is a 1965 Japanese

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

and

horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, apoca ...

directed by

Shirō Toyoda was a Japanese film director and screenwriter who directed over 60 films during his career spanning 50 years. Career Born in Kyoto, Toyoda moved to Tokyo after finishing high school and studied scriptwriting under the pioneering film director ...

Cast

Tatsuya Nakadai is a Japanese film actor. He was featured in 11 films directed by Masaki Kobayashi, including ''The Human Condition'' trilogy, wherein he starred as the lead character Kaji, plus ''Harakiri'', ''Samurai Rebellion'' and ''Kwaidan''. Nakadai wor ...

as Iuemon Tamiya *

Mariko Okada is a Japanese stage and film actress who starred in films of directors Mikio Naruse, Yasujirō Ozu, Keisuke Kinoshita and others. She was married to film director Yoshishige Yoshida. Biography Okada was born the daughter of silent film actor ...

as Oiwa * Junko Ikeuchi as Osode * Mayumi Ozora as Oume *

Keiko Awaji was a Japanese film actress. Notable highlights of her career were an appearance in Akira Kurosawa's '' Stray Dog'', and a role as Kimiko in ''The Bridges at Toko-Ri'', in which she appeared alongside William Holden and Mickey Rooney. Her firs ...

as Omaki * Kanzaburo Nakamura as Gonbei Naosuke * Yasushi Nagata as Samon Yotsuya *

Eitaro Ozawa , also credited as Sakae Ozawa (小沢栄), was a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1935 and 1988, directed by notable filmmakers such as Kenji Mizoguchi, Mikio Naruse, Keisuke Kinoshita and Kaneto Shindō. Selected fi ...

as Kihei Ito * Masao Mishima as Takuetsu

Production

''Illusion of Blood'' was based on the

kabuki is a classical form of Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily-stylised performances, the often-glamorous costumes worn by performers, and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers. Kabuki is thought to ...

play ''Tokaido Yotsuya kaidan'' by Nanboku Tsuruya, which had already been adapted to film before, including ''The Yotsuya Ghost Story I & II'' and ''The Yotsuya Ghost Story''. This version of the film focuses on the increasing madness of the character of Iuemon Tamiya.

Release

''Illusion of Blood'' was distributed theatrically in Japan by

Toho is a Japanese film, theatre production and distribution company. It has its headquarters in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Osaka-based Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group. Outside of Japan, it is best known as the producer an ...

on 25 July 1965 and in the United States as ''Illusion of Blood'' with English subtitles in March 1966.

Reception

In a contemporary review, "Dool." of ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' referred to the film as a "blood-curdling Japanese ghost story", noting that the cast was "uniformly fine" and that "technical aspects, except for some abrupt cuts are first rate." A second review by "Mosk." of ''Variety'' compared the film to ''

Kwaidan is a Japanese word consisting of two kanji: 怪 (''kai'') meaning "strange, mysterious, rare, or bewitching apparition" and 談 (''dan'') meaning "talk" or "recited narrative". Overall meaning and usage In its broadest sense, ''kaidan'' refers ...

'' and ''

Ugetsu , is a 1953 Japanese historical drama and fantasy film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi starring Masayuki Mori and Machiko Kyō. It is based on two stories in Ueda Akinari's 1776 book of the same name, combining elements of the ''jidaigeki'' (peri ...

'', noting that ''Illusion of Blood'' lacked "classical rigor" or ""human insight and observation" that the other films had respectively. Mosk. added that the film did have "style, and good acting, excellent color and avoids violence and horror for its own sake." A retrospective review by Cavett Binion of

AllMovie AllMovie (previously All Movie Guide) is an online database with information about films, television programs, and screen actors. , AllMovie.com and the AllMovie consumer brand are owned by RhythmOne. History AllMovie was founded by popular-cult ...

found the film to be an inferior version of the film ''

'', opining that it was "not as visually commanding" but that it "has its share of nightmarish imagery and cultural richness."

References

External links

* 1965 films Japanese drama films Japanese horror films Films scored by Toru Takemitsu Films directed by Shirō Toyoda Toho films 1960s Japanese films {{1960s-Japan-film-stub