Masaki Kobayashi's 1964 Ghost Anthology 'Kwaidan' Gets 4K Restoration and Theatrical Run This Fall
Janus Films is bringing a restored version of Masaki Kobayashi's 1964 Japanese ghost story anthology Kwaidan to theaters this fall, according to reporting from Bloody Disgusting. The restoration is presented in 4K and covers the director's cut of the film, which weaves together four separate ghost stories drawn from Japanese folklore. A new trailer and poster have been released ahead of the theatrical run, which is set to open in New York City. Kwaidan has long been regarded as one of the most visually striking films in the ghost story genre, and the restoration appears aimed at giving new and returning audiences a chance to experience it on the big screen. No additional screening locations beyond NYC have been confirmed in the available source material.
Jason's TakeI'm always glad when classic ghost story films get a second life in theaters, because there's something about the communal experience of watching that kind of material that changes how it hits you. Kwaidan is rooted in Japanese folklore traditions that were taken seriously by the people who passed them down, and that's worth respecting. I'd be curious to sit with this one and see how the storytelling holds up compared to what we know about documented accounts of paranormal experience.