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Kwaidan

1965·Movie

·3h 3min·PG-13·

76

GreatGoodWatch score

76

GreatGoodWatch score

Rotten Tomatoes

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Kwaidan fingerprint

A , horror movie: , but gripping, .

Good for date night · friends night · teens

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About

In the tradition of "RASHOMON" and "GATE OF HELL."

Taking its title from an archaic Japanese word meaning "ghost story," this anthology adapts four folk tales. A penniless samurai marries for money with tragic results. A man stranded in a blizzard is saved by Yuki the Snow Maiden, but his rescue comes at a cost. Blind musician Hoichi is forced to perform for an audience of ghosts. An author relates the story of a samurai who sees another warrior's reflection in his teacup.

Japanese Ghost StoriesFolk HorrorVisually StunningAnthology FilmSupernatural DramaEthereal AtmosphereTraditional Japanese ArtSlow Burn MysteryPoetic & Haunting

Actors

Michiyo Aratama

First Wife (segment "The Black Hair")

Rentaro Mikuni

Husband (segment "The Black Hair")

Misako Watanabe

Second Wife (segment "The Black Hair")

Kenjirō Ishiyama

Father (segment "The Black Hair")

Fumie Kitahara

(segment "The Black Hair")

Otome Tsukimiya

(segment "The Black Hair") (uncredited)

Tatsuya Nakadai

Minokichi (segment "The Woman of the Snow")

Keiko Kishi

Yuki the Snow Maiden (segment "The Woman of the Snow")

Yūko Mochizuki

Minokichi's Mother (segment "The Woman of the Snow")

Kin Sugai

Village Woman (segment "The Woman of the Snow")

Noriko Sengoku

Village Woman (segment "The Woman of the Snow")

Akiko Nomura

(segment "The Woman of the Snow") (uncredited)

Torahiko Hamada

(segment "The Woman of the Snow") (uncredited)

Jun Hamamura

(segment "The Woman of the Snow")

Katsuo Nakamura

Hoichi (segment "Hoichi the Earless")

Tetsuro Tamba

Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")

Takashi Shimura

Head Priest (segment "Hoichi the Earless")

Yoichi Hayashi

Attendant (segment "Hoichi the Earless")

Eiko Muramatsu

Kenreiinmon (segment "Hoichi the Earless")

Kunie Tanaka

Yasaku (segment "Hoichi the Earless")

Kazuo Kitamura

Tomomori (segment "Hoichi the Earless")

Ichirō Nakatani

(segment "Hoichi the Earless") (uncredited)

Tokue Hanazawa

(segment "Hoichi the Earless") (uncredited)

Crew

Directed by:

Masaki Kobayashi

Written by:

Yōko Mizuki, Lafcadio Hearn

Produced by:

Shigeru Wakatsuki

Composed by:

Tōru Takemitsu

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Kwaidan

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Kwaidan?

In the United States, Kwaidan streams on HBO Max and Criterion. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 8 other countries.

Is Kwaidan worth watching?

76

GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 76 (IMDb 7.9 and Rotten Tomatoes 91%).

Is Kwaidan okay for kids?

PG-13Disturbing imagery

Not for young kids: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.

Will Kwaidan scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

At times: scares are rated 7 of 10.

Is Kwaidan in English?

Japanese

No, it was made in Japanese.

What tropes does Kwaidan use?

Yuki-onnaOne-Word TitleMama BearWhite-and-Grey MoralityBookendsScenery PornVengeful GhostJerk with a Heart of GoldEven Evil Has Loved OnesBig BadOur Souls Are DifferentGold Diggerand 27 more

TV Tropes lists 39 tropes for it, including Yuki-onna, One-Word Title, and Mama Bear.