Review of Kwaidan (1965) by Jussi T — 03 Apr 2008
The kind of film that leaves a trace. Hangs between two worlds in more ways than one: the material stems from the shaky truce between men and ghosts, and the style is both classical and strikingly modern, with painstakingly crafted sets and angles erupting in a frenzy of color and magic.
As in all the great horror films, and "Onibaba" and "Throne of Blood" in particular, there's a feeling that the characters are surrounded by a chaotic mistworld they can't comprehend.
The uneasy blend of the stillness of Japanese culture and the restlessness of nature creates an eerie sense of timeless doom; not evil but ever-present. Each of the film's four stories deals with the choice between slavery and insanity following an attempt to deal with the supernatural, with the third one too melancholy and grand for words, especially mine.
This review of Kwaidan (1965) was written by Jussi T on 03 Apr 2008.
Kwaidan has generally received very positive reviews.
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