:
Nobuko Otowa,
Nobuko Otowa,
Jitsuko Yoshimura,
more...
:
Kaneto Shindo,
Kaneto Shindo
see all cast/crew...
: Not Rated
: Criterion Collection
: Foreign, Horror, Supernatural/Occult, Japan, Asian Horror, Quest, Revenge, Criterion Collection
: 103 min.
: Japanese
: English
see additional details...
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A landmark in fantasy cinema, this lyrical ghost story is set in medieval Japan amid a bloody conflict between rival fiefdoms. While the warrior Kichi's impoverished wife (Jitsuko Yoshimura) and mother (Nobuko Otowa) wait for his return from battle, they maintain a humble existence by luring lost soldiers into the surrounding fields of tall grass and murdering them in order to sell their armor and weapons for food; the bodies are then disposed of in a deep cavern. After learning that her son has been killed in battle, Otowa begins to concoct a scheme to frighten her daughter-in-law into staying at home with her indefinitely. After killing a soldier clad in a hideous demon mask -- which hides his grotesque, scarred face -- the mother dons the mask and succeeds in frightening Yoshimura away from her new lover's house. To her own horror, the mother quickly discovers that the mask is now securely stuck to her face, and her attempts to remove it culminate in the greatest horror of all. Fraught with sexual tension, nefarious schemes, and Freudian symbolism, this compelling masterpiece, by turns hypnotically beautiful and shockingly brutal, represents the finest in horror filmmaking, driven by powerful imagery and aided by sumptuous black-and-white photography. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Special Features:
- New video interview with writer/director Kaneto Shindo
- Rare super-8 black & white and color footage provided by actor Kei Sato, shot on location during the filming of Onibaba
- Still Gallery featuring production sketches and promotional art
- New essay by Chuck Stephens, noted critic and scholar of Asian cinema
- Filmmaker's statement from Kaneto Shindo
- Rare English translation of the original Buddhist fable that inspired the film
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| Investigation Of Jealousy
by JMVerville
December 9, 2004 - 12:09 PM PST
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5 out of 6 members found this review helpful
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Onibaba is a very well done film, purposefully using black and white cinema to its' advantage in this stunning portrayal of murder, jealousy, and uncontrollable human instinct in a dark period of Japan's history.
A film that aims at portraying the baser side of human nature and investigating human psychology, it is chalk-full of symbolic scenes and sequences. From start to finish it draws you in with the odd imagery and scenery of Japan's rural areas, and even though in this film though there are very few characters and elements that are to it, both visually and literally, through its' minimalism it effectively tells its' story.
This film is both very artistic & symbolic as well as literal and upfront, juxtaposing very graphic, real images of the face of humanity that demand the viewer to infer much throughout the whole of the film. When going into this film, I would say that it is very important for the viewer to think of the film as being very symbolic for the instincts and base nature of mankind, and perhaps even a 'state of nature' portrayal of humanity. If you watch this film with that in mind, it will help with the inferences that one must make to get the most out of this film.
As it stands by itself, aside from the deeper meaning, it is an intriguing story that is a veritable 'slice of life' film in the darker sense, viewing the way that people had to live during a period of war and hard times in feudal Japan. It deals with the hardships that these people face, and their method of survival, in addition to a very human story of jealousy and portrayal with a very interesting culminating point that I did not expect at all. The climax of the film is very much worth the build-up, though at times it seemed to be rather slow.
Overall, a very important piece of film when it comes to the symbolism and techniques employed. Through its' minimalism and black-and-white cinematography we are really treated to a great film that is, of its' own right, an influential and great movie. The cinematography is exceptionally good, especially the use of the reeds and the light at night.
I would recommend this film to anybody with a serious interest in film, as well as anybody who likes a good film that investigates the darker side of human nature. |
| Folktale of evil
by wdrazo
March 20, 2004 - 12:25 AM PST
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7 out of 9 members found this review helpful
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| What do Blair Witch Project, Eating Raoul, Ringu, and other Grand Guignol cinema have in common?...The demon woman movie of them all, Onibaba! I think Hammer films learned some technique by viewing this incredibly disturbing film. If society breaks down, this masque is what we have to face, signifying nothingness in the rush of reeds. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 7.91)
159 Votes
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