The setting is the 18th century, during the Tokugawa Shogunate. Almost all the action takes place in the castle, Saga Castle, occupied by Lord Nabeshima.
This film belongs to the fascinating bakeneko or “ghost cat” or “shape-shifting cat” genre. Yes, it’s an entire genre in both Japanese folklore and Japanese gothic horror cinema. And yes, I could easily become obsessed by this genre.
And, fascinatingly, I believe this was director Tokuzô Tanaka’s second “ghost cat” movie, the first having been made in 1958 (and also for Daiei Studio).
The Haunted Castle is based on a legend which, as in so many such cases, was widely believed to have its origins in actual events. Shôzaburô Asai wrote the screenplay,
The Ryuzoji clan was robbed of its lands and wealth by the scheming Lord Nabeshima (Kôichi Uenoyama). The blind Matashichiro Ryuzoji (Akihisa Toda) and his sister Sayo (Mitsuyo Kamei) now live on a small stipend.
Matashichiro is devoted to his pet cat Tama. This will become important.
Now Lord Nabeshima wants Sayo as one of his concubines. Matashichiro refuses to allow it. This refusal will lead to the deaths of both Matashichiro and his sister.
Before she does Sayo remembers a legend concerning cats and vengeful spirits. There is a way that Tama can exact vengeance on Sayo’s behalf.
The feline campaign of revenge begins.
The major weakness here is that some of the special effects involving the cat are rather feeble for fortunately Tanaka is smart enough to make these sequences extremely brief.
This is a movie that relies on moody cinematography and a general atmosphere of subtle menace rather than on gore. There is some gore but it’s not the dominating element.
It was shot in colour but it looks dark and shadowy. The action takes place almost entirely at night.
The movie also relies on some very clever set design. We never really get a film sense of the layout of the castle and this is undoubtedly deliberate. There are lots of shots of corridors but we’re never quite sure where they’re leading to.
Often we hear movement rather seeing it. Mostly we hear the cat but without seeing it.
And there’s something else going on. This is not just a demonic cat. This is a shape-shifting vengeful cat spirit.
Fear stalks the corridors of Saga Castle but no-one is quite sure what it is that they have to fear. There have been gruesome but inexplicable killings.
No-one trusts anyone else. That ghost cat may have assumed human form.
As with most Japanese gothic horror the makeup effects are impressive.
And the lapping of blood is nicely creepy.
Japanese gothic horror films have a flavour of their own and The Haunted Castle is a solid example of the breed. Recommended.
The Radiance Films Blu-Ray transfer looks lovely. There are three movies in this set. The Haunted Castle comes with a few reasonably interesting extras.
I’ve reviewed the other two movies in this set - The Demon of Mount Oe (1960, also directed by Tokuzô Tanaka) and Ghost of Kasane Swamp (1970).
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