Kwaidan [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray] [1964]

A gorgeous transfer of this stylistic classic of Japanese ghost cinema. Clocking in at three hours, this film is immersive and is a visual feast.

Amazing cinematography and story. Beautifully remastered by criterion which is always second to none.

It’s easily one of the best films I’ve seen, it’s a creepy ride of a movie as well.

This is truly one of the finest motion pictures ever made. Kwaidan is based on a Japanese novel of the same name. The movie adaptation tells four stories of the supernatural all set in feudal Japan. Imagine a Japanese 'Twilight Zone' and you have the general idea. It's almost three hours long, but does not feel like a long movie. It moves at a nice pace and draws you into its scary world. Each tale is chilling without being gory or overly violent, focusing more on story and atmosphere than blood and gore. The set design is truly astounding, each set piece creates the impression of looking into another world without the need for extensive visual effects. In one segment, clouds and the Moon look like the eyes of angry gods glaring at the people below. In another, it looks like the sky itself is on fire. The acting is as fantastic as the visuals. Each actor is perfectly matched to his or her role and does a superb job as thier respective characters. From frightening spirits to ordinary folk, Kwaidan boasts a diverse and talented cast. I would recommend Kwaidan to any fan of Japanese movies. This is sure to add prestige to any collection. I would have had a second extras DVD in this set. Some nice extra features would have been a documentary on the making of Kwaidan, a biography on the author, Yakamo Koizumi and some info of Japanese hisory to put the stories into context. There are some isolated problems with the image quality. You can see grain and lines on the film stock in a limited number of scenes, but this is not persistent. I would strongly recommend this DVD. Kwaidan is a marvel.

This is a haunting Japanese film that will give you the creeps!

once again bluray brought new life to and older movie. It is like watching it for the first time

This a fantastic movie. The Blu-ray is the first time the movie has been released uncut. Recommended if your into scary or classic Japanese movies.