Oiwa’s Revenge –

A Modernized Adaptation of “The Ghost Stories at Yotsuya on the Tokaido”

Adapted by Liam Leavitt

Link to script (the script did not correctly format when pasted in): https://readthrough.com/d/CtlEPmSYcdTc7d5l0F71d0UKWh92ic

(please email me if the link does not work)

Reflection on Unessay

In adapting the traditional Japanese kabuki play “Ghost Stories: A Revenge Tale” into a modern thriller film script, titled “Oiwa’s Revenge,” my intent was to bridge a temporal gap, bringing the timeless and gripping tale of Oiwa’s revenge on Iemon into a more contemporary context. This reinterpretation aimed to resonate with a modern audience while retaining the vibes of the original story. My idea for this started with our padlet in class discussing the ‘genre’ of the story in modern context: I said the original story fits a genre along the lines of “supernatural revenge horror”. In class, a comment from Nic emphasized the enduring influence of ‘Ghost Stories,’ noting that iconic films like ‘The Ring’ or ‘The Grudge’ might not exist in the same way without the narrative roots of ‘Ghost Stories.’ This observation was something I completely agreed with, and also ignited the impetus for me to reintroduce the rich lore of Ghost Stories to a modern audience in a short-film format.

The choice of the film script medium allows for a visual and immersive experience, drawing inspiration from the horrors of movies like ‘The Ring’—I gave her tattered hair and incorporated the Kubrick stare. The integration of a Ghostbusters motif was meant to serve a dual purpose: to pay an homage to contemporary horror while incorporating thematic elements from ‘The Ring.’ This was supposed to be a  deliberate fusion with familiar pop culture and add an ironic layer to the unfolding supernatural events. It was also meant to inject subtle moments of comedy into the narrative.

Adding to the intentional comedy and irony aspect, I tried to make the character of Iemon idiotic and foolish that is devoid of remorse, similar to his character in the original story but heavily played up, obviously. By magnifying his foolishness, the adaptation accentuates the comedic elements but is also meant to create a stark contrast with the gravity of the unfolding supernatural events. This approach not only serves to entertain a modern audience, but also underscores the folly of Iemon’s actions in the face of supernatural retribution. Additionally, I drew inspiration from more modern horrors like Get Out by incorporating contrasting humor to a terrible situation.

The adaptation is a fusion of homage and reinvention, acknowledging the inspiration from the Japanese theater aspect, while infusing modern elements of the supernatural and horror genres. Oiwa’s spectral presence, the use of an eerie mist, the incorporation of ghostly apparitions, and the use of rats all pay homage to the traditional Japanese ghost story. At the same time, the script employs modern horror tropes similar to movies mentioned before, such as distorted TV screens, ominous laughter, and a dreamscape sequence reminiscent of those seen in contemporary psychological thrillers.

One major creative challenge I encountered was successfully integrating a dance scene or sequence as a nod to the original Kabuki genre. In Kabuki plays, dance serves as a powerful and expressive form of storytelling, conveying emotions and narrative elements with graceful movements. However, the limitations of this being a modern adaptation and short film script posed a challenge in capturing the movements and choreography inherent in Kabuki dance. The visual and immersive nature of film allows for a different type of storytelling, and translating the elegance of Kabuki dance into a cinematic language proved incredibly difficult. I also have no experience in examining choreography, or writing/explaining it.

“Why does your response to this literature matter?” In response to this question… I think my short film script matters as it breathes new life into a classic tale, reaffirms the global influence of Japanese literature, explores universal themes, and contributes to the ongoing evolution of storytelling techniques. It is an homage to the past while embracing the present, ensuring that the legacy of “Ghost Stories” continues to resonate across different cultures and generations.

Works Cited & Inspirations/References:

Kobayashi, Masaki, et al. Kwaidan Two-DVD special edition., Criterion Collection, 2015.

• This film adaptation served as some visual reference for some of the script, particularly in the depiction of ghostly apparitions and the overall atmosphere of the story.

Lee, Jihyun. “The Ring and Japanese Horror.” JapanNakama, http://www.japannakama.co.uk/the-ring-and-japanese-horror/. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

• This article discusses The Ring/Ringu and its obvious comparisons to Kabuki plays, as well as Kabuki and No plays influence on J-Horrors.

Peele, Jordan. Get Out. Universal Pictures, 2017.

• I watched Get Out for the twentieth time recently, and it is briefly mentioned in my reflection. I really like how Jordan Peele uses consistent and quick comedy pieces to separate a scary situation from reality.

Reitman, Ivan. Ghostbusters. Columbia Pictures, 1984.

• This film served as a reference point for the script, particularly in the opening scene where Iemon watches the movie and the way the ghostbusters capture Slimer. I haven’t seen this movie in years, but I remembered this scene in particular and used it for the scene. I had to watch the Slimer scene in particular because my memory of it was a lot different than how I pictured it.

Shimazaki, Satoko. Edo Kabuki in Transition : From the Worlds of the Samurai to the Vengeful Female Ghost. Columbia University Press, 2016. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

• I took a quick glance into this collection of stories while doing research in the library. I found it interesting that so many Kabuki stories utilize the idea of the ‘vengeful ghost.’

Tsuruya Nanboku IV. “The Ghost Stories at Yotsuya on the Tòkaidò.” From Kabuki Plays On Stage Darkness and Desire, 1804–1864, Translated by Paul B. Kennelly, 1825.

• This is the primary source material for the story, providing the underlying plot and lore for the characters of Iemon and Oiwa.

Verbinski, Gore. The Ring. DreamWorks Distribution, 2002.

• I hadn’t seen The Ring since middle school so I briefly rewatched some of the scenes from the movie. It really is interesting how many aspects of the movie can be compared to The Ring. I also discovered that The Ring was just an adaptation of a Japanese horror movie called ‘Ringu’, released in 1998, just a couple years before ‘The Ring’.

Writerduet.com

• I utilized writerduet for the first time when creating this script. The website was very easy to use and helped me so much more than StudioBinder, which is what I was using originally.