Vampire Girl Vs Frankenstein Girl (Kyûketsu Shôjo tai Shôjo Furanken)

Released: 2009

Directed by: Yoshihiro Nishimura, Naoyuki Tomomatsu

Starring: Yukie Kawamura, Takumi Saitoh, Elly Otoguro, Eihi Shiina

Genre: Japanese horror/gorefest, romance, comedy

Anyone familiar with Japanese cult director and gore wizard Yoshihiro Nishimura knows of the extreme violence, dark humour and gore his films have to offer – and by gore, I mean twenty bucket fulls, if not more. While his films probably sounds less-than-appetizing to the general public, his gorefests are surprisingly charming. Last year, his film Tokyo Gore Police sold out at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival, and while I didn’t attend, people must have liked it, because then why would they return this year for his latest film, Vampire Girl Vs Frankenstein Girl?

It’s hard to imagine a world without Nishimura. Being a fan of Asian gorefests, I feel obligated to venture into any one of these ridiculous jems. That’s right, jems. With my passions having stemmed while watching Meatball Machine, Nishimura’s makeup effects have continued to amaze me. Whether it be in Suicide Club, The Machine Girl, Tokyo Gore Police or, to a lesser extent, Exte: Hair Extensions, each of these films (and many more) have a special place in my heart. Vampire Girl Vs Frankenstein Girl is no different. So, where do I begin?

On Valentine’s Day, Japanese women give chocolate to men. There are various terms for the chocolate depending on who it’s being given to, but when given to a man whom they love, the chocolate is called “honmei (sweetheart)-choco.” Now imagine what it would be like if two high school girls claimed the same young man as their true love, add vampires, frankensteins and an excessive amount of gore and you’ve got yourself Vampire Girl Vs Frankenstein Girl.

This film is indeed a horror, romance hybrid. It could be compared to Meatball Machine in that sense, but Vampire Girl Vs Frankenstein Girl is a little more focused on satire. Here, we find every stereotype in Japanese culture crammed into one film, not to mention the anime stereotypes – how couldn’t there be a showdown on Tokyo Tower? We see everything in this film (well, almost everything): ganguros, vampires, gothic lolitas, mad scientists, cute school girls, an Eihi Shiina cameo, perverted professors, wrist cutters and oversexed nurses. I’m surprised we didn’t have any chronic nose bleeders, but maybe Nishimura didn’t have enough blood for that one.

The plot is ridiculous and refreshing, not being chained down to what we as audiences are expectant of from films these days. By all means, don’t take this film seriously, and don’t even bother taking offense to its comedic elements. Nishimura didn’t intend for audiences to hate this film, but if you did, well then, you’re kind of a prick.

SHARP OBJEX Rating: 3 out of 4

Vampire Girl Vs Frankenstein Girl Trailer