The Curse of the Snowman Once upon a time, in a small town nestled amidst snow-covered mountains, there lived an old man named Klaus. Klaus was known by the townspeople as a talented woodcarver, and his most famous creation was a life-sized wooden snowman that stood proudly in the town square. Legend had it that the wooden snowman possessed magical powers. Every winter, when the first snowfall arrived, the snowman would come to life, bringing joy and laughter to all who encountered him. Children would play with him, and even adults would feel a sense of childlike wonder in his presence. However, there was a curse that overshadowed the snowman's existence.
Created by Shekhar Kapur by Zeb Wells & Virgin Studios After the sacking of a sacred Snake Temple at the hands of 68 British soldiers, each generation sees the birth of a 'Snake Woman,' the human vessel of a Goddess hungry for revenge. It is her destiny to hunt down and kill the reincarnated 68 in a single generation, or be destroyed by one of their number. Now, discover the women who came before Jessica Peterson in a journey through history to explore the Curse of the 68! This issue: In the American West of the 1880's, Johnny Kent rides into Oakley, Kansas, unaware that he's hounded by a legendary outlaw that rides for vengeance. When she arrives, he finds himself alone to face a past he doesn't even know he has! Cover price $2.99.
Created by Shekhar Kapur by Zeb Wells Virgin Studios After the sacking of a sacred Snake Temple at the hands of 68 British soldiers, each generation sees the birth of a Snake Woman, the human vessel of a Goddess hungry for revenge. 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.
However, there was a curse that overshadowed the snowman's existence. It was said that anyone who dared to harm the snowman or disrespect his magic would suffer dire consequences. Klaus was the keeper of this secret, having discovered it many years ago from an old book he found in the town's library.
Curse of the snalw wman
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)
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As the years passed, the snowman became the symbol of the town, attracting tourists from far and wide. People would visit, hoping to catch a glimpse of the legendary snowman who came to life. The townspeople knew to treat the snowman with respect and reverence, ensuring his everlasting magic. One particularly cold winter, a mischievous group of teenagers from out of town decided to play a prank on the snowman. Ignorant of the curse, they wore masks and carried sticks, intending to scare away anyone who approached the snowman. Little did they know, their actions would have grave consequences. When the teenagers approached the snowman and started shouting and swinging their sticks, Klaus appeared out of nowhere, warning them to stop before it was too late. But it was too late. The damage had been done, and the curse was set in motion. Overnight, the town was engulfed in a deep freeze. Snowflakes fell heavily, covering every inch of the town. The once bustling streets were now desolate and frozen. No one could leave, and all hope seemed lost. Klaus realized that by harming the snowman, the teenagers had disrupted the delicate balance of magic that protected the town. He set out on a quest to reverse the curse and save his beloved home. Through dedication, perseverance, and a deep understanding of the snowman's magic, Klaus was able to find a way to lift the freeze from the town. The curse was broken, and life slowly returned to normal. The incident served as a reminder to the townspeople of the sacredness of the snowman's magic, and they vowed to protect and honor him for eternity. The wooden snowman stood, once again, tall and proud in the town square, a symbol of hope and the power of unity. From that day forward, the curse of the snowman became a cautionary tale, passed down through generations. It reminded people to treat the magical wonders of the world with respect and reverence, for they hold powers beyond our comprehension. And so, the story of the curse of the snowman lived on, preserving the town's history and teaching valuable lessons to all who heard it..
Reviews for "Folklore Fears: How the Snow Woman Became the Stuff of Nightmares"
1. Laura - 2/5 - "Curse of the Snow Woman" was a major letdown for me. The storyline felt predictable and lacked any real depth. The characters were underdeveloped, making it hard to care about their fates. The special effects were mediocre at best, and didn't do justice to the Snow Woman herself. Overall, it was just a forgettable and uninspiring movie that I wouldn't recommend to others.
2. Michael - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Curse of the Snow Woman," but it fell short in many aspects. The pacing was off, with the movie dragging in some parts and rushing in others. The acting was subpar, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The attempts at creating suspense and horror were ineffective, making the movie more laughable than scary. I was left disappointed and unimpressed by this film and would advise others to skip it altogether.
3. Rachel - 3/5 - While "Curse of the Snow Woman" had potential, it ultimately failed to deliver a truly captivating and chilling experience. The story had some interesting elements, but the execution fell flat. The scares were lacking, and the jump scares felt cliché. Additionally, the character development was weak, making it hard to connect with anyone on screen. Despite its flaws, the film had its moments and might appeal to die-hard fans of supernatural horror, but it did not live up to my expectations.