Shudder Day: Yokai Monsters- Spook Warfare (1968)

 A Film can sometimes be sold with a summary.

This is the one I read- 'Spook Warfare tells the tale of an evil Babylonian vampire inadvertently awoken by treasure hunters, and a brave samurai that teams with the Yokai to defeat the bloodthirsty demon.'

Sold!  

Let's watch it!

Some narration tells us that a Babylonian Vampire (or Daimon) was locked up centuries ago.

In the Present (of Medieval-ish Japan), Robbers accidentally free him and he flies to Japan and kills a random Master.

He takes the man's place via magic and quickly turns his Apprentice into a Vampire too.

He has plans.
He also has a sweet Pro Wrestling Belt covered in skulls.  This would have been Papa Shango's Custom Belt if he won the WWF Title, right?

So Japan's Mythology involves lots of Yokai (or Apparitions) that represent all of the things around us.

In this case, a Water Sprite (or Kappa) sees through the disguise (as an apparition) and tries to stop him.

It doesn't work.

It gets back up from a bunch of other Yokai.

This includes a 'two-faced woman,' an umbrella Yokai, a snake lady and a clay Yokai.

This doesn't go much better than last time, with two locked up in a jar.

While they manage to stop the Daimon...or so it seems, it leaves behind the 'body' of the Lord, getting the heroic Human fighter blamed for his death.

When the Daimon takes over the new Lord, can it be stopped?

Yes, but have fun seeing how.

A fun and silly Film that also features some really dark bits.  Japan is weird.

Shocking revelation- I know.

Seriously, the Film has people straight up murdered, and people turned into Vampires.  It also has a Kappa doing schtick and a Yokai with a fat, Buddha belly falling over.

Is this a Kid's Film?
Is it a Horror Film?

Yes.

If you're a fan of the weird Films like this, I recommend this one.  It is weird, randomly bloody, funny and pretty brisk at just under 80 minutes.

If you just want straight Horror, look elsewhere.

Now line up for the Best Class Reunion Photo in History...

A weird mishmash of Horror, Comedy and Period Piece.  Japan- keep it up, you crazy bastards!