The pumpkin magic tome is a mysterious and enchanting artifact that has captivated the imaginations of scholars and seekers of the occult for centuries. In ancient times, it was believed to hold the secrets of the pumpkin kingdom, a realm that existed parallel to our own. Legend has it that the tome was created by a powerful sorcerer who discovered the mystical properties of pumpkins and sought to harness their energy. The book is said to be bound in exquisite leather, adorned with intricate carvings of pumpkins and their vines. It is often described as having an otherworldly glow, emanating a faint green light that seems to dance across its pages. The contents of the pumpkin magic tome are said to be a repository of knowledge on all things related to pumpkins — from their cultivation and folklore to their magical uses.
Having lived in a Christian orphanage for most of her life, Sayuri (Yachie Matsui) is finally found and adopted (or rather, re-adopted) by her birth parents. However, soon after arriving at her new home, supernatural happenings convince the girl that something is afoot. Her suspicions are proven correct in the form of a mysterious sister, Tamami (Mayumi Takahashi), who’s been hidden in the family attic for God knows how long. The reptilian-like child torments the innocent Sayuri, who begins to suspect that her newly found sister may be more than just a little girl.
Remarkably, as revealed in the supplementals, Yachie Matsui and Mayumi Takahashi would never star in a major feature again after their starkly contrasting roles in Snake Girl. Saturated in beautiful monochromatic hues, the performances are decent, the characters are interesting, the vfx are great, the spiralling hallucination sequences are fantastic bolstered by some eerie theremin.
The contents of the pumpkin magic tome are said to be a repository of knowledge on all things related to pumpkins — from their cultivation and folklore to their magical uses. It is rumored to contain spells, rituals, and incantations that can harness the power of the pumpkin kingdom for various purposes. Some claim that the tome holds the key to immortality, while others believe it can grant wishes or bestow great fortune.
[Film Review] Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch (1968)
The child’s point of view can be a powerful tool in horror. It can emphasise being in a position of vulnerability and true powerlessness to maximise a sense of terror, but also has the potential to tell stories of growth and resilience when the child overcomes their fears and survives their terrible ordeal. The Snake Haired Girl and the Silver Haired Witch is a wonderful example of this, and one that until recently wasn’t made available to view outside of its native Japan.
Orphan Sayuri has been told that she will be reunited with her birth parents and is excited for her new life in a big house with her own room, new clothes, and everything she could ever want. Things begin to get strange as soon as she arrives, as one of the house maids is being wheeled away having died under mysterious circumstances, and her mother has sustained a head injury which makes remembering things difficult and calls Sayuri “Tamami”. When her father, an expert on venomous snakes, gets called away to Africa suddenly to study a new specimen is when the horror for Sayuri truly begins.
Whilst not based on a single work and instead taking elements from a few of his stories, The Snake Girl and Silver Haired Witch is derived from the works of manga artist Kazuo Umezu, a leading figure in horror manga with a career that started in the early sixties and is still going strong today (for more on Umezu’s role in the growth of girls’ horror in Japan, see here ). He is particularly known for often centring his stories around innocent and wide-eyed child protagonists attempting to find their way out of horrific situations. That is present here with protagonist Sayuri, and we often hear her inner monologue, something that feels fitting for a film that takes elements from a manga story format. The film’s director was Noriaki Yuasa in what is a departure from the rest of his career, which almost exclusively comprises films featuring Gamera, Daiei’s kaiju series created to compete with Toho’s Godzilla. It is a shame, because The Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch does show an interesting style and it would have been nice to see Yuasa develop that more.
