Daiei Gothic Vol 2: Japanese Ghost Stories Blu-ray Review

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

A Trio of Terror: Investigating Japanese Ghost Story Classics

Classic Japanese horror is a complex tapestry woven of legend, drama, and the supernatural. Brought to life by masters of the genre such as Tokuzo Tanaka (The Snow Woman) and Kimiyoshi Yasuda (Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare), these stories are more than just basic scares. They are deep investigations of humanity, revenge, and the results of our deeds. Three films in this set provide an excellent starting point to the terrifying and mysterious universe of classic kaidan (ghost tales).

A Monster and Moral Search: Demon of Mount Oe (1960)

The imperial court dispatches a band of powerful warriors in Demon of Mount Oe on a deadly mission: to kill a demon stealing its women and terrorizing Kyoto. Against a series of horrific foes—including a satanic bull, a enormous spider, and a demonic witch—their trip is a conventional heroic journey. Under Tokuzo Tanaka’s direction, the movie is outstanding as a mythical adventure replete with amazing creature design and thrilling action scenes.

The movie’s actual power is in its surprising depth, though. The soldiers start to learn upsetting facts as they delve farther into the forest and nearer to their objective. The boundary between man and monster is incredibly blurred, causing them to doubt their purpose and the very essence of the evil they have been dispatched to eliminate. This thought-provoking story questions the traditional idea of the heroic journey and implies that the most terrible monsters are not always the ones we envision.

A visceral story of vengeance: Ghost of Kasane Swamp (1970)

The 1970 adaptation of Ghost of Kasane Swamp, directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda, offers a strong and vividly striking take on the traditional ghost tale. This movie examines more closely the mental terror and bodily effects of a terrible curse. The sad narrative of a disfigured woman, Shinkichi, and a blind masseur bound by a terrible secret based on a past offense is told. A curse that spans generations starts with a samurai’s unfaithfulness and a vicious murder in the foggy swamplands.

Reflecting the changing cinematic tastes of the day, this version is noted for its more overt erotic and horror aspects. The swamp is an ever-present, evil entity whose curse reveals in physical forms. With raw intensity, the movie investigates issues of fate, culpability, and the inevitable character of revenge. Featuring strong performances from Ko Nishimura and Junko Miyashita, this version of the ageless tale is both haunting and emotionally charged, therefore guaranteeing the legend of Kasane Swamp leaves a lasting, disturbing impression. This film is also notable for being the last picture made by Daiei Studios.

Result: Must-see Viewing for Fans of Classic Horror

Together, these three movies stand for some of the very best of classic Japanese horror. They are not all about jump scares but about developing a sense of dread and investigating the human experience via a supernatural lens. From the courtly plotting of The Haunted Castle to the vivid tragedy of Ghost of Kasane Swamp to the legendary adventure of Demon of Mount Oe. This collection provides a varied and really captivating cinematic experience. These classic stories from great directors are an absolute must-see for any enthusiast wanting to trace the origins of J-horror.

The Video

Demon of Moun Oe, The Haunted Castle, and Ghost of Kasane Swamp were scanned in 4K resolution at Imagica laboratory in Tokyo, Japan. The films were restored by Radiance at Heavenly Movie Corporation using the Phoenix system to remove dirt, debris, scratches, and other damage to the image. Color grading was performed using DaVinci Resolve.

Each film is presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio with an AVC 1080p encodement on an individual Blu-ray Disc respectively. Demon of Mount Oe is the most colorful of the films, and the colors are vibrant, and the image has plenty of texture and detail. Ghost of Kasane Swamp, though the latest film in the collection, hailing from 1970, is the lowest in budget and has the flattest color palette and lots of very dark scenes with actors drowned in shadow, and limited sets. This doesn’t take away from the solid restoration, which looks organic and textured. The Haunted Castle is much like Demon of Mount Oe in that it has strong period sets and excellent visuals. The shadow detail is excellent in this film and like the other two, the grain looks as natural as it can on a Blu-ray.

The Audio

Each film’s audio in this Daiei Gothic Vol. 2 collection was restored using Izotope and is presented in its original mono with a Japanese LPCM 1.0 track. While dynamic range is a bit limited for each, they sound more than adequate and intelligible, with very little audible pops, clicks, or hiss.

The Supplements

Radiance once again gets high marks for the inclusions in this collection, starting with the 80-page book of new essays, archival writing, and original Japanese ghost stories. The on-disc bonus features, including new interviews and visual essays are also excellent inclusions.

Limited Edition Contents:

• Limited edition 80-page perfect bound book featuring new writing by Amber T, Jasper Sharp, and Tom Mes, plus archival writing by Daniel O’Neill and original ghost stories “The Goblin of Oeyama” and “The Vampire Cat”
• Limited Edition of 4,000 copies presented in a rigid box with full-height Scanavo cases for each film and removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Filippo Di Battista

Bonus Features:

THE DEMON OF MOUNT OE

• New interview with period film historian Taichi Kasuga (1080p; 00:18:54)– The Japanese film historian discusses Demon of Mount Oe as a historical epic and talks about the film’s unique position among the specific styles of Japanese horror. Filmed exclusively for Radiance in June 2025.
• Blade of the Demon Slayer (1080p; 00:04:04) — A visual essay by Tom Mes. Created exclusively for Radiance in July 2025.
• Trailer (1080p; 00:02:56)
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Filippo Di Battista

THE HAUNTED CASTLE

• New interview with J-horror filmmaker Mari Asato (1080p; 00:17:08) — The J-Horror filmmaker talks about the dynamics and artistry of The Haunted Castle and its place within the bakeneko ghost cat tradition. Filmed exclusively for Radiance in June 2025.
• The Strange Case of Ikuko Mori (1080p; 00:05:45) – Tom Mes looks at the tragic life story of Ikuko Mori, nicknamed “The Snake Actress” for her many provocative roles in Daiei horror films, who made her final appearance in The Haunted Castle. Created exclusively for Radiance in July 2025.
• Trailer (1080p; 00:02:10)
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Filippo Di Battista

THE GHOST OF KASANE SWAMP

• Select-scene audio commentary by horror film scholar Lindsay Nelson (2025)
• New interview with J-horror filmmaker Norio Tsuruta (1080p; 00:17:36; 2025) – Tsuruta discusses the origins of The Ghost of Kasane Swamp and what makes Daiei’s 1970 version unique among the many film adaptations of this story. Filmed exclusively for Radiance in June 2025.
• A Legacy of Ghosts (1080p; 00:12:16; 2025) – Japanese ghost story scholar Zack Davisson traces the historical evolution of The Ghost of Kasane Swamp, via folk tales, theatre, and film. Created exclusively for Radiance in July 2025.
• Trailer (1080p; 00:02:22)
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Filippo Di Battista

The Final Assessment

The second in the Daiei Gothic series from Radiance, this one holds up just as well as the first and is a welcome addition in time for spooky season. Bravo to Radiance, who continue to find quality, a little off the beaten path, films and issue them in fine transfers and packages.

Daiei Gothic Vol 2: Japanese Ghost Stories is out on Blu-ray October 14, 2025 from Radiance Films

Details

• Rating Certificate: Not Rated
• Studios & Distributors: Daiei Studios | Dainichi-Eihai | Radiance Films
• Directors: Tokuzô Tanaka | Kimiyoshi Yasuda
• Run Time: 278 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Video Format: AVC 1080p
• Primary Audio: Japanese LPCM 1.0
• Subtitles: English
• Street Date: 14 October 2025