Classic Horror Month Quick Picks and Pans

Man Made Monster (1941) Lon Chaney Jr. stars as Dan McCormick, a carnival performer whose act involves working with electricity. His continued exposure to electric shocks has made him partially immune to the effects of electrocution. When he survives a bus accident that kills the rest of his fellow passengers, he captures the attention of Dr. Paul Rigas (Lionel Atwill). Dr. Rigas views McCormick as the perfect test subject for his experiment, to create a perfect human being that doesn’t require food, but consumes electricity in its place. When his experiment goes predictably awry, McCormick is framed for murder. Chaney brings much pathos to the role as the ill-fated McCormick, who starts out amiable but becomes increasingly morose as his situation becomes dire. It’s a solid effort from director George Waggner, which unfortunately became overshadowed by The Wolf Man (also featuring Chaney as the tragic lead), released later that year. 

Rating: ***½. Available on Blu-ray (Included in the Universal Horror Collection: Volume 3) and DVD

Seven Footprints to Satan (1929) Director Benjamin Christensen (Haxan) presents a new spin on the tired spooky old house trope. Just as he’s about to embark on an overseas expedition, James Kirkham (Creighton Hale) and his girlfriend Eve (Thelma Todd) are whisked away to a dark, secluded mansion, where they encounter a satanic cult. Trapped in the house with the prospect of a fate worse than death, they must keep their wits about them to find an exit. While it’s filled with familiar elements, Seven Footprints to Satan has more than enough to keep you entertained with surprises galore, and a host of offbeat characters. 

Note: The public domain version playing on Tubi is a severely truncated 60-minute version, while an independently produced Blu-ray is available with a restored 75-minute version (complete with color tinting). 

Rating: ***½. Available on Blu-ray and Tubi  

From the Old Earth (aka: O'r Ddaear Hen) (1981) While digging in his garden, an elderly farmer (Charles Williams) discovers an ancient Celtic stone head. When his wife is unnerved by the artifact, he brings it to a college professor (Valerie Wynne-Williams), who surmises the head was meant to evoke the old gods. Not long after the professor takes possession of the object, she and her teenage daughter are haunted by visions of an imposing horned figure. Directed by Wil Aaron, From the Old Earth stands apart as one of the few Welsh language horror films. Running a brief 46 minutes, it feels more like an episode of a horror anthology, rather than a self-contained film, but it’s a unique way to experience folk horror from a different perspective. 

Rating: ***½. Available on Blu-ray (Included in Severin’s All the Haunts Be Ours box set), Tubi and Midnight Pulp

The Comeback (1978) This psychological horror film from director Paul Walker plays a bit like a British giallo, complete with red herrings and some gory surprises. Recently divorced pop singer Nick Cooper (Jack Jones) is back in the recording studio after several years, but someone desperately wants to undermine his return. Haunted by terrible visions and sounds, he begins to think he’s going insane. Meanwhile, there’s a killer (dressed in an old lady costume) running around, leaving a string of grisly murders in his or her wake. The crooning pop music (supplied by Jack Jones) sounds bland and dated by 1978 standards, but the warped murder mystery elements are enough to keep things interesting. 

Rating: ***. Available on Blu-ray and Tubi

Count Dracula’s Great Love (1973) Paul Naschy stars as the title character, who goes by the name Dr. Wendell Marlow. Karen (Haydée Politoff), a young woman, and her friends are forced to search for shelter when their coach suffers an accident. They find a dilapidated old mansion where its solitary occupant, the enigmatic Dr. Marlow resides. As Karen’s friends disappear one by one, becoming vampires themselves, she falls in love with the doctor. It may not be Naschy’s best effort, but it isn’t a bad way to spend an evening. 

Rating: ***. Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Tubi

Murders in the Zoo (1933) The opening scene of this pre-Code horror/mystery sets the tone, with the depiction of a man’s lips being sewn shut after kissing another explorer’s wife. Back in the States, there are a series of deaths linked to an escaped mamba. Lionel Atwill does what he does best as the villainous zoo owner Eric Gorman, who will stop at nothing to keep any would-be suitors away from his wife. The film relies heavily on the audience’s ignorance of various animals (the killer’s m.o., involves employing a severed snake head that somehow continues to produce venom), but if you can suspend your disbelief, it a fun little potboiler. 

Rating: ***. Available on DVD

 

Assignment Terror (aka: Los Monstruos del Terror) (1970) Humanlike aliens from a dying planet, led by Dr. Odo Warnoff (Michael Rennie), set their sights on conquering Earth. Their vague scheme involves activating some of the world’s most infamous monsters, including a Dracula-like vampire (Manuel de Blas), Wolf Man (Paul Naschy, who also wrote the screenplay), a sleepy-eyed Frankenstein’s monster (Ferdinando Murolo) and an Egyptian mummy (Gene Reyes). Meddling humans manage to spoil Dr. Warnoff’s plans. Assignment Terror sets up a fun premise, but House of Frankenstein (or House of Dracula), it’s not. We mostly see the monsters wandering aimlessly about in Warnoff’s castle, along with Rennie, who looks like he’s wondering when his career took a wrong turn after The Day the Earth Stood Still. 

Rating: **½ stars. Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Tubi

Seizure (1974) In an early effort from director/co-writer Oliver Stone, a writer (Jonathan Frid) keeps experiencing intense nightmares of his literary creations coming to life: an impish man named Spider (Hervé Villechaize), a giant (Henry Judd Baker) and a wicked seductress known as The Queen (Martine Beswick). Dreams become reality (Or is it the reverse) as the events in his dreams take shape during a get-together with several friends and family. Who will live and who will die? No thanks to its unpleasant characters, meandering story, and purposely convoluted plot, you might not stick around long enough to find out. 

Rating: **. Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Tubi

 

  

Bug Month II Quick Picks and Pans

Curse of the Black Widow (1977) An amiable private investigator (Tony Franciosa) and cranky police detective (Vic Morrow) clash while attempting to learn more about a series of strange deaths in which the victims suffered two large puncture wounds on their chests, with their bodies completely drained of blood. Meanwhile, a mysterious dark-haired woman lurks in the shadows, luring men to their doom. It almost feels like an extended Kolchak the Night Stalker episode, minus Kolchak (no big surprise, since director Dan Curtis worked on the second Kolchak TV movie, The Night Strangler). While far from perfect, Curse of the Black Widow features some suspenseful scenes and a sense of playfulness, making this one a cut above the usual made-for-TV fare. 

Rating: ***½. Available on Prime Video

 

Earth vs. the Spider (aka: The Spider) (1958) Bert I. Gordon, who’s no stranger to depicting enlarged creatures with his usual home-grown subpar effects, brings us his bargain basement answer to Tarantula (1955) After Carol’s (June Kenney) father goes missing, she starts a search with her boyfriend Mike (Eugene Persson). They learn the awful truth when they discover his desiccated corpse inside a nearby cavern. The culprit turns out to be an enormous spider, which almost makes them its next meal (oddly enough, no one seems to pay much attention to the skeletons of former victims littered around the cave floor). After a truckload of DDT fails to kill the supersized arachnid, the authorities rack their brains for another solution. Some highlights include the oldest “teenagers” you’ve ever seen, a high school dance around the spider’s not-so-dead corpse, and spelunkers who can’t be bothered to bring a flashlight (Who knew caves were so bright?). 

Rating: ***. Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Tubi 

 

Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo (1977) When ill-fated business partners Buddy and Fred (Tom Atkins and Howard Hessman) crash land their DC-3, carrying coffee from Ecuador (along with a bunch of killer spiders) in a small California town, mayhem ensues. Yet another flick that rode the wave of tarantula-sploitation movies (perpetuating the myth that the much-maligned spiders are far more venomous than they really are), Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo boasts a strong cast, including TV movie stalwart Claude Aikens as a fire captain and Pat Hingle as a small-town doctor. Thanks to the aforementioned pests, a big plot point is whether or not the latest orange harvest will go to waste (No, really!). You could do worse than to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon watching hordes of spiders, shaky science and a pat ending (hint: It’s bad for spiders but good for oranges). 

Rating ***. Available on Blu-ray and DVD 

 

Mosquito (1994) An alien spacecraft crashes into a swamp in rural Michigan, and mosquitoes feast on the remains of the extraterrestrials’ bodies, resulting in giant mutant creatures. A park ranger, her alpha male boyfriend, and an Air Force scientist team up to combat the monster mosquitoes, along with a pair of crooks (Gunnar Hansen and Mike Hard). The effects range from quite good (the full-size mosquito) to terrible (animation depicting the swarm). One highlight is seeing Mr. Hansen wield a chainsaw again (20 years after a certain movie from Texas). Unfortunately, most of the movie is uninspired, with lackluster acting and mostly lame attempts at humor. 

Rating: **½. Available on Blu-ray and DVD

Ticks (1993) Seth Green stars as Tyler, a disaffected youth sent to a camp to straighten out his life. Soon, he finds himself fighting for his survival, along with his fellow campers and counselors when some giant mutant ticks (resembling a bad first draft of an Alien facehugger) are inadvertently unleashed in the wilderness by pot growers (including Clint Howard as the first victim) using a new potent fertilizer. It’s not the worst way to spend 90 minutes, although there are better bug films out there.     

Rating: **½. Available on Blu-ray, Prime Video and Tubi

 Ants! (aka: It Happened at Lakewood Manor) (1977) A construction crew unwittingly stir up a colony of deadly ants, which spread to an adjacent property, the 100-year-old Lakewood Manor. A construction foreman, fire chief and coast guard race against time to save the remaining guests before the ants take over the place. A good cast (including Robert Foxworth, Lynda Day George, Bernie Casey, Brian Dennehy and Myrna Loy!) are mostly wasted in a movie that, despite the lurid subject matter, manages to be surprisingly tedious. 

Rating: **½. Available on Blu-ray and DVD 

Mesa of Lost Women (1953) Reportedly cobbled together from an unfinished film with scenes added in (It’s two, count ‘em, two confusing movies in one!). From his hidden desert laboratory, mad scientist Dr. Aranya (Jackie “Uncle Fester” Coogan) attempts to create a master race of superwomen, fortified by spider hormones. He also experiments with supersized spiders, just to spice things up. It’s a big mess, good for some unintentional laughs, a Chinese character who only seems to speak in trite aphorisms, and a repetitive score that hoped to do for flamenco guitar what zither music did for The Third Man. You’ve been warned. 

Rating: **. Available on DVD and Tubi 

The Giant Spider Invasion (1975) For reasons unknown, a wormhole to another galaxy forms a portal on a rural Wisconsin farm owned by a hateful bumpkin and his self-esteem-challenged wife. Some rocks resembling geodes appear with diamonds and spiders inside. The spiders start to grow rapidly, threatening to take over the town (as freakishly large spiders will do). A NASA astrophysicist and a local cosmologist try to figure out a way to close the wormhole before more spiders are unleashed. Other than some goofy dialogue and Alan Hale as the sheriff (he even calls someone “Little Buddy”), there’s not much to recommend. 

Rating **. Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Tubi

The Bees (1978) The Bees tries to do for bees what Phase IV did for ants, but without the introspection. John Carradine (attempting a German accent) plays a researcher studying a new strain of intelligent South American killer bees. Co-star John Saxon does his best, given the flimsy material, but even he seems lost. There’s also a brief scene with a Jimmy Carter impersonator and an assassination/conspiracy subplot that comes out of left field. Add one of the worst film scores in recent memory into the mix (with wacky TV movie-caliber action music that does nothing to punctuate the horror), and you have a movie that’s guaranteed to raise eyebrows and make you question your life choices. See The Swarm (1978) instead. 

Rating: *½. Available on Blu-ray, DVD, Tubi and Kanopy

 

 

Spanish Horror Month Quick Picks and Pans

The Loreley’s Grasp (1973) What if Hammer produced a movie in Spain? It might look something like The Loreley’s Grasp, from Amando de Ossorio (Tombs of the Blind Dead). Set in Germany (but filmed mostly in Spain), Loreley (Helga Liné), a legendary, centuries-old creature emerges from the lake to feast on the hearts of its victims. When an all-girls boarding school appears to be the creature’s primary target, the schoolmaster hires the experienced hunter Sigurd (Tony Kendall) to track down and destroy it. Helga Liné is appropriately enticing as the siren-like Lorely, who transforms into a hideous beast at night. The rubbery monster is nothing to write home about, but the film makes up for any deficits with heaps of gothic atmosphere. Great fun! 

Rating: ***½. Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Tubi   

Howl of the Devil (1988) Director/co-writer Paul Naschy’s love letter to the Universal monsters of yesteryear is a twisted tale of obsession, imagination gone awry, and death. Naschy plays Hector, the psychologically unbalanced brother of a famous, deceased character actor, Alex (also played by Naschy). While Hector partakes in bizarre sex games, his nephew Adrián lives in a world of his own. He’s watched over by Hector’s comely housekeeper, Carmen (Caroline Munro), who dreams of taking Adrián away. Adrián holds imaginary conversations with several monsters (including Waldemar Daninsky, the Wolf Man, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Phantom of the Opera), which naturally gives Naschy a golden opportunity to revisit these characters. While it’s hard to justify some of the plot’s sleazier elements, it’s a treat to see Naschy in his element. 

