The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch (1968) User Reviews

Creepy Asian weirdness a-go-go.

[BA_Harrison · 8/10 · 17 June 2018]

After a long stay in a children's home, Sayuri Nanjo (Yachie Matsui) returns to her parents where she finds that she has an older sister Tamami (Mayumi Takahashi), who immediately treats her with disdain. Sharing a bed with Tamami, Sayuri finds reptile scales on the sheets, and comes to believe that her sister is a snake. Moved to the attic, Sayuri suffers from nightmares involving snakes, spiders and a hideous witch with detachable arms, and, thanks to a spy-hole above Tamami's room, discovers why her sister is so cruel to her. But who is the witch woman who clearly means to do Sayuri harm and why is she doing so?

While the ending does clear up the matter of the witch's true identity, I haven't the foggiest what her motives are, but that doesn't matter because the film is so atmospheric, downright freaky and full of crazy visuals that it proves entertaining regardless of the somewhat confusing plot. Matsui, as Sayuri, puts in a strong performance as the girl caught up in a strangely frightening situation, Takahashi is great as the mean sister whose face has a rather unusual sheen, and director Noriaki Yuasa keeps the pace brisk while providing plenty of kaleidoscopic psychedelia and surreality during Sayori's dream sequences, and a couple of surprisingly nasty moments: a nun stabbed in the chest and Sayuri having her hands mashed to a bloody pulp while hanging from some scaffolding. Fans of classic Japanese horror and Asian weirdness will find plenty to enjoy here.

Kazuo Umezu shojo horror manga adaptation

[trentreid-1 · 8/10 · 8 June 2010]

Extremely fun Daiei adaptation of two Kazuo Umezu shojo horror manga into a single, crazily fx-laden story. Directed by Noriaki Yuasa, who directed all the classic Gamera films, & many ep's of Ultraman, Casshern, etc. - this has loads of classic, in-camera effects, double exposures, genuinely excellent makeup, and crude but effective wriggly beast props.

It follows the fairy tale formula of an adorable pixie taken from a benevolent nun's care into a terrifying home seemingly haunted by not only a malevolent silver-haired witch, but also a curiously disfigured and hostile stepsister. The innocent child is named Sayuri, played well by Yachie Matsui as a very genuine and resourceful heroine.

Fans of Hollywood's more fantastic cinema such as Night of the Hunter, any Lewton/Tourneur, or Curse of the Cat People will find this an easily accessible entry point. The story is very simple, but has a level of weirdness and simulated child endangerment still effective for fans of contemporary horror.

**************SPOILER***************AHEAD****************** There are many wild dream sequences, and increasingly graphic reveals that there is something very wrong with the stepsister beyond a mere skin condition. The finale is not appropriate for small children, as it features one villainess wielding a two by four against the dangling heroine's tiny, clinging hands. Insane.

A solid, engrossing, well-made classic

[I_Ailurophile · 8/10 · 21 October 2022]

While it may not achieve a major pinnacle of horror, the story is filled with disquieting imagery of the sort that surely would have haunted my nightmares had I seen this when I was a child, and sharp dynamics that maintain fraught, discomforting tension. Watching as an adult there's much more to appreciate on deeper levels - like Akira Uehara's lush, vibrant cinematography, the first element of the picture to truly catch one's eye, or the splendid production design and art direction. All the work that went into realizing the abnormal aspects is terrific, including excellent effects that to me seem to match or exceed what Hollywood was turning out in the same timeframe. The costume design, hair and makeup, creature effects, and editing, all directed to the same ends, are just as swell. And tied together with a slew of good performances, and Noriaki Yuasa's capable direction, the result is a finely made picture that's compelling and satisfying. While the genre sensibilities on display here may not be as robust as what modern viewers may be accustomed to, 'The snake girl and the silver-haired witch' is still a lot of fun!

