School in the Crosshairs – Cult Epics (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1981
Director: Nobuhiko Ôbayashi
Writer: Taku Mayumura
Cast: Hiroko Yakushimaru, Ryôichi Takayanagi, Masami Hasegawa, Haruki Kadokawa, Ai Matsubara, Noriko Sengoku, Kôichi Yamamoto

Release Date: October 14th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 89 Minutes 22 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese, DTS-HD 5.1 Japanese, Dolby Digital 5.1 Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $34.95

"Ordinary schoolgirl Yuka's (Yakushimaru) new term comes to an odd start when she inexplicably stops an accident by using latent psychic powers. Troubled by her newfound abilities, Yuka also senses a strange force start to take hold of the school, with students turning into mind-controlled fascists, patrolling school halls, stifling dissent, and mandating the re-education of freethinkers." – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "2K Transfer & Restoration."

School in the Crosshairs comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 29.7 GB

Feature: 23.8 GB

The source used for this release is comparable to the Third Window Films region B UK Blu-ray release. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity and black levels fare well, and there are no issues with compression or digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono Japanese), 4/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 Japanese)

This release comes with three audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Japanese, and a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix in Japanese. The LPCM mono and DTS-HD 5.1 audio tracks sound clean, clear, balanced, and robust when they should. Included are removable English subtitles. There were no issues with the subtitles, like those found in Cult Epics' His Motorbike, Her Island Blu-ray release.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a Nobuhiko Ôbayashi film poster gallery with music from School in the Crosshairs playing in the background, a theatrical trailer for School in the Crosshairs (1 minute 55 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), a video essay by Phillip Jeffries titled Sailor Suits and Sound (17 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with non-removable English subtitles for Japanese film clips), an audio commentary with film critic Max Robinson, reversible cover art with original Japanese poster art, a slipcover (limited to the first pressing), and a reproduciton 24-page Japanese pressbook (limited to the first pressing).

Other extras include theatrical trailers for His Motorbike, Her Island (1 minute 32 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), The Island Closet to Heaven (1 minute 41 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2 minutes 43 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles).

Summary:

Anyone who has seen Nobuhiko Ôbayashi's other films, particularly Hausu (House), is aware of his inventiveness and distinct style as a filmmaker. Most filmmakers have a distinctive style that is easily recognizable to anyone familiar with their films. Nobuhiko Ôbayashi was a filmmaker who rarely repeated himself.

Being adapted from novels and strong female characters are the two things that are synonymous with the four Kadokawa-produced films Nobuhiko Ôbayashi made in the 1980s.

Nobuhiko Ôbayashi's inventiveness is on full display throughout School in the Crosshairs. He employs a range of cinematic styles that somehow seamlessly blend together. Although most of School in the Crosshairs is in color, a few stylishly shot moments are in black and white. The opening credits are another area where Nobuhiko Ôbayashi’s creativity stands out.

When discussing School in the Crosshairs, one must acknowledge Hiroko Yakushimaru's (Sailor Suit and Machine Gun) presence as the leading lady. School in the Crosshairs is one of a handful of films that were tailored for Hiroko Yakushimaru, who was a rising star in 1980s Japanese cinema. She delivers an exemplary performance that elevates everyone around her.

Another notable performance is Masami Hasegawa in the role of Michiru, a new girl in school who uses her powers to corrupt the students by turning them into mindless slaves that do her bidding. It is a shame that her filmography is limited, since she delivers a diabolical performance that steals the show. The rest of the cast is best described as adequate.

Although School in the Crosshairs is definitely rooted in the realm of fantasy, the protagonist and another character have telekinetic powers. The result is a film that is as much a melodrama as it is a fantasy film. Despite looking dated, the special effects actually suit the story well. That said, from a production standpoint, there are not many areas where School in the Crosshairs comes out ahead. Finally, School in the Crosshairs is a distinct piece of 1980s Japanese cinema and one of Nobuhiko Ôbayashi's more approachable works.

School in the Crosshairs gets a first-rate release from Cult Epics that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a pair of informative extras; highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer