Based on a light novel by Toshikazu Nagae, Ghost System is a low-budget, digitally shot film which has four actors, three locations and zero atmosphere. It has an interesting concept but no supernatural aura.
Misaki and Mai are inseperable friends and even when Mai gets a boyfriend named Wataru, the twosome happily becomes a trio. Until Mai disappears. Some time after the disappearance Misaki receives an email on her mobile from Mai. So has Wataru. The email contains a photograph of some woodlands and the message “I’m coming home”. Misaki and Wataru decide to investigate and track down the exact location where there is no mobile signal but there is an abandoned facility. The two venture into the decaying building where a mysterious female scientist is investigating what happens to a person after death but her system is breaking down.
I’m not sure if this film aims to be full blooded horror movie. The story plays out as a teen friendly supernatural mystery but while its blend of sci-fi and supernatural in the eponymous Ghost System is interesting as a concept it is underexplored because the whole movie is underwritten. Most damingly though it’s the lack of atmosphere.
Genkinahito 