Jeff Hannah’s review published on Letterboxd:
I was expecting a fairly simple morality tale but this film deals in shades of grey (albeit, very dark, nearly black grey). Onibaba, at its center, is about the conflict of our animal urges with our sense of morality and fairness. Unfortunately, during times of great duress, opportunism and survival come before all else.
Honor, loyalty, and shame have gone out the window for these women who survive by killing deserted soldiers and selling their weapons and armor to a shady dealer. But, before you judge too harshly, realize that they are victims of circumstance. They can no longer grow and harvest crops- as the countryside has been destroyed by war- so the only options for them are: begging, prostitution or killing. Regarding loyalty to the dead son/husband, why should the women continue living as they are (if he is never to return)?
One big surprise here was the film's frank and unglamorous depiction of sex. Just like the will to survive, sexual desire is innate and unstoppable. However, everything has consequences and, as the two young people become invariably drawn to one another, the old woman becomes unnecessary and faces likely expulsion and almost certain death. As a result, the old woman tries to keep the two apart by any means and uses anything at her disposal (seduction, threats, religious guilt, etc.). So, once again, it all comes down to survival instinct.
I haven't even gotten into the top-notch cinematography, the primal, thundering score or even the infamous mask. I feel like I could write on and on about this movie all day but I'll stop here. Excellent, excellent film.