Happy Horror Days

“There’s no better programming for the holidays than a little Japanese ghost story,” says Denver FilmCenter programmer Keith Garcia. So anyone who’s looking for a break from Christmas overkill will feel right at home viewing the Japanese horror flick Kuroneko, made in 1968 by Kaneto Shindo, during its one-week holiday...

By Susan Froyd

December 23, 2010

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

“There’s no better programming for the holidays than a little Japanese ghost story,” says Denver FilmCenter programmer Keith Garcia. So anyone who’s looking for a break from Christmas overkill will feel right at home viewing the Japanese horror flick Kuroneko, made in 1968 by Kaneto Shindo, during its one-week holiday run at the center.

It's not as batshit crazy as Hausu, from Janus Films, but it’s a little more classic,” Garcia says, comparing Kuroneko, also a Janus reissue, to Nobuhiko Obayashi’s stylish cult-film gorefest. The story of a mother and daughter in medieval Japan who are raped and murdered by Samurai warriors and then, as spirits, continue to haunt the area, wreaking vengeance on the Samurai class, Kuroneko borrows elements from Japanese theater, with stunning visual results. “It’s kind of sexy and over the top, and it’s beautifully filmed,” adds Garcia. “The black-and-white cinematography is fantastic.”

Enjoy this formalized mess of art and atmosphere beginning today and continuing through December 30 at the Denver FilmCenter, 2510 East Colfax Avenue; tickets range from $7 to $9.75. Visit www.denverfilm.org or call 303-595-3456.
Dec. 24-30, 2010

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Susan Froyd started writing for Westword as the "Thrills" editor in 1992 and never quite left the fold. These days she still freelances for the paper in addition to walking her dogs, enjoying cheap ethnic food and reading voraciously. Sometimes she writes poetry.

Contact: Susan Froyd

Follow:

Facebook: sosfrojd

Twitter: @sosfrojd