Daiei Gothic Vol 2: Japanese Ghost Stories: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Japan, 1960 (The Demon of Mount Oe), Japan, 1969 (The Haunted Castle), Japan, 1970 (The Ghost of Kasane Swamp)
Directors: Tokuzô Tanaka (The Demon of Mount Oe, The Haunted Castle), Kimiyoshi Yasuda (The Ghost of Kasane Swamp)
Cast: Kazuo Hasegawa, Raizô Ichikawa, Shintarô Katsu, Kôjirô Hongô, Ganjirô Nakamura, Yutaka Nakamura (The Demon of Mount Oe), Kôjirô Hongô, Kobayashi, Mitsuyo Kamei, Ikuko Môri, Shôsaku Sugiyama, Yûsaku Terashima, Rokkô Toura, Kôichi Uenoyama (The Haunted Castle), Saburô Date, Kenjirô Ishiyama, Ritsu Ishiyama, Reiko Kasahara, Maya Kitajima (The Ghost of Kasane Swamp)

Release Date: October 13th, 2025 (UK), October 14th, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Times: 113 minutes 51 Seconds (The Demon of Mount Oe), 82 minutes 31 Seconds (The Haunted Castle), 82 minutes 34 Seconds (The Ghost of Kasane Swamp)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (All Films)
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese (All Films)
Subtitles: English (All Films)
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £37.49 (UK), $79.95 (USA)

"In The Demon of Mount Oe, a group of mighty warriors is sent to eliminate a demon who steals women from the imperial capital of Kyoto. On the way, they face a satanic bull, a giant spider and a diabolical witch, but the closer they come to their goal, the more they realize that the demon they've been ordered to kill is far more human than they were led to believe.

In The Haunted Castle, a blind monk is killed in a cowardly manner by a samurai lord. When the monk's sister is ordered to become the lord's concubine, she commits suicide and transfers her grudge to their black cat, who assumes the human form of one of the lord's ladies-in-waiting and begins to wreak havoc around the castle court. The lord's Machiavellian right-hand man (Rokko Toura, Kuroneko) and a young swordsman (Kojiro Hongo, The Bride from Hades) combine forces to solve the mystery and stop the supernatural menace.

In The Ghost of Kasane Swamp a samurai's wife tries to repay her husband's debt with her body but is caught in bed with the money lender and they are both murdered by her husband who dumps their bodies in a nearby swamp. Shingoro and Oshiga, the money lender and samurai's children, find a curse has been passed to them as they each try to recover the money.” - Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 4.25/5 (The Demon of Mount Oe), 4.5/5 (The Haunted Castle, The Ghost of Kasane Swamp)

Here’s the information provided about the transfers, "The Demon of Mount Oe, The Haunted Castle and The Ghost of Kasane Swamp were scanned in 4K resolution at Imagica laboratory in Toyko, Japan. The films were restored by Radiance Films at Heavenly Movie Corporation using the Phoenix system to remove dirt, debris, scratches and other damage to the image. Color grading was performed using DeVinci Resolve." 

The Demon of Mount Oe comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 35.9 GB

Feature: 31 GB

The Haunted Castle comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 28.2 GB

Feature: 22.4 GB

The Ghost of Kasane Swamp comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 29.3 GB

Feature: 22.6 GB

The sources for these three films are comparable. All of these presentations look excellent except for some imperfections in The Demon of Mount Oe’s opening credits. Flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and they all retain an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5 (All Audio Tracks)

Each film comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. All audio tracks sound excellent; dialogue always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for In The Demon of Mount Oe include reversible cover art, a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 56 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), a video essay by Tom Mes titled Blade of the Demon Slayer (4 minutes 4 seconds, LPCM stereo English with non-removable English subtitles for Japanese film clips), and an interview with period film historian Taichi Kasuga (18 minutes 55 seconds, LPCM stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles).

Extras for The Haunted Castle include reversible cover art, a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 10 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), a video essay by Tom Mes titled The Strange Case of Ikuko Mori (5 minutes 45 seconds, LPCM stereo English with non-removable English subtitles for Japanese film clips), and an interview with J-horror filmmaker Mari Asato (17 minutes 8 seconds, LPCM stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles).

Extras for The Ghost of Kasane Swamp include reversible cover art, a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 22 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), a video essay by ghost story scholar Zack Davisson titled A Legacy of Ghosts (12 minutes 16 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with J-horror filmmaker Norio Tsuruta (17 minutes 36 seconds, LPCM stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), and a select-scene audio commentary by horror film scholar Lindsay Nelson (24 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Other extras include an 80-page perfect-bound book with cast & crew information for each film, an essay titled Sympathy for the Oni written by Amber T, an essay titled Saga of the Ghost Cat written by Jasper Sharp, an essay titled Sins of the Fathers written by Tom Mes, the original ghost stories The Goblin of Oeyama and The Vampire Cat written by F. Hadland Davis, an archival writing titled Reading Encho Sanyutei’s Shinkei Kasane Ga Fuchi (The True View at the Kasane Marsh) written by Daniel O’Neill, and information about the transfers.

Summary:

The Demon of Mount Oe: A group of samurai receives the task of rescuing a trio of women whom a shapeshifting demon kidnapped.

Tokuzô Tanaka directed The Demon of Mount Oe. He’s known for Killer Whale, New Tale of Zatoichi, Zatoichi the Fugitive, Sleepy Eyes of Death: The Chinese Jade, Zatoichi's Vengeance, Sleepy Eyes of Death: Hell Is a Woman, Shinobi: Siege, The Snow Woman, The Betrayal, and eight films in the Bad Reputation series.

