Hausu (1977): The Illusion of Cinema

Hausu (1977), the career-defining film of Japanese director Nobuhiko Obayashi, is one of the most singular movie-going experiences in horror history. Intensely stylized and self-aware, Hausu uses experimental filmmaking techniques (especially in regards to its editing and colorful, chaotic matte compositions) to create multiple cinematic worlds-layers of reality that are divorced from each other within the film and from a detached audience. Parodic, creepy, and fun, Hausu is a one-of-a-kind experience that makes the spectator remember that cinema is an illusion, and that illusions can be strange, dizzying, and spectacular.
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[@GoemonLovesFujiko]

This movie brought me to tears of joy the first time I saw it. I was just blown away by its purity and realized that filmmaking could much freer than I’d ever realized. The scene where the girls are watching the aunts backstory, especially when they comment on the film burning- that was the moment I realized it was something very very special.

[@jUQMtDmf]

Such a good essay! Even though for most people the movie is mostly a goofy horror, for me it's probably also the most beautiful and wholesome film i know. I just can't watch it without feeling nostalgic, warm en even emotional.

[@camdaviesav]

Couldn't agree more with your favourite moment - characters "watching" the montage. That scene and concept really sold me on the whole film. Amazing stuff

[@golu_badbola]

One of the best Japanese movie imo. Beautiful, profound, cinematic and scary.

[@MrSirMrSirMr]

I watched this the other night, having never heard of it before, and I absolutely fell in love with it. My reaction was similar - even aged 47, this rewired my brain. There are not many horror films you can describe as delightful or joyous - perhaps the other one I can think of is One Cut of the Dead, which isn't a true horror film anyway - and the whole thing is done with such fun and inventiveness that you can't help being beguiled by it.

[@MeatSnax]

When I watched this I said "this is the movie you would get if a director let a child write and cast a haunted house movie" and that's not too far from the truth

[@jonathanmulondo9206]

One of the strangest films I've ever seen. It's definitely the spiritual predecessor to The Evil Dead

[@snicker576]

Great essay!!! Huge fan of House, discovered it during quarantine and watched it 11 times haha

[@ramin-yq4hh]

If you love a movie dont watch it many times in short period bc it'll become normal and hidious for you

[@crys_cornflakez]

Thank you so much for this. House is one of my favorite movies of all time (the ending scene with the smiling Gorgeous opening the house for her father’s girlfriend and the song playing always makes me tear up for some reason??) I truly appreciate such a detailed and attentive analysis

[@TheMrEllusionist]

This may be my favorite essay/analysis I’ve ever seen. Beautiful words. You poked at EXACTLY how I felt watching this masterpiece.

[@TheMrEllusionist]

Please make more

[@NickOwens]

Man this is a brilliant video essay for one of my favourite films! Great work!

[@oakleyshiloh9755]

i guess I'm pretty off topic but do anyone know a good site to stream new tv shows online ?

[@sleuthentertainment5872]

The most unbelievable thing is everybody (out of Japan) only know Nobuhiko Obayashi because of "House"...but throughout his 50 years career he wouldn't made a single one movie like that. And he made true masterpieces ("Tomorrow", "Lonely Heart", "The Rocking Horsemen", "Labyrinth of Cinema", "The Reason"...).

[@Yoshiihsoy695]

Going into this movie I didn’t know what to expect all I knew was that there was a weird looking orange cat on the cover and now it’s one of my favorite movies . It’s so bizarre

[@_dez]

This is such a good video!! Thank you so much for sharing

[@Jamb13]

Great video for a great film

[@giddycadet]

This is my favorite film of all time. Every minute of it makes me cackle with glee.

[@liambaker7552]

boutta go watch Hausu now, thank you sensei

[@brettfriedman6957]

This is incredible

[@user-pc8tb7hg1lHandlesRDumb]

Honestly I thought the low frame rate scene was an accident. Really didn’t convey the emotion to me but, now that you’ve explained it I understand. maybe they went over the top to poke fun at other movies that do “shakey camera”

[@annoyingbookgirl]

For me it was the most terrifying part of the movie. It’s like they put us in the pov of a disoriented wandering ghost

[@hareeshscifi13]

This is an amazing video, except I strongly disagree with one point. Hausu is very political in the sense that it shows how a culture of schizophrenia can be induced with war and something as disastrous and haunting as the use of nuclear weapons... and that's a much more profound investigation into political questions than a lot of French new wave films.

[@NoahSimonFIlms]

I agree!!! I mention at the end there how the political undertones were out of my scope for this project, but they certainly exist. My main point by comparing it to French new wave was that FNW directors typically subverted dominant film form to expose the dangers and of the traditntal filmic conventions they grew bored of, whereas Obayashi does so to explore the unique unreality you can create in movies!

[@crys_cornflakez]

Could you elaborate on this theming and how it appears in the movie? Was this ever confirmed in an interview or is it speculation??

[@BILLIAMBRICK]

2 for 2. This man is a video essay God.

[@azathoth536]

Man I we watched this with my mom but she just didn't like the movie.

[@dyoralexan9351]

MEH. JUST SAY THAT IT A WEIRD FILM. JUST ANOTHER JAPANESE WEIRD FILM IN MY BUCKET LIST. I NO LONGER SURPRISE BECAUSE IT'S COMMING FROM JAPAN AFTER ALL

[@gluttonyarchbishop]

mfs when people interpret cinema in a different way: 😮😮😮😮