Classic Japanese horrors resurface... from Greece!

Nine japanese horror classics from producer Mitsugu Okura, made between 1957 and 1960, come to us by way of NTSC all-region DVDs imported from - of all places - Greece, thru a small distributor named New Star Ltd. Many of them feature anamorphic widescreen transfers, and are the perfect treat for fans of classic Asian horror.

Mitsugu Okura was the Takashige Ichise of his generation. A former carnival barker, Okura, it can best be said, specialized in making films that he thought would make him money. Less concerned with notions of art and quality - though not totally immune to their inclusion as long as the film came in on or under budget - Okura's films ranged from cheap-o exploitation flicks to two of director´s Nobuo Nakagawa's best works.

Nakagawa (1905-1984) was known for being a maestro of the horror film as well as a filmmaker who displayed a unique creativity in various genres. He began his career in the silent film period and after World War II, became one of the most important program picture directors at Shintoho, where he created such masterpieces as “Ghost Story of Yotsuya” (59) and “Jigoku” (60). With his last film, “The Living Koheiji” (82), Nakagawa made 97 films in total.

With unconventional technics, striking visuals, and entertaining stories, NakagawaA’s films will give audiences the opportunity to discover some fascinating cinematic art influencing contemporary Japanese horror genre.

Here´s the titles, and they´re all available thru HKFlix.

- Kaidan Kasane Ga Fuchi (1957)
(AKA: The Depths; The Ghost Of Kasane)
- Borei Kaibyo Yashiki (1958)
(AKA: Black Cat Mansion; The Mansion Of The Ghost Cat)
- Kaidan Tsibusa Enoki (1958)
(AKA: Ghost Of Chibusa Enoki; Ghost Of Tsibusa Enoki)
- Kaidan Kagami Gafuchi (1959)
(AKA: Ghost Story: Depth Of Kagami; Ghost Of Kagami-Ga-Fuchi)
- Onna Kyuketsuki (1959)
(AKA: Vampire Man; The Lady Vampire; The Woman Vampire)
- Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan (1959)
(AKA: The Ghost Story Of Yotsuya; The Ghost Of Yotsuya)
- Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan 2 (1959)
(AKA: Ghost Story Of Yotsuya 2; Yotsuya Ghost Story In Tokaido)
- Jigoku (1960)
(AKA: Story Of The Great Eight-Tombed Hell; The Sinners Of Hell)
- Kaibyo Otama Ga Ike (1960)
(AKA: The Ghost Cat Of Otama Ga Ike)