Hausu”/”House” fame is nothing if not an unpredictable filmmaker. He can make a sweet romantic tale with “His Motorbike, Her Island” and he can make an off the wall horror film like “Hausu.” With “School In The Crosshairs,” he creates a teen romance, comedy, political film, and out there sci-fi tale all in one. The first half of the film certainly fares better with its focus on characterization of Yuka and Koji. The film loses its way a bit in the second half once Michiru enters the picture and the mystery man takes center stage in the chaotic and trippy final act which feels like something out of “2001: A Space Odyssey.” “School In The Crosshairs” also seems to owe “Star Wars” a great deal as a lot of the story feels influenced by the George Lucas classic ala the psychic powers being like The Force and the fascist villains being very Empire-like. As weird as the film gets, it’s hard not to get swept up by Obayashi’s quirky story. Where else are you going to see a monkey, a school club musical number and a psychedelic interstellar climactic showdown in one movie?

Performance wise, Hiroko Yakushimaru (Yuka) and Ryôichi Takayanagi (Koji) are superb in their respective roles. Yakushimaru is positively charming while Takayanagi has wonderful chemistry with his co-star. Masami Hasegawa also shines as the sinister villain (of sorts) Michiru.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 1080p. How does it look? The 2K transfer and restoration from Cult Epics is a little too fuzzy for my liking. Definitely not on the same level of the “His Motorbike, Her Island” release.

Audio Track: Japanese 5.1 DTS-HD MA, LPCM 2.0 Stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1. How do the tracks sound? The LPCM track is respectable, the 5.1 DTS track has the most depth, and the Dolby Digital 5.1 track is rough around the edges.

Extras include an Obayashi film poster gallery, a booklet with credits and photos, a commentary by film critic Max Robinson, and “Sailor Suits And Sound” (a visual essay by Phillip Jeffries).

December 14, 2025 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Cult Epics, Japanese Cinema, Nobuhiko Obayashi, School In The Cross hairs Blu-ray Review