Kuroneko (1968)

In the turbulent times of civil war, the humble abode of peasants Yone and her daughter-in-law Shige becomes the stage for a horrific act of brutality. A marauding troop of samurai, driven by hunger and depravity, break into their sanctuary. They plunder their food, violate their honor, and extinguish their lives, leaving nothing but the charred remains of the house they once called home. As the ashes cool, a black cat emerges from the shadows to lick their lifeless bodies, weaving a dark spell over their fate. Rising from the ruins of their past lives, Yone and Shige return as spectral geishas, their ethereal beauty a chilling contrast to their vengeful hearts. With Shige's bewitching allure, they lure unsuspecting samurais traversing the eerie Rajômon gate late at night under the guise of seeking protection. Their siren's call leads the samurais through a haunting bamboo grove and into the phantom replica of their burnt abode. Seduction turns to slaughter as the samurais meet their gruesome end, their throats torn apart in a chilling reprisal. Amid this macabre tableau, a warrior named Gintoki emerges victorious from a fierce battle, the severed head of a formidable enemy in his grasp. His valor catches the attention of the samurai lord Raiko, who elevates him to the samurai rank. Upon returning home, Gintoki discovers the remnants of his shattered house and the disappearance of Yone and Shige. Called upon by Raiko to vanquish the ghostly menace plaguing the samurais, Gintoki is swept into a whirlwind of haunting revelations and spectral confrontations. As he embarks on a spiritual purification, the line between the living and the dead blurs, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown with the demons of his past. Will Gintoki triumph over the vengeful spirits, or will he falter when he uncovers the true identities of Yone and Shige? In the shadowy realm of "Kuroneko," vengeance and loyalty clash in a mesmerizing dance of death, raising unsettling questions on the cost of honor, the pursuit of justice, and the depths of human cruelty.

Kuroneko is a fantasy movie featuring Kichiemon Nakamura II.

Kuroneko is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.