Kwaidan (1964)

Kwaidan (Kaidan) is a visually sumptuous anthology of four Japanese folk tales that fuse human drama with the uncanny. Told with a deliberate, theatrical rhythm and drenched in bold color and eerie sound design, the film transforms simple moral and supernatural narratives into haunting cinematic tableaux. Each segment explores guilt, love, memory and the cost of broken promises, and together they create a slow-building, dreamlike experience rather than jump-scare horror. The four stories: - Black Hair — A poor samurai abandons his true, loving wife to marry for money. Years later he returns to his first wife and finds that her quiet fidelity has a chilling, otherworldly consequence. - The Woman in the Snow — A young woodcutter is saved from a blizzard by a mysterious woman made of snow. He vows never to speak of her, but time and human weakness put that promise — and his life — at risk. - Hoichi the Earless — A blind biwa player sings the tragic epic of a doomed sea battle and is summoned by ghostly aristocrats. The monks try to protect him with sacred writing, but an important detail is overlooked with grim results. - In a Cup of Tea — A writer tells of a man who repeatedly sees a ghostly face reflected in his tea, and how the vision invades waking life. What you’ll experience: - Striking, expressionistic visuals: painted backdrops, theatrical framing and saturated color turn each tale into a stylized folktale painting brought to life. - A slow, ritualistic pace that deepens mood and dread rather than relying on shock; the film rewards patience and attention. - An immersive soundscape and spare dialogue that amplify the uncanny — music and silence play a major role. - Themes of regret, loyalty, fate and the porous boundary between the living and the dead, all rooted in Japanese legend. Who it’s for: If you enjoy atmospheric, artful cinema, folklore-infused storytelling, and mood-driven horror that lingers after the credits, Kwaidan is a haunting, unforgettable experience.

Actors: Rentarô Mikuni, Michiyo Aratama, Misako Watanabe

Director: Masaki Kobayashi

Runtime: 183 min

Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Horror

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