I love horror films. I love Japanese films. Mix the two together and you are on to a winner. Japanese horror, or J-horror, is a group of horror films that has made quite the impression in the West, with some having entered our pop-culture lexicon. And yet, if you were to ask the layman to name a Japanese horror film you may only get so far as one or two. I for one think this is a shame, as there is a whole world of incredible J-horror films out there. And so, I have taken it upon myself to create a sort of road map (as well as letting you know where you can watch these films) for you to take your first steps into the world of J-horror. You’ll scream, you’ll laugh, and you might just come across a new favourite. There is something here for everyone, including you proper weirdos (of which I probably am one myself). So, join me in our journey into the dark world of J-horror. You might want to bring a blanket to hide under.
The Films of the J-Horror boom
In terms of where to start with Japanese horror, there is only really one place that makes sense, and that is with the films that exploded the genre into the consciousness of Western audiences. These are the films of the 90s and 2000s you’re likely to have already heard of, or if you haven’t you will have definitely heard of at least a couple of their American remakes. And I am not going to be contrarian or ‘edgy’ when suggesting what the first film you should be watching is.
Ringu (1998) – Hideo Nakata
Of course, Ringu has to be the first film on your J-Horror journey and was exactly where I started when. Is there really an argument that it should be something else? Not only is this film a classic with Japan, it has become a genuine horror classic in a much broader sense, and also led to perhaps the most successful of the American remakes with 2002's The Ring. Even if you don’t know the film by name, I bet you have at least a passing knowledge of the plot; you watch a haunted videotape and, straight after, receive a phone call telling you that you will die in seven days. Okay, so the premise of the film does get more complicated than this (to a fault at points) but that is the very basic idea, and it is through this idea that the film builds tension. I have had a bit of a tumultuous relationship with this film in that I loved it at first, then thought I maybe overhyped it, before returning to a state of holding the film in ridiculously high regard. It is exactly what you would think of when you imagine a Japanese horror film. It is slow and brooding with a constant sense of dread, while also having the monster being a girl with long black hair, and despite having some plot elements that I think stop it from being a perfect film it remains a pretty horrifying experience to this day. I think it is the best steppingstone for accessing the genre as it fulfils the idea of J-Horror perfectly, but it is not the best.
Ju-On: The Grudge (2002) – Takashi Shimizu
Neither is Ju-On: The Grudge, although this might actually be my favourite of all the films I’ll touch on today. Another film of this group with a pretty successful remake starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, I feel like the Ju-On: The Grudge has not had the same effect on Western pop culture, which is understandable in a way. The structure of the film jumps between characters and time zones which can make describing exactly what happens in the film difficult, so it is easier to describe the feeling the film leaves you with. This film is just relentless. Almost from the minute go it grabs you and does not let go, leaving little room for respite. It is a brilliant mix of the Japanese feel of dread and slow burn and eerie scares, mixed in with the more westernised jump scares that you may be used to. And while I do not always like jump scares, the mixing of them in with the genuine dread that the film creates allows for them to be really effective. Now, my particular love of this film does not seem to be shared by everyone, and I understand that some aspects may seem dated or silly to an audience today, but if you buy into it as much as I do then you are in for a treat. And if you, don’t it is still a great second step into the world of J-Horror.
Dark Water (2002)– Hideo Nakata
It hasn’t taken long for us to get to our first repeat of a director with Hideo Nakata joining us once more. If you enjoyed Ringu then Dark Water is going to be right up your street. While not nearly as unnerving and scary as Ringu, the sense of constant dread that fills his earlier classic is very much present here. It is comparable with Ringu in several ways narratively and thematically also and so watching the two as a double bill would work very well. I personally do not rate this one as highly as other people seem to do, but I will say upon rewatching for this piece it is much more dense and eerie than I initially gave it credit for. Of the three so far it is the one with the least impact upon Western pop culture and this may make it more effective for first-time watchers going in blind.
One Missed Call (2003) – Takashi Miike
Unlike Dark Water where I don’t like it as much as others, I seem to enjoy this one much more than a large group of people. I think it is brilliant. It is also the first appearance in this piece by Takashi Miike who will be popping up a couple more times before we are done. One critique of this film (which is probably justified) is that it is effectively a rip-off of Ringu, and while I do understand this, I think it also has a lot to offer on its own, mostly because Miike is at the helm. It has elements of his quirky weirdness that is more prominent in his other films, but they are still present here and it allows for the film to establish its own personality that I really bought into. Also, the last twenty minutes or so of this film are genuinely terrifying.
