EPT![[image loading]](http://www.horrorphile.net/images/ringu1.jpg)
Through remakes of popular J-Horror flicks Ringu and Ju-on, the western world fell under a japanese horror phenomenon. However, the phenomenon was short lived and when the popularity of The Ring died out, all that has been given to us are very poor remakes of japanese horror films. Remakes that remove much of what makes the genre so great.
Japanese horror tends to swing one of two ways. In the direction of the extreme or the direction of the subdued. An extreme flick is full of blood, gore, sex, violence, and all the gratuity one could desire. While these films are often very disgusting and perhaps unsettling, I don't particularly appreciate them as true horror. They're shock films, extreme movies meant to invoke a reaction from the visceral imagery rather than to actually instill a long lasting fear in their viewer. I will make a blog about these movies later, but for now I will focus on the latter.
Japanese horror, much more than popular western horror, focuses on creating an atmosphere. An atmosphere in which something is clearly wrong but it is difficult to determine what it is. People who don't quite act right, situations that create a tension so thick it can be cut with a knife. That's what J-Horror excels in. If you've played games like Silent Hill, you know what I'm talking about. Rather than relying on the surprise scare of a monster jumping out of the closet, you are immersed in a truly unsettling and frightening world. Not to say there aren't some surprising moments or that there is no shocking imagery, but the execution of these scenes differs greatly from the likes of slasher flicks. I've rambled enough, let's start the list.
Number Five: Pulse (Kairo)
Pulse is about internet ghosts. Sounds like a stupid premise, but it is executed with extreme tension and visual beauty. The cinematography is excellent, the atmosphere is dark and moody, and the scenes are haunting but lack any real jump out scare potential. The movie leaves you feeling unsettled and creeped out at the end.
I don't want to spoil too much but there are two storylines happening simultaneously in the movie. The first storyline centers around a young woman named Kudo Michi. Her friend Taguchi goes missing, working on a computer disc. In a movie about internet ghosts and computer horror, I'm sure you can imagine the sort of twists around the corner. The second storyline concerns Ryosuke, an economics student, who is unknowledgable about computers. When he finally gets himself an internet connection things start to go wrong and they get very creepy.
I recommend this film highly, but it's not something I'd consider an absolute MUST see.
Number Four: Marebito
Marebito is a VERY unique film. It's a strangely beautiful movie, focusing mostly on character development and the disturbing relationships characters have. Our main character is obsessed with death. When he sees a videotape of a man committing suicide on a subway, he is determined to find out more about it. He explores the subway and finds a tunnel into what appears to be an abandoned underground city. There he finds a nude young woman chained to the wall.
He takes her home.
She doesn't speak japanese and doesn't appear to be very human like in her needs or habits. The movie focuses on the relationship between them and the trials he suffers for her. There is a mystery surrounding her and the movie is quite disturbing in some portions. I can't say much without spoiling the movie, but it's a movie that really sticks with you after you see it. Of all the films listed here, this one is the most unique and interesting and I recommend it just because of the interesting subject matter.
Number Three: Ringu
Now you may have seen The Ring (a well done remake), but have you seen Ringu? This is the movie that started the J-Horror craze and it's one of the best in the genre. The story follows Reiko, a young reporter who investigates the existence of a videotape that kills those who watch it. Her son is a psychic, who communicates with the evil spirits within the tape.
She uncovers the story of a little girl named Sadako, the trials of her parents, the deaths of those who have watched the movie, and the malevolence behind the tape. The movie is beautifully paced and does a fantastic job of creating a frightening atmosphere. If you've seen The Ring, you know the plot of this movie but watching Ringu is still worth a shot. I believe the original is superior, although The Ring is a worthy remake. Definitely a must see movie.
Number Two: Audition
This is it. If you like horror films, you MUST watch the final two on this list. Audition is a movie that will never leave your mind after you see it. Audition is a movie that gets under your skin and settles down to start a family. Audition is the best example of creating fear through nothing but atmosphere and pacing that I can think of and the movie is executed flawlessly.
Watching it requires a lot of patience, but if you have strong attention to detail and don't mind a slow ride, this movie will be very rewarding. Directed by the legendary Takashi Miike (famous director of surrealist/shock/horror films) this movie stands alone as his best work.
![[image loading]](http://tormentedfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/audition.jpg)
The premise of Audition is this. An aging widower, Aoyama, is convinced by his friend and his son to find another woman. His friend, a movie producer, has the excellent idea of holding a fake movie audition. Aoyama will attend the audition and select a woman to date. He chooses a young woman named Asami. She is beautiful, pure, and delicate. He becomes a bit obsessed with her but finds that there is very little to learn about her past.
I can't say too much more, but there is something very strange about Asami and the further he digs the less he finds, beginning to doubt her humanity. The last 20 minutes of this movie are some of the most intense ever on screen and caused several audiences in Japan to vomit and/or walk out of the theater. The movie rewards you heavily for what is essentially an hour and a half build-up to the end and BOY is it worth it.
For the best experience, watch the film without reading anything else or even watching a trailer.
Number ONE: Noroi
This is not only my favorite J-Horror film of all time but my favorite horror film period. In fact it's one of my favorite movies, period. Watch it.
This movie is essentially impossible to obtain through legitimate means, torrenting it is the best option. Of course I won't be posting links to a torrent of the film in this blog, although the film HAS been uploaded on youtube. It's better to watch the movie unseparated though.
![[image loading]](http://static.diary.ru/userdir/2/6/3/6/263691/41071039.jpg)
So what is Noroi? Noroi is a mockumentary. Yes it's one of those films that ripped off the Blair Witch project. But it's not shaky, it's not amateurish, and it's executed with an unprecendented realism that really makes you forget on occasion that the movie isn't real. The movie follows Kobayashi, a paranormal investigator, as he investigates a small disturbance in a town which quickly unfolds into a very very big paranormal occurrence.
The movie begins powerfully, with an introduction. You are told about Kobayashi and that he had filmed a movie called Noroi - The Curse, which was deemed to disturbing to be shown on TV. However, 4 months after the documentary was filmed, he went missing and his wife died in a house fire. So for the first time, audiences (you) are allowed to see the film. Essentially it's a documentary about a mockumentary. But the majority of the film is this banned documentary that Kobayashi made and that is the meat of the content.
The film gets creepier and creepier and the complex plot ties nicely together as all of the characters meet and become affected by the curse. I can't really say anything without spoiling the movie, but I'll describe the first scene.
The movie begins with Kobayashi investigating a claim in a small town somewhere in Japan. A woman complains of hearing baby noises next door, but knows for a fact her neighbor doesn't have babies. Only a son of about 6 years old. Kobayashi goes to the neighbor and upon knocking on the door is screamed at by the middle-aged woman who owns the home and told to leave. After an unexpected and quite insane verbal lashing, Kobayashi leaves only to see the young boy in the window. The camera catches the sounds of baby cries upon seeing the boy. A few days later, the woman who complained dies along with her young daughter.
![[image loading]](http://actionfigurecanada.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/noroi.jpg?w=450)
Simple creepy things like this add up into a very intricate plot that has no real resolution. The mystery is never truly solved but the ending is satisfying enough and won't leave people scratching their heads. This is the best example of mockumentary done right in horror and although it may not be the best J-Horror film of all time, it is my personal favorite and I highly suggest it.
The beginning of the movie is there and it is split into 11 parts on youtube, if you choose to view it that way. I'd suggest finding a good torrent or even better looking for a way to buy a legit copy. The movie is worth owning.
