Rating: 
Summary: An eerie film set in medieval Japan
Review: Two peasant women - an old woman and her daughter-in-law - in medieval Japan kill lost samurai in order to sell their clothing and weapons for much-needed food. When their neighbor returns from the wars alone, he threatens to break up the duo by seducing the daughter-in-law. Afraid theat she might be left alone, the old woman hatches a unique plan when she steals a demon mask from lost samurai, not realizing the dire consequences.
Director Kaneto Shindo has crafted an eerie and creepy film shot almost entirely in a field of tall reeds. Very little to the soundtrack except for some dialogue and the sound of wind whipping through the reeds. His use of lighting and the black-and-white film also add to the movie's effectiveness. A great film to send shivers down your spine.
Rating: 
Summary: An exceptional horror story...
Review: War and famine has worn out Medieval Japan which has brought a mother and her daughter-in-law to the edge of desperation as they have been forced to lead a life of lawlessness. The two women have become merciless murderers as they hunt for weak and fallen warriors that are lost in the tall grass of the marshland in which they live. The women dumps the dead bodies in a deep and dark hole after they steal the weapons and belongings of the warriors. The stolen goods are sold to a crooked salesman for a meager sum of grain and rice. When a dubious neighbor returns, the neighbor begin to show interest in a late friend's wife, which later develops to an passionate affair. Onibaba is based on a Buddhist legend that was told in order to teach moral values. Shindô directs with a skillful eye as he tells the story of the two woman and the affair that develops into an exceptional horror story. In the end, Onibaba leaves the audience with an excellent cinematic experience.
Rating:
Summary: An exceptional horror story...
Review: War and famine has worn out Medieval Japan which has brought a mother and her daughter-in-law to the edge of desperation as they have been forced to lead a life of lawlessness. The two women have become merciless murderers as they hunt for weak and fallen warriors that are lost in the tall grass of the marshland in which they live. The women dumps the dead bodies in a deep and dark hole after they steal the weapons and belongings of the warriors. The stolen goods are sold to a crooked salesman for a meager sum of grain and rice. When a dubious neighbor returns, the neighbor begin to show interest in a late friend's wife, which later develops to an passionate affair. Onibaba is based on a Buddhist legend that was told in order to teach moral values. Shindô directs with a skillful eye as he tells the story of the two woman and the affair that develops into an exceptional horror story. In the end, Onibaba leaves the audience with an excellent cinematic experience.
Rating:
Summary: "There are demons here too"
Review: When I first saw the opening shot of the THE HOLE i felt that this would be some old B-Movie but i was amazed to discover what a beautiful peice of art it was. The story is of a mother living in a marshy expanse in the country in a feudal japan under the constant warring shoguns, bitter of the world around for the taking the life of her only son, and even more so of the bearer of news she restrains her daughter-in-law, who she uses as a replacement for her lost son, from pursuing romantic interests with a doctrine free runaway samurai. The mother performs this by guising as a demon and frightening her, but fate takes it's toll as the mother is unable to remove the mask, when the daugther does undernearth the meddling mother's face has been scarred and deformed. This frightens the daughter and causes her to flee.There is alot of deep meaning to this story that teaches us that by limiting others through envy in the end we shall never benefit from it. Whta I enjoyed about the movie was the ambience. Shots of the long grasses swaying individually in the wind gave a feel as if the story was timeless and uninterrupted. The occurence was isolated and uncomplicated. It was in another world. There is a lot to learn from this movie, i recommend it to any who seek a moral reasoning or enjoy fantastic psychological horrors.
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