Kwaidan
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In cinemas now — in 2 states · 7 screenings at 2 cinemas on our showtimes page
Where to watch: We have not been able to check the US streamers for this one — try digital rental.
How it scared people
The vibe
Four ghost stories from Lafcadio Hearn staged on vast painted sets — snow spirits, earless musicians, a face in the teacup. Kobayashi's anthology is horror as formal beauty: deliberate, operatic, and unlike anything shot on location. Hoichi's segment is the crown.
Kwaidan (1964) Parents Guide
| MPA rating | No MPAA certificate (released outside the US system) |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 183 minutes |
| Jump scares | 2/5 — on the gentler side — it favors mood and atmosphere over hard scares |
| Gore | 1/5 — almost no gore |
| Dread | 3/5 — a lingering atmosphere that stays for the evening |
| Themes | pagan folklore |
Kwaidan carries no MPAA certificate. We score it 2/5 for jump scares, 1/5 for gore and 3/5 for lingering dread, over 183 minutes. Better suited to teens than to younger children.
We rate what the film does — scares, gore, dread — not scene-level content like language or nudity, which we don't track.
Before you press play
- How scary is Kwaidan?
- On our intensity scale, Kwaidan rates 4/10 for jump scares and 6/10 for dread. It is on the gentler side — it favors mood and atmosphere over hard scares.
- How gory is Kwaidan?
- Kwaidan rates 2/10 for gore — expect almost no gore.
- How long is Kwaidan?
- Kwaidan runs 183 minutes (3h 3m).
- What is Kwaidan rated?
- Kwaidan has no MPAA certificate — common for films released outside the US. On our scale it rates 4/10 for jump scares, 2/10 for gore and 6/10 for dread.
- Where to watch Kwaidan (1964)?
- Kwaidan is playing in 2 states right now — 7 screenings across 2 cinemas on our showtimes page. We have not been able to confirm whether it is on a US subscription streamer.
