Going into Demons, my expectation was that I would be seeing a stylish, Japanese ghost story in the vein of Kuroneko or Onibaba. What I found instead was an uncompromisingly bleak samurai revenge tale that feels downright Shakespearian in its telling of the inevitable tragedy of Gengobe the Ronin. That isn’t to say that it’s short on style: there’s a lot of repetition of shots, excellent use of lighting and shadow, and a series of dream sequences. Some of the latter play out as something like premonitions for Gengobe, showing him what may happen if he takes one path versus another. That doesn’t prove much of an advantage, however, as he makes several questionable choices while slicing through anyone who wronged him. Katsuo Nakamura, who plays Gengobe, has the perfect face for the role. With the right tilt of the head and the proper lighting, he appears truly demonic. What better guide could you have to take you to hell?

Viewed as part of the Podcast Macabre 2022 Horror Challenge. Highest rated horror on watchlist.