Pulse (2001) – Kiyoshi Kurosawa
This is the first appearance of Kiyoshi Kurosawa, and this may also be the best film I will be speaking about here. I absolutely adore this film. The reason I suggest you watch this one last out of the American remake group of films is because it is the one that stands out the most out of the group. Whereas the other four films have the antagonist of the vengeful spirit or a girl with long black hair, this film goes for a much more subtle and broad form of terror, and it is executed perfectly. It is not one for your jump scares or making you run and hide, but it fills you with absolute dread and unease throughout as you try to establish what exactly is going on. But it is also filled with genuinely relatable themes that make it just that more unsettling. It is, for me, top of the pile of films spoken about so far, and that is a pile with at least two other films I adore so you can imagine just how good I think this film is.
Other Big Hitters
Coming to the end of the films that were picked up for American remakes I pondered what would be the next best ‘group’ of films for a beginner to watch. Would it be better to stick with more of what you know and watch the sequels of those films or is it better to go for the other classics that weren’t touched by Hollywood? I have settled on the latter mostly because the quality of the film is much, much better. But then it of course comes down to where do you start?
Battle Royale (2000) – Kinji Fukasaku
Coming off the Hollywood remakes it is probably best to start with a film that has most definitely influenced other Hollywood films such as Hunger Games. But this film doesn’t mess about setting up an intricate world and filling you with exposition, instead giving us a paragraph explaining the current state of the world and then launching us into the action. And while you can definitely just watch this film for the bloody violence and set pieces, there is definitely a lot more you can get out of it if you are looking for some more dense themes. It is also not a clear horror film, but there are enough horror elements that I felt it was worthy of its spot here.
Cure (1999) – Kiyoshi Kurosawa
This is one of the more difficult films on the list so far. Not so much for its content which, while definitely complex and not always easy to follow, isn’t difficult to watch. But the difficulty comes with the film's style. It is very slow, very methodical. It is happy to take its time with its storytelling and, on a technical level, editing and I think this can be off-putting for some people. But if you stick with it, you get a dense, smart, and eerie thriller with definite rewatch ability value as I still have so many questions. A horror more on its themes and atmosphere than its narrative, but still a definite eerie one.
Creepy (2016) – Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Kurosawa is back again and with another very solid entry. This one is much more of a classic horror film than Cure, but it still probably lands on the thriller side of things more than what you would think of as a pure horror film. It is a film that does a great job of almost telegraphing how it is going to pan out, but then pulling the rug out from underneath you and jumping right off the deep end. It goes from one thing to an extreme other quite quick. It also manages to create one of the most dislikeable antagonists I have seen in a long time, and that is high praise. It is one of the weaker films on this list overall, but it is still a very solid one and well worth a watch.
Audition (1999) – Takashi Miike
SPOILER WARNING! Maybe more than any other film on this list I suggest you go into this one completely blind so if you haven’t seen it don’t read ahead.
This is probably fighting with Battle Royale as to which of this group are the most well known in the West. Why then have I suggested you watch it later than both Cure and Creepy? That would be because it is not for the faint-hearted. It starts as one thing and, in an instant, switches to something much, much darker. And I bloody love it. Say what you want about me but this film, despite how disturbing it is, is also a wonderful example of how good horror films can be. It is directed perfectly, being subtle enough that you feel unease even before you know the full details of what is going on, and then when it kicks off it really kicks off. But be warned, it can be hard to watch at times and it doesn’t shy away from that. It isn’t as gratuitous as maybe a Saw film would be, but the way it is shot and portrayed make it feel so much more impactful than that. I implore all to watch it despite this, it is more than worth it.
Deep Dive the Franchises
If you have made it this far you have probably bought in and had your eyes opened to the wonderful world that is Japanese horror cinema. And that is a good thing seeing as the next group of films I am going to suggest you watch are very much a mixed bag, the sequels.
Ringu Franchise
Starting with possibly the oddest of these, mostly because there are technically two direct sequels to Ringu. Spiral (1998) was released in the same year as an instant sequel to Ringu and although it is a solid film in its own right, as a sequel it suffers from convoluting the quite simple narrative of Ringu. Its lack of success meant that it was replaced canonically by Ringu 2 (1999). This is a much better sequel to the original, keeping the mood and basic idea of the first film while managing to build on it in an interesting and fitting way. It also has some genuinely scary moments that hold up to any in the original. The real black sheep of this franchise is Ringu 0: Birthday (2000). Heading into prequel territory for a franchise like this is not the best idea as less is more in horror in my opinion, and the direction this film takes for the story is odd at best. That being said, I don’t dislike the film and it does have moments so worth a watch. There are a number of other sequels and spin-offs to this franchise, but these make up the original series of films.
