Recommended Asian horror films

Gummy Panda

Hi Guys,

I don't really post here but lurk.

Can i get some recommendations on Asian horror films? (hopefully ones i can source through play.com, etc)

I have seen the Tale of Two Sisters. Wasn't impressed by it, though I am a fan of Korean movies.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Karl Hungus

First port of call should be the original Ring. I'd also recommend Tetsuo, and while not strictly a horror, Audition.

Out of curiosity, what didn't you like about A Tale of Two Sisters?

Gummy Panda

Karl Hungus wrote: »

First port of call should be the original Ring. I'd also recommend Tetsuo, and while not strictly a horror, Audition.

Out of curiosity, what didn't you like about A Tale of Two Sisters?

Its been awhile since i watched it but i found it slow and not that scary. I think i watched it with the wrong expectations.

Thanks for the suggestions.

PWEI

I watched a Thai horror not so long ago called Shutter and I wasn't expecting much cause unlike the Koreans and Japanese the Thai's aren't great at horror.But I was surprised,the film made me jump more than once and really did scare me.It was full of the usual Asian Horror clichés but its well worth a look.The original Dark Water is a must also.

Karl Hungus

Gummy Panda wrote: »

Its been awhile since i watched it but i found it slow and not that scary. I think i watched it with the wrong expectations.

Thanks for the suggestions.

In that case, the thing about a lot of Asian horror films is that they're very deliberately paced, and build up the tension and atmosphere slowly. This can be quite different to a lot of American horrors that are often much more quickly paced by comparison, so I would be careful you don't watch any Asian films in the wrong mindset. I'd even suggest watching A Tale of Two Sisters again, because I absolutely loved it, and it's the kind of film that would benefit from repeat viewings greatly.

But anyway, I would certainly keep in mind that Ring and Audition are both quite slow moving and take a lot of time for character development. Personally, I prefer that approach, really gives the films a brooding atmosphere and the tension is just built up consistently, which reminds me a lot of more classic horror films. But it is something you should certainly keep in mind, because a film like Audition for example, is definitely not something you want to watch with the wrong expectations.

If you want something more exciting, then I'd recommend the Korean monster movie The Host.

PWEI wrote: »

I watched a Thai horror not so long ago called Shutter and I wasn't expecting much cause unlike the Koreans and Japanese the Thai's aren't great at horror.But I was surprised,the film made me jump more than once and really did scare me.It was full of the usual Asian Horror clichés but its well worth a look.The original Dark Water is a must also.

Yeah, Shutter is a good one. Fairly non-essential because it's about as unoriginal as they come, but it was just an incredibly well made film that does the fairly tired genre conventions to perfection. I'd say that it's certainly something to check out if you want 'more along the lines of...' so to speak. The same with Dark Water.

Likewise, I'd also say to take a look at Ju-on: The Grudge, The Eye and Marebito.

Edit: Another little Japanese film I really like is Uzumaki. Not particularly great by any means, but it's just so bizarre and it's got such a strange atmosphere.

Otis Driftwood

Depends on what kind of Asian horror you are looking for.Is it more psychological horror or gore horror?.For the psychological side of things Karl Hungus made some good suggestions.For gore try

Evil Dead Trap 1+2
Stacy
Shoguns Sadism
Tattoo Inferno
Junk
Red Room 1+2
Guinea Pig 1-5
All Night Long Volumes 1-3

Karl Hungus

nedtheshed wrote: »

Depends on what kind of Asian horror you are looking for.Is it more psychological horror or gore horror?.For the psychological side of things Karl Hungus made some good suggestions.For gore try

Evil Dead Trap 1+2
Stacy
Shoguns Sadism
Tattoo Inferno
Junk
Red Room 1+2
Guinea Pig 1-5
All Night Long Volumes 1-3

Can't say I've seen most of those, but I thought Junk was absolute garbage, low grade Lucio Fulci wannabe crap. Evil Dead Trap was ok though, haven't seen the sequel.

