Dir. Masaki Kobayashi (1964)
Four Japanese ghost stories are told about love, secrets, and the supernatural.
Toho has made a lot more than Godzilla films, even though that's by far their most famous lineup. In 1964, they released an anthology of supernatural stories that is one of the lesser seen classics in the horror genre but also happens to be one of the best horror films of all time. Much like a lot of Asian films, Kwaidan is richly steeped in the history of the region while depending entirely on its home country's folkore and mythology for its plot and narration. Whether this is a good thing or not will largely depend on its audience, but as a film, it's nearly above reproach.
Four stories are featured in this early anthology film, each telling a ghost story based on Japanese folklore. In The Black Hair, a samurai leaves his wife for a life of fame and fortune with another woman, and when he returns to her years later, she has barely aged a day. The Woman of the Snow features a tale of a man who sees his friend killed by a ghost and whose life is spared as long as he keeps the secret of their encounter. The third segment, Hoichi the Earless, tells the story singing monk who tells the story of a final naval battle to the soldiers who died in it. Finally, In a Cup of Tea is about a man who sees a ghost in his tea leaves. All four stories combine to deliver a film that is a phenomenal representation of Japanese culture and mythology through a horror lens.
It's a difficult film to watch from a modern perspective because it is incredibly slow. It's creepy, atmospheric ghost stories that take their time, campfire tales from a culture filled with unsettling and bizarre cultural folklore. It's also just over three hours long, and it's tough to get a modern audience to sit through that for an American film, much less a sixty-year-old subtitled movie. It's so long it actually has an intermission. It's worth the investment, however, especially for fans of cinema rather than just horror: Kwaidan is a beautiful film that is a true piece of cinematic history, and it's oftentimes very unnerving as well.
Breathtaking set design, all hand-built just for this production and a perfect representation of early Japanese film. The score is haunting and creepy, serving the supernatural elements of the film particularly well and providing a conceptual framework for so many horror scores that came afterwards. The white-faced, black-haired ghost that has become such an iconic piece of Japanese horror comes directly from this film, and it's terrifying and incredibly disconcerting. The color used in the film is nothing short of spectacular, an artistic showcase rather than just moving pictures on the screen.
Despite Kwaidan's trudging pacing, it's exquisitely beautiful and a perfect representation of its country of origin. Much like the paintings of the ukiyo-e period of Japanese art, the film focuses heavily on amazing painted backdrops with blended colors and a display of the natural world. It's a gorgeous film, and even though it has left its mark all over horror films since, it's an experience that's wholly unlike anything else I've ever seen. Despite the film's historical significance and lasting impact, however, it's a film that will likely only be appreciated by those who are particularly invested in learning about the history of horror or someone who is more into Criterion than Blumhouse.
Who this movie is for: Horror history buffs, Japanese folklore fans, Horror-as-art aficionados
Bottom line: Kwaidan is a beautiful film that is chock-full of historical film significance, but it's definitely a bit of a slog. It's more than three hours long, and it often feels even longer. The investment is worthwhile, however, as it's an outstanding film much more than it's good horror. If you're a fan of the Criterion Collection of films, you'll likely really enjoy this one. If you're more of the everyday horror fan, this one will probably bore you to tears. It's streaming right now on Max, along with a lot of other Criterion flicks, so you can check it out right now.
