Shin Yotsuya kaidan
Directed by:
Takashi MiikeScreenplay:
Kikumi YamagishiCinematography:
北信康Composer:
Kōji EndōCast:
Ebizō Ichikawa, Kō Shibasaki, Hideaki Itō, 勝野洋, 佐藤慶, Tatsuya Nakadai, Kenichi Hagiwara, 佐藤浩市, 中西美帆, Ikko Furuya, 根岸季衣, Toshimasa NiiroPlots(1)
Famous unpredictable director, Takashi Miike, truly enriched his film portfolio this year. Inspired by the classical Japanese ghost stories, Yotsuya kaidan, he filmed a novel story about a group of actors who, while rehearsing a theatre play, mirror their own stories in those of the classic play. This masterpiece has been compared to Miike's breakthrough movie, the bloody thriller titled Casting. And just like in the previous movie he prefers strong characters, their morality and the gradation of the conflicts between them, over the typical plots of the modern horrors. And that is why the finale is so impressive, because the world of the reality and theatre coalesce into a frightening nightmare. (Filmasia)
(more)Reviews (2)
I've been waiting a year for the English subtitles for Over Your Dead Body and I get this? I was sorely disappointed. For an hour nothing happens, it's even shameful to call the film a horror, rather a samurai drama. The second half is a bit more interesting but still not enough. 1* for one solid scene where the ghost rips off a piece of his face, but I saw that in the trailer anyway. The visuals are OK, but nothing can save the boring never-ending death martyrdom. No gore, no jump scares, no FUN! 20%.
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A superbly presented story that any artistic director would be proud of, all in the stylization of Japanese theater that intertwines with reality in an incredibly surreal manner. Takashi Miike couldn't resist scenes that will stay with you. One is truly dreadful, but that's how a horror movie should be. And this one is. Gritty, dark, the kind that gets under your skin and sends shivers down your spine.
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