The Yokai (Yōkai) are a supernatural entity found in Japanese folklore. They’re not considered demons but more like an entity or spirit. Yokai are not all bad or all good, as they can be malevolent or friendly. They can appear in many forms, including animals, humans, or even oni (demon/ogre traits).
Often mischievous, they’re used as scapegoats to explain odd happenings. Aside from their roots, they’ve become a pop culture staple, appearing in games, anime, movies, and TV series. The Japanese love to make films about them. Arrow Video has just released the wonderful four-film set Yokai Monsters Collection, which is worth diving into.
Yōkai Monsters: 100 Monsters (1968) has a wealthy businessman coming into his old neighborhood to get people interested in it again. He has the idea to tear down a well-loved shrine and construct, of all things, a brothel. The locals all gather to perform a ritual that will bring out the Yōkai to avenge a murder and to chase after those who want to interfere with the town.
The story is a little goofy but mostly fun. You know what to expect if you’ve seen any other Japanese monster movies from this era.
Things get darker in the Yokai Monsters Collection with Yōkai Monsters: Spook Warfare (1968). Some treasure hunters accidentally bring an evil Babylonian vampire back from his slumber. Out for blood, the vampire wreaks havoc while the hunters team up with a samurai. Together, they will do whatever it takes to stop him.
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The one is probably my favorite of the early films, and the slightly darker sensibility definitely elevates it.
The final film in the Yokai Monsters Collection, Yōkai Monsters: Along with Ghosts (1969), is about a little girl who discovers some local corruption that involves the Yakuza. On the run with her grandfather, they’re confronted by the Yakuza on sacred ground, which awakens the Yōkai, who are ready to help them eliminate the gangsters.
As much as I enjoyed the film, it didn’t seem like the Yōkai were the focal point; they were just sort of there.
The fourth film in the Yokai Monsters Collection was the one I was most excited to see. The Great Yōkai War (2005) was directed by madman auteur Takashi Miike. When he tackled this film, he was riding high on his reputation for delivering dark material. After watching the first three films, it was apparent that he was fond of the original material, and he did a masterful job paying homage to the earlier films, creating a modern retelling with updated special effects.
The film is very loosely based on Yōkai Monsters: Spook Warfare and follows a young boy who has to bring together a group of Yōkai to save the world from vengeful demons bent on destroying the modern world. The film had expert storytelling and was an absolute blast from start to finish.
Arrow has done a wonderful job restoring those original films. They look vibrant, crisp, and full of color. The discs are loaded with bonus features, including behind-the-scenes clips, interviews, and more. While Miike’s film is the longest and most bonkers, the previous three all clock in at around 80 minutes each and are a breeze to sit through.
If you’re a fan of early Japanese cinema, monster movies, or just enjoy the nature, the Yokai Monsters Collection will provide you with hours of fantastic entertainment.
