The Masters of Cinema Series DVD

Kuroneko

Edition no. 14

Discuss Compare

Release Date: Monday, 22 August 2005
Country of Release: United Kingdom
MSRP: £12.99

Buy Physical Copy At:

Licensor Information

Toho Co.

Directed by: Kaneto Shindo

Featuring: Kichiemon Nakamura, Nobuko Otowa, Kei Sato, Rokko Toura, Kiwako Taichi, Taiji Tonoyama, Hideo Kanze

In this magnificently eerie and romantic film loosely based on the Japanese folktale The Cat's Return a mother and daughter-in-law (Nobuko Otowa & Kiwako Taichi), who were raped and murdered by pillagers, return from the dead as vampiric cat spirits intent on revenge. As the ghosts lure soldiers into the bamboo groves, a fearless samurai, Gintoki (Kinichiemon Nakamura), is sent to stop their reign of terror. Kuroneko remains a standout film of the kaiden eiga genre of period ghost stories often based on old legends or kabuki plays. Marking Shindo's first use of wire work as Yone and Shige battle against samurai blades, the film is subtly complimented by Kiyomi Kuroda's award-winning chiaroscuro cinematography, Hikaru Hayashi's vibrant score, and riveting performances from many of the greatest actors of Japan's Golden Age of film. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Kuroneko on DVD for the first time in the West.

Year: 1968
Time: 99 min.