The Movie: Kuroneko (1968)
What Is It?: A samurai
horde storms a cottage and rapes and murders the mother and daughter-in-law who
live there. A black cat licks the women’s charred bodies, and a demon spirit grants them renewed
life in exchange for a vow of vengeance. The women are happy to oblige, as they
must now drink the blood of all samurai who cross their vampiric path. Director
Kaneto ShindÅ takes this seemingly simple premise into astoundingly complex
territory with Kuroneko (Black Cat). Most provocatively, his
script does not spare these wronged women the dehumanizing effects of waging
war. Like all great antiwar films, Kuroneko
is harsh and profoundly tragic. It is also an eerie horror film and a
dazzling showcase of cinematic magic tricks.
Why Today?: Today
is Black Cat Appreciation Day.
