April 2007 Archives

The Ceiling at Utsunomiya
[Kaii Utsunomiya Tsuritenjo]

怪異宇都宮釣天井

Genre: Tokugawa-Era Power Politics and Ghosts

review in one breath

While Tokugawa Iemitsu prepares to travel from the Edo capitol to the Toshogu Shrine in Nikko, one of his astute spies discovers a possible assassination plot scheduled to take place during the Shogun's stop at Utsunomiya Castle. This is a wonderfully quaint historical piece and director Nakagawa Nobuo's first ghost tale.

Ghosts of Kasane Swamp
[Kaidan Kasane ga Fuchi]

怪談累が渕 / 怪談かさねが渕

Genre: Classic Japanese Horror

review in one breath

The blind Soetsu lives with a loving wife and their young daughter in an adequate home supported by Soetsu's skill as a masseuse. On a wintery eve, Soetsu decides to visit a neighboring nobleman to who he had lent money over a year ago in the hopes of having the sum returned to him. But upon hearing Soetsu's request, the arrogant and ill-tempered samurai murders Soetsu and has his body dumped in nearby Kasane Swamp. This sets off a chain of events which not only drive the samurai to madness but will also take from him and his entire household what they hold most dearly.

Mansion of the Ghost Cat (aka Black Cat Mansion)
[Borei Kaibyo Yashiki]

亡霊怪猫屋敷

Genre: Classic Japanese Horror

review in one breath

When Dr. Kuzumi moves his practice to the countryside in order to allow his wife to regain her health, little does he realize that the old mansion they have rented "possesses" a notorious history of its own. When a mysterious old woman repeatedly appears, apparently with the intent of killing his wife, what he initially believes to be hallucinations soon leads him to the local buddhist priest who recollects for him the notorious history of the the house. This is a creepy classic horror tale which conjours up both a whirlwind of Japanese superstition and history.