Asian Horror For Those Just Getting Into The Genre
by emii-rawr | created - 11 Jul 2011 | updated - 14 Jul 2011 | PublicThis is a list I've compiled of movies that I feel would be best for those just getting into the genre of Asian horror. If I come across more titles that I decide should be on the list, I'll add them. But these are all just the basic movies; these ARE NOT the "best Asian films". They are merely for those who are interested in the genre, and want to see the different things it has to offer.
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1. Three... Extremes (2004)
R | 125 min | Horror
An Asian cross-cultural trilogy of horror films from accomplished indie directors.
Directors: Fruit Chan, Park Chan-wook, Takashi Miike | Stars: Bai Ling, Lee Byung-hun, Kyoko Hasegawa, Pauline Lau
Votes: 20,856 | Gross: $0.08M
What better way to get into the genre than watch three films, from three different directors, from three different countries. We have Takashi Miike from Japan, Fruit Chan from China, and Park Chan-wook from South Korea. These are very big names in the Asian cinema industry, so why not view them all at once?
2. Apartment 1303 (2007)
Not Rated | 94 min | Horror
A modern ghost story which turns a love hate relationship between mother and daughter into a tale of horror.
Director: Ataru Oikawa | Stars: Noriko Nakagoshi, Arata Furuta, Eriko Hatsune, Yuka Itaya
Votes: 1,943
Definitely not the best horror film to come out of Japan, but it includes most of the usual elements of Japanese horror that other movies have.
3. Battle Royale (2000)
Not Rated | 114 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
In the future, the Japanese government captures a class of ninth-grade students and forces them to kill one another under the revolutionary "Battle Royale" act.
Director: Kinji Fukasaku | Stars: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Tarô Yamamoto, Chiaki Kuriyama
Votes: 194,277
Definitely one of the finest movies to hail from Japan, Battle Royale is a true, gory classic that most horror fans love.
4. Curse, Death & Spirit (1992 Video)
65 min | Horror
This is a series of three short supernatural-themed movies. The first tells the story of a teen girl who dreams of haunted doll. In the second movie, a widowed mother brings her children to... See full summary »
Director: Hideo Nakata | Stars: Kyôko Enami, Michiko Hada, Maiko Kawakami, Yumi Nakamura
Votes: 203
The very first film anthology directed by Hideo Nakata (see below). This film series isn't the best in quality, but it's still interesting to see where this director started out before directing the mega popular Ringu.
5. Dark Water (2002)
PG-13 | 101 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
A mother and her 6-year-old daughter move into a creepy apartment whose every surface is permeated by water.
Director: Hideo Nakata | Stars: Hitomi Kuroki, Rio Kanno, Mirei Oguchi, Asami Mizukawa
Votes: 34,899
A Japanese film directed by Hideo Nakata, who is famous for directing Ringu. There is indeed an English remake, and I feel if you've seen the remake of a movie, you should definitely check out the original just for the sake of giving it a chance. This original version is definitely much creepier than the U.S. remake, but also keep in mind this movie is very calm compared to many other titles on this list.
6. Eko Eko Azarak: Wizard of Darkness (1995)
80 min | Horror
Misa Kuroi is an adorable high-school girl who arrives at her new school when it is falling under an evil supernatural force. Trying to figure out who's behind the supernatural attack, Misa... See full summary »
Director: Shimako Sato | Stars: Kimika Yoshino, Miho Kanno, Shu-Ma, Naozumi Takahashi
Votes: 839
The first film in the Japanese film series "Eko Eko Azarak", this is definitely the best one out of the six films. It's very different from the 'norms' of Japanese horror (meaning, no girls with long black hair in their faces). This film is based on a popular manga dealing with witchcraft, demons, and black magic.
7. The Eye (2002)
R | 99 min | Fantasy, Horror, Mystery
A blind girl gets a cornea transplant so that she will be able to see again. She gets more than she bargained for upon realizing she can also see ghosts.
Directors: Danny Pang, Oxide Chun Pang | Stars: Angelica Lee, Chutcha Rujinanon, Lawrence Chou, Jinda Duangtoy
Votes: 30,061 | Gross: $0.51M
A Chinese film that also had an American remake. This original piece is definitely better than the remake, as it has better acting and much creepier scenes.
8. Ju-on: The Grudge (2002)
R | 92 min | Horror
A mysterious and vengeful spirit marks and pursues anybody who dares enter the house in which it resides.
Director: Takashi Shimizu | Stars: Megumi Okina, Misaki Itô, Misa Uehara, Yui Ichikawa
Votes: 48,016 | Gross: $0.33M
(Originally called Ju On: The Grudge). This may not be the best J-horror film out there, but you cannot get into Asian horror without hearing about it and knowing what it is. I'd highly recommend also watching Ju On: The Curse, which is the very first film in this series. The Curse explains what happened to Kayako and her family, where this one only shows what happens to victims of Kayako and Toshio. The American remake incorporated both The Curse and The Grudge within it to make it easier to understand for U.S. audiences.
