Onibaba
While her son, Kichi, is away at war, a woman and her daughter-in-law 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. 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.
From the archive
Onibaba, also titled The Hole, is a Japanese horror film directed by Kaneto Shindo that explores themes of love, betrayal, and the primal instincts of survival in a war-torn setting. Set in 14th-century Japan during a civil war, the story follows two women, a mother and her daughter-in-law, who live in a secluded area near a marsh. They survive by killing passing soldiers and robbing them of their belongings. The plot thickens when a soldier named Hachi arrives, revealing that he knows the son of the older woman. He expresses a longing for a romantic relationship with the daughter-in-law, who struggles with her emotions and circumstances. As Hachi and the daughter-in-law grow closer, the mother-in-law becomes increasingly jealous and protective. Things take a dark turn when the mother discovers the budding relationship. In her rage, she dons a demon mask that she had previously used to frighten foes and ultimately manipulates circumstances leading to betrayal and death, illustrating the depths of human fear and jealousy.The film culminates in a haunting conclusion that leaves the viewer with lingering questions about the nature of humanity and the consequences of primal instincts.
Why this is free to watch
Onibaba (1964) is hosted by the Internet Archive as a public-domain or openly licensed work, which means its copyright has expired, lapsed, or was released by the rights holder. The uploader declared an explicit licence, linked in the source panel. Nitrate streams the file directly from the Archive and hosts no video itself.
- Director
- Kaneto Shindō
- Starring
- Nobuko Otowa, Jitsuko Yoshimura, Kei Satō, Jūkichi Uno, Taiji Tonoyama, Someshō Matsumoto, Kentarô Kaji, Fudeko Tanaka
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