The Demon of Mount Oe (Japan, 1960)

A demon-faced monster seeking revenge appears in the forms of a gigantic ox and a huge spider. The young Genji warrior protects the Fujiwara Clan and the beautiful lady in tragic love.

If you're huge into older period/fantasy movies, The Demon of Mount Oe could be a fun diversion from the modern CGI-fests. The story is based around the myths of oni such as Shuten-douji and Tsuchigumo, so we get some samurai vs demon action throughout the film. It's more of a monster fantasy film rather than a jidaigeki-piece, and the dated monster puppets adds to the feel of a staged fairytale. 

Famous warriors from Japanese history come together to do battle with evil and the charming, dated effects makes it all the more enjoyable. 

Genre: Fantasy/Horror. 1h 54min.

Roujin Z (Japan, 1991)

An old man is being treated specially by the Department of Health under the so-called Project Z, a special nursing bed with a 6th generation computer on board. When the pain and loneliness of the old man reaches his ex-private nurse, she decides to rescue him from the government's experiment. Thus begins a wild chase through the busy streets of Tokyo as the 6th generation computer begins to have the personality of the old man's ex-wife and as the government's secret project unfolds.

What's impressive with Roujin Z is the names behind it; Katsuhiro Otomo, creator of Akira, wrote the story and screenplay, while Satoshi Kon (Paprika, Perfect Blue) served as art director and set designer. How can it go wrong knowing that? Well, it doesn't naturally. Roujin Z is a wild joyride with stunning animation which of course looks like a companion piece to Akira. All the 90's anime aesthetic you could ask for with that special blend of science-fiction technology and early computer tech with chunky monitors and huge mechanical keyboards. The plot doesn't nearly reach the depths of Akira, being a much smaller film but there's still ambition in its satirical view of older generations and handing them over to robot beds. 

Genre: Animation/Comedy/Sci-Fi. 1h 20min.

Torso (Japan, 2009)

A seemingly normal office worker Hiroko has a secret. At home she lives with a prosthetic torso - no head, arms or feet, just body and male private part. Hiroko bathes with the torso and she also makes love with the torso at night. Hiroko's secret life is interrupted when her outgoing sister Mina rings her doorbell. Mina is running away from her abusive boyfriend and wants to stay at Hiroko's home ...

Reading the synopsis for Torso it's reasonable to think it's a oddball comedy, but in reality it's a surprisingly deep character drama dealing with sisterhood and unconventional emotions. The film doesn't focus on anyone else than Hiroko and her sister Mina so we're constantly between them in all their arguments and laughs, showing off the contrast of their sisterly personalities. Director Yutaka Yamasaki has on a few occasions been cinematographer for Hirokazu Koreeda and it shows in the intimate camerawork and closeness to the characters.

Genre: Drama. 1h 44min.