This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Based on a story by famous author Koyo Ozaki. I liked this well enough. It is melodramatic as other reviewers pointed out, though I like melodrama so that didn't bother me. I didn't find Kanichi to be very likable, though Miya was certainly a sympathetic character. I've never read the source material, so I can't compare it. There is also apparently a 1937 version, which I would like to check out and see how that compares.

The copy available on the Criterion channel is kind of rough, which is unfortunate as a few scenes would probably look quite nice given a proper restoration.

Watched the longer "gore cut". Very entertaining. Might not deserve 5 stars but I was so entertained that I can't give it anything but that. Really stupid but a lot of fun.

A lot of dark humor in this, which I wasn't expecting. Some gnarly death scenes in this, too, as well as some cool camera angles. Overall I enjoyed this. Probably not for everybody, though. Also near the end there was some dramatic music that I swear I've heard in some old Spongebob episodes.