Daiei Gothic Vol 2 — Daiei Gothic Vol 2 ( Blu Ray boxset)
Here from Radiance is the second volume in their Daiei Gothic series, which focuses on period-based Japanese ghost stories. Once again, the set offers three films, dating between the 1960s and 1970s. These move between a hunting a demon action fantasy -come- palace-court drama, a vengeful cat ghost chiller, and a swamp revenge meets melodrama that brings back the dead.
The set is presented in a thick black card slipcase, featuring a haunting still from the second film in the set, The Haunted Castle. Each film gets its own case, with reversible cover artwork. The set is topped off with an eighty-page book. All of the films have received a new 4k scan- these truly are things of beauty- with wonderful clarity and depth, with nice bold English subtitles. Each film gets a fair selection of new extras, as well as a trailer.
Opening up the set, we have 1960s The Demon of Mount Oe (Ooe-Yama Shuten-Dôji). This is a blend of stalking demon samurai fantasy horror, palace court-based drama, and war film. It certainly features some neat special effects/creature effects, as well as some quite intense/ creepy moments- though there are pacing issues/ drops into rather bland drama, which does take the wind out of the film's sails.
The picture was helmed by Osaka-born Tokuzô Tanaka, who, between the late 1950s and early 1990s, had a total of seventy-one credits to his name- these took fifty-two features, and nineteen TV credits. His features included the likes of duelling drama Scars Of Honour (1960), Killer Whale (1962) a Japanese re-telling of Moby Dick. Action- drama Sleepy Eyes of Death: Hell Is a Woman(1968), and action comedy Useless Handcuffs(1969).
The film has a runtime of five minutes shy of the two-hour mark, and I’ll have to admit at times it felt that length/ and some. Things open up decidedly positive, and going from the pre-credits, it looks like we’re getting an all-out/fast-paced, battling demons action film-as we see a group of samurai gathering, with brief shots of a tied-down long-armed demon.
The credits roll, and we then drop into place court-based scene, where a line of lords are presenting wares from their area- each is fairly impressive, except for one, where there is just a sword- the lord is berated for his lack of effort. In the next scene, we meet one of the most consistent characters in the film Princess Nagisa (Fujiko Yamamoto)- a small, clumped eyebrowed royal- who literally gets sent from pillow to post over the film's length.
Yes, we get some neat creature effects/ fight scenes- taking in a waterside battle with a female demon, which results in her arm being looped off. A flying bull demon that tries to take away Princess Nagisa. A Spider-Man- shooting lots of stringy webs, and a giant monster spider. We also get large-scale and impressive battle scenes, for example, a fireball-based flying battle.
The problem/ issue here is the rather bland drama-based moments, which are set in or around the palace court. This, and very uneven pacing, and a few occasions of clunky editing, rather mar things.
The Demon of Mount Oe certainly has its moments of both great creature effects and dramatic battle scaling. It’s just the more drama-based scenes that pull it down, and ultimately, I’m not sure if the film fits into the box of Japanese ghost tale-bound focus, as far as I’m aware, most of the creatures/ monsters found in the film are demons, not ghosts…though, is there a line drawn where one becomes the other?
On the extras side, we gave the following new things: an interview with period film historian Taichi Kasuga (18.54). He talks about how the period genre cycle of films started in the year 1950, with its peak of popularity between 1958 & 59. We find out the film was first released on 27th April 1960- this period of the year is called the golden week in Japan, as it’s when many people go to the cinema. He talks about the story jumps about/ is thin in places, though this seemingly didn’t matter to audiences then, as there were so many stars in the film. Blade of the Demon Slayer(4.04) This is a visual essay from Japanese film expert Tom Mes, where he looks at the real sword behind the legend, which still exists today- it’s from the 10th century, and is one of the oldest swords still existing today. And we get a trailer.
On the second disc, we have 1969’s The Haunted Castle (Hiroku Kaibyô-Den). And this is a wonderfully realised creepy/ at times quite gory revenge film- focusing on a vengeful cat spirit. The film features effectively low-key, eerie gothic tropes, which, of course, perfectly tie into the box set's title.
The film was directed by Tokuzô Tanaka, who helmed the previous film in the set The Demon of Mount Oe. The film script was penned by Shôzaburô Asai( Zatoichi series, Yokai Monsters: Along with Ghosts, Island of Horrors).
The film runs at just over one hour and twenty minutes mark with the whole thing flowing well from a dishonest murder of a blind monk by his samurai, because he won't let his daughter become a colobine. To the supernatural revenge/ bloody murders in the sliding wood & paper corridors of the nighttime castle.