Ju-On: The Grudge 2 (2003), In a Corner (1998) and 4444444444 (1998)
Like the Ringu series, the Ju-On series is sprawling. Ju-On: The Grudge isn’t even the first in the series, but it is the most notorious and, obviously, Ju-On: The Grudge 2 is a direct sequel to that film. My love for the original film seems to go against popular opinion that it is a good but not great film, but I am much more in the camp of general consensus for this film. I think it is a great sequel to a great film although it never quite reaches those same heights for me. But there seems to be a feeling among some fans that this might actually be the better of the two films, so if you enjoyed the first one you are bound to enjoy this one too. The other two films here are not even films really, seeing as they are both only a few minutes long. But they are both shorts introducing the two ghosts of the series and they are both readily available on YouTube so if you are a fan of the films, they are well worth the watch.
One Missed Call 2 (2005) and One Missed Call 3: Final (2006)
Maybe unsurprisingly the series with the weakest first film is the weakest series overall. And while I seem to like the original film more than most, most seemingly agree that the sequel is a weak point. It is a confusing one because it both tries to tie itself into the first, but also almost completely forgoes any of the world-building that film did and replaces it with a new mythology. It is convoluted and confusing and the film really does suffer as a result. And then One Missed Call 3: Final comes about and this one really seems to divide opinion. I am firmly in the camp of the film being a blast. Yes, it isn’t at all scary and some of the CGI has aged terribly. But what it does do well is take the basic premise of the first film and just have a blast with it. Why have only a few victims when you can have a whole school class and have them turning on each other in a bid to survive the curse! I totally understand people disliking this if they are expecting a scary horror film, but if you go in and turn your brain off you will have a blast, I promise you.
Sadako vs. Kayako (2016) – Koji Shiraishi
This has to be placed here as you really need to be a fan of both the Ringu and Ju-On franchises to really get anything out of a film where the two antagonists fight it. And even then, you have to look past the blatant rule changes they make for this film to speed things along a little. But if you can get over that little caveat you are handed a film that is bonkers and completely off-tone for both franchises it is representing, but it is an absolute blast as well. Yes, it isn’t actually very good, but as a fan of both franchises, I have enough fun with it that I don’t care. Also, I am pledging my allegiance to Kayako in this fight.
Under the Radar
So, now you have had a full deep dive into the side of Japanese horror that fully introduced it to the Western world. But the genre didn’t stop in its tracks at the end of the 2000s, and neither did the directors who helped put J-horror on the map. So, for the next stop on your tour of Japanese horror films why not dive deep into some lesser-known recent entries to the genre.
Tag (2015) – Sion Sono
This was a film that took me completely by surprise. Not as in it snuck up on me and forced me to watch it or anything, but I was pretty sure that the film was going to be similar to Battle Royale. This assumption was based purely on the cover art and name, and so the old idiom of ‘never judge a book by its cover' springs to mind. I also should have known it would be that simple purely because it is a Sion Sono film and while I have seen very few of his films, my small knowledge of his work should have prepared me. And I am so glad that this film wasn’t as conventional as I expected, in fact, it is completely the opposite. It is a bit of a brain melt at times and I was questioning what was going on a fair few times, but that is exactly what the film is aiming for. It does take a little bit to get going, but once it does it is a riot, and I had a great time with it. It is better to go in as blind as possible to get the best experience, and I feel it is good enough to sit alongside the other classics of the genre.
The Complex (2013) – Hideo Nakata
If I am being totally honest with you, I probably wouldn’t put this on this list if it wasn’t for the fact it is directed by Hideo Nakata. It isn’t terrible, but it isn’t great either. It is shot really well and looks very nice, but for a horror film, there is very little that got under my skin. But that may just be me because I actually think there is something here. It is a decent premise and has some good ideas, but the execution doesn’t quite work for me. Then again, there are very few horror films that genuinely scare me these days so perhaps it will work for you.
Noroi: The Curse (2005) – Koji Shiraishi
This is the one and only found footage film in this piece, and it is a sub-genre that divides film-going audiences. I kind of flip-flop on it, which basically means if it is done well, I don’t mind it as a style. This film flip-flops on whether it works or not, and I flip-flopped on whether I liked the film or not (I’ll stop saying flip-flop now). There are moments during this film where the shooting style is almost unbearable, but the style also allows for a great building of dread and suspense. The film also feels too long, but all the build-up it does leads to a brilliant climax. The first hour drags, but the second races by like a man possessed. Most importantly it has an engaging narrative and pays it off brilliantly in the climax which means that overall I did enjoy it, it just took a bit of time for me to buy into it.