Hande hoche!

R point it's a Korean horror movie involving a squad of Korean soldiers in Vietnam.Eerie and quite enjoyable.

doonothing

Loved Shutter! It's almost like a crossbreed between the quintessential techniques of asian and western horror filmmaking... Works brilliantly though, I shat myself

delbertgrady

The Eye gets my vote as well. Saw it in the IFI and they had the sound turned up to eleven, which added to the tension. Works just as well on DVD though. I stayed well clear of the remake.

Decuc500

The original Pulse (Kairo) is very creepy and has a real feeling of constant dread.

Otis Driftwood

Karl Hungus wrote: »

Can't say I've seen most of those, but I thought Junk was absolute garbage, low grade Lucio Fulci wannabe crap. Evil Dead Trap was ok though, haven't seen the sequel.

LOL,Junk is total cheese alright but enjoyable in a crappy kinda way.Stacy is quite similar.Not great but some nice gore in it.Eil Dead Trap 2 isnt as good as the first but again,enjoyable cheese.

OP,while not horror as such 2 absolute gore fests are The Machine Girl and Tokyo Gore Police.Great fun.

Overblood

Could Battle Royale br classed as horror? If so, I recommend it!

Gummy Panda

Thanks for the suggestion guys. I like supernatural and a bit of gore.

I remember seeing a cover for a korean movie were it was south korean soldiers in the DMZ that were being attack. I can't remember the name though. Cover looked like a South Korean officer sitting on a chair in a cabin with a handgun and blood on the floor.

If anyone knows the name or have any reviews on it I'd appreciate it.

abouttobebanned

I have r-point but haven't got around to watching it, is it worth watching?

Karl Hungus

Gummy Panda wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestion guys. I like supernatural and a bit of gore.

I remember seeing a cover for a korean movie were it was south korean soldiers in the DMZ that were being attack. I can't remember the name though. Cover looked like a South Korean officer sitting on a chair in a cabin with a handgun and blood on the floor.

If anyone knows the name or have any reviews on it I'd appreciate it.

JSA

Good film, gets Karl's thumbs up.

abouttobebanned wrote: »

I have r-point but haven't got around to watching it, is it worth watching?

Worth a watch, but nothing amazing.

Pride Fighter

Audition ftw

the hot chick lobs the guys foot off with piano wire

rosgirl

Id say go with the original eye aswell. Don't judge it by that dismally acted shell of a "remake" (complete with hollywood ending) that was released recently the original is actually very good

Gummy Panda

Karl Hungus wrote: »

JSA

Good film, gets Karl's thumbs up.

No this was a horror one. It was south korean soldiers becoming zombies i think.

I saw JSA. Very good film.

EDIT: I found it. GP506 (The guard post)

purple_hatstand

As far as I can make out, recent Hollywood remakes of Asian horror movies are universally rubbish. As has been pointed out before, the Asian films tend more towards atmosphere and tension than blood and gore. The Asian films are often based on ancient fables or folk tales and, therefore, the stories often just don't translate.

Some of my favourites include:

Ring (& Ring 2 which is bonkers)
Dark Water (beautiful)
Premonition (confusing, no Sandra Bullock)
A Tale Of Two Sisters

They also definitely reward repeat viewing (the first 3 here are currently available as a boxset from play.com for €16.99)

Gummy Panda

I got a lend of the Audition from a friend. Really enjoyed it.

NEED MOAR EIHI SHIINA!!

EDIT: purple_hatstand can you link me to boxset?

L31mr0d

I'd recommend a re-watch of a tale of two sisters also. A lot of the nuanced hints to the ending are more apparent on a second viewing.

I'd also recommend the movie 4bia (see prang)

purple_hatstand

Gummy Panda wrote: »

EDIT: purple_hatstand can you link me to boxset?

This should be it.....


http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3593532/Asia-Extreme-Originals-The-Ring-Dark-Water-Premontion/Product.html


enjoy....