Onibaba

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Onibaba

1964

1h 45m

Horror

Fantasy

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

19 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

While her son, Kichi, is away at war, a woman (Nobuko Otowa) and her daughter-in-law (Jitsuko Yoshimura) survive by killing samurai who stray into their swamp, then selling whatever valuables they find. Both are devastated when they learn that Kichi has died, but his wife soon begins an affair with a neighbor who survived the war, Hachi (Kei Satô). The mother disapproves and, when she can't steal Hachi for herself, tries to scare her daughter-in-law with a mysterious mask from a dead samurai.

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Colin Bennett

The Age (Australia)

[Onibaba] contains effectively extravagant moments sandwiched between, its grunts, groans. and gurgles

May 31, 2022

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Onibaba is a chilling movie, a waking nightmare shot in icy monochrome, and filmed in a colossal and eerily beautiful wilderness.

Mar 4, 2013

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Variety

Too often, it turns out to be a pot-pourri of ravenous eating and blatant sex.

Apr 14, 2007

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Shot in stark, severe black and white, the images seared into the film, with unnerving close-ups and bobbing handheld camerawork, Shindo makes even the waving of the grass look ominous as it all but swallows everyone who enters...

Oct 29, 2022

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Given its historical setting, visually dynamic presentation, and open-ended conclusion, Onibaba lends itself to interpretation and symbolic readings.

Rated: 4/4

Feb 14, 2022

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

A lush darkness fills every trippy scene in this stone cold (black-and-white) classic of Japanese horror.

Rated: A+

Jan 15, 2022

Full Review

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Insomniac X

Dark historical fable uses horror elements and psycho-sexual themes to examine the dehumanizing consequences of war.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/27/25

Full Review

Laura S

Scary movie! Shows the innermost evil of mankind! Very dark, very moody!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/17/25

Full Review

Lars N

A nightmarish tale of what people are willing to do to survive and the yearning to find their way back to humanity, Onibaba is small in scale yet breathtakingly cinematic in scope.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/25

Full Review

Alec B

I appreciate that the movie sees its characters in their full beauty and ugliness which makes the horrifying ending more effective. There is a rawness here that I would like to see a lot of "elevated horror" of today be more willing to indulge in.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/07/24

Full Review

Albert D

Very scary movie. It shows the true monster is inside us.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/16/24

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Alexander B

A remarkable achievement in Japanese cinema. The narrative, rooted in folklore and human frailty, is compelling, though at times can feel a bit repetitive. Its breathtaking monochromatic camera work by Kuroda and the haunting musical score by Hayashi create an unforgettable atmosphere that draws viewers into its dark, mesmerizing world. Overall, the film is a chilling exploration of human nature and survival wrapped in a visually stunning and sonically rich package. A must-watch for those who appreciate the artistry of filmmaking.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/31/24

Full Review

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Kaneto Shindô

Director

Nobuko Otowa

Kichi's Mother

Jitsuko Yoshimura

Kichi's Wife

Kei Satô

Hachi

Taiji Tonoyama

Ushi

Jukichi Uno

Busho

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Synopsis

While her son, Kichi, is away at war, a woman (Nobuko Otowa) and her daughter-in-law (Jitsuko Yoshimura) survive by killing samurai who stray into their swamp, then selling whatever valuables they find. Both are devastated when they learn that Kichi has died, but his wife soon begins an affair with a neighbor who survived the war, Hachi (Kei Satô). The mother disapproves and, when she can't steal Hachi for herself, tries to scare her daughter-in-law with a mysterious mask from a dead samurai.

Director: Kaneto Shindô
Screenwriter: Kaneto Shindô
Production Co: Kindai Eiga Kyokai
Genre: Horror, Fantasy
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 15, 2020
Runtime: 1h 45m

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