Black Cat Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Black Cat" presents a mixed bag in terms of video quality. It is encoded in 1080p using the AVC MPEG4 codec and maintains a widescreen 2.35:1 original aspect ratio. The transfer is noticeably darker compared to the Criterion release, adversely affecting brightness and contrast levels to the point where certain objects are obscured. This can be particularly frustrating during nighttime scenes where it seems like a heavy black filter is applied, complicating the visual clarity further. However, the daylight footage fares better, offering improved, though still not exceptional, clarity.

Initial viewing is hampered by significant image inconsistencies, including brightness fluctuations, watermarks, scratches, and tramlines that mar the first quarter of the film. Contrast struggles to maintain uniformity, resulting in harsh whites and crushed blacks. However, as the film progresses, these issues lessen significantly. Detail in skin textures and clothing decals becomes more apparent, and the backgrounds provide good edge definition, particularly in landscape shots. It's worth noting that there’s no evidence of aggressive digital noise reduction (DNR), allowing for a decent grain structure throughout.

While original print damage remains extensive in the opening scenes, subsequent improvements illustrate a concerted clean-up effort. However, the lack of excessive degraining and sharpening corrections means that this Blu-ray edition still falls short in overall quality when compared to solutions like Criterion’s counterpart. Contrast boosting attempts to enhance whites and blacks result in an at times unpleasant viewing experience, particularly in darker scenes where clipping issues arise. In conclusion, despite its intentions and some notable improvements after a shaky start, the provided high-definition transfer can only be considered average at best.

The Blu-ray release of "Black Cat" features a single standard audio track: Japanese LPCM 1.0 Mono. This track has undergone a thorough clean-up and is free from common audio artifacts such as hiss, crackle, and pop, ensuring an enjoyable listening experience even at reference volume levels. The soundtrack itself is impressively well-layered, providing a reasonable amount of bass that keeps the subwoofer engaged. However, it is important to note that this mix heavily relies on ADR and foley effects, which can sometimes dominate the soundscape at the expense of achieving a more natural cinematic immersion. Elements like foley noise—such as water sips or footsteps—are excessively prominent and can detract from the overall audio experience. While the dialogue is consistently clear and audible, its high placement in the mix can make it feel artificially close, almost as if the actors are speaking directly from the speaker.

Despite these quirks, the lossless track admirably serves the film’s minimalistic score by Hikaru Hayashi, highlighting its haunting and effective qualities. Random ambient noises and other naturalistic sounds also come through with accuracy, contributing to the eerie atmosphere of the film. The inherent distortions of the original recording become noticeable at higher volumes and can still be detected during critical listening at normal levels. The accompanying English subtitles are both clear and display a slightly antiquated but grammatically correct language, appearing within the image frame and persisting for just the right amount of time.

In conclusion, while the Japanese LPCM 1.0 Mono track on this Blu-ray is commendable for its clean presentation and the effective conveyance of Hayashi's score, it does demand some tolerance for its high-pitched ADR and foley effects inherent in the original recording. Adjusting volume levels may mitigate some of these issues to deliver a more balanced and immersive auditory experience.

The Blu Ray extras for "Black Cat" offer an enriching dive into the film's historical and cultural context, highlighted by a blend of fascinating material. The theatrical trailer and original Japanese trailer provide an immersive glimpse into the movie's initial presentation, with the latter supported by optional English subtitles. Additionally, the 32-page illustrated booklet is a treasure trove of insights, comprising Doug Cummings' reflective essay, Joan Mellen’s vintage 1972 interview with director Shindo, and rare archival imagery. Cummings' essay offers deep analytical perspectives but is notably spoiler-heavy, warranting a post-viewing read for those keen to avoid plot revelations. Collectively, these supplements enhance the viewer’s appreciation and understanding of Shindo’s work.

Extras included in this disc: Theatrical Trailer: A glimpse of the film’s original promotion. Trailer: Original Japanese trailer for Kuroneko with English subtitles. Booklet: 32-page illustrated booklet featuring analytical essays, interviews, and archival imagery.

Kaneto Shindo's "Kuroneko" is a dark and atmospheric supernatural horror film set during the Sengoku Jidai period, exploring themes of vengeance and tragedy. The story follows two women, a mother (Nobuko Otowa) and her daughter-in-law (Kiwako Taichi), who return as vengeful spirits after being brutally raped and killed by samurai. Shindo's direction, reminiscent of his other works such as "Onibaba," expertly combines gritty realism with surreal, neo-gothic elements to create a richly layered narrative. The film's strength lies in its powerful visual storytelling and the hauntingly beautiful cinematography by Kiyomi Kuroda, which earned the film the Best Cinematography award at the Mainichi Film Concours.

"Kuroneko" excels in maintaining an unsettling atmosphere filled with tension and eerie beauty. The film is notably divided into two distinct halves: the first is grounded in harsh reality, depicting the raw brutality of the samurai's world, while the second half delves into a surreal realm where the vengeful spirits interact with a young warrior named Gintoku (Kichiemon Nakamura). The encounter between Gintoku and the ghost of one of the women introduces unexpected erotic nuances, shifting the film's dynamics and adding layers of complexity to the narrative. This juxtaposition of horror and sensuality not only heightens the emotional impact but also enhances the film's multi-dimensional storytelling.

Shindo's skillful direction, combined with Kuroda's visually stunning cinematography, results in a film that is both disturbingly graphic and captivatingly beautiful. The scenes set in the bamboo forest, for example, evoke a dreamlike quality that is both unsettling and mesmerizing. "Kuroneko," translated as "Black Cat," ultimately stands out for its ability to intertwine horror, eroticism, and social commentary seamlessly, making it an exceptional piece in Shindo's portfolio and a must-watch for fans of atmospheric horror cinema.

Eureka Entertainment's Blu-ray of Kaneto Shindo's "Black Cat" (Kuroneko) presents an adequate yet somewhat lackluster upgrade from the DVD release. The film's transfer, while having undergone restoration efforts, exhibits lingering issues with grain and occasional softness. These visual inconsistencies can be distracting during more detailed scenes. The audio fares better, with a clear mono track that captures the haunting and atmospheric score, though slight imbalances in the sound mixing are occasionally noticeable.

The technical presentation is bolstered by standard extras, including a theatrical trailer and an informative booklet. This minimalist approach may leave aficionados longing for more substantive supplementary content, such as additional interviews or behind-the-scenes footage. Unfortunately, for those in Region-B territories, this release pales next to Criterion's offering, which features extensive interviews with Shindo's close collaborators and insightful commentary from Japanese cinema experts.

As a Blu-ray set Eureka’s Region B locked disc is rather low-key compared to their recent fair; the picture whist cleaned up as best as it can be is still rather poor in places, the sound, as clean as it is, suffers with some poor mixing and the extras are limited to the trailer and ever-present booklet. It does work, however, as a companion piece to Onibaba released only a few months ago.