A Japanese horror movie that mixes bloody neck biting and comedy-relief ghosts represented by acrobats and little people - reminiscent of the inhabitants of the sixties TV series H.R. PUFNSTUF. I believe this is a sequel to HUNDRED GHOST STORIES as it features many of the same ghosts (e.g. the snake-necked woman and the umbrella ghost). A marvellous vulture-like vampire arrives in ancient Japan and hides in the body of an important land-owner and starts to put the bite on his subjects. The local ghosts are the only ones who know what is truly going on and try to oust the demon. Their efforts lead to a spectacular climax as the demon grows to giant proportions... While the ghosts costumes are unconvincing, one gets used to them, especially when you know they are based on old Japanese legends. The scenes featuring the bad-guy are both fierce and atmospheric - the lighting effects are quite remarkable - and the blood-letting is far too explicit to be aimed at a juvenile audience. But it's well made, fast-moving and a fascinating trip into the mythologies of a different culture than the usual western ghosts and vampires.
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mark-25223 June 2001
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jamesrupert201431 January 2019In this sequel of sorts to 1968's 'Yokai: 100 Monsters' ('Yôkai hyaku monogatari'), scavengers digging in Babylonia disturb that which should not be disturbed and release Daimon (Chikara Hashimoto), a murderous, shape-changing, blood-sucking demon. The fiend flies to feudal Japan, where it kills, then takes the form of, local lord Hyogo Isobe (Takashi Kanda), and begins to spread terror. Affronted, the local yôkai ('spirits', referred to 'apparitions' in the English subtitles) challenge the malignant creature and a phantasmagorical war begins. Despite a few gory moments, the film is a children's fantasy with monsters that are more funny than scary. Many of the yôkai are drawn from Japanese folklore (including among others: a Kappa (water sprite), a Futakuchi-onna (two-faced woman), a Rokurokubi (a woman with a long, snake like neck) and a Kasa-obake (an animate umbrella creature (in this case, with a tongue like Gene Simmons!)). The monster costumes (and the Kasa-obake puppet) are a bit silly looking but surprisingly endearing and the story of yôkai's battle with the iniquitous Daimon is fun and engaging. The human characters, including Isobe's pretty daughter Lady Chie (Akane Kawasaki) and samurai Shinpachiro (Yoshihiko Aoyama), are secondary to the 'apparitions' but are well played (considering the genre and the material). The final scene, where the army of 'apparitions' dance off into the clouds is oddly affecting. For a children's film, there was some strong language (e.g. 'pissed') in the English-subtitled version I watched. As well, there were a number of translation errors ('kit's' for 'kids' occurred a number of times). After years of movies about elves, trolls, gnomes etc., I found watching a fantasy that embodied mythological beings from a non-Western-European culture both entertaining and fascinating and am looking forward to watching the third film in the trilogy: 'Yokai Monsters: Along With Ghosts' (1969). As of this writing, all three films are available on You-tube.
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jmaruyama1 November 2003When the Babylonian evil known as Daimon (Daemon) is unearthed from his underground crypt, he begins his reign of terror by traveling to feudal Japan to conquer its people. Standing in his way is a veritable army of strange and bizarre Japanese "Yokai" (ghosts) each with unique personalities and supernatural powers. While I liked much of the creature effects for this film, I wasn't too thrilled with the story. Unlike Daiei's "Majin" movies, "Yokai Daisensou" is a bit too comical and goofy for my tastes. There were some genuinely creepy scenes and the gyokaih costumes are inventive and interesting.
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kumanoken18 September 2003As a fan of world mythology and Japanese monsters/legends, this film was right up my alley. The monsters look exactly like they do in the old woodblock prints and watercolor paintings that depict them, and kids will totally dig this (if they have the patience for subtitles).
Strangely, the monsters that I'm familiar with from the old stories seem to be pretty friendly in this film. For example, the water demon-a kappa as he's known in Japan-is rather nice, but his type of demon are known for preying on people and horses. They love to eat fresh livers, which they obtain by reaching up the victim's anus and ripping out the tasty organ. Now THAT would have been interesting to see done -
Tweetienator26 December 2021Yôkai daisensô aka The Great Yokai War is a very funny and wild mix - an oddity mostly unknown to a Western audience I dare to say. Myself was well entertained - it's creepy, it good some fun and odd ideas and a nice cinematography. If a story about an old Babylonian vampire demon fighting against Japanese demons and samurais sounds interesting to you - this one may just be made for you.
