Kuroneko (1968)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Kuroneko (1968) -- K. Shindo

Highly stylized (in high contrast black and white) Japanese ghost story that pulls no punches in its portrayal of wronged women who seek revenge (on all samurai) after their deaths.  Of course, the samurai who is charged with defeating them (by his clan leader with the funny mustache) finds himself strangely compromised. Shindo's tale is almost minimalist in its starkness with all the action taking place at the Rashomon gate, the spirits' house of screens and timber, or a dark bamboo grove. A spooky folktale (kaidan).

Rewatched 16/10/2020. This time, in addition to the horror elements, I thought about the historical context and the way the powerful may always exploit the powerless (and the powerless may seek to become powerful and lose their empathy). Also, Freudians won't be disappointed.