Once upon a time, in a small village nestled deep within the heart of the forest, there lived a mysterious snake girl. Her name was Seraphina, and she possessed the unique ability to transform herself into a snake at will. Seraphina's silver hair shimmered like moonlight and cascaded down her back, as enchanting as her magical powers. Word of the snake girl's existence soon spread throughout the village, and curious villagers would often venture into the forest hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Many believed that she was a creature of evil, while others saw her as a symbol of power and mystery. One day, while Seraphina was exploring the forest, she stumbled upon a peculiar figure, a silver-haired witch named Selene.
The height of the tokusatsu (special-effects) era in 1960s Japan is best remembered for the slew of giant monster movies that dominated cinemas. Studio Toho’s titanic Godzilla franchise topped the box office, while competitor Daiei found success with the Gamera and Daimajin series. However, while kaiju made the headlines, this period also saw the production of many, more modestly budgeted tokusatsu films that have since slipped through the cracks of Japanese cinema history. One such film is 1968’s The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch, from director Noriaki Yuasa. Telling a twisted horror tale from the mind of legendary manga author Kazuo Umezu, the film is a charming, small-scale spook-fest that’s an anomaly of sorts in the world of Japanese horror cinema.
Carefully structured and very informative, Kalat s commentary is as fun to listen to as the film is to watch and is a welcome addition to Arrow s package. The manga and folklore scholar provides insight into Umezu s rise to be Japan s foremost author of horror manga and touches on how the writer s involvement in Snake Girl s screenplay may be the reason behind some credit confusion abroad.
One day, while Seraphina was exploring the forest, she stumbled upon a peculiar figure, a silver-haired witch named Selene. Selene possessed an array of magical abilities that fascinated and intrigued Seraphina. The two of them quickly formed a strong bond, their shared love for magic and the unknown bringing them closer together.
[Film Review] Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch (1968)
The child’s point of view can be a powerful tool in horror. It can emphasise being in a position of vulnerability and true powerlessness to maximise a sense of terror, but also has the potential to tell stories of growth and resilience when the child overcomes their fears and survives their terrible ordeal. The Snake Haired Girl and the Silver Haired Witch is a wonderful example of this, and one that until recently wasn’t made available to view outside of its native Japan.
Orphan Sayuri has been told that she will be reunited with her birth parents and is excited for her new life in a big house with her own room, new clothes, and everything she could ever want. Things begin to get strange as soon as she arrives, as one of the house maids is being wheeled away having died under mysterious circumstances, and her mother has sustained a head injury which makes remembering things difficult and calls Sayuri “Tamami”. When her father, an expert on venomous snakes, gets called away to Africa suddenly to study a new specimen is when the horror for Sayuri truly begins.
Whilst not based on a single work and instead taking elements from a few of his stories, The Snake Girl and Silver Haired Witch is derived from the works of manga artist Kazuo Umezu, a leading figure in horror manga with a career that started in the early sixties and is still going strong today (for more on Umezu’s role in the growth of girls’ horror in Japan, see here ). He is particularly known for often centring his stories around innocent and wide-eyed child protagonists attempting to find their way out of horrific situations. That is present here with protagonist Sayuri, and we often hear her inner monologue, something that feels fitting for a film that takes elements from a manga story format. The film’s director was Noriaki Yuasa in what is a departure from the rest of his career, which almost exclusively comprises films featuring Gamera, Daiei’s kaiju series created to compete with Toho’s Godzilla. It is a shame, because The Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch does show an interesting style and it would have been nice to see Yuasa develop that more.
This really is a really fun movie, something evident immediately from the Gothic quality to the film’s set-up as we follow the innocent young orphan who is whisked away to an elaborate mansion full of strange objects and forbidden rooms, her new mother acts strange and aloof, there is a mysterious person living in the attic watching everything that goes on, nuns, and a family secret to uncover. Said family secret is the actual Tamami, Sayuri’s apparently hidden from public eyes older sister who takes an immediate dislike to the girl despite Sayuri’s best efforts. She is the titular Snake Girl, although the nature of that is ultimately slightly ambiguous. It is brought out most in visually creative dream sequences that are almost a tamer version of some of the visuals in Nobuhiko Obayashi’s House, who himself adapted Umezu’s work in 1987 with The Drifting Classroom. There are some moments where the effects show their cheapness, but if anything that just adds to the film’s charm. What these scenes achieve is really blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, making you question the exact nature of what is happening to Sayuri as well as heightening the feeling of childhood terror she is going through.
