Sexy and creepy with amazing black and white photography. I would put it in the same class as Kuroneko which shares the same director. A interesting mix of horror and samurai film.
In Onibaba ("Demon Woman"), director Kaneto ShindÅ (Kuroneko) shows a powerful ability to use nature in a filmic way - the tall grass, as much a refuge from the war as a labyrinthine killing ground; the night creating stark black and white images; and most of all, the pit, a hellmouth, dark and mysterious. Starting the story on that hole swallows us up and takes us to the other side, a hell on the periphery of armed conflict, where the horror genre is inferred, but only confirmed in the last reel - strange spaces, murderous women, sinful lust, and that music, driving beats punctuated by disturbing screams that might or might not be diegetic. The sound design is very strong. Two women, their husbands lost to the war, a forced to kill stray samurai and sell their gear for food, their dynamic disturbed by a callous deserter who wants sex from the younger woman. A cursed mask eventually enters the story as a means to bring back some semblance of order, but that order is hellish. At the end, I think we have to stop kidding ourselves that the original status quo was in any way normal. What's great about Onibaba is that you really never know where it's going to go next; it's wholly original.
I thought this was rather underwhelming. The female characters were more caricatures and it was basically 90 minutes of boobies. The mask was cool, though.
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Comments 1 - 8 of 8
essaywhu
Sexy and creepy with amazing black and white photography. I would put it in the same class as Kuroneko which shares the same director. A interesting mix of horror and samurai film.sammysin
A really well paced film soaked in folklore. It's very clever and humorous, a little sexy at times too.Let this be a lesson to you everyone, don't give in to taboos. Haha.
What an ending, the last 5 minutes are unforgettable.
Darkness_prevails
This film has some stunning visuals. I liked it for the most part.Siskoid
In Onibaba ("Demon Woman"), director Kaneto ShindÅ (Kuroneko) shows a powerful ability to use nature in a filmic way - the tall grass, as much a refuge from the war as a labyrinthine killing ground; the night creating stark black and white images; and most of all, the pit, a hellmouth, dark and mysterious. Starting the story on that hole swallows us up and takes us to the other side, a hell on the periphery of armed conflict, where the horror genre is inferred, but only confirmed in the last reel - strange spaces, murderous women, sinful lust, and that music, driving beats punctuated by disturbing screams that might or might not be diegetic. The sound design is very strong. Two women, their husbands lost to the war, a forced to kill stray samurai and sell their gear for food, their dynamic disturbed by a callous deserter who wants sex from the younger woman. A cursed mask eventually enters the story as a means to bring back some semblance of order, but that order is hellish. At the end, I think we have to stop kidding ourselves that the original status quo was in any way normal. What's great about Onibaba is that you really never know where it's going to go next; it's wholly original.Groovy09
Great film filled with beautiful cinematography, haunting atmosphere and good pacing.The film also kept me intrigued due to the themes and ideas that it wanted to explore.
Highly recommended if you like japanease horror :)
Dieguito
Nice visuals indeed.. Spooky old woman!!caley
I thought this was rather underwhelming. The female characters were more caricatures and it was basically 90 minutes of boobies. The mask was cool, though.mightysparks
I would like to buy this film, not Marlene Dietrich - The Glamour Collection!