Notable Cast: Kazuo Hasegawa, Yasuko Nakada, Yoko Uraji, Mieko Kondo, Joji
Tsurumi, Naritoshi Hayashi, Hideo Takamatsu
Although the story that The Ghost of Yotsuya is based
on has been around for what feels like since the beginning of time, of which
there is a nice little documentary on that subject on the Radiance release of
this film, it’s this 1959 version that really perked my interested. Why? What
could make this version stand out against the slew of other adaptions? Director
Kenji Misumi. The notable director had crafted some of the greatest samurai and
action films of all time - working on notable franchises like Lone Wolf and
Cub, Zatoichi, and Sleepy Eyes of Death just to name some of
the biggest ones - but he rarely dabbled in the horror realm.
Thus, I needed to add Radiance’s Daiei Gothic box set to my collection, which
featured this adaption of The Ghost of Yotsuya. It was worth it, too,
because this version is a lush and often haunting film, complete with a wild
third act, an impressive build of tension, and some gorgeous visuals to go with
it. Although, at times, this feels like Misumi at some of his most restrained,
it’s such a well-crafted film that showcases his understanding of build and
atmosphere that any Japanese horror fan will want to watch it.
