Black Cat (1968)

Black Cat (Kurnoneko/Yabu no naka no kuroneko)
Directed by Kaneto Shindo
Written by Kaneto Shindo
1968/Japan
IMDb link
First viewing/Criterion Channel
One of 1000 Best Horror Movies on They Shoot Zombies, Don’t They?

My mind was always on the commoners, not on the lords, politicians or anyone of name and fame. — Kaneto Shindo

Kaneto Shindo gives us a beautiful and truly creepy ghost story that rivals his Onibaba (1964).

War rages in Japan.  A mother and her daughter-in-law live in an isolated hovel scraping out a meager existence as peasant farmers.  Their son/husband was snatched away by samurai three years previously.  Suddenly, they are attacked by a troop of samurai, gang raped, and killed.  Their hovel is reduced to ashes.

Their ghosts vow to the evil god to suck the blood of and kill every last samurai.  They proceed to do this.  Things get complicated when the son/husband comes home in triumph as a very successful samurai himself.

Might be the first film of the year for the 2020 Favorite New-to-me Films list.  I thought it was absolutely superb.  The score, soundscape, editing, and slightly surreal imagery combine to make the chills run up your spine.  Highly recommended.