DAIEI GOTHIC – JAPANESE GHOST STORIES. Review by Steve Kirkham

4 stars

Radiance Films. Limited edition Blu Ray. 28th October

Here’s an interesting box set from Radiance exploring a trio of lesser known versions of ghost stories from Japan. All the films here look splendid in high def from 4K restorations.

First up is THE GHOST OF YOTSUYA (1959) (Yotsuya kaidan) directed by Kenji Misumi – possibly best known to Western audiences for SHOGUN ASSASSIN. Somewhat confusingly in the same year this was made, the better known version by Nobuo Nakagawa was released. I say confusing as on the IMDB stills from Misumi’s take on the famous ghost story are shown with Nakagawa’s release!

Iemon Tamiya (Kazuo Hasegawa) is a ronin, content to go fishing and not find a position as a samurai. Despite the fact that he and his wife Oiwa (Yasuko Nakada) struggle to make ends meet. His wife has had a recent miscarriage and is recovering.

When a disapproving relative pays a visit, he tells Iemon he has found him a possible place with a local dignitary – however he doesn’t get the job and is drowning his sorrows in a local bar, when a lady, Ume Ito (Yoko Uraji) and her handmaiden come in, being harassed by several men. Iemon saves them and Ume falls for her hero. Soon her family are hatching a plan to disfigure his wife, so that he will divorce her and she can marry him.

Somewhat melodramatic, this is initially more a drama – considering it is only 73 minutes long it does feel a bit slow. The sets are gorgeous and it does eventually tip into supernatural horror territory. The music by Seichi Suzuki sometimes has a Hammer vibe to it.

Next is THE SNOW WOMAN (1968) (Kaidan yukijorô). Sculptor Shigetomo (Tatsuo Hananuno) and his young protege Yosaku (Akira Ishihama) have found the perfect tree from which the older man can create a new statue for the local temple. They are forced to take refuge during a blizzard in a hut they find – that night they are visited by the spooky titular presence. She freezes Shigetomo to death, however she spares the younger man as long as he promises to never speak of her to anyone.

Yosaku is given the task of completing his mentor’s important wooden carving by the village elders, whilst he continues to live with Shigetomo’s wife Soyo (Sachiko Murase), as they have effectively brought him up.

During a rain storm they offer shelter to the beautiful Yuki (Shiho Fujimara) – who we realise looks the same as the snow woman. When Soyo falls ill, and is later attacked by the local Lord Jito, she asks on her deathbed for Yuki to marry Yosaku. The local dignitary lusts after Yuki – you know ultimately that this won’t end well for somebody…

Directed by Tokuzô Tanaka, known for Zatoichi films, this starts atmospherically, though it becomes a bit dragged out in the middle as it moves towards it’s sad ending. Stylishly made with some striking scenes this was less a horror movie and more a tragic ghostly romance. This was probably the most effective of the trio presented herein. The same story was adapted as a part of the famous anthology KWAIDAN (1964).

The third and final film is THE BRIDE FROM HADES (1968) (Peony Lantern/Botan dôrô). Shinzaburô’s (Kôjirô Hongô) brother has recently died leaving a young wife Kiku (Atsumi Uda). The men of his clan think it would be best for the family if he married her. However, he would rather have his simple life of teaching the children in the village. Taking part in a festival to honour the dead, all the people of the village release lanterns to float on the river. Whilst there Shinzaburô sees two of these tributes stuck in the reeds, which he helps to untangle – he then meets the beautiful Otsuyu (Miyoko Akaza) and her guardian Oyone (Michiko Ôtsuka) who thank him for his assistance.

Later that night they turn up at his door and he invites them in – before long he is having a passionate affair with Otsuyu… not realising that they are both ghosts!

Likes most Japanese ghost stories, subtlety is the order of the day, with the duo suitably spooky as they drift along. Macabre and often eerie in it’s depictions, this is quite sad tale based on a popular Japanese story. Depending on your sensibilities this is not necessarily scary per se, though it is creepy. It also has some surprisingly violent scenes near the end.

Steve Kirkham

EXTRAS

Extras on The Ghost of Yotsuya

Kiyoshi Kurosawa, director/J-Horror pioneer discusses the film, a story familiar to most Japanese. This version scared him when he saw it. (19 mins)

The Endless Curse of Iowa – good overview of the history of the story in a visual essay by

Japanese film historian Kyoko Hirano (22 mins)

Trailer

Extras on The Snow Woman

Director of Hypnosis and Shutter, Masayuki Ochiai, discusses the film (16 mins): Talks about yokia – supernatural creatures and about Lafcadio Hearn’s story.

The Haunted Mind of Lafcadio Hearn (7 mins): Interesting visual essay introducing the author’s life and works, inc. lauding ‘Kwaidan’.

Trailer

Extras on The Bride From Hades

Audio Commentary with Jasper Sharp

Scriptwriter of Ring, Hiroshi Takahashi talks about his admiration for the film, the history of the story and Japanese ghosts stories leading up to J-Horror (18 mins)

Plus on this limited edition release you also get a newly designed box and booklet artwork by Time Tomorrow; Limited edition 80-page perfect bound book featuring new writing by authors Tom Mes, Zack Davisson and Paul Murray, newly translated archival reviews and ghost stories by Lafcadio Hearn; each disc has reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Filippo Di Battista.