ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

Console best movie i've ever seen.

MusicChat It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

Bluebell Alcock Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

gavin6942 A group of sinners involved in interconnected tales of murder, revenge, deceit and adultery all meet at the Gates of Hell.The film was not expected to be well received, as Shintoho studio was considered to be a maker of low-budget, gory films. Jigoku was made in a hurry, and was the last Shintoho production. For the scenes which take place in hell, the cast and crew used Shintoho's largest sound stage and put dirt over it. In a recent documentary, a crew member said that normally it would be just the crew helping to build the sets, but because it was Shintoho's last production, all the extras were helping.For the first half of the film, you definitely feel that the picture is low budget and somewhat exploitative. Much of the mood is set by having the rooms dimly lit. Maybe it needs a restoration, but it does look a bit rough, too. Once we switch to the afterlife portion, though, wow... we get some great effects and moods, which are ahead of their time and look like a precursor to such films as Fulci's "The Beyond".What struck me as odd, though, was the idea of "heaven" and "hell" in a Japanese film. I guess I don't know much about religion in Japan, but these seem like very western concepts. I guess I need to look into that more.

MartinHafer Wow, is this a weird film and you've got to hand it to the film makers for making something this original! But, even with all its originality you have to wonder who would really enjoy this film or buy a DVD of it? After all, the narrative is confusing and gross---but not so much it isn't worth seeing (if you are curious) once.The film begins with two college students out for a drive. One is obviously evil and with his knowledge of things he should know nothing about, it's pretty obvious he's a demon of some sort. During this drive, they run over a drunk and while it really isn't their fault, they don't stop. The passenger, Shirô, tells his evil friend to stop but being evil, he doesn't stop. And throughout the first portion of the film, Shirô doesn't so much do evil but stands passively by and lets it happen--and ultimately condemns himself to an eternity in Hell. But, before he ultimately is killed, you get to meet his family and friends--who ALL turn out to be selfish and evil people.Once Shirô dies, the film enters a very surreal second portion where he is shown the various levels of this Shinto version of Hell. In each level there are increasingly awful forms of punishment because the sins the people have committed were increasingly bad. There really isn't any narrative--just LOTS and LOTS of bloody and vicious scenes. By today's standards, it's all rather cheesy and funny--but I am sure in 1960 it would have nauseated and horrified audiences. I wasn't really turned off by all this, I was actually bored--as it just seemed to go on and on and on.This is not a particularly pleasant film to watch--but hey, what film about Hell would be?! But on top of that, some cheesy editing and special effects (the car accident scene with the taxi is just badly done) and too much spook house gore make this an interesting but very dull film after about 80 minutes--and it runs 106 minutes. Not great, but VERY different.

moviemanMA I must say that I was pretty disappointed with this one. I expected something much more polished and sure of itself. Instead I got a jumbled mess of what could have been a great Japanese horror film. Everything seemed kind of rushed. There is a scene when the people are mourning the loss of a loved one and people are crying, but I felt no emotion. It jumped too quickly from the last scene and for that much emotion for someone we didn't really know was too much. There are parts that are good, particularly once we are in Hell. Certain shots are set up nicely and the atmosphere in Hell is spot on yet unique. How they all get to Hell is kind of ridiculous and that kind of ruined it for me. I also didn't like the ending. There is obviously a metaphor there but I don't see it. There is a big green wheel and the main character just keeps yelling for his baby. It's not believable or pleasant really. This wasn't what I expected, and this time that is a bad thing.

christopher-underwood I guess this doesn't really belong with my more extreme reviews but for all it's stunningly beautiful scenes, it's heavily symbolic imagery and symbolism this still, even over 40 years, has a punch or two to unleash. It is for the most part a tragic tale that involves an almost laughable number of deaths and other misfortunes but hell always beckons. The last half hour or so is a considerably finely worked series of hellish landscapes with not a little graphic violence that could certainly not have been shown in the UK in 1960. Along the way there are many delights and a cool jazzy score. Fascinating, groundbreaking and most enjoyable.