Over Your Dead Body (2014) – Takashi Miike
This film never really reaches the heights of some of Miike’s other work, including both films already included here. But if you liked those other two films it is worth giving it a go, and it is a pretty good bridge between this section of films I am writing about now and the next section of films, as the plot means that a feeling of the old-style Japanese horror films is ever-present throughout. This includes the pace of the film which is slow. It takes its time and builds up an atmosphere of eeriness rather than trying to hit you with full scares every few minutes. While it isn’t ever truly scary it has some great sequences, but be warned, there is also a scene that is quite horrific so if you’re put off by mutilation maybe pass on this one.
The Old School
While Japanese horror really made its way over to western shores with those films from the 90s and 2000s. it is not a genre that is new to the country. Japan has a rich history of horror, and many of these are seen as classics not just of the genre as a whole, but the medium itself. The tone of these films may be very different to the more recent films of the genre, often feeling more like dramas than pure horror films, but this different tone allows for a different sense of dread which is well worth having a deep dive into, and below are just a few that may whet your appetite.
Ugetsu Monogatari (1953) – Kenji Mizoguchi
Of all the films I will speak about in this section, this one feels the most like a drama rather than a horror. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have horror elements. After all, the main plot involves spirits and ghosts which is extremely commonplace in Japanese horror even to this day. But the tone of the film does lean more towards drama, and this means that horror comes more from the atmosphere the film creates rather than any specific moments of pure horror. And it is a beautiful atmosphere it manages to create; alongside how wonderful the cinematography is. Maybe not one if you’re looking for something frightening, but if you’re looking for a beautifully crafted, ghostly tale, this is a good one to go for.
Onibaba (1964) – Kaneto Shindo
William Friedkin, director of The Exorcist (1973), has this as one of the scariest films of all time. Now I wouldn’t go so far as to say that, in fact, I would pause in saying that this film is even a pure horror film. Again, it feels as much of a drama as it does horror. Maybe this is more due to the period it was made and what I now perceive a horror film to be as it definitely has some more horror elements than Ugetsu Monogatari but it still lacks in genuine frights for me. But that doesn’t mean the film is bad, far from it. It is wonderfully crafted and a beautiful viewing experience in terms of its visuals. But the real power of the film, and where the dread of the film is created, is in its sound design. It is superb throughout the film, in both its score and ambient sounds that create an atmosphere that is creepy if not particularly scary. Another wonderful viewing experience that is well worth your time.
Kwaidan (1964) – Masaki Kobayashi
This film is much more explicitly a horror film. In fact, it is a horror anthology and so you get four stories for the price of one. The first thing to mention is that although it has an epic runtime of just over three hours, it flies by. This is helped by the anthology nature of it which means that it is more like four short films rather than one long narrative, as well as the fact that it happens to be one of the greatest films ever made. Genuinely, it is a masterpiece of filmmaking. On pure visuals alone it is well worth a watch. I’m being serious, you could watch this film with the sound off and still have an incredible experience because the visuals are that strong. It is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. Add to that the fact that three of the four narratives it tells are completely engrossing and genuinely eerie and unsettling, and you have an incredible horror film. I am usually not a fan of anthology films, but this one is too good for that to bring it down.
Orgies of Edo (1969) – Teruo Ishii
Another anthology and I’ll be honest right off the bat, I don’t like this one all that much. Of the films mentioned so far in this section, it is the most explicit when it comes to being part of the horror genre, with body horror and depictions of rape being all over it. It is an exploitation film which means that it does not hold back in its visons of perversion and violence, which means it isn’t fun to watch. Visually it is solid, but the narrative is weak and focuses more on shock value than being engaging and this leads to the film being more of a slog than it needs to. It may very well be up your street if you are into exploitation style films, but it doesn’t work for me. It also feels like it could fit into the next and final category as well which leads us nicely onto…
The Weird Ones
This is the section that I feel is the most exciting, at least for me. I love me some weird films. Not all the time as I don’t think my brain could handle it, but from time to time I love to sit and watch something completely bonkers and bizarre, and horror is a genre that lends itself to the weird and wonderful more than most. Some of these are weird in the fun kind of way, some are weird in the disturbing kind of way so there is something for everyone, or maybe just for me. If you have made it this far in your J-horror journey, then buckle up and get ready to get weird.