One recognizes a kinship with other narratives of a similar nature: from fairy tales, to Italian horror and giallo, to more recent features of dark fantasy or horror revolving around strained and harmful family dynamics, and outside forces that require a united front to oppose. Why, it's easy to think that Guillermo del Toro may well have found inspiration from this title. With that awareness the movie becomes easier to engage with, not least as the plot takes its time to come into definitive focus, and feels a little forced as it's revealed mostly through dialogue that as it presents is less than perfectly clear. There's a lot going on here, as a matter of fact, and I rather think the picture would have benefited from tighter narrative writing to let its value shine through all the more. Even at that, however, Kimiyuki Hasegawa's screenplay is wonderfully strong, with characters of distinct personality and complexity, tense dialogue, and rich and powerful scene writing. That the plot itself could have stood to be firmed up is a little unfortunate, but ultimately the weakness seems minor in light of how grim and absorbing the picture becomes, even such as it is.

The climax is especially well done, inculcating a sense of thrills as all the mounting tension is released in a sustained heavy flow. Through it all Yachie Matsui gives a great performance as protagonist Sayuri, demonstrating able skill for one so young, and among others Mayumi Takahashi also stands out with the fierce display she puts on as Tamami. All the contributions of the crew behind the scenes are super, the film-making fundamentals are impeccable - from top to bottom 'The snake girl and the silver-haired witch' is unexpectedly engrossing and rewarding, a viewing experience rather surpassing the assumptions one may tend to have of horror flicks generally, let alone those of the mid-twentieth century which often carry different notions thereof. This may not appeal to all comers just as a matter of personal preference, but I'm pleased with how enjoyable and well-rounded this is when all is said and done, and I happily give it my enthusiastic recommendation!

This was an impressive addition to the horror genre that may be more fun than good but is definitely worth a watch

[kevin_robbins · 7/10 · 14 November 2022]

Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch (1968) is a movie that I recently watched on Shudder. The storyline follows an orphaned daughter who is reunited with her family to discover her maid strangely dies shortly after arriving home, her sister chained in the attic, her mother gravely ill and her dad a mad scientist running experiments on snakes. Can the child survive in this environment or will what happened to the maid happen to the entire family?

This movie is directed by Noriaki Yuasa (Gamera: The Giant Monster) and stars Yûko Hamada (Lone Wolf and Cub TV Series), Sei Hiraizumi (Shin Godzilla), Kuniko Miyake (Tokyo Story) and Tadashi Date (Black Trump Card).

There's a lot to like about this movie. The makeup and masks are awesome as are the costumes. The plastic snakes used were funny. The acting, especially by the children, is awesome. I was really impressed by the main character. There's some skin face peels that are well executed and made me uncomfortable. The witch appearance at the end is tremendous as is the rope scene. The Nun scene at the end was a lot of fun too.

Overall, this was an impressive addition to the horror genre that may be more fun than good but is definitely worth a watch. I would score this a 7/10 and recommend seeing it once.

Wow!

[BandSAboutMovies · 7/10 · 10 September 2021]

And this is why I love Arrow Video.

Take Noriaki Yuasa, the director of the original eight Gamera movies, and pair him with Kazuo Umezu, who created The Drifting Classroom, and have them make a movie that should be for kids but is the type of motion picture that destroys minds and reaps souls (and is filled with nightmarish visions and brutal murders).

Sayuri has returned to her family after years in an orphanage but trouble has followed her. Before she even arrives, a maid dies of a heart attack, her mother has amnesia from a car wreck and her sister won't leave the attic, all while her father ignores them to study poisonous snakes and a fanged figure haunts her dreams.

Soon, our heroine is staying up in that attic with her scarred sister who tells her that she just wants to taste her hands and who breaks her dolls and oh yeah, rips a frog in half and throws it in her face. Yes, a kid-friendly movie.

And an amazing one at that.

The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch is making its worldwide blu ray debut and home video premiere outside Japan thanks to Arrow. This release also has commentary by film historian David Kalat, an interview with manga and folklore scholar Zack Davisson, a trailer and an image gallery.

A classic shoujo manga come to life!

[rakshasahime · 9/10 · 23 January 2017]

A classic shoujo manga come to life!