The Demon of Mount Oe blends the Chanbara film with the supernatural. Throughout there is a heavy emphasis on fantastical elements like a magical sword that glows, a satanic bull, and a giant spider. Although the supernatural and fantasy elements are pushed front and center, elements synonymous with Chanbara films are still effectively exploited and integrated into the story that unfolds.

The opening setup does an excellent job establishing characters and setting the tone. The narrative does a superb job building momentum to an exemplary ending rooted in honor instead of bloodshed. Another strength of the narrative is how effectively it employs flashbacks to further enhance its characters.

All of the performances are excellent. The standout performance is Sachiko Hidari's (A Fugitive from the Past) portrayal of Ibaragi-dôji, a shapeshifting demoness. Her character is given an outstanding introduction where she hides her true identity before unleashing her fury on a samurai. Notable cast members are Raizô Ichikawa (Shinobi: Band of Assassins) in the role of a general and Shintarô Katsu (The Tale of Zatoichi) in the role of a samurai. It is Shintarô Katsu’s character who cuts off Ibaragi-dôji’s arm in a confrontation, only to lose it to her when she deceives him later, pretending to be his aunt.

The Demon of Mount Oe, like so many Chanbara films, is rooted in revenge. Shuten-dôji is the man who leads a gang of bandits who live on Mount Oe; he wants to change this rotten world and wants revenge against those who betrayed him. To complete his quest, Shuten-dôji allies with Ibaragi-dôji, who has grudges of her own. Ultimately, The Demon of Mount Oe is a very satisfying blend of supernatural and action whose stylish visuals' use of bold colors greatly heightens the mood.

The Haunted Castle: A woman seeking revenge turns to the world of the supernatural when a samurai lord murders her brother.

Tokuzô Tanaka directed The Haunted Castle. He’s known for Killer Whale, New Tale of Zatoichi, Zatoichi the Fugitive, Sleepy Eyes of Death: The Chinese Jade, Zatoichi's Vengeance, Sleepy Eyes of Death: Hell Is a Woman, Shinobi: Siege, The Snow Woman, The Betrayal, and eight films in the Bad Reputation series.

The Haunted Castle is a significant film; it was the first full-color widescreen Kaibyō film. Based in Japanese folklore, Kaibyō are supernatural cats who have the ability to shapeshift into human form. Some notable Kaibyō films are The Ghost-Cat Cursed Wall, Black Cat Mansion, Blind Woman's Curse, A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse, and Hausu.

The Haunted Castle is equal parts supernatural and Chanbara film. The opening setup does a phenomenal job setting the stage for what follows. When the warlord Tangonokami Nabeshime becomes infatuated with Sayo, the sister of a blind monk, whose family, which has fallen from power, still enjoys a life of luxury. Unable to convince the blind monk to relinquish his sister, Tangonokami Nabeshime, filled with rage, murders him. From there, Sayo makes the ultimate sacrifice, unleashing a vengeful spirit upon her death.

The standout performance is Ikuko Môri’s (The Great Yokai War) portrayal of Sawanoi, the malevolent spirit summoned by Sayo. For what would be her final performance, she delivers a menacing performance that dominates. That said, the rest of the performances work well within the story that unfolds.

The Haunted Castles' most enduring asset is its ability to deliver atmosphere and create foreboding moments filled with dread. The narrative is well-executed but truly stands out during the encounters with the malevolent spirit. Additionally, the visuals play a crucial role in enhancing the overall mood. The most striking moment visually is the scene where a cat drinks Sayo’s blood. Ultimately, The Haunted Castle is an exemplary example of Kaibyō film, making it a must-see for fans of Japanese supernatural horror.

The Ghost of Kasane Swamp: A samurai discovers a blind masseur in bed with his wife and kills him. From there a series of supernatural events unfold against those who profit from the blind masseur's death.

Kimiyoshi Yasuda directed The Ghost of Kasane Swamp. He’s known for Daimajin, Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters, Yokai Monsters: Along with Ghosts, Sleepy Eyes of Death: Sword of Satan, Sleepy Eyes of Death: In the Spider's Lair, and six Zatoichi films.

Greed drives The Ghost of Kasane Swamp’s narrative, the killing and robbing of a blind masseur, leads to a series of unfortunate mishaps for those who try to obtain what was stolen. Adapted from Enchô San'yûtei’s Shinkei Kasane ga fuchi, this story has been adapted multiple times. Notable versions include The Passion of a Woman Teacher, The Depths, and Ghost Story: Depth of Kagami. The Ghost of Kasane Swamp was one of the last films Daiei Studios released before declaring bankruptcy in December of 1971.

While the supernatural elements are significant in the story, they primarily appear in the opening setup and the finale. The deceased return as vengeful spirits who torment those who killed them by driving them insane and causing their demise. That said, when faced with the opportunity to do what's right, characters do the opposite, sealing their fate.

All of the performances are excellent. The standout performance is Maya Kitajima’s (Island of Horrors) portrayal of Oshiga, the murdered blind masseur’s money-hungry daughter. Although she is driven by greed like most of the characters, there is a wickedness about her actions that sets her apart from the rest of them. Another performance of note is Ritsu Ishiyama (The Fort of Death) in the role of Shingoro Fukami, the son of the samurai who murdered his wife and the blind masseur. This character is also romantically involved with Oshiga.

Although there is a familiarity to the story that unfolds, the result is something that always holds your attention. The narrative does an excellent job drawing you in, and from there it does a superb job building momentum to an exemplary finale where characters receive their just dues. The visuals play a significant role; they are filled with atmosphere, and there are numerous arresting moments that heighten the mood. Ultimately, The Ghost of Kasane Swamp is a well-made supernatural horror film that fans of Japanese gothic horror cinema will thoroughly enjoy.

Daiei Gothic Vol 2: Japanese Ghost Stories is an exceptional release from Radiance Films; all three films have strong audio/video presentations and informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer