Ugetsu
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Where to watch: Not on major US streamers — check digital rental.
How it scared people
The vibe
A boat drifts through Lake Biwa's fog in one unbroken glide, and the whole film moves like that — war, greed and the supernatural bleeding together without a seam. Machiko Kyō's Lady Wakasa is the loveliest ghost in cinema and the cruelest trap in it. Devastating far more than frightening.
Ugetsu (1953) Parents Guide
| MPA rating | No MPAA certificate (released outside the US system) |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 96 minutes |
| Jump scares | 1/5 — mild by horror standards — more unsettling than outright scary |
| Gore | 1/5 — almost no gore |
| Dread | 4/5 — heavy atmosphere — expect it to sit with you afterwards |
| Themes | pagan folklore; death and grief, often within a family |
Ugetsu carries no MPAA certificate. We score it 1/5 for jump scares, 1/5 for gore and 4/5 for lingering dread, over 96 minutes. Very little blood — the hard part here is atmosphere and aftermath, not graphic content. Older teens and adults — less for what it shows than for how long it stays with you.
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 Ugetsu?
- On our intensity scale, Ugetsu rates 2/10 for jump scares and 8/10 for dread. It is mild by horror standards — more unsettling than outright scary.
- How gory is Ugetsu?
- Ugetsu rates 2/10 for gore — expect almost no gore.
- How long is Ugetsu?
- Ugetsu runs 96 minutes (1h 36m).
- What is Ugetsu rated?
- Ugetsu has no MPAA certificate — common for films released outside the US. On our scale it rates 2/10 for jump scares, 2/10 for gore and 8/10 for dread.
- Where to watch Ugetsu (1953)?
- Ugetsu is not on major US subscription streamers right now — look for it on digital rental or purchase (Apple TV, Prime Video, or your usual store).
