The fourth addition to the A Tale of Magic series is an exciting continuation of the magical adventures of Brystal Evergreen. In this latest installment, Brystal is faced with new challenges and discoveries as she delves deeper into the world of magic. The main idea of the fourth book is **the exploration of Brystal's growth as a magical prodigy**. Brystal's abilities as a fairy and her knowledge of magic are put to the test as she navigates through hidden realms and encounters powerful adversaries. Throughout the book, readers witness Brystal's transformation from an uncertain young girl to a confident and skilled sorceress. As Brystal continues her journey, she also learns important lessons about friendship, courage, and the power of standing up for what is right.
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.
As Brystal continues her journey, she also learns important lessons about friendship, courage, and the power of standing up for what is right. These themes are woven into the narrative, adding depth and complexity to the story. **The fourth book emphasizes the importance of resilience and determination in the face of adversity**.
[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…
Additionally, the new installment of the series introduces intriguing new characters and expands on the existing ones, further enriching the magical world created by author Chris Colfer. Readers will be captivated by the vivid descriptions of enchanted landscapes and the imaginative creatures that inhabit them. The fourth addition to the A Tale of Magic series is a **must-read for fans of fantasy and magic**. It not only continues the enthralling story of Brystal Evergreen but also explores deeper themes and provides valuable life lessons. The book is sure to captivate readers of all ages with its engaging plot, vibrant characters, and magical world-building. Overall, the fourth book in the A Tale of Magic series is an enchanting continuation of Brystal Evergreen's journey. It is a testament to the power of self-discovery, friendship, and the resilience of the human spirit..
Reviews for "Uncovering the Mysteries of the Fourth Book in A Tale of Magic Series"
1. John - 1/5
I was extremely disappointed with the fourth addition to the "A Tale of Magic" series. Unlike the previous books, the plot in this one felt disjointed and confusing. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard to connect with any of them. Additionally, the writing style felt rushed and lacked the same charm and magic as the earlier books. Overall, it was a letdown and I would not recommend it to fans of the series.
2. Sarah - 2/5
As a fan of the "A Tale of Magic" series, I was hoping for a strong continuation of the story in the fourth book. Unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was slow and uneven, making it difficult to stay engaged with the story. The new characters introduced felt unnecessary and forced, and the resolution to the conflicts felt rushed and underdeveloped. I found myself constantly comparing it to the earlier books and feeling disappointed. It's a shame because I really wanted to love it, but overall, it was a lackluster addition to the series.
3. Laura - 2/5
I have been eagerly anticipating the fourth book in the "A Tale of Magic" series, but it left me feeling unsatisfied. The plot felt repetitive and lacked originality, and it seemed as if the author was trying to recreate the magic of the earlier books without much success. The characters' actions and motivations were poorly explained, leaving me confused and disconnected from the story. I expected more depth and complexity from the series at this stage, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations.
4. Mark - 1/5
I cannot express enough my disappointment with the fourth book in the "A Tale of Magic" series. The writing was juvenile and lacked the maturity and depth of the previous books. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the pacing was so slow that it was a struggle to finish. It seemed as though the author had run out of ideas and was simply rehashing old plotlines. Overall, it was a letdown and a waste of time. I would not recommend it to anyone invested in the series.