SYNOPSIS
Four classic tales of the supernatural from Japanese folklore, brought to life with a spectacular, ethereal beauty.
OPINION
A true delight from one of the masters of Japanese cinema, Kwaidan is exactly the movie to bring a little class to your horror night. (The tonal opposite of Basket Case, I guess.) It's comforting and sumptuous, with a conscious staginess that channels something archetypally Japanese - at least from my outsider perspective. This is absolutely the kind of film to put on at dusk with a warm cup of tea and a sweater.
CAST + CREW
Director: Masaki Kobayashi (Harakiri, The Human Condition)
Cast: Keiko Kishi (Early Spring, Untamed)
Michiyo Aratama (The Human Condition, Sword of Doom)
Katsuo Nakamura (Kagero-za, 20th Century Boys)
Osamu Takizawa (Fires on the Plain, Chushingura (1958))
CONTENT (spoilered; highlight for warnings)
domestic violence, suicide, war violence
CAREER STATS [on a scale from 1 (least) to 10 (most)]
FUN: 4
A little dry, a little academic - requires your attention.
SCARINESS: 6
"Bone-chilling" is the adjective to use. Slow-burn.
INTENSITY: 5
More of a classic campfire vibe than anything too immanent.
RECOMMENDABILITY: 8
Foreign and '60s horror can be tough, but this one does it.
SEE ALSO:
Ugetsu, Kuroneko, Onibaba, Jigoku
