This review won't contain spoilers.
Story 4/10
In short, the story talks about a group of students that after a charm suddenly end up in Heavenly Host Elementary School, a cursed school where ghosts out for revenge. The premise is somewhat exciting and forced me to watch those 4 episodes. Unfortunately I can't say the same for the effective story of the anime.
Since there are only 4 episodes, I didn't really expected a complex story, but there are way too many plot holes and random scenes made only to add some blood and violence to the whole thing. After a while you aren't even surprised anymore by random murders that happen every 2/3 minutes. The worst part of it is that it isn't scary as an horror should be. Let me explain: Corpse Party doesn't have the most original setting, I've seen haunted/cursed schools everywhere in horror films and stories, even children's ghosts are one of the most common characters, so at least I was waiting for something scary to happen, but apparently this isn't the real objective of Corpse Party. Indeed it's all focused on blood and student's inner body parts, especially intestines, that, I'm talking about my personal experience, just cause disgust.
So, nothing scary at all in an horror anime. Ok. Maybe it has some other strong aspects? Nope, just that. Even the will to find a way to get out of that hell of a school is hidden behind the stupidity of the characters that do everything to get killed in the most idiotic ways, but I'll talk better about in the right section. Probably the best parts were the beginning and the ending, they somehow satisfied me and incredibly rised story's mark to 4, the rest was just a bloody mess.
Art & Animation 7/10
Nothing to complain here, drawings were well made, I'm especially talking about the setting (school environment) that's rich of details and realistic. I've appreciated the difference they made between bright, safe places and dark, elementary school filled with ghosts and murderers. Gore and splatter parts were also nicely made, not really realistic but still enjoyable.
Sound 8/10
Even if there isn't any memorable OST, sound effects are well made. Screams are amazing, the sound during various killings/stabs/random splatter stuff is half way between disturbing and enjoyable, but it's overall perfect for the anime.
Characters 3/10
I admit that I don't really remember any of main character's names except for one or two of them because their name was actually shouted during the whole episode. This also means that it was hard to follow the conspicuous sequence of deaths and that I couldn't care less about their deaths, because I haven't even had the time to understand who or how they were.
Leaving this apart, characters are just flat and unrealistic under every point of view. There are way too many situations that could have been avoided if they hadn’t been brainless creatures, I suppose this is a feature to actually make something happen, but it could have been done much better. They take decisions that are against every logic and the events seem forced, squeezed through the episode. I understand that they are just a group of 16/17 years old guys (but not only, there are some grown ups too) put in an infernal school but there are some times that you can’t find a way to justify their behaviour, you’ll probably understand better what I mean while you watch it.
Thing to point out: characters are made of clay, literally, they explode/lose body parts just by touching things. That’s how it seem to work.
Enjoyment 6/10
Despite all his problems, Corpse Party is enjoyable to watch and it’s interesting to see how those characters manage to die in all possible ways. Sounds sick, but that’s what this anime is. I don’t think I’ll watch this OVA again, but I’ll have fun talking about it with friends. Since I haven’t found it scary at all, I can’t say I enjoyed this as an horror anime, but all the crazy stuff that happens everywhere is somewhat interesting.
Should you watch it? Mh, if you aren’t scared easily, with every probably this won’t be a terrible experience. There is a lot of violence, nothing more. If this sounds good to you, go ahead, you won’t be unsatisfied.
This was my first review on MAL, I’m sorry for eventual grammar mistakes since this isn’t my main language. Feel free to send me a message if you want to discuss with me some points of the review.
