This list will, of course, continue to evolve as I expand my horrific horizons. But, as of today, these are my Top 10 Favorite Asian Horror Movies…
Probably the weirdest film on this list – and that’s saying something. Based on Junji Ito’s J-horror manga of the same name, the movie focuses on a small community beset by spiral-themed terrors.
Favorite scene: The wall-crawling human snails.
***
A provocative and surprisingly philosophical horror movie involving spirits, missing persons, death, despair, and the terrors inherent in our technology-obsessed world.
Favorite scene: The limping spirit.
***
Pity the poor serial killer unfortunate enough to run afoul of a very determined, very sadistic husband mourning the murder of his fiancé. The grieving hubby wants revenge – but, hey, he’s in no hurry.
Favorite scene: Saving the nurse and losing the Achilles tendon.
***
Three segments by three different directors offer three different cultural takes on the genre (China, South Korean, and Japan). Arguably the most disturbing entry, Dumplings, was expanded into a full-length theatrical release.
Favorite scene: Forcing down those dumplings.
***
The third installment in this horror series focuses on a cursed home – and its unlucky new owners.
Favorite scene: You’re not even safe under the covers!
***
A recently-divorced mother and her young daughter move into a run-down apartment. It isn’t long before mom begins to notice strange occurrences: spreading water stains on the ceiling, hair in their tap water, and a pesky red bag that keeps reappearing no matter how many time she disposes of it. What’s going on? Well, it could have something to do with a little girl who disappeared a year earlier…
Favorite scene: That final elevator scene still haunts me.
***
This one starts off as a slow burn about a lonely middle-aged man, recently widowed, who attempts to meet women by holding auditions for a fake production. He should’ve stuck to tinder. The last fifteen minutes are downright harrowing as the woman of his dreams becomes the stuff of nightmares.
Favorite scene: Kiri kiri kiri!
***
A young girl, recently released from a mental institution, returns to her secluded home where her father, younger sister, and suspicious stepmother await.
Favorite scene: Don’t look under the sink!
***
It’s Speed meets The Walking Dead in the greatest zombie movie ever made.
Favorite scene: The East Daegu train station encounter.
***
A reporter investigates the legend of a cursed video tape.
Favorite scene: As much as I love the shock cut to the girl in the closet, I have to give it up for the iconic t.v. screen crawl-thru.
So what do you think? Did I miss one of your favorites? Let me know.
Leave a Reply