NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Radiance Films Blu-ray (September 2025): Radiance Films have transferred three Japanese Ghost Story films to individual, dual-layered Blu-rays; The Demon of Mount Oe (1960,) The Haunted Castle (1969) and Ghost of Kasane Swamp (1970.) They are cited as "New 4K restorations of each film by Radiance Films." These are strong 1080P transfers that elevate their visual splendor to modern standards while preserving the original cinematic intent. In The Demon of Mount Oe, the vibrant Eastmancolor cinematography shines with enhanced clarity in the epic mountain vistas, intricate set designs, and practical monster effects, revealing subtle textures in fabrics, foliage, and demonic makeup that were muddied in prior home video editions, resulting in a dynamic, immersive viewing experience that balances spectacle with historical authenticity. Scratches are visible (notably the title sequence) but they give a charismatic edge to the presentation. The Haunted Castle's atmospheric visuals benefit immensely from the restoration, with deeper contrasts in the shadowy feudal interiors, fluid transformation sequences, and seductive color grading that heighten the erotic and eerie elements without artificial sharpening or noise reduction artifacts. For The Ghost of Kasane Swamp, the color palette captures the misty swamp exteriors and ghostly hauntings with remarkable depth and detail, uncovering fine grain structures and nuanced lighting that underscore the multi-generational tragedy, making the entire set a visual revelation for fans seeking the definitive presentation of these gothic tales. The visual and auditory elements of the three Japanese kaidan films collectively embody the stylistic evolution of mid-20th-century horror cinema in Japan, drawing from kabuki theatricality and folklore to create immersive atmospheres through innovative cinematography and practical effects. Overall, these films' looks transition in 1080P from colorful epic fantasy to atmospheric color dread and lavish color tragedy. There is some theatricality here too that adds another layer of atmosphere - I thought they looked superb.

NOTE: We have added 186 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Radiance Films use a linear PCM mono tracks (24-bit) in the original Japanese language. This offers a offer a faithful reproduction of the original mixes, ensuring clear and balanced playback that respects the era's technical limitations while maximizing auditory impact. Dialogue in all three films is rendered with crisp intelligibility, free from hiss or distortion, allowing the nuanced performances - such as the heroic declarations in The Demon of Mount Oe, the whispered conspiracies in The Haunted Castle, and the lamenting confessions in The Ghost of Kasane Swamp - to resonate authentically. The scores and sound effects, incorporating traditional Japanese instruments like taiko drums, shamisen, and biwa, benefit from a solid dynamic range that amplifies tension during supernatural sequences without overwhelming the mono channel; optional English subtitles are accurately timed, contextually sensitive, and elegantly formatted, providing seamless accessibility for non-Japanese speakers while maintaining the immersive vintage audio charm that kaidan enthusiasts will appreciate. These are evocative soundscapes that heighten supernatural dread while reflecting the budgetary and technological constraints of Daiei Studios. The Demon of Mount Oe features Ichiro Saito's (Ugetsu Monogatori) sweeping orchestral score that underscores heroic samurai motifs with tense, ominous undertones during demonic encounters, incorporating traditional Japanese instruments like taiko drums for rhythmic intensity in battle sequences and eerie ambient effects - such as echoing roars and ethereal whispers - to amplify the folklore's otherworldly menace, creating an auditory layer that enhances the film's educational yet entertaining fusion of history and horror. The sound design of The Haunted Castle is particularly masterful in its minimalism, using the tinkling of the black cat's collar bells as a recurring motif that pierces the silence of nocturnal scenes to build suspense, augmented by spectral meows, ghostly whispers, and abrupt, blood-curdling screams during attacks, with a subtle score by Japanese film and television composer Chumei Watanabe (The Ghost of Yotsuya, who worked on various tokusatsu - live action - shows and mecha anime aka 'giant robot' projects) that incorporates shamisen strings for cultural authenticity and low-frequency rumbles to evoke karmic inevitability, making the auditory experience as pivotal to the vengeance narrative as the visuals. Aurally, The Ghost of Kasane Swamp relies on a haunting sound design that weaves ambient swamp noises - dripping water, rustling reeds, and distant echoes - with a minimalist score featuring traditional biwa lute plucks to underscore themes of karma and romance, punctuated by sudden, jarring stings during apparitions and a layered use of voiceovers for ghostly lamentations, fostering an intelligent auditory immersion that complements the narrative's emotional complexity despite the short runtime. That score by Hajime Kaburagi (Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight, Eighteen Years in Prison, By a Man's Face Shall You Know Him, The Executioner, Horrors of Malformed Men, The Sleeping Beast With, Retaliation, Blind Woman's Curse, Fairy in a Cage, Tokyo Drifter) is hailed as one of the underrated composer's most memorable works, contributing significantly to the film's eerie atmosphere through its integration of traditional Japanese musical elements that underscore the themes of karmic retribution and supernatural vengeance in this Daiei kaidan remake. Radiance Films' Blu-rays are Region FREE and include optional English subtitles.