9. The Host (2006)
R | 120 min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
A monster emerges from Seoul's Han River and begins attacking people. One victim's loving family does what it can to rescue her from its clutches.
Director: Bong Joon Ho | Stars: Song Kang-ho, Byun Hee-Bong, Park Hae-il, Bae Doona
Votes: 132,559 | Gross: $2.20M
A very well done monster movie hailing from South Korea, many people have given this a positive review.
10. Kwaidan (1964)
Not Rated | 183 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
A collection of four Japanese folk tales with supernatural themes.
Director: Masaki Kobayashi | Stars: Rentarô Mikuni, Michiyo Aratama, Misako Watanabe, Kenjirô Ishiyama
Votes: 19,963
One of the oldest, and one of the greatest. If you're going to start into a genre, you need to look at the older, originating movies that helped bring the genre into what it is today.
11. Marebito (2004)
R | 92 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
A fear-obsessed freelance cameraman (Shinya Tsukamoto) investigates an urban legend involving mysterious spirits that haunt the subways of Tokyo.
Director: Takashi Shimizu | Stars: Shin'ya Tsukamoto, Tomomi Miyashita, Kazuhiro Nakahara, Miho Ninagawa
Votes: 5,695 | Gross: $0.01M
Another film directed by Takashi Shimizu, of whom is the director of the famous Ju On franchise. This is nothing like the Ju On films, and is actually a much better, more complete film than Ju On. It offers a different taste of Shimizu, and highly recommended.
12. Noroi (2005)
Not Rated | 115 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
A documentary filmmaker explores seemingly unrelated paranormal incidents connected by the legend of an ancient demon called the "kagutaba."
Director: Kôji Shiraishi | Stars: Jin Muraki, Rio Kanno, Tomono Kuga, Marika Matsumoto
Votes: 15,290
Another Japanese film, mostly focusing on being a documentary. It's actually a very creepy film, and is a must see for those just starting.
13. One Missed Call (2003)
R | 112 min | Horror, Mystery
People mysteriously start receiving voicemail messages from their future selves, foretelling their deaths.
Director: Takashi Miike | Stars: Kô Shibasaki, Shin'ichi Tsutsumi, Kazue Fukiishi, Anna Nagata
Votes: 19,288
MUCH better than the horrible U.S. remake, this movie is very creepy, well acted, and well directed. Takashi Miike and the crew should be applauded for their splendid work in this film, and it definitely deserves to be seen by those of you disappointed by the U.S. version.
14. Onibaba (1964)
Not Rated | 103 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
Two women kill samurai and sell their belongings for a living. While one of them is having an affair with their neighbor, the other woman meets a mysterious samurai wearing a bizarre mask.
Director: Kaneto Shindô | Stars: Nobuko Otowa, Jitsuko Yoshimura, Kei Satô, Jûkichi Uno
Votes: 21,821
Another one of the older movies. Definitely not as good as Kwaidan, but it's still worth a view.
15. Yogen (2004)
R | 95 min | Horror
A newspaper predicts the deaths of a man's (Hiroshi Mikami) family members and friends.
Director: Norio Tsuruta | Stars: Hiroshi Mikami, Noriko Sakai, Maki Horikita, Mayumi Ono
Votes: 4,602
The American film "Premonition" has almost no relation to this one whatsoever, so don't think this movie is like it at all. Definitely with it's creepy scenes, this Japanese horror film is very well done and entertaining. It has some bloody scenes, but nothing that would make it seem "gory". This film plays more with your emotions, than anything. It also ties together wonderfully.
16. Pulse (2001)
R | 119 min | Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Two groups of people discover evidence that suggests spirits may be trying to invade the human world through the Internet.
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa | Stars: Haruhiko Katô, Kumiko Asô, Koyuki, Kurume Arisaka
Votes: 25,539 | Gross: $0.05M
To give you a taste of 'atmospheric horror' what better film to watch than Pulse? There is an American remake that is beyond horrible, and cannot be compared in the slightest to this well done movie. Kiyoshi Kurosawa, the director, is a master at atmospheric movies; and this film is no exception.
17. The Quiet Family (1998)
101 min | Comedy, Crime, Horror
A family opens a mountain inn where their first guest commits suicide. Suddenly all their guests befall horrible fates.
Director: Jee-woon Kim | Stars: Park In-hwan, Na Moon-hee, Song Kang-ho, Choi Min-sik
Votes: 5,991
A South Korean 'horror' film that gives examples of the dark humor that most Korean directors excel in.
