Two women are raped and killed by samurai soldiers. Soon they reappear as vengeful ghosts who seduce and brutally murder the passing samurai.
Manohla Dargis describes the film as "a ghost story that's more eerie than unnerving, and often hauntingly lovely". Maitland McDonagh writes that it is "darkly seductive" and "sleek, hair-raisingly graceful, and ready to take its place alongside the other landmarks of Japanese horror history". I appreciate that the phrase is "take its place", implying it is not already there. Despite being released by no less an authority than the Criterion Collection, I don't think this is a very well-known Japanese horror film.
What is really striking for me is the use of the eyebrows. A simple use of makeup, but it makes for a very creepy and offsetting feeling. The women become somehow other than human.
Manohla Dargis describes the film as "a ghost story that's more eerie than unnerving, and often hauntingly lovely". Maitland McDonagh writes that it is "darkly seductive" and "sleek, hair-raisingly graceful, and ready to take its place alongside the other landmarks of Japanese horror history". I appreciate that the phrase is "take its place", implying it is not already there. Despite being released by no less an authority than the Criterion Collection, I don't think this is a very well-known Japanese horror film.
What is really striking for me is the use of the eyebrows. A simple use of makeup, but it makes for a very creepy and offsetting feeling. The women become somehow other than human.