The Ghost Cat of Otama Pond
(Kaibyo Otamagaike, 1960)

Ishikawa Yoshiro

Japan

75 min, color, Japanese (English subtitles)

Review © 2006 Branislav L. Slantchev

It is believed that if a cat's owner is killed and it licks its blood, the creature will become a cat monster, or kaibyo (also known as bakeneko) that could possess people and control malevolent spirits. As a metaphor of all those people who died violently and were never properly buried (as in the recent war), the cat spirit embodies the search for retribution that would let the dead rest in peace. The 1960s saw a veritable explosion of kaidan (ghost story) films, and they all share a similar mythos despite differing in the particulars of the execution. This often neglected film is a gem that is visually stunning and in some ways a lot more satisfying than the much better known horror outings by Nakagawa Nobuo.

Tadahiko and Keiko caught in the storm by the pond	The abandoned mansion

At its essence, the ghost story is exceedingly simple: a violent evil act dispatches an innocent person from this world. That person cannot rest until the perpetrators are brought to justice, and I am not talking about reforming them. It's an eye for all eyes that contributed to the death, and the vengeance often spills out to drag unsuspecting victims with only a peripheral involvement. The conflict that precipitates the violence can be political, amorous, or a combination of the two, as it is in this film. Although many of the stories are set in medieval Japan (which comports well with the superstitions that form the bedrock of the story), some are modern. Or, as this film, trace the evolution of the curse from its medieval origins into contemporary life, where the protagonists are forced to re-enact the ancient ritual and re-live the horror of their ancestors.

The first encounter with Tama's curse	Kozasa and Yachimaru take their leaves

This film opens with a young couple, Tadahiko (Shozaburo Date) and Keiko (Kitazawa Noriko), on their way to his parents' house in the mountains. Unfortunately, rather than wait for the bus, they decided to take a short-cut through the woods and have ended up at Otama Pond. They try to leave but all paths lead them back to the pond, as if the place is enchanted. Soon the weather turns inclement, with the rising winds rippling the water surface, as if someone—or something—is wading in the pond. The startled couple notice a cat and decide to follow it, hoping that it would lead them to a place of dwelling, which it does... sort of.

The slaying of Yachimaru's father	Tama tries to communicate her premonitions

As Tadahiko scouts about the abandoned mansion to which the cat took them, Keiko has a vision of a ghostly old lady who causes her to faint. On the next day, a priest reveals that the mark of death is upon Keiko, that its source is supernatural, and that her only salvation is in exorcism. Since Tadahiko does not appear convinced, the priest tells him the story of the curse produced by a series of events that transpired many years ago, back in the time when Japan was still a feudal country ruled by the samurai.

The end of the grandmother	Kozasa is forced to marry against her will

A local magistrate has unceremoniously imposed new onerous taxes on the peasants without authorization from Edo. The peasants are facing bankruptcy and plead with their village headman to intercede on their behalf with the magistrate. Even by itself this act takes a lot of courage because the headmen's low rank relative to the samurai leaves him dangerously vulnerable to any depredations his social superiors may elect to inflict upon him. The headman is also in a weak position because his son Yachimaru (also played by Shozaburo Date) has recently left for the capital.

Gratuitous shot of Kitazawa Noriko	A visually stunning meeting of mother and daughter

While Yachimaru may be a source of strength and protection to his family, he is also a proximate cause for its downfall because of his relationship with Kozasa (also played by Kitawaza Noriko). She is the daughter of Gensai (Numata Yoichi), the head of a family implacably opposed to Yachimaru's. Gensai is rotten to the core: he visits some prostitute, causing pain to his wife, schemes with the magistrate to murder the headman's family, agrees to force Kozasa to marry a buddy of his, and arranges for the magistrate to get it on with Yachimaru's sister Akino. In short, he is as irredeemably evil as they come. With Yachimaru gone, the plans can be set into motion, and the headman's visit is the perfect opportunity to assassinate him.

Kozasa running to meet Yachimaru	Yachimaru confronts the murderers of his family

With his dad gone, Yachimaru's house is defenseless when the assailants raid it the same night. They set fire to the buildings, murder the grandmother (Satsuke Fuji) and kidnap Akino. But the woman would not allow herself to be raped by the lecherous magistrate and commits suicide with her hairpin. Her ghost appears to Yachimaru and he hurries home only to discover a magistrate's seal buried in the ashes. He confronts the murderers but is outnumbered and himself killed, his body dumped into Otama pond. The only survivor of the massacre is the cat Tama, whose wailing had tried to warn the family of the impending disaster.

The ghostly vengeance spoils the arranged marriage	Kozasa hearing the fire alarm before it goes off

It seems that the magistrate's plan has gone off without a hitch but the perpetrators have not reckoned with Tama or with Kozasa whose forced marriage takes place soon after the bloody events. One by one, the perps experience unsettling and inexplicable occurrences around them: doors would slide open and shut without anybody touching them or sake would turn into blood in their cups. Kozasa herself hears a mysterious call that takes her to Otama where she meets Yachimaru's ghost and drowns herself, allowing her body to be possessed by Tama so she can wreak her vengeance.

The supernatural meeting by the Otama pond	The curse of the cat Tama begins in earnest

Although not particularly inspiring as a story, Kaibyo Otamagaike is flawlessly executed as a film. Ishikawa makes very competent use of the widescreen format (2.35:1), and the cinematography is inspired. I am always partial to directors who know how to place characters to enhance the dramatic effect and Ishikawa makes excellent use of theatrical tricks that add another level of stylization to the film. Obviously influenced as much by Hammer Studios as by traditional Noh, he manages to create the foggy mystical atmosphere required for an effective ghost story but suffuse it with unmistakably Japanese elements that give it a stylistic flair that is missing from the more pedestrian productions. With its moody lighting, backlit silhouetting, smart use of primary colors (especially reds and greens), and an appropriate musical score, the film is one of the best of the genre that I have seen.

Focusing on a slithering snake	Kozasa enacts her revenge

The performances are also very theatrical, which must have been by design. The heart-rending love story between Kozasa and Yachimaru and Kozasa's subsequent self-sacrifice in the service of Tama's cause could have been very melodramatic but Ishikawa is careful not to overdo it. Instead, Kitazawa Noriko spends a lot of her time staring in distress but not saying much, and the skillful placement of the actress amid landscapes that reflect her inner turmoil conveys her predicament much more effectively than words could. The use of painted backdrops strengthens the theatrical aspect and adds a sense of unreality to the film that only enhances its impact.

Gensai confronts the results of his scheming...	...and drowns in the pool of blood

I saw the film on a Greek R0 DVD from New Star studios. I am guessing it has the same transfer as the Japanese R2 release. The film is presented in anamorphic widescreen at 2.35:1 OAR and comes with the original monoaural soundtrack in Japanese. The English (and Greek) subtitles are option and without fault. The extras include a trailer and some talent files in Greek. A very solid release that can be found for under $30, and as such is heartily recommended.

March 5, 2006