Rating: ***½. Available on Blu-ray 

The Baby’s Room (aka: Películas Para no Dormir: La habitación del Niño) (2006) In this intriguing film from director/co-writer Álex de la Iglesia, a young couple with an infant son move into an old house. Not long after they begin renovating the place, Juan and Sonia (Javier Gutiérrez and Leonor Watling) experience a number of strange occurrences, with Juan insisting there’s an intruder watching over their baby. Rather than a ghostly presence, signs point to parallel universes at work, with the house as their focal point. Although it may not quite deliver on such a fascinating premise, The Baby’s Room is worth a look. 

Rating: ***. Available on DVD (part of The Horror Anthology, Volume 1) and Tubi

Edge of the Axe (1988) In this standard slasher from director José Ramón Larraz, an axe murderer in a creepy mask stalks women in a a small Northern California town. Mostly shot in Spain, Edge of the Axe relies on 2^nd unit footage in California, to remind us where we’re supposed to be. A computer “expert” (the filmmakers apparently had no idea what late ‘80s computers were actually capable of) teams up with one of the locals to locate the killer. An escaped mental patient (or course), proves to be the culprit. Yawn. 

Rating: **. Available on Blu-ray, Prime Video and Midnight Pulp

Dracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein (1972) When your monster movie features Frankenstein’s creation, Dracula and the Wolfman, what can go wrong? Well, if it’s the wildly prolific Jesús (“Jess”) Franco at the helm, plenty. With the help of his homemade monster, Dr. Frankenstein revives Dracula, hoping to create an invincible vampire army to rule the world (just forget about stakes, fire and sunlight). This would-be tribute to Universal’s classic monsters somehow manages to be dull, despite the presence of three horror icons. Featuring sloth-like pacing, non-existent character development, and dollar-store makeup effects, Dracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein underwhelms from the first reel to the last. If someone told me Franco made this while someone held a gun to his head, I’d believe it. Unless you’re on a masochistic mission to see all 200+ of his movies, skip it.  

Rating: *½. Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Tubi

Black Candles (aka: Los Ritos Sexuales del Diablo) (1982) After she learns about her brother’s untimely death, Carol (Vanessa Hidalgo) travels to England to visit her sister-in-law Fiona (Helga Liné) in her farmhouse. All is not as it seems, as Carol stumbles onto a satanic cult, falling into Fiona’s trap. The paper-thin plot is mostly an excuse to depict one sleazy escapade after another (including a sex scene with a pig). More unpleasant than scary, Black Candles is a must-miss. 

Rating: *½. Available on Blu-ray and DVD

 

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

 

(1978) Directed by John De Bello; Written by Costa Dillon, John De Bello and J. Stephen Peace; Starring: Cindy Charles, David Miller, Eric Christmas, J. Stephen Peace and Sharon Taylor; Available on Blu-ray and DVD 

Rating: ***

“…People often ask me how did I come up with this idea for killer tomatoes, and I can actually remember, they used to show Saturday afternoon science fiction/horror movies on regular TV before cable, watching Attack of the Mushroom People, a wonderful Japanese film that I later determined was not a documentary… It was supposed to be a horror movie, and I thought what could actually be sillier than that – mushroom people? And for some reason tomatoes popped up first.” – Costa Dillon (co-writer/actor) (from 2003 DVD commentary) 

The 1970s were the golden era of disaster and “nature strikes back” movies, making audiences afraid to visit skyscrapers, go to the beach, or enjoy a transatlantic cruise. During that tumultuous decade, virtually anything that could be exploited as a threat was depicted on the silver screen, no matter how unlikely or ridiculous. If sharks, rats, rabbits and even worms could pose a threat to humanity’s existence, then why not common household produce? Taking this loopy premise to its illogical conclusion, director/co-writer John De Bello and his partners in crime set out to produce their disaster comedy on an estimated budget of $90,000.* 

* Fun Fact #1: The helicopter crash featured in the movie was the real thing. The individuals involved in the crash thankfully walked away (and even managed some ad libs), so the filmmakers kept the scene in the film. De Bello joked that the wrecked helicopter cost more than the rest of the movie.       

