ONIBABA & KWAIDAN (1964): Celebrating Japan's CLASSIC Horror Cinema!!

HORROR 101 with Dr. AC

ONIBABA (1964) d. Kaneto Shindo (Japan) KWAIDAN (1964) d. Masaki Kobayashi (Japan) Tonight, we discuss the 1964 Japanese horror classics Onibaba and Kwaidan, exploring their reflections of post-war Japanese society, folklore, and complex themes of fear and morality. Set in feudal Japan, Onibaba sees two women surviving by killing samurai and selling their armor. Blending psychological terror, supernatural elements, and an ominous, demonic mask, writer/director Kaneto Shindo (Kuroneko) uses stark black-and-white cinematography to examine the horrifying consequences of betrayal, lust, and murder. In Kwaidan, director Masaki Kobayashi (Hara-Kiri) presents four traditional ghost stories based on Lafcadio Hearn's writings. Using visually striking and atmospheric cinematography, this epic Japanese anthology horror film delivers eerie tales of the uncanny, featuring vengeful spirits, mythical creatures, and haunting folklore. Join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Christianne Benedict, Jon Kitley, John McDevitt, Jen Olson, Lee Price) as they analyze how these two films combine historical context and haunting imagery to create timeless works of horror that continue to resonate with audiences today. ---------------------------------------- CHRISTIANNE BENEDICT is a cartoonist, film writer, malcontent, and Bloginatrix at https://krelllabs.blogspot.com JON KITLEY has been running his website, Kitley's Krypt for 25 years. He's a columnist for HorrorHound magazine, a co-host on the Discover the Horror podcast, and attends multiple conventions and all-night horror movie marathons at the drive-in theaters! https://kitleyskrypt.com/ JOHN MCDEVITT is a lifelong cinephile who programs two recurring film events in Chicago: SUPER-HORROR-RAMA!, a weekly horror gathering with film screenings at Sideshow Gelato, and Fetish Film Forum, a monthly screening series about fetish, kink, leather, and BDSM at the Leather Archives & Museum. John is fascinated by all genres of cinema and appreciates horror most of all for its willingness to explore what makes us uncomfortable and for the compassion it often extends to its characters and the viewer. JENNIFER OLSON is a lifelong horror fan and mother of three monster kids. She is a former member of The Flint Horror Con, and currently part of the Synapse Films street team! LEE PRICE is dedicated to preserving and celebrating our history, culture, and monster movies through his work with the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts and freelance writing. Occasional guest blogger at “Wonders in the Dark.” https://wondersinthedark.wordpress.com/ ------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!