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Gafke13 August 2004A zucchini-headed vampire from Europe comes to Japan, kills and then possesses the body of a good and noble lord. The local demons aren't too pleased by the idea of a foreigner moving in on their territory and decide to battle the monster. Thus, a horde of boogeymen assemble - a water demon who looks like a flatheaded Woody Woodpecker, a woman with two faces; one lovely and one hideous, a demonic umbrella with a tongue that Gene Simmons would envy, a tiny little dude with a round head who bears a freaky resemblance to Aunt Jemima and a woman with a deadly python-like neck. As the vampire claims more victims and literally begins to reproduce himself, the villagers and the demons band together and go to war.
This is a hilariously funny and visually beautiful film. The special effects are outstanding, considering the year was 1968. Simple camera tricks turn the battle at films end (and the ensuing victory "parade' of the Japanese ghosts and demons) into something resembling a weird ballet as transparent ghouls and projected monsters jump, spin, fly and fight in slow motion. Despite some unexpected (and hysterical) light expletives and a few splashes of ketchup-y blood, this is a great film for kids as well as adults. It's really very funny, oddly sweet and a lot of fun. HIGHLY recommended! -
"Yôkai Daisensô" ("Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare") is a Japanese film about an evil demon taking on a whole host of Japanese Yôkai ('spirits' or 'imps') during the feudal era.
It all begins in Babylon. The empire crumbled centuries earlier and now two grave robbers accidentally release a very powerful demon, referred to as Diamon in the film, though it looks much like Pazuzu. Regardless, it's very bad, very strong and, apparently, about to go on vacation to Japan. However, the creature's propensity to kill folks and suck their blood causes a few minor problems. One of the weaker Yôkai, a Kappa (water spirit) sees this creature in action and warns the other Japanese Yôkai....who don't believe him. Little did they know that eventually they'd be forced to confront and fight the demon.
The biggest problem about this film is technical. The costumes are mostly crappy (even by 60s standards). Now hold on tight....I'm about to say something radical. So many of the 60s Japanese creatures, especially Godzilla and Rodan, were crappy costumed folks that look completely ridiculous today. Now I know many folks adore these films...and I'm glad you enjoy them. But don't mistake them for great art....the special effects are terrible. But in addition to looking awful, the film also apparently was designed to appeal to kids and frankly it takes serious mythological creatures and makes them rather silly and childish. Not a film I enjoyed, though I at least was able to finish it. -
kazan-bandi3 January 2006Yokai Daisenso is a peculiar funny movie about an old vampire and the brave Japanese monsters. The vampire is woken up by treasure hunters, goes to Japan, kills a wealthy man and takes his form. But he needs fresh blood regularly and the Japanese monsters who live peacefully there, not disturbing the people, unite forces and fight the vampire. This movie is recommended for the lovers of the weird, funny movies and everybody who likes the old horror movies. Yokai Daisenso is not entirely a horror movie, because it's not only funny because it's old but it also contains ironic elements, for example the Japanese monsters look up the existence of a vampire (who came from Afrika) in a picture book which contains every ordinary Japanese monster/ghost. I give it 9 points out of 10 with the comment that people who - after reading this - know that they wouldn't like this movie, shouldn't watch and vote it.
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BA_Harrison2 January 2024I feel conflicted about this film: it's clearly aimed at a young audience and I struggled a lot with the childish humour; however, it does deliver on the monster action, which I felt was lacking in the previous yokai movie, 100 Monsters.
The villain of The Great Yokai War is an ancient, blood-drinking Babylonian bird monster called Daimon (Chikara Hashimoto), who flies to Japan and assumes the identity of a benevolent lord magistrate. Kappa, a water imp who lives in the magistrate's pond, realises what is wrong and confronts Daimon, but the monster is too strong. Samurai Shinhachiro (Yoshihiko Aoyama) also realises something is up and asks a Buddhist monk for advice, but again Daimon proves too powerful. Eventually, Kappa and his yokai pals summon all the monsters in Japan to do battle against the invader.
Overall, this is passable entertainment for fans of strange Japanese cinema, but I could have done without the puerile comedy (especially the two guards who think they're Abbott and Costello) and the obligatory 'cute' youngsters (an obese boy with his arse out and his little sister). -
alberto_mysterio19 August 2006I would like to preface the following statement by saying this; I in no way endorse the usage of illegal drugs BUT unless you've been high on mushrooms before you won't truly appreciate this movie to it's fullest.
