The Curse of the Snake Woman is a popular mythical tale that has been passed down through generations. According to folklore, a woman was cursed with the ability to transform into a snake. This curse was believed to have been cast upon her by a jealous sorceress who envied her beauty and grace. As the story goes, the snake woman was once a beautiful and kind-hearted young woman. However, her beauty attracted unwanted attention, and the jealous sorceress became consumed with envy. In a fit of rage, the sorceress cast a powerful curse upon the woman, forcing her to transform into a snake at will.
SD HD HD selected
Traditional Kaidan pictures often portray how a guilty conscience can be far more terrifying that a little pale Asian kid who wears too much eye liner and screams like a cat in heat. A biography of Nobuo Nakagawa and detailed liner notes by Japanese film scholar Alexander Jacoby do an excellent job of covering the history of Nakagawa s introduction to the Asian film industry and his collective works.
In a fit of rage, the sorceress cast a powerful curse upon the woman, forcing her to transform into a snake at will. The curse brought immense pain and suffering to the snake woman. She was shunned by society, feared and reviled for her serpentine form.
Curse if the snake woman
It was only a couple of years ago that U.S. soil was inundated with J-Horror remakes. Theaters were flooded with films like THE GRUDGE, DARK WATER and THE RING, leading most Americans to believe that all Japanese ghost stories involved creepy teenage girls with long black hair extensions. Sadly, more traditional Japanese ghost stories (or Kaidan) are not as well known or as popular as their modern counterparts. This is a sad state of affairs, as most Kaidan are based on Japanese folklore or Buddhist stories that are brimming with interesting characters, tense atmosphere and karmic revenge. Traditional Kaidan pictures often portray how a guilty conscience can be far more terrifying that a little pale Asian kid who wears too much eye liner and screams like a cat in heat.
Yasuke is a peasant farmer whose field is reposed by his overbearing landlord, Chobei Onuma. With no land to tend, Yasuke quickly becomes ill and dies, leaving behind his wife, Sue, and daughter, Asa. While paying his respects, Chobei informs the two women that they will return with him to his home, where they will work to pay off the debt left by Yasuke. Upon leaving the grieving family, Chobei is suddenly, albeit briefly, confronted by the ghost of Yasuke. Chobei quickly vacates the village home and orders that it be demolished. Several of the male villagers are then gathered to destroy the home, which uncovers a serpent that is quickly killed. Such an act, in feudal Japan, is considered bad luck and brings with it a curse. Upon reaching the Onuma family home, Asa and Sue are thrown directly into their duties, where they are worked hard and harassed repeatedly by Chobei's wife, Masae, and son, Takeo. While tending the family court, Sue is witness to the beating of another snake found within the home. She throws herself in harms way too protect the creature, only to be injured herself. This injury leads to her death and Asa being left alone to fend off the unwanted advances of Takeo and to pay off her family debt solo. All the while Chobei and his wife are planning the marriage of their son to the mayor's daughter, but the curse put forth on the Onuma family threatens to ruin their plans for a prosperous union.
Nobuo Nakagawa, most often associated with Japanese horror and ghost films, weaves a tense yet traditional ghost story with SNAKE WOMAN'S CURSE. Those only familiar with Nakagawa's JIGOKU (released last year through The Criterion Collection), often cited as his masterpiece, may be a little surprised and possibly even disappointed, as he takes a much more subdued approach with many of SNAKE WOMAN'S visuals. That is not to say that there are not several scenes that border on grotesque, but other than the beating of several snakes, the majority of violence portrayed is done so off screen. One particular effective scene involves Asa as she fends off the unwanted advances of Takeo. Having been tricked into isolating herself on a country road, Takeo chases her like a cat playing with a mouse. Only for the chase to end as Takeo throws her in the bushes, to take advantage of her, hidden just out of sight. The scene is then followed by one of Asa left outside, for dead, where a lighting bolt splits a tree next to her collapsed body. As if her anger had collected and poured down from the heavens. The tree, split in half, then reveals a snake.
