Ghost Story of Yotsuya

Iemon, a poor and ambitious samurai, poisons his wife Oiwa so that he can marry into a wealthy family. Before it kills her the poison destroys her face. After she dies she does not leave him alone. Nobuo Nakagawa directs, for Shintoho. The source is Tsuruya Nanboku's kabuki play of 1825. The story has been filmed in Japan more than thirty times, and Nakagawa's version is generally called the best. The reason is technique: the use of colour keeps the red and green accents of the stage, and the ghost sequences carry kabuki devices straight into the camera. Its place in Japanese horror is decisive. The figure of the avenging woman with long black hair and a ruined face begins here, and the lineage of Ringu and Ju-on runs directly back to Oiwa. There is also a standing custom: crews filming the Yotsuya story visit the shrine dedicated to Oiwa and pray before shooting, to avoid accidents. The practice continues today. Nakagawa is known principally for horror, and this, with Jigoku, is his most cited work. Who it is for: viewers curious about the origins of Japanese horror and about classical ghost narrative. Who it is not for: anyone expecting modern horror rhythm. The film keeps to the shape of the stage, the pace is heavy, and the effects belong to their decade.