CIFF: Kaidan - Horror Classics
By Rob Christopher in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 6, 2011 2:30PM
This is part of Chicagoist's coverage of the Chicago International Film Festival.
What can you say about a horror story that’s slow, doesn’t lead anywhere interesting, and isn’t scary? Because that pretty much sums up the quartet of tales that make up the Japanese anthology Kaidan - Horror Classics. The movie bundles together episodes of a NHK television series called Ayashiki Bungô Kaidan, and that's part of the problem. Unlike Dead of Night or Tales from the Crypt, which at least feature some kind of linking device, these stories have no connection to each other and no consistency.
The first, “The Arm,” (directed by Ochiai Masayuki) actually does generate some mild disquiet as it spins a creepy yarn about a gentleman who makes a deal with to spend the night alone with a woman’s prosthetic arm. But some pretty ingenious special effects cannot compensate for such a disappointingly tame handling of a weird theme, including a conclusion that will leave you nonplussed. What David Cronenberg might have done with this idea!
“The Whister,” (directed by Tsukamoto Shinya) about a woman who discovers a mysterious cache of letters addressed to her dying sister, is full of faux-arty touches like dissolves and shots of falling cherry blossoms. Even though it's only about 45 minutes long, it rambles inconclusively until its lame "revelation" is finally unveiled.
Next is “The Nose,” (directed by Lee Sang-il) which centers on a disfigured monk who’s haunted by the ghost of a drowned boy. It's heavy on moody atmosphere, including some of the filthiest peasants this side of Jabberwocky as well as some striking images. Sadly its potential is spoiled by a hazily defined protagonist whose actions don't seem to make much sense, and poor special effects makeup--the body part of the title looks like a rather more humorous appendage.
By a long shot the best segment is the last; but “The Days After” (directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu) isn’t a horror story at all. Instead it’s a gentle, meditative examination of grief, as a young married couple mourns the loss of their beloved son from illness. When the boy appears to turn up years later for a series of visits, they’re forced to confront their feelings. As you’d expect from the filmmaker of After Life, it’s not only insightful but gorgeously shot and extremely well acted. In other words, completely out of place in this anthology.
Last segment aside you’re better off staying home and watching Criterion’s excellent edition of Kwaidan, which is a true gathering of horror classics.
Kaidan - Horror Classics screens Sunday, October 9 at 8:30 p.m.