HAUSU is probably one of the craziest filmgoing experiences I've ever had a pleasure to witness. It's beautiful to look at, surreal, and – above all else – unique. There's nothing out there quite like it. And that's all thanks to the visionary director at the helm, Nobuhiko Obayashi, who has sadly passed away at age 82.
He leaves behind a prolific career, with over fifty feature films to his name, though he will probably be most remembered (at least here) for his quirky debut film about schoolgirls being killed in a nightmarish haunted house (and some of the most f*cked up imagery this side of Jodorowsky). It's even more fascinating when you realize HAUSU was funded by Toho (yes, the GODZILLA people) who wanted Obayashi to make film like JAWS, and instead he delivered this fever dream on celluloid.
He will sorely be missed, but at least you can find HAUSU on the Criterion Collection (BUY IT HERE), as well as his many, many other films that are also worth checking out!