Onibaba (1964) d. Shindo, Kaneto (Japan)
Shindo’s allegorical fable (which he also scripted), examining the fate of two widows in 16th century Japan, is a masterpiece of horror conjured from everyday life. Left to fend for themselves while the men are at war, a mother (Nobuko Otowa) and her daughter-in-law (Jitsuko Yoshimura) survive by ambushing wandering soldiers and selling their armor for food. When a lusty neighbor (Kei Sato) returns home with news that their son/husband has been slain in battle, a tension-filled triangle is formed – one rife with shifting alliances and rising passions.
But it is the appearance of a lone, demon mask-wearing samurai (Jukichi Uno) one night that sets off a terrifying chain of events, resulting in the unforgettable, nail-biting conclusion.
While not a fright flick in the traditional sense, Shindo’s dynamic staging of the susuki field as a living, undulating entity creates a palpable atmosphere of unquelled longing, and desperation, aided immeasurably by Kiyomi Kuroda’s gorgeous b/w cinematography and Hikaru Hayashi’s stellar jazz soundtrack (which surprisingly never seems out of place in this medieval setting).
Trivia: The iconic demon mask was reportedly the inspiration for the flashing "Pazuza" imagery in William Friedkin’s The Exorcist.
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