Kuroneko (region B/2 blu-ray/DVD combo)

Kaneto Shindô’s Kuroneko (Yabu no naka no kuroneko, or The Black Cat Inside the Bamboo Grove) — released to great acclaim in 1968 — is a sparse, atmospheric horror story, adhering to the director’s philosophy of using beauty and purity to evoke emotion. Eccentric and more overtly supernatural than its breakthrough companion piece, Onibaba, Kuroneko revisits similar themes to reveal a haunting meditation on duty, conformity, and love. Kuroneko remains a standout film of the kaidan-eiga genre of period ghost stories often based on old legends or kabuki plays. Marking Shindô’s first use of wire work as Yone and Shige battle against samurai blades, the film is subtly complemented by Kiyomi Kuroda’s award-winning chiaroscuro cinematography, Hikaru Hayashi’s vibrant score, and riveting performances from many of the greatest actors of Japan’s golden age of film.