La Femme des neiges

Last year I watched "Kwaidan" from 1964. In Kwaidan there is a short called "The Woman of the Snow" which is also based on the same ghost story as this film.

Coming into this title I somewhat knew what the story would be about. To my surprise I liked this version of the film much better. It was a much more fleshed out story with beautiful sets, awesome natural looking lighting, and great acting.

This film kept me engaged all the way through and had an interesting story line, and dialog until the end. The cinematography was top level and the actress who played the Snow Woman was very beautiful.

I saved this film to watch on a rainy night and the sound and ambience of the rain fit this film just perfect. I loved "The Snow Woman" I can see myself re-watching it more times in the future.

If you're a fan of Japanese culture, classic horror, or ghost stories I strongly recommend "The Snow Woman".

Three years after an adaptation in 1965's KWAIDAN, the classic Japanese ghost story of the yuki-onna (snow woman) gets a feature-length telling. While Tokuzo Tanaka's film might feel a little redundant after the wonderful adaptation of the story in KWAIDAN, KAIDAN YUKI JOROU is still well worth a look for fans of Japanese folk horror.

Extending the tale to eighty minutes doesn't feel like stretching it too thin; the feature-length story gets to focus more time on character development and crafting emotional connections, which helps the climax reach surprisingly emotive heights. You almost forget it's a horror flick in the middle, with the vibe lying somewhere between fantasy and family drama, but these portions don't drag like they could have.

The film is beautifully shot and has some wonderfully memorable visual moments, especially near the end. These '60s Japanese horrors do such a wonderful job creating a spooky atmosphere, which is amplified by the setting and time period. It's like you're seven years old, telling ghost stories around the fire, except you're in rural Japan and wearing a kimono for some reason.

It is rather predictable and features a lot of the missteps of Japanese cinema from this time period (overacting, a tendency towards ham-fisted asides and monologues, etc.), but if you enjoyed the likes of KWAIDAN and ONIBABA, this should tickle your fancy.

I recently watched the Japanese film Ghost Story of the Snow Witch (1968) on a streaming service. The plot follows a wood craftsman caught in a snowstorm while searching for the perfect tree. Seeking refuge in an abandoned home, they encounter a witch who kills the craftsman and strikes a deadly deal with the apprentice, promising a return if the pact is ever broken.

Directed by Tokuzô Tanaka (Zatoichi the Fugitive) and featuring performances from Shiho Fujimura (Zatoichi's Cane Sword), Akira Ishihama (Harakiri), Mizuho Suzuki (Akira), and Taketoshi Naitô (Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance).

The portrayal of the witch is remarkably impressive for its time, with intense and well-crafted eyes giving her an almost owl-like appearance at times. 🦉 The witch's allure is gorgeous, even surpassing human form flashback scenes, adds to the film's appeal. The unfolding backstory captivates, and the cinematography, particularly during the era, stands out. The depiction of the snowstorm and landscape shots left a lasting impression. The storyline weaves several intriguing twists until a satisfying conclusion.

In summary, Ghost Story of the Snow Witch offers a unique and engaging witch narrative well worth your time. I'd score this a 7.5-8/10 and strongly recommend it.

A wonderful story told so well in this adaptation. It is so much more than a horror story. It is a story of love and compassion but with great sadness. It captures the imagination in a way that the Japanese are true masters at.

I want more of these kind of movies!

Actually, no. I wouldn't call this a horror movie, but a good drama movie with a paranormal twist in it. Why?

The story is about a Snow woman, a ghost who falls in love with a living man, and this movie is the story about her and the man who are a sculpture-maker.

The story itself is a catching one, i myself ain't intro drama movies but the acting and dialogs, building of the story keeps me interested in what is happening in the movie.

It's good filmed, special effects are also very good and its in its whole a very good movie. But like said, i wouldn't call this a horror movie but a drama movie as first genre, then perhaps some horror elements but i wouldn't place this one under horror.