I found this movie on the shelf at Austin's Vulcan Video and was immediately attracted to the Sid and Marty Krofft type costumes on the cover. This was back when my wife was still my girlfriend and we both were drinkers of a particularly noxious potion known as Steel Reserve. We settled in at home on our select-comfort bed in our underwear, with two 24 ounce cans each. Now, before we could even catch a buzz we were floored by the intensity of the color, which was the first mushroom-like similarity. Secondly, the frenetic action and pace of this film was also familiar. But what really set this theory in stone is the completely hallucinogenic overall mix of disparate elements. I was laughing my ass off the entire time, but underneath there was a warm nostalgic feeling because this film took me back to the days of Spectreman and War of the Gargantuas. I felt like I was a little kid watching the most wonderful thing in the world. In fact, I purchased this DVD off ebay earlier today, brand new for 7.98 total. If you are a 30-something with similar memories, I strongly suggest you purchase this film, or at very least rent it. -
Horror Fan13 February 1999This is weird. It is about the releasing of 100 ghosts. Among them are killer umbrellas with long tongues and a witch with a snake neck who wraps it around maidens necks and chokes them. Interesting photography and a fast pace are it's good attributes.
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BandSAboutMovies6 January 20211968 saw the release of Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters, but just seven months later, director Kuroda Yoshiyuki (Daimajin, several Zatoichi films) made this sequel, which takes the main ideas of presenting Japan's native monsters, perhaps finds some inspiration from the manga GeGeGe no Kitaro and the story of Momotaro, take a strong shot of national Japanese pride and remembers that no one cares about the humans in the story. We're here to see monsters. And oh man, are we gonna get them!
In the Babylonian city of Ur, the body of the great monster Daimon lies amongst the ruins. That is, until some treasure hunters rouse him from his dark sleep, which leads to him flying to Japan, vampirically taking over the body of samurai Lord Hyogo Isobe.
As Isobe, Daimon goes wild, burning all the religious altars, killing the family dog and even rousing a kappa - a "river child" turtle creature who loves to wrestle - from his slumber in the river. Hurt in combat with the much stronger Daimon, the kappa begins his quest to unite the yokai and stop the foul beast.
Soon, the kappa meets Kasa-obake (a one-legged umbrella with eyes), Futakuchi-onna (a two-mouthed cursed woman), Rokurokubi (a long-necked woman who often appears in the more adult kaiden stories), Nuppeppo (a clay creature who resembles a blob of meat) and Abura-sumashi (a wise ghost of a human who once stole oil). They tell him that according to coloring books and field guides, no such yokai exists.
Meanwhile, Daimon has stopped his attempted exorcism and responded by killing the parents of several children. As his men hunt for the surviving kids, they hide in the yokai shrine. Soon, the monsters realize the kappa was telling the truth and join him in battle, which ends up involving nearly every single monster from across Japan.
Takashi Miike remade this movie in 2005 as The Great Yokai War, which also features Kitaro creator Mizuki in a cameo.
Seriously, this movie took a bad day and made anything seem possible. This is pure joy on film. -
kevin_robbins29 November 2022The Great Yokai War (1968) is the second film in the Japanese Yokai trilogy that I recently watched on Shudder. The storyline follows a Babylonian demon vampire that arrives on sacred lands of various ghouls and ghosts. As he targets humans for food and looks the rule the lands the only hope to stop him may be the local ghouls and ghosts.
This movie is directed by Yoshiyuki Kuroda (Mirror Man) and stars Yoshihiko Aoyama (Zatoichi in Desperation), Takashi Kanda (Kamen Rider), Ikuko Môri (The Tale of Zatoichi) and Tokio Oki (Shogun Assassin).
This is such a fun movie. The costumes, masks and makeup to create the monsters are very well done, especially for the era. The one that looked like a duck was my absolute favorite. The arrival of the Babylonian demon vampire with the fire staff was very dramatic. His first fight with the duck was hilarious and well done. Every fight sequence with the monsters is entertaining. I always laugh at the way they do the long necks in these pictures. The ending battle is a perfect monster fight conclusion.
Overall, this is a must see for monster movie fans from this era. I even liked this better than the first picture. I would score this an 8/10 and strongly recommend it. -
jonahs-4326024 August 2022It's got a lighter tone but it's got more monsters & monster action. The Yokai are the good guys & they are faced with a monster disguised as a human that they must protect the humans from & that's pretty much the plot. It's pretty simple that I can't spoil it by saying it.
The effects, for me, are a step up from the first movie & the Yokai are characters now,they have dialogue & everything.
The movie still has some creepy & atmospheric moments but it's mostly traded out a fun monster on monster action movie.
