Asian Horror Movies and Their Influence on the New Wave of Horror

In the past 10 years there has been a resurgence in the horror movie industry due in no small part to the ever increasing interest shown in the burgeoning Asian (Mostly Japanese) Horror Movie Industry. I'm listing here what I believe to be (5) of the very best horror films to have come out of the Far East. Three of these movies have already been re-made into far inferior American versions. Namely 'Ringu' into 'The Ring', 'Kairo' into 'The Pulse' and 'Ju-On' into 'The Grudge'. If you didn't know about the Originals then none of these (3) American films would have seemed that bad but they all pale next to the originals. 'The Eye' has recently been given a Bollywood version, which I believe isn't too good either and at time of writing 'A Tale of Two Sister's' is another film getting the American treatment. Here's the list:

1: Ringu, (Aka: The Ring), (1998)

This is one slow-burn of a movie. I think by now everyone knows the premise of the story. A cursed video tape doing the rounds that if viewed will lead to an unpleasant death unless the potential victim can pass the curse along by having some other hapless soul view the tape. A very simple premise handled with care by the talented Director 'Hideo Nakata who paid attention to the original Manga Novel and also went on to make another excellent film 'Dark Water' (Needless to say that was re-made as well). Most of the horror is implied and your imagination is put to the test, especially in the closing 30 minutes or so when the infamous 'Well' scene takes over. You know bad things are afoot and there's a real affinity for the (2) leads of the film. You find yourself genuinely pulling for them to make it, instead of most American movie's where you find yourself perhaps just vaguely interested to see how the hero's will meet their demise. The last 5 minutes of the film contain some of the most indelible horror-movie images ever produced and it works so very well by catching us unawares. From this movie was born a very rare thing, which is a modern Horror Icon, namely 'Sadako'. The re-make was passable but lacked the subtlety of the original.

2. Gin Gwai, (Aka: The Eye), (2002)

Again, a very simple if slightly preposterous tale of a young girl who upon receiving corneal transplants inherits the original cornea's owners haunted past. Hong Kong's finest Horror Import. The eye stars the totally gorgeous 'Angelica Lee' who plays her part with finesse and is beguiling to watch. Let me say that this movie has some of the very best Special Effects I've ever seen in a horror movie and none of them accompanied by the Americanized 'Da da da' music scores that proliferate American Horror Cinema. How she copes with her possessed eyeballs, her disturbing visions and discovers the truth behind their owner is handled incredibly well by the talented 'Pang Brothers' Directors who unfortunately haven't come up with anything of this quality since, although I am keeping my hopes up for their latest movie 'Re-Cycle' - a fantasy/horror (again staring 'Angelica Lee') about a writer who enters the realms of her own creation.

3: Janghwa, Hongryeon, (Aka: A Tale of Two Sisters), (2003)

What a welcome surprise this was. A Horror/Drama/Thriller/Mystery/Who-Dunnit rolled into what can only be described as the most Beautiful Horror Movie ever filmed. Cast to perfection with the impeccably brilliant 'Yeom Jeong-A' shining as the Stepmother to two children's permanently depressed father. A woman who welcomes these children into their home with an ominous smile and an unsettling intensity. The two young leads in the film are totally believable as is the discomfort they feel. Something is definitely wrong with this family but it's hard to put your finger on it. You know there are secrets to be uncovered. This film really draws you in with its well paced story and as it slowly yields its secrets the feeling of unease is palpable. There are ghosts on occasion and tension up the kazoo along with one of the best shock/twists in horror history. This is one of the best-acted films horror or otherwise I've seen from Japan. The quality of the Camera-work and the deft direction along with a thoroughly top-notch cast really make this film shine. The storyline certainly keeps you guessing and although I've seen many horror movies with a twist I couldn't guess what was going on here. Most shocking of all is that once revealed it actually adds to the atmosphere of the piece and perhaps even more shocking, makes sense. The music is also truly wonderful and has a beguiling, hypnotic quality all its own. At time of writing this is having an American re-make

4: Ju-On, (Aka: The Grudge), (2000)

This is probably the most familiar (next to 'Ringu') Asian Horror film to American Audiences. There have been (6 - count em!) incarnations of this story. All of them by the same director. There were (2) TV Movie's. Then the initial Japanese Movie 'Ju-On' which is probably the best of the series. Then 'Ju-On 2' of course followed by (2) American movie's, which were both a sort of hodge podge combining elements from all the Japanese movies. If you have to have one of these movies in your collection then make it the 1st Japanese movie release 'Ju-On' a seriously creepy little film which benefited greatly from claustrophobic set pieces which helped create an intensely moody atmosphere. The strangeness of the piece amplified to Westerners by the unfamiliar living quarters of the Japanese all helped build the atmosphere and strangeness. The director after having made (2) TV Movies knew what he wanted to achieve for the big screen and succeeds with some of the truly creepiest scenes of the past 10 years or so. The familiar 'Blue Boy' is more of a portent for things to come rather than being horrifying by himself. But when the enraged Mother turns up, whoa Nelly, look out. Again, nicely acted. The famous Stair Crawling scene is done much better here than in the other incarnations. This movie will get under your skin and stay there. I defy you; take a shower alone at home after watching this movie without getting the total heebie-jeebies.

5: Kairo, (Aka 'Pulse), (2001)

O.K. let me being this review by saying this movie contains the single scariest moment I've ever seen in a movie. I actually had to stop the movie mid-scene as it had such an effect on me. I won't tell you which scene this was but if you get as engrossed and freaked out by this movie as I did you'll know it when you see it. Let me just append this comment by saying that the scene of which I speak had no special effects, just purely creepy acting and a singularly Japanese feel for the weird. This is a dark, dark movie. The theme is depressingly black (basically the dead are trying to invade our world through computers), the images are unpleasant to endure and the only light spots are when the movie becomes foreboding. Yes, that's how dark it is. Filmed in a truly depressing and scary looking Tokyo this movie does what seems impossible and that is to make Computers scary. The acting is a little less than brilliant here but the direction, pace and incredibly scary and off-kilter images more than make up for it.

Other Asian Horror movie's that I would recommend

Kwaidan, (1964)
Eko Eko Azarak, (1995)
Audition, (1999)
Battle Royale, (2002)
Phone, (2002)
Dark Water, (2002)
Kourei, (Aka: Séance), (2003)
Acacia, (2003)
Yogen, (Aka: Premonition), (2004)
Shutter, (2004)