18. Spiral (1998)
Not Rated | 97 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
A young pathologist seeks answers to the mysterious death of a friend and soon comes into contact with the same cursed videotape that caused the death of the friend's wife and son, which is haunted by the curse of Sadako, a relentless spirit.
Director: Jôji Iida | Stars: Kôichi Satô, Miki Nakatani, Hinako Saeki, Shingo Tsurumi
Votes: 3,971
The second in the Ringu franchise, this film focuses more on a scientific explanation on the video tape curse. Some like this movie, but others may feel it's too brainy. Either way, it's one of the little known sequels to Ringu, and deserves some attention.
19. Ringu (1998)
Not Rated | 96 min | Horror, Mystery
A reporter and her ex-husband investigate a cursed video tape that is rumored to kill the viewer seven days after watching it.
Director: Hideo Nakata | Stars: Nanako Matsushima, Miki Nakatani, Yûko Takeuchi, Hitomi Satô
Votes: 77,394
You can't get into Asian horror without knowing Ringu. Even though it's an older movie, it's still something all those getting into the genre need to see to have an understanding on J-horror.
20. Ring 2 (1999)
Not Rated | 95 min | Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Reiko takes Yôichi into hiding when her son begins to display frightening powers. Meanwhile, Mai Takano and the authorities begin a desperate search for them, as the mysterious Ring curse spreads.
Director: Hideo Nakata | Stars: Miki Nakatani, Hitomi Satô, Kyôko Fukada, Fumiyo Kohinata
Votes: 14,708
Ringu 2 (which is actually the third film in the franchise) is probably the most well known sequel to Ringu. There was an American remake of this one as well as the first, but I always recommend seeing the original.
21. Ring 0: Birthday (2000)
Not Rated | 99 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
In this prequel to Ring, a young Sadako becomes an actress in hopes of escaping her troubled past. But strange visions and terrifying powers begin to manifest...
Director: Norio Tsuruta | Stars: Yukie Nakama, Seiichi Tanabe, Kumiko Asô, Takeshi Wakamatsu
Votes: 9,907
The fourth and final film in the Japanese Ringu franchise, this film goes deeper into the past of Sadako. This film teaches you more about her life before she was killed.
22. The Ring Virus (1999)
Not Rated | 108 min | Horror
After the mysterious death of her niece and other three teenagers on the same hour and with the symptoms of heart attack, the journalist Sun-ju decides to investigate their last moments. ... See full summary »
Director: Dong-bin Kim | Stars: Shin Eun-kyung, Seung-Hyun Lee, Jung Jin-young, Kim Chang-wan
Votes: 2,435
Essentially, the Korean version of Ringu.
23. Shutter (II) (2004)
Not Rated | 97 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
A young photographer and his girlfriend discover mysterious shadows in their photographs after a tragic accident. They soon learn that you can not escape your past.
Directors: Banjong Pisanthanakun, Parkpoom Wongpoom | Stars: Ananda Everingham, Natthaweeranuch Thongmee, Achita Sikamana, Unnop Chanpaibool
Votes: 49,107
The original Thai film. Definitely much creepier than the remake, and the acting is a lot more convincing.
24. Spiral (2000)
90 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
The inhabitants of a small Japanese town become increasingly obsessed with and tormented by spirals.
Director: Higuchinsky | Stars: Eriko Hatsune, Fhi Fan, Hinako Saeki, Shin Eun-kyung
Votes: 8,978
Also well known as "Uzumaki", this film is based off of the manga of the same name. Definitely not the best film, but if one is to get into Asian horror, you need to see the older, popular films as well.
25. Suicide Club (2001)
R | 99 min | Crime, Drama, Horror
A detective is trying to find the cause of a string of suicides.
Director: Sion Sono | Stars: Ryo Ishibashi, Masatoshi Nagase, Mai Hosho, Tamao Satô
Votes: 22,184
To give you a sense of the "deeper" horror films, this film is a masterpiece directed by the one and only Sion Sono. This film may seem confusing to most, but there are some who are willing to look past the exterior pictures and find the true meaning behind the film.
26. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
R | 114 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
After being institutionalized in a mental hospital, Su-mi reunites with her sister, Su-yeon, and they return to live at their country home. But strange events plague the house, leading to surprising revelations and a shocking conclusion.
Director: Jee-woon Kim | Stars: Lim Soo-jung, Yum Jung-ah, Kim Kap-su, Moon Geun-young
Votes: 68,212
The original Korean version of the U.S. movie "The Uninvited", this film is definitely much better than the remake. Highly praised, this movie is definitely the prime example of "deep understanding". One thing to keep in mind while watching this: nothing is what it seems to be.
27. Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)
Not Rated | 67 min | Horror, Sci-Fi
A businessman accidentally kills The Metal Fetishist, who gets his revenge by slowly turning the man into a grotesque hybrid of flesh and rusty metal.