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is not so much a story as a string of gags. Following several unprovoked attacks on U.S. citizens, the country’s top minds assemble to assess the emerging tomato threat.* They enlist bumbling federal investigator Mason Dixon (David Miller) accompanied by his equally inept sidekick Lt. Wilbur Finletter (played by co-writer J. Stephen Peace), to help stamp out the red menace. ** They’re followed by a snooping reporter (Sharon Taylor), who’s egged on by her editor to use her feminine wiles to get a scoop. When things appear to be at their worst, the authorities discover a novel solution to combat the tomato menace: an insipid pop song*** that proves to be lethal (If this sounds familiar, the idea was recycled, either intentionally or via the collective unconscious, by Tim Burton in 1996’s Mars Attacks!). For the climactic showdown at San Diego Stadium (now Qualcomm Stadium), the filmmakers must have called everyone they knew (and probably pulled some random folks off the street), including a cameo by the famous San Diego Chicken mascot. 

* Fun Fact #2: If the scene where the government officials gather in an impossibly tiny, cramped room looks familiar, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. De Bello admitted that he copied a scene from the Marx Brothers classic, A Night at the Opera (1935). 

** Fun Fact #3: For the scenes where tomatoes needed to splat against glass, the filmmakers used boiled tomatoes. 

*** Fun Fact #4: The infectiously awful song “Puberty Love” was sung by a young Matt Cameron (listed in the credits as “Foo” Cameron), who went on to become the drummer for Soundgarden and Pearl Jam.

The comedic elements in the movie (ranging from the merely tasteless to downright offensive) are of the “let’s throw it at the wall and see what sticks” variety, so it’s inevitably a hit-and-miss affair. While the jokes never quite rise above sophomoric, the obnoxious junior high schooler in me still finds parts of it funny (like the war cry of the angry tomatoes, which at least to my ears, sounds like an incoherent, meth-addled Porky Pig). Another inspired gag is a Japanese scientist (Paul Oya) whose voice is badly dubbed (a nod to kaiju films that played on TV in the ‘60s and ‘70s). In one of the best moments, a government spy (Gary Smith) infiltrates the tomatoes’ command center, disguised as a tomato, but makes a fatal error by asking for someone to pass the ketchup. And who can forget the earworm-worthy title song? Rest easy, because even if you don’t want it there, it’ll be firmly planted in your brain. Unsurprisingly, not all the jokes have worn well. The aforementioned Japanese scientist becomes the butt of a Pearl Harbor joke, there’s an East German female athlete who imbibes steroids, and a homophobic slur is used as a punchline. 

* Fun Fact #5: Twin Peaks fans will want to keep an eye out for a very young Dana Ashbrook in a sailboat scene. 

** Fun Fact #6: The explosions for the film were created by special effects professional Greg Auer, who lent his talents to numerous projects, including Star Wars, The Hills Have Eyes, and Carrie.

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes has an undeserved reputation for being one of the “worst” movies ever made, but it’s not even close. To paraphrase Roger Ebert, the worst sin a movie can commit is to be boring. Given the “everything but the kitchen sink”* approach, this movie is far from dull (Scatterbrained, amateurish and puerile, but not boring). Some movies, such as this one can’t be labeled “good” and “bad,” but something in-between that defies categorization. Considering the modest budget and slapped-together nature of the film, applying the same metric as one would to Oppenheimer or Lawrence of Arabia to evaluate Attack of the Killer Tomatoes doesn’t seem to be quite fair.* If nothing else, John De Bello’s film, was ahead of its time, warning us about the perils of genetically modified organisms. It spawned three belated sequels, but consider the first movie the last word in homicidal fruit. 

* Note: For those keeping score, a kitchen sink is featured prominently in the opening scene. 

** Nonsensical Tangent: While I’m on the subject of “good” and “bad” films, why are terrible (albeit fun) movies often called “The Citizen Kane of bad movies?” Shouldn’t they be compared to similarly entertaining bad films (i.e., “The Plan 9 from Outer Space of bad movies”)? 

