Onibaba (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] [Region Free]

I have watched a lot of Japanese movies this year. Most of them are either Samurai films or based upon those ancient times. These films have led me off course to some truly unique movies, one of the most memorable is Onibaba. An experience that I'm pretty sure I'll never ever forget.Onibaba is a film directed by Kaneto Shindo. Released through the Toho brand and produced by the Tokyo Eiga and Kindai Eiga Kyokai companies in 1964, this film has more than enough to put people on edge. The film stars two women Nobuko Otowa and Jitsuko Yoshimura with Kei Sato playing the man who comes between them. The story is about the two women previously mentioned. They are at the point of starving in their run down hut. The only means of acquiring food is to kill fleeing Samurai in their local tall grass and sell his equipment to some shoddy dealer. Kei Sato's character has been off fighting with the older woman's son and the younger's husband. He quickly becomes obsessively infatuated with the young lady and they soon become inseparable. The old woman doesn't like the idea and does everything in her power to keep them apart.The story is very dramatic, to say the least. The couple in love are very convincing in their lusting for each other and the hatred coming from the "Old Woman" is superbly done. The movie is fairly simple taking place in a large grass field with two huts at either side. The way the director managed to make such an intense movie over such a small space is impressive. The tension that starts to creep into the film becomes down right horrific by the end and I love it for it's simplicity. This is one of those movies that leaves information out and lets you patch it up with your own imagination. I felt a bit surprised by the sudden end, but it certainly kept me thinking when it was well and truly done. Some people might not like that but I thought it was great, if not a bit surprising.Onibaba is also quite a visual masterpiece, in my opinion. This Eureka! print has very little damage to it and looks pretty sharp through out. This impressive image quality really helps bring out the artistry in the visuals. Despite the fact the majority of the film takes place in a large grassy field, the images they managed to put on film are absolutely stunning. The way the wind catches all the tall vegetation as it moves in the wind never got old. Add some rain, a little blood and the occasional river scene and you have a fairly impressive looking movie.This film might not be what some people expect. It seems to be considered more of a horror movie to some rather than a drama. But I would most definitely consider it more of the latter. The end does have a good bit of horror in it but those looking for an entire film like that will be disappointed. Me, I rather enjoyed this movie. I thought it was very memorable in a lot of ways and I would definitely recommend it if you're into this sort of thing. It's a very fine print of the film, one that should do me for a long time.

Onibaba, what can I say?I love some of this Japanese stuff, but I must say my true love is horror so I swing towards the likes of The Ring, The Grudge, Lust Of The Dead, Entrails Of A Virgin etc. I saw this on Amazon and was intrigued by the cover for a start, so I started reading the reviews which truly swung me to take a gamble and boy what a great choice.A beautifully shot film with a terrific cast. I'm not going to spoil this as others have already mentioned this but there are no supernatural elements involved. I won't elaborate on the story apart from saying this was based on a Japanese folk tale.I can't say much more apart from just watch it. Even though it wasn't a horror film it was a brilliant viewing experience.On another note I was surprised just how much nudity there was in a film from 1964

This has to be one of the best digital transfer I have seen, from the crisp black & white cinematography, use of dark and light to the sharp sound, it is a veritable feast for the cineaste and a transfer that deserves to be projected to a full house in a dark cinema on a big screen.The film is set during the chaos of a civil war and the failure of the crops, which means that our protagonists eke out a living by murdering lost soldiers in the long grass and selling their belonging for food. When, thinking her husband dead, the young woman has an affair with a neighbour, the old woman tries to scare her off by pretending to be a demon, with tragic consequences.Kaneto Shindo's film is an erotically charged hybrid between the horror and period drama genres and a perfectly realised expose of the horrors of war. At times a bit of a slow burn, the film delivers its punch in a final act full of pathos and poetic justice.

As a package I would give this product 5 stars as you have both DVD and Blu-ray versions of the film as well as a nice little booklet with information about the origins of the story, the actors and the film restoration process. The film itself has been lovingly restored and looks and sounds about as good as it is ever going to. As far as the special feature go: there are the usual selection of interviews and so on, but there is also a selection of 8mm films taken by the lead actor on set, which offers a good insight to the film making process of the time. Overall a great piece of cinema history.

I was waiting for the Criterion version to be back in stock, but couldn't bare not having a blu-ray version of the film any longer ha! The transfer is very sharp (some of the shots of reeds and the landscapes are just stunning) and the additional features are very illuminating, including some great behind the scenes filmed by one of the cast members. Will compare it to the Criterion version one day.

Beguiling film that stays with you long after you've seen it, like a dream. Excellently shot and acted, with a deeper profound meaning.

Amid the bulrushes two women living of killing, when one day one of their acquaintance come back form war Minimalistic and intense the film is typical of Japanese Art.. The scenery and the music creates a strong environment where each details seem to take a specific intensity. The scripts tells the story of possession, control and sexuality. As in many Japanese film the sex bound is depicted as a compelling instinct of life. Behind the simplicity of the scripts and the beauty of the pictures hides deep thoughts and thinking. A Japanese masterpiece I would say

I'm never disappointed with Japanese period films add scenery and a bit of horror and your day is made.