Island of Hell

1977 2h 21m JA

😐

6.2

MID

★6.2TMDB · 5

MysteryHorror

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A scruffy detective investigates the murders of three sisters on a small Japanese island in 1946.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Koji Ishizaka
Kosuke Kindaichi
Yōko Tsukasa
Katsuno
Reiko Ōhara
Sanae
Mitsuko Kusabue
Osayo
Kiwako Taichi
Tomoe
Yuko Asano
Tsukiyo Kito
Ryoko Sakaguchi
Oshichi
Takeshi Katō
Inspector Todoroki

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Kon Ichikawa
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

49 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Kosuke Kindaichi Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Kon Ichikawa, shot by Kiyoshi Hasegawa. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Shin'ichi Tanabe. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Michiko Ikeda shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Koji Ishizaka and Yōko Tsukasa and Reiko Ōhara carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0076090 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 5 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Kon Ichikawa directs. Kiyoshi Hasegawa behind the camera. Shin'ichi Tanabe scores. Michiko Ikeda cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

149 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Part of the "Kosuke Kindaichi Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Directed by Kon Ichikawa, shot by Kiyoshi Hasegawa. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Shin'ichi Tanabe. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Michiko Ikeda shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Koji Ishizaka and Yōko Tsukasa and Reiko Ōhara carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0076090 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 5 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Kiyoshi Hasegawa
Original score: Shin'ichi Tanabe
Editing: Michiko Ikeda
Runtime: 141 min · 2h 21m
Status: Released
Original language: JA
IMDB: Island of Hell (1977)

Part of

Kosuke Kindaichi Collection

A series of films about private detective Kosuke Kindaichi solving murder cases. Starring Koji Ishizaka in the titular role, directed by Kon Ichikawa.