Onibaba (1964)

About

Onibaba, also titled The Hole, is a Japanese horror film directed by Kaneto Shindo that explores themes of love, betrayal, and the primal instincts of survival in a war-torn setting. Set in 14th-century Japan during a civil war, the story follows two women, a mother and her daughter-in-law, who live in a secluded area near a marsh. They survive by killing passing soldiers and robbing them of their belongings. The plot thickens when a soldier named Hachi arrives, revealing that he knows the son of the older woman. He expresses a longing for a romantic relationship with the daughter-in-law, who struggles with her emotions and circumstances. As Hachi and the daughter-in-law grow closer, the mother-in-law becomes increasingly jealous and protective. Things take a dark turn when the mother discovers the budding relationship. In her rage, she dons a demon mask that she had previously used to frighten foes and ultimately manipulates circumstances leading to betrayal and death, illustrating the depths of human fear and jealousy.The film culminates in a haunting conclusion that leaves the viewer with lingering questions about the nature of humanity and the consequences of primal instincts.

Archive

Internet Archive, in Sci-fi and horror

Licence or status

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, as the Internet Archive states it.

Credit

Kaneto Shindo

Language

Japanese

Who can watch

The archive gives no rating. Invisible Network shows it to Teens profiles and older, judged from its collection and subjects. How films are placed