“A very enjoyable fantastical horror period-drama that excels in creating an unsettling spooky atmosphere.”
Category: Jidaigeki
Daimajin (1966) review
“A wonderful and refreshing blend between the jidai-geki/chanbara and the kaiju genre.”
Onibaba (1964) review
A veritable horror classic.
Short Movie Time: Go Seppukku Yourselves (2021) review [Japan Cuts 2021]
“An enthralling audiovisual experience and a powerful critique of the Japanese political system.”
Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance (1974)
Introduction With Lady Snowblood: Blizzard of the Netherrealm (1973), an adaptation of Kazuo Koike’s popular manga Lady Snowblood (1972 – 1973), Toshiya Fujita created a beautiful, strong demonic woman who turns killing people, with her sharp sword, into an elegant art. Fujita’s sequel about this deadly beauty is, contrary to first narrative, not based on…
Ohyaku: the Female Demon (1968) [review]
a very enjoyable revenge-narrative that, surprisingly, still holds up well today.
Crazy Samurai Musashi (2020) review [Fantasia 2020]
“Sakaguchi reveals that what truly stirs the imagination of the spectator is not shining special effects, but true skill and physicality of the actor’s presence.”
Short Movie Time: A Wolf’s Calling (2019) [Japan Cuts 2020]
“A powerful subjective statement against the prowling nature of the Japanese police.”
From hero to violator: An introduction to pre-war Jidai-geki cinema. (Part 1)
A deep and detailed exploration of the beginning of cinema in Japan.
Love’s Twisting Path (2019) Review
“Nakajima’s movie delivers everything that one expects from an jidai-geki narrative.”
Samurai Shifters (2019) review [Japannual 2019]
“While it does not offer anything new to the jidai-geki genre, it still is a pleasing narrative that touches upon less well-known aspects of Edo-society.”
Samurai Marathon (2019) review
“A somewhat atypically packaged jidai-geki, that provides everything one should expect of a contemporary mainstream jidai-geki.”
Zan/killing (2018) review
“One of the Tsukamoto’s most accomplished narratives.”
Mumon: Land of Stealth (2016) review
For those who are looking for a well-crafted ride with thrills and twists, finished off with some subtle melodrama, this narrative fits the bill.
Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno (2014) review
“Add the Kenshin-tension to the mix and you have a narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat.”