Onibaba

Movie

1964

1h 45m

Japanese

Horror

User Score:

Critic Score:

Watch on HBO (Via Hulu)

Play Trailer

Onibaba

Movie

1964

1h 45m

Japanese

Horror

Play Trailer

Watch on HBO (Via Hulu)

While her son, Kichi, is away at war, a woman and her daughter-in-law survive by killing samurai who stray into their swamp, then selling whatever valuables they find. Both are devastated when they learn that Kichi has died, but his wife soon begins an affair with a neighbor who survived the war, Hachi. The mother disapproves and, when she can't steal Hachi for herself, tries to scare her daughter-in-law with a mysterious mask from a dead samurai.

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Cast

Woman

Young Woman

Hachi

The Samurai

Ushi

Runaway Warrior

Runaway Warrior

Old Woman

Horse Riding Samurai

Horse Riding Samurai

Ushi's Follower

Samurai with Blood

Horse Riding Samurai A

Nobuko Shimakage

Child

Directed By: Kaneto Shindō

Written By: Kaneto Shindō (Screenplay)

Featured Comments/Tips

guzzlima says...

7 months ago

The cinematography is beautiful, the black and white image full of contrast is absurdly beautiful. The movie has a historical context that could be better utilized, as it is very interesting, but in the first half, within the micro environment in which it takes place, not much happens, with a very slow pace. It's from halfway through that the movie shines, with very striking moments, which have the element of horror more evident, these are the best scenes, really scary, and as it develops, it has a disturbing and impacting atmosphere.

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TheAmnesiac says...

a month ago

This is not quite what I was expecting but I can’t say I’m disappointed. It’s beautifully shot and serene at times. Solid plot with interesting themes. A little slow for my usual taste but the last act was worth it. It’s one of the funnier horror flicks I’ve seen in a while. Mostly the mother and her facial expressions. “I’ll spear the two of you in your sleep” had me dying lol.

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soonertbone says...

a month ago

Crazy, unexpected movie about the traumas of war and grief with a little bit of folk horror thrown in. I particularly liked the use of location here--the tall grass/reeds in this movie were a character of their own. Japan really knocking it out of the park for me in the mid-60s.

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smallclone says...

5 years ago

I'm finding it difficult to find any faults with this film. It's exceptional. The lighting, the performances, the eerie atmospheric sounds. An absolute tour de force in folk horror.

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