On March 4th Landmark Theatres’ Lagoon Cinema will show a peculiar old (1968) Japanese film, “Kuroneko” which, while set in the Feudal era, is disparate from the typical (Samurai) swords & sandals stories.  Its quirkiness might interest you.  It plays at the Lagoon for a week starting on March 4th.

This is a mystical story of vengeance in a land where war, starvation and toil have become common among the masses.

The movie is merciless, opening with an attack on a mom and daughter.  Their aggrieved ghosts attack samurais and drink their blood – but they’re not vampires…even though they float through the air, when attacking.  The vengeance tone reminds you of the 1978 exploitation flick “I Spit on Your Grave,” because of its justified man-bashing.

This is more about characters than a story.

The film’s last half is more concrete, giving us the son and husband (one man) of these women, who had already left the mom and daughter before the film began.  He’s returned from battle, as a distinguished samurai.  But the women’s blood lust for his battle brethren compels his samurai boss to dispatch him to kill those who are mysteriously slaughtering his troops.   What’s an ambitious samurai to do?

“Kuroneko” is more about mood, mystery and mysticism than action or story.  So, it’s a peculiar story of personal vengeance that turns into a different story of love interrupted.  It’s a strange mix of genres.

If strange and mystical old films suit you, check this out.