Yabu no Naka no Kuroneko (1968)
Genre: Drama / Horror
Duration: 99 minuten
Alternative titles: Black Cat from the Grove / Kuroneko / The Black Cat / 藪の中の黒猫
Country:
Japan
Directed by: Kaneto Shindô
Stars: Kichiemon Nakamura, Nobuko Otowa and Kiwako Taichi
IMDb score:
7,7 (10.179)
Releasedate: 24 February 1968
Yabu no Naka no Kuroneko plot
"Beware what lurks in the bamboo forest craving the blood of samurai!"
During a war in Japan in the 12th century, a mother and daughter-in-law are raped and murdered by a group of marauding samourai. The two women return from the dead as cat ghosts to exact revenge. Three years later, one after the other samourai are found dead in the bamboo forest with their throats bitten open. War hero Gintoki, a fearless samourai, is sent to destroy the vampire-like monster. He goes there and makes a terrible discovery.
Actors and actresses
Gintoki
Yone
Shige
Raiko
Farmer
Samurai
Mikado
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Reviews & comments
Spetie
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- 38871 messages
- 8633 votes
Wonderful atmospheric horror from Shindô, which I like at least as much as Onibaba.
Shindô also knows how to create a wonderful atmosphere here, with beautifully filmed black and white images and especially very strong effects, which still makes the horror come across. The story is somewhat simple and in the beginning it may be a bit too easy, but fortunately that does not last too long and Shindô knows how to work out the atmosphere and style to a very high level.
Especially the moments in the forest are strong and have something scary. Dark forest is something I don't like to walk through myself anyway and here that location is used in a good and effective way. Also the last shot, where the snow calmly flutters down, is wonderfully captured. There are a few more moments that ensure that this simple story on paper, still becomes a very nice viewing experience.
In my opinion it is recommended, especially if you also really liked Onibaba, because this is more or less an extension of it.
4.0*
Translated from Dutch · View original
Black Math
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- 5430 messages
- 1753 votes
I believe I can thank beavis for explicitly pointing out Shindo as a director who might be interesting to me. After Onibaba the second film I see, and indeed visually very beautiful again. Here too many strong contrasts, where the lighting is chosen in such a way that someone is strongly highlighted. But also beautiful play between the wind on the one hand and veils, robes and/or smoke on the other. And always accompanied by that beautiful lighting. I believe the only criticism I can express is that it is not always completely sharp where it should be, also with certain close-ups of the cat for example.
Also a nice soundtrack. Quite atmospheric, both in the moments of rest and during the tense moments. Striking: at a certain moment the music reminded me a bit of that of Tenshi no Tamago, namely during the love scene.
I didn't find the story too deep, just a nice kaidan story, that knows how to entertain, even if it drags a bit at some point. The main strength of the film ultimately lies mainly in the atmosphere and the visual aspect, and with that it knows how to charm more than enough. As a whole ultimately a tad less than Onibaba, therefore half a point less. 3.5*.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Woland
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- 4899 messages
- 3925 votes
This one has been on the agenda for a while, and I'm glad it finally happened. Because Kuroneko is a picture, especially visually. As a story, it's a fairly straightforward ghost story, about vengeful spirits that are apparently a well-known phenomenon in Japanese folklore. Anyway, the plot may be a bit repetitive, but the atmosphere is wonderfully unheimlich.
The fact that the atmosphere works so well is also due to the beautiful black and white. Beautiful bamboo forests, dark temples, misty scenes that look fantastic, but where all kinds of strange things happen in the background and where ghosts appear out of nowhere. And that more than makes up for the somewhat light plot and slow pace.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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