Review of Onibaba (1964) by Todd S — 04 Nov 2007

[font=Times][size=4]1965 Japan Director: Kaneto Shindo[/size][/font].

[font=Times][size=4]Score: 8[/size][/font].

[font=Times][size=4] This is a story of human nature and what lengths people will go to in order to survive that has a minor supernatural twist at the end. Despite it indeed being a horror movie (there are murders though out) anyone sitting down to watch it who assumes ?horror movie? translates to ?gore killings? will be disappointed. This is a very atmospheric, character driven film. For the era it was made in, it excels beyond ?average? in every way. The plot and characters are interesting and unique. The effects that depict the murders as well as the landscape they take place in are well done. The music score really does add to the strange and at times disturbing scenes. The actors, faced with very complex characters that are in a desperate situation, do very good work. Being released around the same time, I can see this film easily competing with the Hammer Studios Horror films and perhaps even surpassing the exploitation-horror films being cranked out in the United States at the time. Difficult as it might be, I will be trying to add this to my DVD collection at home.[/size][/font].

[font=Times][size=4] [/size][/font].

[font='Times New Roman'][size=4]Notes: GV-HL-FN-SA Suggested Age: 16+[/size][/font].