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.