Recommended to the same people who I recommended 100 Monsters to. -
Leofwine_draca23 August 2021THE GREAT YOKAI WAR (1968, original title Yokai daisenso, aka YOKAI MONSTERS: SPOOK WARFARE) is the second instalment of the infamously barmy 'yokai monsters' trilogy which gathers together pretty much all of the famous monsters of Japanese folklore and casts them as a force for good. This one opens with tomb raiders in ancient Babylon accidentally unleashing a vampiric demon with the ability to copy itself by draining its victims blood. It soon heads off to Japan where it begins decimating the ranks of a local lord's household, but the yokai monsters aren't about to let this foreign invader stir things up.
Where to begin with a film like this? It's an effects-fuelled adventure heavy on the weirdness and the wacky SFX, many of which have dated, but all of which retain their charm. There are umbrella monsters, a woman with two faces, a human-headed snake monster and even a giant walking radish (!) a one point. It plays like a kid's film but it has the blood splashes and death you wouldn't get in a Hollywood kid's film. The action is non-stop and the spooky atmosphere and crazy showdowns are unlike anything you'll see anywhere else. I loved it. A remake (by Takashi Miike, no less) followed in 2005, but this is the real deal. -
Gravendal25 December 2022Its the best way i can describe this movie. It fits well in the category "horror for children" because its not really horror, it's just about monsters/demons but with humor and a very childish tone in it.
Story, evil babylonian demon strikes fear in Japan, and Japanese demons/monsters are going to save the day.
The story is simple, yet interesting. The monsters themselves, silly, over the top but still very likable and well made for its time. Visually really nice, special effects are very good for its time and just in general a really enjoyable movie to watch. It has that "feel good" for it and a movie i would watch with my kids to give them something interesting and unique to watch.
They really put down some soul into making this movie, and it shows. Recommended for people who want the horror category but want to see something easy and more adventure with a bit of comedy but with horror/monster influences. -
I_Ailurophile15 September 2023It's worth noting right away that this carries itself with a somewhat different tone than its predecessor. Where '100 monsters' bore a dark edge in telling a story of greed, corruption, and cruelty receiving their comeuppance, 'Yokai monsters: Spook warfare,' also known simply as 'The great yokai war,' in some measure bears tinges of a film that could be enjoyed by a younger audience. The darker edge remains in the personage of the antagonist, and the destruction that surrounds them; on the other hand, the titular yokai otherwise are represented as beings that protect Japan and its people. With that in mind, one is perhaps reminded of some of the fare that The Jim Henson Company has produced: features that are marked with varying degrees of violence and more disturbing elements, but which can be enjoyed by youths with their swirl of dark fantasy and light humor - not to mention features that includes imaginative puppets, costume design, and effects, sometimes a little cartoonish, in bringing to life a variety of non-human creatures. And so it is here, a mix of facets that are sillier and softer, and those that are distinctly more intense or disquieting in fulfillment of the underlying horror. All told this might not be a total must-see, but it's a really good time, and well worth checking out on its own merits.
It's surely those viewers who are huge fans of Japanese monster movies, or perhaps Japanese culture generally, who will appreciate this picture the most. Yet the blend of horror with comedic aspects really is fun, and to be honest even more than I expected. 'Spook warfare' also has the benefit of not struggling with a lumbering pace as was true of its antecedent, and has been true of other works produced by Daiei. And with all this having said, this second movie is certainly well made, and possibly even boasts stronger production values than the first. In addition to those parts that parts that realize the various entities, the costume design, stunts, and effects are excellent generally, as are the sets. The cinematography and editing are equally sharp, lending flavor at different points, and this flick is one that's very easy on the eyes for how terrific everything looks. The cast also unreservedly embrace the tenor of the production; like director Yoshiyuki Kuroda, those actors playing the human characters and those portraying the yokai find all find a balance between the light and the dark - treating both sides of the title with equal care and seriousness, and letting the earnestness of the whole affair shine through. Truthfully, I'm pleasantly surprised by just how well done this is!
Measurable skill and intelligence went into this from all corners; even the climax, and the more action-oriented scenes generally, are more exciting and satisfying than I assumed, especially based on '100 monsters' as a point of comparison. Maybe the more plainly somber tone of the latter film was actually its weak spot, for as this one is characterized by a bit more playful sensibility, it quite comes across that all involved were able to just let their creativity run wild to make the most entertaining romp that they could. Entertaining - but no less sincere, as illustrated in repeated lines in the dialogue about Japanese pride. I'm really just so happy with how good this installment in the series turned out to be; while some audiences will appreciate it more than others, I'm delighted that when all is said and done I think 'Spook warfare' is something that just about anyone could enjoy. It's still nothing so special as to demand viewership, but for those who are receptive to the less outwardly grim and brutal side of horror, there's a great deal to like here and I'm glad to give it my hearty recommendation!