Kaidan
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Taking its title from an archaic Japanese word meaning "ghost story," this anthology adapts four folk tales. A penniless samurai marries for money with tragic results. A man stranded in a blizzard is saved by Yuki the Snow Maiden, but his rescue comes at a cost. Blind musician Hoichi is forced to perform for an audience of ghosts. An author relates the story of a samurai who sees another warrior's reflection in his teacup. (Eureka Entertainment)
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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.
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