 

Source for this article: MVD Blu-ray commentary by John De Bello, Costa Dillon and J. Steve Peace (2003)

 

The Bold and Bizarre World of Cinematic Yokai

 

I love yokai! There, I said it. Ever since I was introduced to these fanciful and frightening beings in all their cinematic glory, I can’t get enough of the things that go bump in the night. But what exactly are yokai? These reclusive, elusive creatures belong to a broad category of mythical spirits (or monsters) that inhabit every corner of the Japanese countryside (and in some urban areas). Part cryptid, part urban legend, yokai are an integral component of Japanese folklore and pop culture. Chances are, if you’ve watched many Japanese movies, anime, or manga, you’ve seen yokai (sometimes translated as spirits, monsters, demons, or goblins) already in one form or another. But what are they?

There are literally hundreds of yokai, as diverse as the habitats they represent. Their temperament ranges from harmless to deadly. Many are tricksters who only want to frighten people away, but encounters with some can result in a nasty end. While the variety of yokai are far too numerous to cover here, I’ve chosen to focus on a baker’s dozen of the more popular examples that you’re most likely to encounter on your TV screen. What follows is a brief guide to yokai in the movies and where you can view them. Happy hunting! 

Kappa (Water Sprite) 

By far one of the most widely known (and frequently depicted) yokai are kappa. While there are several variations, the stereotypical kappa is humanoid in appearance, but with a turtle’s beak and shell, as well as a ceramic plate on top of its head that must remain wet to maintain its vitality. Kappa are characterized by their fondness for sumo wrestling, eating cucumbers (Sushi fans might recognize the “kappa roll,” which includes – you guessed it.), and excessive flatulence. Although they’re generally depicted as benign, they have a mischievous streak, with a tendency to drag people into the waterways where they live. Some are also thought to attack the posterior of swimmers for a mythical organ within the colon. 

Where can you see them?

You don’t have to look very hard to find kappa in Japanese fantasy films. They’re featured prominently in Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare (aka: The Great Yokai War) (1968) and Takashi Miike’s remake, The Great Yokai War (2005). In Summer Days with Coo (2007), they’re the star attraction. And before The Shape of Water (2017) introduced us to the possibility of (ahem) human-monster relations, the surprisingly charming Underwater Love (2011) featured the yokai in quite possibly the only Kappa-themed pinku musical. And last but definitely least, an “ordinary” kappa grows to extraordinary proportions in the middling Kaijū eiga-spoof, Death Kappa (2010).

Onibaba (Demon Hag) 

This is one yokai you don’t want to mess with. Appearing as an old woman, the Onibaba feasts on the livers of unborn children and the flesh of wayward travelers. Legend has it that she started out as a human being, but unfortunate circumstances forced her into existence as a supernatural entity.    

Where can you see them?

Look no further than Onibaba (1964), which approaches the legendary yokai from a more pragmatic perspective.

Nopperabo (No-face) 

Perhaps the uncanniest yokai of them all are the Nopperabo, proving that when it comes to frights, less is sometimes more. They look normal enough until they turn around, revealing a face completely devoid of features (“Did they look like this?”). They’re not inherently dangerous like the Onibaba, but delight in creeping out unsuspecting humans who happen to cross their path. 

Where can you see them? 

Examples of these faceless wonders can be found in Along with Ghosts (1969) and Pom Poko (1994). 

Kara-kasa (Haunted Umbrella) 

My personal favorite yokai isn’t dangerous or especially fearsome, but relies on the element of surprise. A discarded oiled-paper umbrella takes on life of its own, sporting one large eye, a single shapely leg where the handle should be, and a solitary sandal. A natural-born trickster, the Kara-kasa likes to drop in on people unexpectedly. If their appearance isn’t enough to send someone running, they might provide additional enticement to vacate the premises with a sloppy lick from their serpentine tongue. 

Where can you see them? 

You’ll find examples of the kara-kasa in Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare (1968) and 100 Monsters (1968). Also, watch for cameos in Pom Poko (1994) and Sakuya: Slayer of Demons (2000).

Rokurokubi (Long-necked Woman) 

At first glance, the Rokurokubi appear to be a normal human being (much like the nopperabo), but just when you’re lulled into a false sense of security, their true nature appears. The rokurokubi (who are uniformly female) enjoy scaring men out of their wits (and sometimes their life essence) with their absurdly long, twisty necks. 

Where can you see them? 

Rokurokubi are nearly as prevalent in films as kappa, appearing in Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare (1968), 100 Monsters, The Great Yokai War (2005), and (briefly) in Pom Poko (1994).

 

Yuki-Onna (Snow Woman) 

One of the more dangerous yokai, the Yuki-Onna resembles an attractive woman with an extremely pale complexion. They roam the snowy countryside looking for victims. Anyone unlucky enough to encounter them runs the risk of having his or her life energy drained and freezing to death.  

