Onibaba (Criterion Collection) (1964) On DVD

Deep within the wind-swept marshes of war-torn, medieval Japan, an impoverished mother and her daughter-in-law eke out a lonely, desperate existence. Forced to murder lost samurai and sell their belongings for grain, they dump the corpses down a deep, dark hole and live off the meager spoils. When a bedraggled neighbor returns from the skirmishes, lust, jealousy, and rage threaten to destroy the trio's tenuous existence, before an ominous, ill-gotten demon mask seals their horrifying fate. Driven by primal emotions, dark eroticism, a frenzied score, and stunning images both lyrical and macabre, Kaneto Shindo's chilling folk tale is a singular cinematic experience. Japanese with English Subtitles.

From the mind of Kaneto Shindo comes ONIBABA, a haunting folk nightmare.In medieval Japan, a peasant woman and her daughter stay alive by murdering stray soldiers and selling their armor for food. A crafty warrior saves his life by seducing the daughter - until the mother's witchcraft exacts her revenge. A truly original film, Shindo's stark, erotic vision will stick in viewer's heads for days.