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Portrait of Hell

1969·Movie
1h 35min

Where to watch

No stream option in US yet.

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

Portrait of Hell fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Tense and violent

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension8
  • Violence8
  • Scare7

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy8
  • Catharsis8

Humor

Some dark humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor7
  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Satire & Parody3

World

The mind, society, and history

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Direction9
  • Acting9
  • Character Depth9

Style

Standout cinematography

  • Cinematography8
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting moodYou want fast pacingYou want to half-watch while scrollingGraphic violence bothers you

Find more like it

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

The story, set in the Heian era, depicts the conflict between Korean painter Yoshihide (Nakadai) and his Japanese patron, the cruel and egotistical daimyo Horikawa (Nakamura). It is based on the 1918 short story Hell Screen by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa.
Japanese CinemaPsychological DramaHistorical SettingArtistic ConflictBleak & DisturbingMoral DepravityVisually StrikingTragic FateNakadai Performance

Crew

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Portrait of Hell

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Portrait of Hell legally?

GoodWatch doesn't know of a legal streaming option for Portrait of Hell in the United States right now. Pick another country in the Where to Watch section to check elsewhere.

Is Portrait of Hell worth watching?

72
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 73/100 (IMDb 7.2). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Portrait of Hell rated?

ViolenceDisturbing imagery

Content advisories: violence and disturbing imagery.

How long is Portrait of Hell?

1 h 35 min

Portrait of Hell runs 1 h 35 min.

What language is Portrait of Hell in?

Japanese

It was made in Japanese. Produced in Japan.