夜叉ヶ池 (aka Demon Pond) (1979)

While on vacation in the Japanese countryside, a school teacher (Tsutomu Yamazaki) discovers his close friend (Go Kato) who he hasn't seen in several years. His friend is married to a mysterious beauty (Tamasaburo Bando, a male actress), who seems to have a mysterious hold on him. Based on the play by Izumi Kyoka and directed by Masahiro Shinoda (PALE FLOWER). An attractive stylized (the majority of the film's exteriors are obviously shot on a sound stage) tale of superstition and magic and its grip on a small village. Shinoda takes his time and lets the film leisurely unfold and not all of it works. For example, the sequence with actors playing creatures like crabs and fish seems like it's from another movie, not to mention downright silly. But there's something truly spectral in its mood and atmosphere. The synthesizer underscore is by Isao Tomita. With Koji Nanbara, Yatsuko Tanami and Fujio Tokita.