With "Kuroneko" Kaneto Shindo obviously tried to repeat his success with "Onibaba" (1964). The elements of mother in law, daughter in law and ghosts reappear in the story-line.
Shindo combines the elements of his own movie with that of other renowned ghost / horror movies. From "Ugetsu Monogatari" (1953, Kenji Muizoguchi) he borrows the element of the man that returns home (contrary to "Onibaba" the husband has not died) to be welcomed by the ghost of his wife (without knowing she is a ghost). From "Cat people" (1942, Jacques Tourneur) he borrows the element of a woman turning into a savage black cat when sexually aroused.
The only aspect in which "Kuroneko" is really innovative, is the way in which the ghosts are moving. The film thereby obtains a martial arts character and can be seen as the (distant) predecessor of "Crouching tiger, hidden dragon" (2000, Ang Lee).
All in all, in most cases attempts at milking a success film seldom exceeds the original. "Kuroneko" is not the exception.
Shindo combines the elements of his own movie with that of other renowned ghost / horror movies. From "Ugetsu Monogatari" (1953, Kenji Muizoguchi) he borrows the element of the man that returns home (contrary to "Onibaba" the husband has not died) to be welcomed by the ghost of his wife (without knowing she is a ghost). From "Cat people" (1942, Jacques Tourneur) he borrows the element of a woman turning into a savage black cat when sexually aroused.
The only aspect in which "Kuroneko" is really innovative, is the way in which the ghosts are moving. The film thereby obtains a martial arts character and can be seen as the (distant) predecessor of "Crouching tiger, hidden dragon" (2000, Ang Lee).
All in all, in most cases attempts at milking a success film seldom exceeds the original. "Kuroneko" is not the exception.