Overview: When the wealthy patriarch of the Inugami dynasty dies, he leaves his fortune to Tamayo (Yoko Shimada, Shogun), a young woman from outside the family. There is one condition: she must marry one of his grandsons.

As the family gather in the stately mansion to discuss the situation, grisly murders occur. Detective Kosuke Kindaichi arrives to investigate the case and uncovers the secret history of the family’s bloodline.

Blu-ray Verdict: Directed by Kon Ichikawa (Ten Women in Black, Fires on the Plain), this murder mystery was a massive hit in Japan that profoundly changed the Japanese film industry.

Infused with a gothic atmosphere and featuring several now-iconic scenes, The Inugami Family has rarely been seen outside its home country, making it one of Japanese cinema’s best-kept secrets.

This is the kind of film where it’s best to know very little about the plot, so I’ll just give you the basic setting. The head of the wealthy Inugami family dies and leaves behind a last will, which disappoints nearly everybody. The sole beneficiary is a young girl who is not part of the family, but there’s a catch: she has to marry one of the old man’s three grandsons and if she doesn’t the inheritance will be divided among the closest relatives.

Naturally, the family starts fighting, but soon things get out of hand, people start getting killed. Our protagonist, private detective Kindaichi, enters to solve things. It’s very complex story and demands your full attention. Everyone lies, people aren’t who they say they are, the many characters are only briefly introduced, but in the end everything should be clear.

This is very reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s works, but even though The Inugami Family is undoubtedly part of the detective genre, there’s more than that to it. It also has notable elements of horror, family drama and even social commentary, but the clever plot aside, it’s Ichikawa’s direction that raises this above your average whodunnit. The Inugami Family is visually stunning and even experimental for its day.

So if you don’t mind the occasional violence, the demanding plot and the long running time (though I wouldn’t call it overlong) this will be definitely worth watching at least once. As it is with many mystery films, this might prove less effective upon re-watching. Still thoroughly entertaining the first time around though. [M.T.]

Bonus Features:
4K restoration by Kadokawa Pictures
Original uncompressed mono audio
Newly filmed interview with Aaron Gerow on the film’s impact in Japan (2026)
Secrets of Kon Ichikawa’s Visual Style - archival documentary (44 mins)
Outtakes from Secrets of Kon Ichikawa’s Visual Style (8 mins)
Archival making-of documentary, featuring interviews with director Kon Ichikawa, star Koji Ishizaka and editor Chizuko Osada (30 mins)
Archival interview with star Koji Ishizaka (16 mins)
Archival documentary on the 4K restoration process (12 mins)
Trailer
New and improved English subtitle translation
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow
Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by Yuka Kimbara
Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings

Official Purchase Link

www.MVDshop.com