Kwaidan

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Kwaidan

1965

2h 44m

Horror

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Taking its title from an archaic Japanese word meaning "ghost story," this anthology adapts four folk tales. A penniless samurai (Rentarô Mikuni) marries for money with tragic results. A man stranded in a blizzard is saved by Yuki the Snow Maiden (Keiko Kishi), but his rescue comes at a cost. Blind musician Hoichi (Katsuo Nakamura) is forced to perform for an audience of ghosts. An author (Osamu Takizawa) relates the story of a samurai who sees another warrior's reflection in his teacup.

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Critics Consensus

Exquisitely designed and fastidiously ornate, Masaki Kobayashi's ambitious anthology operates less as a frightening example of horror and more as a meditative tribute to Japanese folklore.

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Wanda Hale

New York Daily News

Sep 20, 2021

3.5/4

An artistic triumph for the director Masaki Kobayashi, his cameramen and his art directors.

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William J. Nazzaro

Arizona Republic

Sep 20, 2021

Kwaidan is not for everyone. It is for the lover of the offbeat and eerie. It is a film you will not soon forget.

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Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

Sep 20, 2021

This awesome and enthralling Japanese [film] weaves a spell of enchantment with its weird stories, which unfold amidst settings of surrealistic splendor that have been photographed in the most breathtaking color since Gate of Hell.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Mar 6, 2024

4/5

…rewards adventurous viewers with haunting, timeless ideas and luminous images…this absorbing folk-tale is rendered in a painterly manner by director Masaki Kobayashi and the overall effect is somehow soothing rather than disturbing...

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Feb 12, 2022

4/4

A film of methodical pacing, theatricality, and avant-garde flourishes, which work in harmony to acknowledge that something lies beyond any grounded understanding of reality.

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Chris Plante

Polygon

Oct 25, 2021

The stories themselves fall somewhere between classic fables and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. And the feeling? There's nothing quite like it.

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Kevin M

14 hrs ago

Just a beautiful film. I know it gets rated as horror but I think it crosses the genres a little. But 4 short stories that are beautiful to watch, minimal gore, but still terrifying.

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Isaac M

Oct 7, 2026

Kwaidan is a unique movie that focuses on four stories that helps illustrate the justification of why Japan is so good at making horror films. Trust me, Kwaidan is a one of a kind movie despite the runtime of three hours.

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B P

@Bradster69 Sep 27, 2026

Definitely Recommend It

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Lao M

@bowserlord Sep 16, 2026

Legit the best Ghost movie ever made. And by extension it's the best horror anthology. Go see this in theatres in glorious 4k!

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Lou A

@thehoundsinthe Sep 16, 2026

It's like watching color for the first time. One of the most visually striking films ever made. It's gorgeous!

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Leprechaun K

@LeprechaunKing Sep 1, 2026

Movie is made up of 4 different ghost stories. Production design is excellent, with visually stunning set pieces. Runtime is too long at over 3 hours. The first 2 tales are great but the third and fourth tale are relatively boring and suffer from slow pacing. Particularly the third part, which is over 90 minutes long.

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Masaki Kobayashi

Director

Rentarô Mikuni

Husband

Michiyo Aratama

First wife

Tetsurô Tanba

Warrior

Katsuo Nakamura

Hoichi

Keiko Kishi

Yuki

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Synopsis

Taking its title from an archaic Japanese word meaning "ghost story," this anthology adapts four folk tales. A penniless samurai (Rentarô Mikuni) marries for money with tragic results. A man stranded in a blizzard is saved by Yuki the Snow Maiden (Keiko Kishi), but his rescue comes at a cost. Blind musician Hoichi (Katsuo Nakamura) is forced to perform for an audience of ghosts. An author (Osamu Takizawa) relates the story of a samurai who sees another warrior's reflection in his teacup.

Director: Masaki Kobayashi
Producer: Shigeru Wakatsuki
Screenwriter: Yoko Mizuki
Distributor: Continental Distributing
Production Co: Toho Company Ltd.
Genre: Horror, Fantasy
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 15, 1965, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Sep 11, 2026
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 15, 2015
Runtime: 2h 44m

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