Kwaidan

Black Hair and The Woman of the Snow seem as if they were simply Asian versions of Anderson’s fairytales. Too bad that both seem to be only good prologs to much more extensive (and more interesting) material because when it eventually gets to the most interesting phase, it’s over. The third kaidan, Hoichi the Earless has the exact opposite problem: despite not being particularly enthralling, it was the longest. A shorter and harder hitting presentation would have suited it better. And so only In a Cup of Tea, aka forerunner to all those Japanese shock movies, works as it should. But even so, none of the kaidans are bad, but none of them can be described as a gem. Much is saved by the “squeaky" sound effects and the beautiful interior production design, like straight out of a Hammer studio. P.S.: I really must get a copy of Hearn’s “Kwaidan" - shame it’s impossible to find it in any second-hand bookshops. (15/08/2010)