Director: Shin'ya Tsukamoto | Stars: Tomorô Taguchi, Kei Fujiwara, Nobu Kanaoka, Shin'ya Tsukamoto
Votes: 25,884
The highly praised director Shinya Tsukamoto directs this bizarre masterpiece. Definitely a very strange film, it requires an odd perspective to understand its motives.
28. Tomie (1998)
95 min | Crime, Drama, Horror
A traumatized young woman is trying to recover her memories with the help of a psychiatrist. During her hypnosis sessions, she repeats the name "Tomie" but is unable to recall where she knows it from.
Director: Ataru Oikawa | Stars: Miho Kanno, Mami Nakamura, Yoriko Dôguchi, Tomorô Taguchi
Votes: 1,970
The very first film in the popular Tomie franchise, it's also referred to as the best one by most. Though it is older, it's still quite enjoyable.
29. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
R | 129 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A recently laid off factory worker kidnaps his former boss' friend's daughter, hoping to use the ransom money to pay for his sister's kidney transplant.
Director: Park Chan-wook | Stars: Song Kang-ho, Shin Ha-kyun, Bae Doona, Lim Ji-eun
Votes: 75,065 | Gross: $0.05M
First installment of the popular South Korean 'Vengeance Trilogy'. A film about cruel fate and the consequences of your actions.
30. Oldboy (2003)
R | 120 min | Action, Drama, Mystery
After being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must track down his captor in five days.
Director: Park Chan-wook | Stars: Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jeong, Kim Byeong-Ok
Votes: 634,817 | Gross: $0.71M
Second installment of the popular South Korean 'Vengeance Trilogy'. A film about stripping a human heart bare after going as deep as you can into it.
31. Lady Vengeance (2005)
R | 115 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
After being wrongfully imprisoned for thirteen years and having her child taken away from her, a woman seeks revenge through increasingly brutal means.
Director: Park Chan-wook | Stars: Nam-mi Kang, Jeong-nam Choi, Hye-Sook Go, Bok-hwa Baek
Votes: 86,000 | Gross: $0.21M
Third and final installment of the popular South Korean 'Vengeance Trilogy'. A film about redemption and salvation.
32. Whispering Corridors (1998)
R | 105 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
In a Korean school, students are regularly beaten and mistreated by their teachers. However, the spirit of one pupil, who died ten years ago, periodically returns in the guise of a new girl, thus able to gain a revenge on the culprits.
Director: Ki-hyeong Park | Stars: Kim Gyu-ri, Yun Ji-hye, Park Jin-hee, Choi Kang-hee
Votes: 3,498
Mainly known as Whispering Corridors, this film is one of the first films to come out after the liberalization of censorship following the end of the military dictatorship rule in South Korea. And it's the very first in the popular Whispering Corridors series.
33. Memento Mori (1999)
R | 97 min | Horror, Romance, Drama
In this second installment of the Whispering Corridors series, a young girl finds a strange diary, capable of arousing hallucinations, kept by two of her senior fellow-students who seem to have an unusually close bond.
Directors: Kyu-dong Min, Kim Tae-yong | Stars: Kim Gyu-ri, Park Yejin, Lee Yeong-jin, Jong-hak Baek
Votes: 3,604
Second installment of the Whispering Corridors series. This film is different from all the others as it's not so much of a horror, as it is a 'drama with some horror elements'.
34. Wishing Stairs (2003)
R | 100 min | Horror, Drama
A staircase leading to the dormitory of a remote boarding school usually has 28 stairs, but every so often there appears to be 29. When someone steps on the mysterious extra stair, the horror begins.
Director: Jae-yeon Yun | Stars: Song Ji-Hyo, Park Han-byeol, Jo An, Park Ji-yeon
Votes: 3,308
Third installment of the Whispering Corridors series. Focusing mainly on jealousy amongst those around you and how your best friend may not even be trustworthy.
35. Voice (2005)
Unrated | 104 min | Horror
While training after hours in her high-school, the aspiring singer Park Young-Eon is mysteriously killed and her body vanishes. Her ghost is invisible and trapped in the school, but her ... See full summary »
Director: Equan Choi | Stars: Na Eun-kyeong, Jeon Ji-ae, Seo Ji-hye, Hyeon-kyeong Lim
Votes: 1,712
Fourth installment of the Whispering Corridors series. This movie is probably the most psychological out of the series.
36. A Blood Pledge: Broken Promise (2009)
Not Rated | 88 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
Four friends make an oath sworn in blood to commit suicide one night, but next morning only one is found lying dead on school grounds.
Director: Jong-yong Lee | Stars: Son Eun-seo, Kyeong-ah Jang, Min-jeong Song, Oh Yeon-Seo
Votes: 820
Fifth and final (so far) installment of the Whispering Corridors series. Mainly focuses upon jealousy, love, and betrayal.
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