The ghost themselves haunt their victims merely by being in their presence. They never have any direct contact with the Onuma family. Instead they simply let it be know that they are still around, letting the guilt boil within, to the point of madness. This is in striking contrast to more recent J-Horror ghost films, in which spirits present themselves by crab walking down a flight of stair as if they are auditioning for Cirque du Soleil.
Originally SNAKE WOMAN’S CURSE was scheduled to be released through Panik House Entertainment in partnership with Synapse Films, along with seven other films from Toei studios. Synapse has since stepped to the forefront of these releases, presenting them with the respect and quality that cult film fans have come to expect from Don May Jr. and Jerry Chandler. SNAKE WOMAN’S CURSE is presented with a new, fully restored, anamorphic widescreen transfer which maintains the films original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Having been transferred in high-definition from Toei's original vault elements, SNAKE WOMAN’S CURSE DVD debut is virtually flawless. Colors are bright and clear, with only the crashing waves of the Toei logo having any visible darkening or grain. The Japanese language audio, presented in Dolby Digital mono 2.0, comes across clear with both the dialogue and soundtrack easy to follow and enjoy. English subtitles are legible and flow naturally.
An audio commentary from Japanese film scholar Jonathan M. Hall does a nice job of exploring particular meanings of certain images and characters as they pertain to Japanese culture and the social classes of the time in which the film is set. Although his monotone voice is a bit like listening to Ambien, he might put you to sleep. A biography of Nobuo Nakagawa and detailed liner notes by Japanese film scholar Alexander Jacoby do an excellent job of covering the history of Nakagawa's introduction to the Asian film industry and his collective works. Original Japanese theatrical trailer and Nakagawa poster gallery round out the extra features. The DVD cover itself is reversible, with a striking illustrative cover by Wes Benscoter on one side and the original Japanese poster on the other. (Jason McElreath)
Unable to control her transformations, she became a recluse, hiding away from the world and living a life of solitude. Over time, the snake woman's heart turned bitter and resentful. She became filled with anger towards the sorceress who had cursed her, vowing revenge. Legends say that she spent years learning the dark arts, searching for a way to break the curse and bring justice to her tormentor. Despite her efforts, the snake woman was unable to find a solution. Her life became a never-ending cycle of transformation and despair. She became known as a vengeful spirit, haunting those who crossed her path and trapping them in her curse. The legend of the Curse of the Snake Woman serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive power of jealousy and the consequences of seeking revenge. It warns against allowing negative emotions to consume one's heart and the importance of forgiveness and letting go. In some versions of the tale, it is said that the curse can only be broken by an act of true love or through the intervention of a brave hero. However, these solutions often come with a heavy price and require great sacrifice. The Curse of the Snake Woman continues to captivate and intrigue people around the world. It serves as a reminder of the timeless power of myths and legends to convey moral lessons and explore the depths of human emotions..
Reviews for "Snake Woman's Curse: A Curse Passed Down Through Generations"
1. John Smith - 2 out of 5 stars:
I found "Curse of the Snake Woman" to be incredibly dull and predictable. The plot was not engaging, and the characters lacked depth. Furthermore, the special effects were subpar and did not add anything to the overall experience. Overall, I was disappointed with this film and would not recommend it to others.
2. Emily Johnson - 1 out of 5 stars:
I couldn't even sit through "Curse of the Snake Woman". The acting was horrendous, and the dialogue was cringe-worthy. I felt no connection to the characters and found myself rolling my eyes at the absurdity of the plot. The film failed to capture my attention or provide any entertainment value. Save yourself the time and skip this one.
3. Michael Anderson - 2 out of 5 stars:
"Curse of the Snake Woman" lacked originality and relied heavily on clichés. The story felt recycled and offered nothing new to the genre. The pacing was off, with slow and uneventful scenes dragging on for what felt like an eternity. The filmmakers seemed more focused on creating jump scares than telling an engaging story. I was disappointed and felt like I had wasted my time watching this film.