In medieval Japan, a woman and her daughter are raped and murdered by soldiers during a time of civil war. Afterwards, a series of samurai returning from the war through that area are found mysteriously dead with their throats torn out. The governor calls in a wild and fierce young hero, to quell what is evidently a ghost. He encounters the two beautiful women, in an eery, beautiful scene. After spiritual purification, he meets the demon in a thrilling fight.

DVD release of the 1968 motion picture. Special features: Interview with director Kaneto Shindō; Interview with film critic Tadao Sato; Theatrical trailer. Booklet features essay by film critic Maitland McDonagh and an exerpt from film scholar Joan Mellen's 1972 interview with Shindo.