The extras in Radiance's Blu-ray package are thoughtfully curated and exclusive, providing deep scholarly and contextual insights into the films through newly produced 2025 content, trailers, and a comprehensive booklet. For The Demon of Mount Oe, highlights include a new interview with Japanese period film historian Taichi Kasuga (The Demon's Brush: The Glory and Failure of Shinobu Hashimoto, the Greatest Postwar Screenwriter) discussing the movie as a historical epic and its unique position among specific styles of Japanese horror (running 20 minutes), Tom Mes' (Japanese Film and the Challenge of Video) short visual essay "Blade of the Demon Slayer" tracing the facts and legends behind the sword that killed the demon of Mount Oe, plus the original trailer, complemented by a reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork by Filippo Di Battista. The Haunted Castle features a new interview with J-horror filmmaker Mari Asato (Samurai Chicks, Ju-On: Black Ghost) exploring the dynamics and artistry of the film and its place within the bakeneko ghost cat tradition (17 minutes), Tom Mes' examination of the tragic life story of Ikuko Mori (The Bride From Hell,) nicknamed "The Snake Actress" for her many provocative roles in Daiei horror films, who made her final appearance here (6 minutes), plus the trailer and a similar reversible sleeve. The Ghost of Kasane Swamp offers a new interview with J-horror filmmaker Norio Tsuruta (Scary True Stories: Ten Haunting Tales from the Japanese Underground,) dubbed the "Father of J-Horror," discussing the origins of the story and what makes Daiei's 1970 version unique among the many film adaptations (18 minutes,) a select-scene audio commentary by horror film scholar Lindsay Nelson (Circulating Fear: Japanese Horror, Fractured Realities, and New Media) running 24 minutes, a visual essay by Japanese ghost story scholar Zack Davisson (The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Yokai: Ghosts, Demons, Monsters and Other Mythical Creatures from Japan,) tracing the historical evolution of the tale via folk tales, theatre, and film running a dozen minutes, the trailer, and its own reversible sleeve. Rounding out the package is an 80-page perfect-bound book with new writing by Amber T, Jasper Sharp (Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema, The Midnight Eye Guide to New Japanese Film,) and Tom Mes (The Midnight Eye Guide to New Japanese Film,) archival pieces by Daniel O’Neill, and original ghost stories "The Goblin of Oeyama" and "The Vampire Cat," all housed in newly designed box and booklet artwork by Time Tomorrow.

The three Japanese kaidan (ghost story) films - The Demon of Mount Oe (1960), The Haunted Castle (1969), and The Ghost of Kasane Swamp (1970) - represent a pivotal era in mid-20th-century Japanese horror cinema, particularly through their roots in folklore, kabuki traditions, and supernatural vengeance narratives that blend atmospheric dread with moral allegory, often produced under the banner of Daiei during a time when the genre was evolving from stage adaptations to cinematic spectacles. Collectively, these films underscore the kaidan tradition's evolution in postwar Japanese cinema, where directors like Tanaka (The Betrayal) and Yasuda (many of the Zatoichi series) adapted Edo-period tales to address contemporary anxieties about authority, morality, and the supernatural, often using vibrant visuals to contrast human frailty with otherworldly power; while The Demon of Mount Oe leans into adventurous spectacle, The Haunted Castle amplifies feline vengeance's erotic dread, and The Ghost of Kasane Swamp delves into psychological tragedy, all three share a commitment to karmic cycles and folklore authenticity, influencing global horror through their blend of beauty, terror, and ethical introspection, though their reception varies from cult favorites for their effects to critical acclaim for narrative complexity. We reviewed and loved Radiance's Daiei Gothic - Japanese Ghost Stories Volume 1 - HERE, with The Ghost of Yotsuya (1959), The Bride from Hades (1968) and The Snow Woman (1968.) Vol. 2 likewise enriches the appreciation of these enduring kaidan narratives, making it an indispensable addition for horror cinephiles and Japanese cinema buffs. It offers value through its scholarly depth and aesthetic appeal - highly recommended for those eager to explore or revisit Daiei's gothic legacy in the best possible quality. A keeper for sure.  

Gary Tooze