I felt very closely connected to the male character who depicts the husband/son/brother-in-law in "A Devilish Murder". Not because he's heroic or good-looking, but simply because throughout the entire film he walked around with a confused and borderline stupid look on his face, as if he didn't have the slightest clue of what was going on. I feel your pain, bro... I also didn't understand one iota of what was happening (and didn't care much, neither)
So, this man finds a painted portrait of a woman that looks exactly like his deceased wife. The cursed portrait somehow inflicts a massive flashback to happen, during which it becomes clear that the man's fiendish mother (who actually looks younger than he does) and his sister-in-law plotted a barbaric scheme. With the help of the local doctor, who sleeps with the mother, they falsely accused the man's poor wife of adultery and handed her over to a rapist/murderer (who nonetheless painted her portrait).
It's very well possible that half of the plot description is erroneous. If so, sorry for that, but in my defense: "A Devilish Murder" was unbearably tedious, unremarkable, and utterly confusing. Admittedly, there are a few atmospheric shots and a few shocks to enjoy towards the finale, but staying awake was a true ordeal. I keep hoping to stumble upon another Japanese masterpiece from the "Onibaba" era, but this one certainly wasn't it.
So, this man finds a painted portrait of a woman that looks exactly like his deceased wife. The cursed portrait somehow inflicts a massive flashback to happen, during which it becomes clear that the man's fiendish mother (who actually looks younger than he does) and his sister-in-law plotted a barbaric scheme. With the help of the local doctor, who sleeps with the mother, they falsely accused the man's poor wife of adultery and handed her over to a rapist/murderer (who nonetheless painted her portrait).
It's very well possible that half of the plot description is erroneous. If so, sorry for that, but in my defense: "A Devilish Murder" was unbearably tedious, unremarkable, and utterly confusing. Admittedly, there are a few atmospheric shots and a few shocks to enjoy towards the finale, but staying awake was a true ordeal. I keep hoping to stumble upon another Japanese masterpiece from the "Onibaba" era, but this one certainly wasn't it.