Throughout the film, there is a wonderfully eerie use of touch light and a moody use of nighttime rain. We move from the face-slashing/ back stabbing of the monk/whose body is dropped into a well to be sealed up. Though to signs of bloody paw prints and a creepily wailing cat call/ jingle of its collar bell. To people possessed by a vengeful cat spirit- with an unsettling, long tongue, pruning & lines of feline teeth. Onto a bloody/ darting from roof to roof resolve.
The Haunted Castle is the highlight of this box set- with a wonderful atmosphere, some generally creepy moments, and a good pacey flow to the whole thing.
On the new extras side of this disc, we have: an interview with J-horror filmmaker Mari Asato(17.08), she discusses the legend the film was based on, Nabeshima ghost, and the other films based on it. She gives a bio of the film's lead actress. The Strange Case of Ikuko Mori (3.45). This is a visual essay by Tom Mes- where he discusses how the film's lead actress stabbed her lover, and landed up in prison for some years.
Finally, we have The Ghost of Kasane Swamp (Kaidan Kasane-Ga-Fuchi) from the year 1970. The film sells itself as a vengeful ghost-led affair, and yes, this is part of the film. I’d say it’s more of a melodrama/tragedy than anything. The film was helmed by Tokyo-born Kimiyoshi Yasuda. It’s a remake of a 1957 film, as well as being the final film made by Daiei Studios.
Between the late 40’s and mid 70’s, Kimiyoshi Yasuda had an impressive seventy features to his name. Taking in the likes of Ghost Story, Depth of Kasane(1960), onto sword-slashing anti-hero action pics like Sleepy Eyes Of Death: Sword Of Satan( 1965) and Sleepy Eyes Of Death: In The Spiders Lair(1968).
The film runs at one hour and twenty-two minutes mark, and I’d say it’s fair to say the supernatural elements are largely packed into the front and back half of the film, with the rest of the film very much focused on drama and creed.
To begin with, we are introduced to tubby, shaved head and blind masseur Soetsu( Kenjirô Ishiyama) who also lends money to people, and we find out that he is a decidedly mean man, as we see his daughter asking for a loan- she is coldly turned down.
One evening, Soetsu is out and about chasing up debts- he walks into the house of samurai Shinzaemon Fukami(Saburô Date), who is getting it on with his maid in the front room, as his forlorn wife sits in the shadows of the bedroom. The samurai says he can’t pay his debt, so he suggests Soetsu ask his wife instead- she says she has no money, and the only way she can pay is with her body- so the pair gets it on. Fairly soon, the samurai has finished with the maid, making his way to the bedroom- raging- he kills them both, with a quite impressive sword, slashing bald head make-up. The samurai orders his henchmen to drop the bodies in the nearby dead reed swamp- and with this opening premise, you think you’re going to get a ghostly revenge story- yes, this does appear in the front/ backend of the film.
But really, most of the runtime focuses on Soetsu younger daughter- the one he turned down for a loan, using the dead man's money to buy the whore house she works in with largely a melodramatic feel to this part of the film.
The acting from all involved is fine, the melodrama elements do drag somewhat- as you're constantly keen to get to the supernatural horror side of things, and when they do appear they’re well enough realised, with some neat ghoulish/ melted face elements, and the aforementioned brief gore elements.
The Ghost of Kasane Swamp is just ok. I just wish it had been more focused on the ghost/ horror side of things, and not on the rather run-of-the-mill melodrama.
For this disc/ film, we have the following new extras: Select-scene audio commentary by horror film scholar Lindsay Nelson(24.24). Interview with J-horror filmmaker Norio Tsuruta(18.36). He moves from talking about there being a total of eight films based on this legend, touching on some of the differences between them. He discusses the film's opening shot, and the effective use of the camera. He talks about how there is no one nice in the film. He talks about the three key ghost stories in Japan, and how they vary from their American counterparts. A visual essay by ghost story scholar Zack Davisson(12.16). He talks about how the legend the film is based on a real story, with there being existing graves from those involved in
The eighty-page booklet is a perfectly bound paperback, made with nice paper stock, with a good selection of colour pictures throughout. Its contents take in the full cast & crew for each of the three films. Three new articles, a selection of the legends with reproduction of old prints related to said stories, and a 2001 piece on the Kasne Marsh.
In conclusion, Daiei Gothic Vol 2 is not quite as consistent as the first volume, as not all of the films fully stick to the Japanese ghost story focus, but each film has its worth. This is another nicely presented set from Radince with great prints and worthy extras.