top of page
Jeff Beck

Demon Pond: A Genre-Blending Visual Feast (Criterion Blu-ray)


The Film:


45 years ago, Masahiro Shinoda's "Demon Pond" was unleashed in Japan. A rather curious blending of drama and fantasy, it may not be as well-known as other releases of the era, but it's one of those films that you don't quickly forget about once it's over. Not only because of the narrative, but for the weird & intriguing journey it takes you on with its beautiful & haunting visuals. To celebrate this lesser-known work, Criterion has inducted it into their prestigious collection with a new 4K restoration, so now it's time to explore this fascinating surrealist experience to see why it was worth the effort.


Based on a 1913 play by Kyoka Izumi, the film begins with a teacher, Gakuen Yamazawa (Tsutomu Yamazaki), traveling for his summer break. During his travels, he comes upon a secluded village where he encounters Yuri (Tamasaburô Bandô), a young woman who gives him food and refreshment. As they converse, she is secretly urged by her husband, Akira Hagiwara (Gô Katô), to get Yamazawa to tell a story. However, Yamazawa is able to deduce that Hagiwara is actually his old friend who had gone away three years earlier. The two eventually reunite and decide to visit the nearby Demon Pond, where legend says a god is bound, with a pledge to stop the pond from flooding if a bell is rung three times daily. As they begin to make their journey, we come to learn that the local legends do indeed have some truth to them.


"Demon Pond" is one of those strangely deceptive films that makes you think it's about one thing before spiraling into something rather unexpected. The vast majority of the first half is dedicated to Yamazawa finding his way to the village and conversing with Yuri before finally reconnecting with his old friend, leading you to think that this is going to be a somewhat talkative drama about rekindled friendship and the mystery behind why Hagiwara left in the first place. However, interspersed in the conversations are the legends of the nearby Demon Pond and how it's connected to the bell & the fate of the village, forming the prelude for where the film expands into something more fantastical than originally thought.


I don't want to give away too much about where it goes in that second half, but I will say that it explores those legends in a beautifully theatrical fashion, utilizing incredible costumes, sets, and special effects to tell a fascinating story of love & duty, and their effect on two different relationships. As for the three aforementioned characters, their part in this story also takes some rather unexpected turns thanks to a terrible drought that the village is currently suffering. This eventually leads to some desperate measures being taken later on, which provides the film with a decent amount of tension for its third act, and putting the viewer on high alert as their fate, along with that of the village, is ultimately decided.


Overall, "Demon Pond" is a weird & fascinating experience, one that arguably runs a little long at two hours, but which remains captivating throughout thanks to its beauty, elegance, and intriguing stories. It does ask for a little patience as it sets the stage for its stories to go into full bloom, but once they do, you are treated to quite a visual feast that combines a number of genres into something that you won't forget anytime soon, making it no wonder that Criterion chose to add it to their incredible collection.


Video/Audio:


"Demon Pond" comes to Blu-ray in a 1.85:1, 1080p High Definition transfer of outstanding quality. The new 4K digital restoration, supervised by director Masahiro Shinoda and actor Tamasaburo Bando, looks marvelous, with a perfectly sharp & clear picture throughout. Likewise, the uncompressed monaural soundtrack is marvelous, giving you all of the dialogue, sound effects, and Isao Tomito's synth score in excellent quality. Overall, Criterion has done a phenomenal job in both areas for the Blu-ray debut of this lesser-known Japanese work.


Special Features:


Dudley Andrew (18 Minutes): A featurette in which the film scholar discusses Kyoka Izumi's original 1913 play and director Masahiro Shinoda's relationship with the theater.


A Deluge of Special Effects (13 Minutes): A featurette in which author Fabien Mauro discusses special effects artist Nobuo Yajima.


Conclusion:


Masahiro Shinoda's "Demon Pond" may run a little long at two hours, but those who are patient with it are treated to a fascinating blend of drama, fantasy, romance, and a touch of horror that combine to tell an intriguing tale of legends and their ties to a secluded village & its inhabitants. With its incredible costumes, sets, and special effects, this is a tale not quickly forgotten, making it a worthy addition to your personal Criterion collection.


Score: 3.5/5


Available on Criterion Blu-ray starting tomorrow.


Follow me on Twitter @BeckFilmCritic.


Comments


Join our mailing list

bottom of page