While I can understand why this film wouldn't be for everyone, those who do fall into it's niche will love this film. A rather campy film about a girl who get's adopted back in to her birth family, only to find out something's not quite right. A great film with trippy, & surreal visuals,along side fun, & crazy props. if you walk into this film looking to get scared you'll probably be disappointed, but if you love campy vintage films with horror motif's then you will be satisfied. If you're a fan of Nobuhiko Obayashi's "house" (Hausu) then this film will fit right in.

The Greatest Cinematic Gothic Fairy Tale

[kluseba · 9/10 · 21 September 2022]

The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch is essentially a gothic fairy tale that should appeal to older children, teenagers and young adults who like gloomy, imaginative and surreal stories that walk off the beaten path. The story revolves around joyful orphan girl Sayuri who got mixed up with another baby at the hospital when she was born. Many years later, her real family has found her and welcomes her to a luxurious mansion. Her father is a biologist who protects her in a caring but strict way. Things however spiral out of control when the father must go on an expedition to Africa for several weeks. Sayuri struggles to get along with the severe housekeeper, her amnesiac mother and the girl who was mistakenly thought to be the family daughter. As Sayuri slowly discovers her family's sinister past, she gets exposed to life-threatening dangers and must rely on the staff from her religious orphanage to survive.

This movie hasn't lost any of its unique charme and still entertains swiftly from start to finish nowadays. The film's lead actress Matsui Yachie is doing an outstanding job at playing a friendly, innocent and positive heroine viewers will care about. The supernatural, religious and horrific elements related to the family's past still send shivers down the spine. The special effects are simple yet efficiently used with creative costumes, diversified light techniques and scary sounds. The film's dramatic climax starts with an unexpected twist and concludes with a breathtaking action sequence that is ahead of its time.

The only element one could potentially criticize is that the story is somewhat predictable until said twist as it borrows heavily from Japanese fairy and folk tales. However, it has rarely happened that such tales have been adapted as cleverly as in The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch. The film's atmosphere, flow and intensity are second to none.

At the end of the day, anyone fascinated by sinister fairy tales and ancient Japanese culture should definitely watch this movie. Its acting performances, perfect mixture of drama and horror elements, creative special effects, efficient twist and breathtaking conclusion make this film an overlooked classic that deserves much more attention, recognition and respect. Make sure to purchase the release by Arrow Films that comes with informative additional features and a colourful booklet describing how this forgotten gem came to life.

The Silver-Haired Snake Girl Witch.

[morrison-dylan-fan · 9/10 · 27 May 2018]

With a poll coming up on ICM for the best films of 1968,I started checking on '68 titles that were waiting to be watched. Picking it up over Halloween due to the eye-catching title,I decided it was time to meet the snake girl.

View on the film:

Embracing the name of the film, director Noriaki Yuasa & cinematographer Akira Uehara cast a psychedelia atmosphere in sequences that explore Sayuri nightmares with trippy lights that gives sword fights with snakes and floating masked heads an incredibly off-beat vibe. Whilst the title itself is pure pulp,Yuasa wisely limits kitsch for the dream sequences, to instead craft a psychological chiller, with Uehara silky black and white close-ups chipping at the fractured relationship between Sayuri and Tamimi. Wrapping the terror round Sayuri with gruelling smashes against her tiny hands, Yuasa and Uehara gives the family home a claustrophobic appearance with coiled tracking shots revealing Sayuri has nowhere to escape from the snake girl and the witch.

Putting two of Kazuo Kozu's Manga's together,Kimiyuki Hasegawa makes the matching up look seamless, with the stark screams of the dream sequences being painted with the vibrancy of Manga. Unveiling in the beginning that the father is away abroad at work, Hasegawa makes the unsettling horror grounded,with excellently-written dialogue reflecting Tamimi's psychodrama desire to be the lone sister to get attention from mum, and Sayuri's nightmare of all the adults treating her concerns about Tamimi's as fairy tale jealousy.