Where can you see them? 

The Yuki-Onna enjoyed her time in spotlight in a segment of Kwaidan (1964), and starred in her own film, The Snow Woman (1968). She also makes a guest appearance in The Great Yokai War (2005).

Kuchisake-Onna (Slit-Mouthed Woman) 

One of the more recent yokai, Kuchisake Onna is the stuff of urban legend (and nightmares). Pray you never run into her. The lower portion of her face is concealed by a surgical mask or other piece of cloth, which conceals the fact that her mouth is slit from ear to ear in the hideous approximation of a smile. There’s no correct answer to her challenge, “Am I pretty?” If you answer “yes,” she follows you home, where a violent death awaits. If the answer is “no,” she reveals her visage, slashing the victim’s face in a grotesque mimicry of her disfigurement. 

Where can you see them? 

Perhaps not the best representation of the Kuchisake Onna, but Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman (2007) has its unsettling moments. 

Tanuki (Raccoon Dog) 

Unlike the other yokai on this list, Tanuki have real-life counterparts, inhabiting the Japanese countryside, albeit in dwindling numbers. Not really raccoons, but a member of the canine family, folklore suggests these critters possess supernatural properties. With their reputation as natural-born tricksters, Tanuki enjoy deceiving humans with their shape-shifting abilities. They’re also known for their enormous testicles (I didn’t make that up), as depicted by the ubiquitous statuettes around their native country. 

Where can you see them? 

Look no further than the bittersweet Pom Poko (1994), an entire movie devoted to the wily, fun-loving creatures, who wage a losing war with humans encroaching on their habitat.

Nuppeppo 

While they’re not exactly the rock stars of the yokai world, Nuppeppo (which is also Japanese slang for someone who wears too much makeup), you don’t have to look too hard to find them in the cinematic world (the real world is another story). These bipedal creatures are vaguely human in shape, but resemble a squat, featureless blob with legs, with a tendency to wander around abandoned places and graveyards. 

Where can you see them? 

You can find an example of the Nuppeppo in Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare (1968) and 100 Monsters (1968).

Tengu (Mountain Goblin) 

Tengu are supernatural mountain spirits that resemble men with wings and long noses. As with many yokai, there are many variations. They’re ambiguous in nature, however, as portrayed in film, they’re generally benevolent and monk-like. 

Where can you see them? 

One appears in The Great Monster War (2005), although with a blue complexion (rather than red).

Wanyudo (Wheel Priest) 

The Wanyudo makes it presence known in spectacular fashion: as a fiery spinning wagon wheel with the face of a priest in the middle. This yokai has a vengeful streak, ready to run over whomever is foolish enough to get in their way. The Wanyudo dines on the souls of its unfortunate victims, subsequently dragging their bodies to hell. Villagers protect themselves against the Wanyudo by adorning their doors with a talisman. 

Where can you see them? 

You can catch a glimpse of the Wanyudo in The Great Yokai War (2005), and briefly in Pom Poko (1994).

 

 Abura Sumashi (Oil Presser) 

This unassuming yokai is short, with a huge, boulder-like head, and dressed in a straw raincoat. Not much is known about the Abura Sumashi, however, their distinctive appearance is attributed to a curse for stealing oil when they were still in human form. 

Where can you see them? 

An Abura Sumashi appears as the nominal leader of the yokai in Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare (1968) and The Great Yokai War (2005).

Mokumokuren (Haunted Shoji Screen) 

While they’re among the least threatening of yokai, Mokumokuren’s harmless nature doesn’t diminish their ability to creep you out. Like some of their yokai brethren, Mokumokuren are a prime example of taking something inanimate and innocuous and turning it into something vaguely sinister. A prevalent aspect of traditional Japanese architecture is the sliding paper (shoji) screen. Now imagine said screen adorned with multiple pairs of eyes, and you’ve got a Mokumoku-ren. If you ever felt you were being watched when you were alone, this could be the culprit. 

Where can you see them? 

You can spot the offending décor in The Great Yokai War (2005) 

 

Sources for this article: Yokai Attack! The Japanese Monster Survival Guide, by Hiroko Yoda and Matt Alt; Strange Japanese Yokai, by Kenji Murakami; The Book of Yokai, by Michael Dylan Foster; The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, by Matthew Meyer; Japandemonium Illustrated, The Yokai Encyclopedias of Toriyama Sekien