What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedOnibaba
Kaneto Shindō · Film · 1964
If you loved Onibaba, start with Dororo (Osamu Tezuka, 2019) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 3 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Onibaba across media.
You were drawn to the way Onibaba mines the intersection of primal survival, moral decay, and the haunting darkness of human obsession.
Books on the same thread
A Personal Matter
Kenzaburō Ōe · Book · 1969
Explores: Disability, Fatherhood, Existentialism.
Like the desperate characters in Onibaba, this narrative forces a confrontation with profound moral dilemmas and the crushing weight of existential crisis within a deeply personal, claustrophobic setting.
The Hell Screen and Other Stories
Ryunosuke Akutagawa · Book · 1918
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Obsession, Vanity.
These stories mirror the grim atmospheric tension of Onibaba, exploring how obsession and the fragile boundary between art and cruelty can lead to inevitable, harrowing destruction of the soul.
Revenge
Yōko Ogawa · Book · 2013
Explores: Revenge, Murder, Grotesque Characters.
Much like the visceral dread found in Onibaba, these tales examine how violent emotions and grotesque impulses can manifest into a cycle of revenge that consumes the human spirit.
The Silent Cry
Kensaburo Oe · Book · 1974
Explores: Brother Relationships, Rural Decay, Cultural Identity.
The rural decay and psychological fracturing present here echo the isolated, suffocating environment of Onibaba, where the past and internal trauma collide with devastating effects on the living.
Series on the same thread
Dororo
Osamu Tezuka · Series · 2019
Explores: Revenge, Body Horror, Loss of Humanity.
This series captures the same grim focus on survival and body horror found in Onibaba, where characters must navigate a brutal world that strips away their humanity for power.
Shōgun
Rachel Kondo · Series · 2024
Shares a thread with Onibaba: Survival.
If the survivalist power struggle in Onibaba captivated you, this drama offers a similar look at how political instability and cultural clashes force individuals to make ruthless choices.
Women's War: Bachelor Murder Case
Series · 2021
Explores: Murder Investigation, Jealousy, Competition.
The intense sexual jealousy and cutthroat competition for affection seen here parallel the mother’s desperate, destructive maneuvers in Onibaba, illustrating how greed often leads to a dark, psychological unraveling.
Podcasts on the same thread
Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet
Podcast
Shares a thread with Onibaba: Japanese Horror.
These urban legends tap into the same vein of folk horror that permeates Onibaba, grounding the supernatural in a sense of dread that feels both ancient and disturbingly immediate.
Ang Ninuno: Pinoy Horror Podcast
JD San Juan and TAGM Marketing Solutions Inc. · Podcast
Explores: Philippine culture, supernatural, dark tales.
These dark tales of folklore and mystery resonate with the atmospheric, tradition-rooted horror of Onibaba, proving that the most terrifying stories are those deeply embedded in a culture's history.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Onibaba set during a specific historical conflict?
Onibaba is set during a time of civil war, as evidenced by the son, Kichi, being away at war and the presence of samurai wandering into the swamp where the two women reside and scavenge for valuables.
What is the primary way the women survive in Onibaba?
The two women in Onibaba survive by killing samurai who wander into their swamp. After the soldiers are killed, the women strip them of their armor and weapons to sell the valuables for food and supplies.
How does the death of Kichi affect the plot of Onibaba?
The death of Kichi serves as a turning point in Onibaba. After learning he died at war, his wife begins an affair with a neighbor named Hachi, which leads the mother to become jealous and attempt to sabotage their relationship.
Does the mother in Onibaba approve of the affair?
The mother in Onibaba does not approve of the affair between her daughter-in-law and Hachi. Her disapproval stems from her own desire to keep Hachi for herself, leading her to try and scare the daughter-in-law away from him.