The Happiness of the Katakuris (2001) – Takashi Miike
Where to even start with this one. It is a horror-comedy-musical by the director of Audition. What else is there to even say to that. It is completely insane. Not only is it all over the place in terms of its genre, it also employs several visual styles throughout including jumping from live-action to Jan Svankmajer like stop motion sequences within the same breath. It is honestly one of the most bonkers films in terms of tone and style I have ever seen, and it is all the better for it. Mostly though it is just a ton of fun and well worth a watch to just see something unlike anything else you have seen before.
A Snake of June (2002) – Shinya Tsukamoto
From insane, charming, fun to insane, disturbing, psychosexual thriller. This one is not a fun watch. That is not to say that it is a bad film as it isn’t. In fact, I think it is a really well-made film and executes its themes and the mood it is trying to create really well. But that mood is one that is disturbing and difficult to watch. The film is voyeuristic and perverse which isn’t exactly fun as a viewer. It also isn’t helped by the style of film which is frenetic and slightly surreal which means you are never comfortable when watching it. But again, this is the point of the film and so I can’t knock it. A good film but definitely not for everyone.
Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989) – Shinya Tsukamoto
Another Tsukamoto film and another film that isn’t exactly the easiest of watches. However, this film is not difficult to watch for the same reasons. This one is much more of body horror than a psychosexual thriller (although one of the more disturbing scenes is where both go hand in hand). This is one of the more surreal and frenetic films on this entire list, and with a short run time, it never lets up or has any need to. It feels like it just grabs you and beats you for 60 minutes until you are exhausted. The surrealist nature mixed with this pace and the body horror imagery leads to what is a disturbing and heart-pounding experience that is sure to stick in your mind.
Visitor Q (2001) – Takashi Miike
Incest, abuse, murder, rape, and sexual lactating mixed into a black comedy/horror bundle. I don’t think I can or need to say much more than that. Be warned going into this one, it is more than a little messed up.
Hausu (1977) – Nobuhiko Obayashi
My favourite of all the films on this list. I watched this for the first time last year, and since then I have watched no film more than it and have recommended it to what feels like everyone I have ever met in my life. It is just wonderful, and that is because it is so unlike anything I had ever seen before. It is very much horror in its narrative, but the tone goes more light, comedic, and surreal and it works so bloody well. If you need an idea of what this film is like all you need to do is listen to the soundtrack which both shows the tone of the film wonderfully, and just so happens to be one of the best film soundtracks of all time. It would take a whole review to do the film the justice it deserves, and I am sure I will do a full review of it eventually, but for now, what can I say in such few words? It is a wonderful and beautiful film with so much style and creativity in every moment which just leaves you smiling and bewildered and joyous. I don’t have enough superlatives to describe this film, and I implore everyone to seek it out and watch it as soon as possible. It is just wonderful.
And so, we come to the end of our J-horror introduction in which we have barely scratched the surface. The world of J-horror is vast and sprawling and I can’t wait to explore it some more. I hope you have had your eyes opened to a new world of horror films. I can guarantee you won’t like all of these, and maybe you will like some of the ones I am not a huge fan of, but there is something everyone on this list. And as I mentioned right at the beginning of this list, several of these films were remade by Hollywood, of which I have seen zero of. Well, at least for now… See you next Friday.
Where to Watch the Films
· Ringu (BFI Player)
· Ju-On: The Grudge (YouTube rental)
· Dark Water (Amazon Prime)
· One Missed Call (Amazon Prime)
· Pulse (BFI Player)
· Cure (Arrow)
· Creepy (Shudder)
· Audition (BFI Player)
· Ringu Spiral (Arrow)
· Ringu 2 (Arrow)
· Ringu O: Birthday (Arrow)
· Ju-On: The Grudge 2 (YouTube Rental)
· In a Corner (YouTube)
· 4444444444 (YouTube)
· One Missed Call 2 (Arrow)
· One Missed Call 3: Final (Arrow)
· Sadako vs. Kayako (Shudder)
· Tag (Amazon Prime)
· The Complex (Amazon Prime)
· Noroi: The Curse (Shudder)
· Over Your Dead Body (Amazon Prime)
· Ugetsu Monogatari (Amazon)
· Onibaba (BFI Player)
· Kwaidan (BFI Player)
· Orgies of Edo (BFI Player)
· The Happiness of the Katakuris (Arrow)
· A Snake of June (BFI Player)
· Tetsuo: The Iron Man (BFI Player)
· Hausu (BFI Player)
· Visitor Q (Seemingly not available online)
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