Of course, what is children’s horror without the child central to it all and Sayuri, played by ten year old Yachie Matsui, has a plucky sweetness to her that you can’t help but root for. She tries to make the best of her new situation, even with Tamami’s cruelty and housekeeper Shige’s disbelief at anything she says. Her only true ally is Tatsuya, an older boy from the same orphanage as her. It’s interesting and even keeps you guessing in a few places. There was a point when I thought that the father’s work with venomous snakes was going to play a more experimental part in an Eyes Without a Face fashion, especially when we see a scar along the edge of Tamami’s face. The actual sinister plot behind everything is a bit more Scooby-Doo than French New Wave, but still entertaining.
The Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch has that fun children’s horror quality; not really scary, but an entertaining and fun watch. This could even be a good gateway film for people introducing someone to Japanese horror as it's fairly light on specific cultural elements but can introduce someone to the particular mood, attitude towards monsters, and touches on the things that veteran fans of Japanese horror would already be familiar with.
After living her life in an orphanage run by an order of kindly Catholic nuns, a girl meets her real father when he arrives to take her to her new home, a modern house that looks pretty wealthy, but has slipped under under dark forces that threaten the girl, now the repatriated daughter, and her wide-eyed innocence, purity of heart, kindness, and courage. Shes also the sister of a snake girl, possessed by the cunning of snakes their father studies. Whose strength will prevail is the question as the film unleashes amazing fx of dreams sucked into vortex and the Silver-Haired Witch, all done with Japanese imagination mixing the fantasy with the horror. The mother, the snake-sister, and the newly arrived daughter experience an array of spirits but the film works for everyone. It's like a blend that's finely mixed the ingredients into an arty 60s Japanese fantasy.
Selene taught Seraphina about the ancient art of witchcraft and the delicate balance of light and dark magic. Seraphina, in turn, shared her knowledge of snake transformation and the secrets of the enchanted forest. Together, they became an unstoppable force, using their combined powers to protect the creatures of the forest and restore harmony to the village. As the snake girl and the silver-haired witch continued their adventures, they encountered many challenges that tested their friendship. They faced dangerous creatures, treacherous sorcerers, and villagers who remained suspicious of their powers. However, with their unwavering loyalty and a shared understanding of each other's strengths, they always managed to overcome these obstacles. As time passed, the villagers began to see the true nature of Seraphina and Selene. They witnessed their selfless acts of kindness, their dedication to protecting the forest and its inhabitants, and their tireless efforts to bring peace to the village. The snake girl and the silver-haired witch became heroes in the eyes of the villagers, and their names were spoken with reverence and admiration. In the end, Seraphina and Selene proved that appearances can be deceiving. The snake girl and the silver-haired witch taught the villagers the importance of embracing differences and standing up for what is right. They showed that true power lies not in physical strength, but in the strength of character and the willingness to fight for what we believe in. And so, the legend of the snake girl and the silver-haired witch lived on, inspiring future generations to be brave, kind, and accepting of those who may seem different. Their story became a symbol of hope, reminding all who heard it that true magic lies within the power of love and friendship..
Reviews for "The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch: A Tale of Betrayal and Redemption"
1. John - 2/5
I was really disappointed with "Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch". I found the story to be confusing and the characters underdeveloped. The plot seemed to jump around without any clear direction, leaving me feeling lost and unengaged. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard for me to connect with the characters. Overall, I did not enjoy this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 1/5
"Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch" was a complete waste of my time. The writing style was overly pretentious and difficult to follow. The author seemed more interested in showing off their vocabulary than actually telling a compelling story. Moreover, the characters lacked depth and were incredibly unlikeable. I struggled to feel any sympathy or connection towards them. The whole reading experience left me frustrated and uninspired.
3. Mark - 2/5
I had high hopes for "Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch", but unfortunately, it fell short. The pacing of the book was extremely slow, with very little happening in terms of plot advancement. The descriptions were overly detailed and often unnecessary, making the story drag on even more. Additionally, the overall tone of the book was gloomy and depressing, which did not resonate with me. I was hoping for a more engaging and uplifting read, but this was not it.