This is a remarkable film and narrative, for a number of reasons.

First, the photography of the Japanese forests and mountains is exquisite. Some of the forest scenes, for example, are amazing in the way director Harada uses the camera, as though flying or drifting through upper branches, circling, swooping down and then around to focus on a young couple walking. Or, tracking along a pathway, coming up to large boulders, zooming up the face and then above and to look down directly upon a young man sitting on the top. Or, again, drifting through the mists of the forest, rising and falling as though traveling with the breeze. It was, for me, entrancing to watch and admire the skill of the shooting.

Then there is the soundtrack – a delightful combination of Western and Eastern pieces that suited every mood that the story attempts to convey. I didn't take note of the closing credits but there were many excerpts that were quite familiar, including some from Verdi.

And, having an interest in Japanese culture (I have taught Shotokan karate for nearly thirty years), it was also a delight to witness a lot of the process of making rice paper. I know that won't appeal to others as much as to me, but the practice is an integral part of the story also, acting as a counterpoint to the encroaching evil of modernity in the form of a planned harvesting of much of the forest to make way for the development of a golf course...

Add in now the actors, none of whom I'd seen before. Not that it mattered: they all performed their roles flawlessly, even though others might think some of the actors may have been overacting, particularly Kazurhiro Yamaji who played the belligerent husband and incestuous womanizer, Takanao. Yuki Amami who played Miki Bonomiya is just sublime as the main protagonist of this drama - one that surrounds the myth of the Dog Spirit that is a curse upon the Bonomiya family of the village of Omine. All of the village's troubles surface when the new teacher, Akira Nutahara (played by Atsuro Watabe) arrives to take up a new job at the school. He's much more than what he seems to be and unhappily for all, he falls in love with Miki, with startling and surprising results. And, in the background, lurks a local hunter who has killed 999 wild animals - and he's waiting for the right moment to bag number 1000...

It's a complex story that mixes ancient myth and ceremony, incestuous family ties, jealous and unrequited lovers, and a gradual descent into murderous horror. For those who enjoy the idea of ghosts or spirits, there is also the Dog Spirit, a loose translation of the title. Inugami, however, has a literal translation of 'god dog', which is a palindrome in English: looks and spells the same, either way. And that, I think, is curiously appropriate, considering the true nature of Miki and her mother, Tomie (played by Shiho Fuimura). So, for those who delve or dabble in Freudian psychology, this story is a treat; for others less inclined, it tends to be confusing especially if you pay little heed to the family connections. The subtitles, however, are up to scratch – but I did skip back a few times, just to make sure I was following the story okay.

Overall, however, the whole experience appears to move quite slowly, so some viewers will chomp at the bit, wondering why nothing much seems to be happening at various times. All I can say is: patience is a virtue.

My only real criticism is that the story ends ambiguously, appearing to remain rooted in fantasy, instead of psychology.

And finally, I was interested to note Harada had directed Kamikazi Taxi (1995), a thriller I saw ten years ago, now. I quite enjoyed that, as I have Inugami. The difference between the two in genre, pacing, narrative and mise-en-scene, however, is so great it amplifies the skill Harada shows as a director. I think Harada is, therefore, a director to watch (no pun intended) and monitor.

Not recommended for children of any age: the graphic sex scenes and violence are just too much for immature minds.

After watching many J-horrors that capitalized more on gore-shock and FX-laden terror, it's a really nice treat to find a little Japanese folk horror gem like Inugami.

The pacing is slow, but it's typical for many Japanese drama. In fact, it's truly befitting for the movie to be patient in its storytelling. The camera works and cinematography, along with the pacing, help to reign you in to the world of the Omine village. A village and people seemed to be locked in world between the traditional and the modern.

Time seems to work at a different tangent there, where a feudal family's life is tainted by an ancient curse; its members torn between traditional duty and self liberation.

The acting is top notch, the setting is near perfect and the music blends in with the luscious mountain forest in a mystical way. The horror element is so subtle and sparse, that this could have been a purely drama film without the supernatural element. In fact, the most horrific things are the cruelty and twisted bondage of tradition and paranoia that envelop the Bonomiya family and the Omine townsfolk.

Shikoku, considered a spiritual haven by many Japanese, plays the silent witness and a sort of mystical catalyst to the spiraling tragedy that unfolds through the movie. Its natural presence seems to reverberate with a disturbing presence and foreboding doom in the director's hand.

The editing is choppy at times, and it seems Masato Harada didn't really want to make a horror movie, or could have done a better job with a bigger budget.

Overall, I really enjoyed Inugami and it's a nice treat if you love Japanese countryside and folktales. It is not your typical J-horror film, and there is a disturbing taboo that plays as a central part of the narration. Beware!

Many may find this slow going, but it is beautifully shot, and compellingly strange. This kind of folk myth is not often seen on the screen, and hardly ever in such a low-key, erotic style. And there is nothing so terrible about the soundtrack, except perhaps to opera snobs who can't bear to hear Verdi put to use in such an out-of-context way. Not a great film, but above-average for this genre. The Japanese countryside is gorgeous, the atmospherics are evocative, and the actors, particularly the women, are all first rate. Throw in some fascinating scenes of paper making, and on the other hand, some beautifully framed sex scenes, and this is certainly much more watchable than many of its American equivalents.