This really is a really fun movie, something evident immediately from the Gothic quality to the film’s set-up as we follow the innocent young orphan who is whisked away to an elaborate mansion full of strange objects and forbidden rooms, her new mother acts strange and aloof, there is a mysterious person living in the attic watching everything that goes on, nuns, and a family secret to uncover. Said family secret is the actual Tamami, Sayuri’s apparently hidden from public eyes older sister who takes an immediate dislike to the girl despite Sayuri’s best efforts. She is the titular Snake Girl, although the nature of that is ultimately slightly ambiguous. It is brought out most in visually creative dream sequences that are almost a tamer version of some of the visuals in Nobuhiko Obayashi’s House, who himself adapted Umezu’s work in 1987 with The Drifting Classroom. There are some moments where the effects show their cheapness, but if anything that just adds to the film’s charm. What these scenes achieve is really blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, making you question the exact nature of what is happening to Sayuri as well as heightening the feeling of childhood terror she is going through.
Of course, what is children’s horror without the child central to it all and Sayuri, played by ten year old Yachie Matsui, has a plucky sweetness to her that you can’t help but root for. She tries to make the best of her new situation, even with Tamami’s cruelty and housekeeper Shige’s disbelief at anything she says. Her only true ally is Tatsuya, an older boy from the same orphanage as her. It’s interesting and even keeps you guessing in a few places. There was a point when I thought that the father’s work with venomous snakes was going to play a more experimental part in an Eyes Without a Face fashion, especially when we see a scar along the edge of Tamami’s face. The actual sinister plot behind everything is a bit more Scooby-Doo than French New Wave, but still entertaining.
The Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch has that fun children’s horror quality; not really scary, but an entertaining and fun watch. This could even be a good gateway film for people introducing someone to Japanese horror as it's fairly light on specific cultural elements but can introduce someone to the particular mood, attitude towards monsters, and touches on the things that veteran fans of Japanese horror would already be familiar with.
This is such an odd movie considering it really feels like a childrens movie but is filled with brutal murders and sadistic hallucinations as a young girl is picked up from an orphanage to live with her real parents but soon realizes that she has an older sister, someone who seems to be a murderous psycho as well as half snake. Coz you know, Japan. But then I realize that it is based on a manga by horror maestro Kazuo Umezu and everything falls into place. Because it really feels like one of his mangas and I never for a second thought that they really would translate well into a movie. But The Snake girl and the Silver-Haired witch partly…
While many have sought the pumpkin magic tome, it remains an elusive and rare artifact. Some say it can only be found by those who possess a deep understanding and respect for the pumpkin kingdom. Others believe that the tome chooses its own keeper, appearing when the time is right and disappearing when its knowledge has been imparted. Though the veracity of the pumpkin magic tome's existence is disputed, its allure and mystique continue to captivate scholars and adventurers alike. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the pumpkin kingdom and its magical properties, prompting a new wave of explorers to search for the fabled tome. Whether the pumpkin magic tome is a figment of imagination or a tangible artifact has yet to be determined. But it is undeniable that the allure of the pumpkin kingdom and its potential for magic and wonder continue to ignite the curiosity of those who seek the unknown..
Reviews for "The Pumpkin Magic Phenomenon: Exploring the Popularity of Fall's Favorite Fruit"
1. Jennifer - 1 star
I was really disappointed with "Pumpkin Magic Tome". The writing felt disjointed and the characters were flat and uninteresting. The plot was predictable and there were no surprises or twists to keep me engaged. Overall, I found this book to be a waste of time and would not recommend it to others.
2. Michael - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Pumpkin Magic Tome" as I am a fan of fantasy novels, but unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. The pacing was slow and it felt like nothing much was happening for the majority of the story. The dialogue was also quite cumbersome and felt forced. I found myself struggling to connect with the characters and their motivations. While the idea of a pumpkin-themed magical world was intriguing, the execution was lacking in my opinion.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
"Pumpkin Magic Tome" had an interesting concept, but it failed to deliver an engaging story. The writing style was clunky and lacked finesse. The characters felt one-dimensional and their actions often didn't make sense. The world-building was also lacking, as the magical elements felt underdeveloped and inconsistent. Overall, this book didn't live up to my expectations and I wouldn't recommend it to others who are looking for a captivating fantasy read.