Kuroneko (1968)

Two women are raped and killed by samurai soldiers. Soon they reappear as vengeful ghosts who seduce and brutally murder the passing samurai.

Director:

Kaneto Shindô

Writer:

Kaneto Shindô

Stars:

Kichiemon Nakamura, Nobuko Otowa, Kei Satô

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kichiemon Nakamura	...	Gintoki
Nobuko Otowa	...	Yone (Mother)
Kei Satô	...	Raiko
Rokkô Toura	...	A Samurai
Kiwako Taichi	...	Shige (Daughter-in-Law)
Taiji Tonoyama	...	A Farmer
Hideo Kanze	...	Mikado
Eimei Esumi
Shôji Ôki
Kentarô Kaji
Masaru Miyata
Noriyuki Nishiuchi
Eishu Kaneda
Jôji Taki
Miyako Kasai

Storyline

A woman and her daughter-in-law are raped and murdered by samurais during the time of civil war. Afterwards, a series of samurai returning from the war through that area are found mysteriously dead with their throats torn out. The governor calls in a wild and fierce young hero, to quell what is evidently a ghost. He encounters the two beautiful women, in an eerie, beautiful scene. After spiritual purification, he meets the demon in a thrilling fight.

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Plot Keywords:

female frontal nudity | supernatural horror | female rear nudity | mother son relationship | bamboo forest | 

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Genres:

Drama | Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #584.

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Goofs

During the fight between the Samurai and the ghost of his mother near the end of the movie, the ropes used to lift the actress are clearly visible on several shots.

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Connections

Featured in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #2.15 (2011)

User Reviews

Eerie and atmospheric masterpiece from the director of Onibaba

Director Kaneto Shindô is most famous for his 1964 ghost story Onibaba; and anyone that enjoyed that film will certainly enjoy this one. The two films are very similar in style, and that's a good thing for both as the thick and surreal atmosphere created by the director creates a perfect atmosphere for a horror story to take place in. The title of the film translates in English to 'The Black Cat' - a staple of the horror genre ever since Edgar Allen Poe penned his classic story; although this film has nothing to do with the writings of Poe and is an original story written by the director. The film takes place in feudal Japan and our focus is on a mother and daughter-in-law living alone in the swamp. Its war time and all the samurais are out fighting. However, one day a group of them happen on the pair and after eating their food, the samurai's rape the women. Shortly thereafter, many samurai are being found dead in the area; they are drained of blood with their throats ripped out. Naturally the lord of the land comes to the conclusion that a monster is behind it, and sends a young hero to deal with the problem.

Kaneto Shindô is keen to fill his film with rich symbolism and striking visuals; but also finds time for some visceral horror. The opening scenes are shocking and later the films builds into some truly memorable and surreal sequences that, when combined with the atmosphere, do manage to be quite frightening. The swamp location is a really great place for the film to take place also; and the director makes the best of it, especially during the parts in which the younger of the two women is leading the stray samurai's to their death. The film is more than just the central story; and we also follow things going on around it; such as the eventual hero's fight that earned him the right to seek out and kill the demons. The central story is definitely the most interesting, however, and while the sub plots are not boring; I did mostly find myself waiting for the film to get back on track. The way that the story builds into the end, which really brings all the stray subplots together, is really good and the film ends on a very strong note. Overall, The Black Cat is not quite as great as the director's masterpiece Onibaba; but it's certainly a very good horror film.

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

24 February 1968 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Black Cat

Company Credits

Production Co:

Toho Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1