• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 10:25
CEST 16:25
KST 23:25
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
BGE Stara Zagora 2025: Info & Preview27Code S RO12 Preview: GuMiho, Bunny, SHIN, ByuN3The Memories We Share - Facing the Final(?) GSL47Code S RO12 Preview: Cure, Zoun, Solar, Creator4[ASL19] Finals Preview: Daunting Task30
Community News
Weekly Cups (June 2-8): herO doubles down1[BSL20] ProLeague: Bracket Stage & Dates9GSL Ro4 and Finals moved to Sunday June 15th13Weekly Cups (May 27-June 1): ByuN goes back-to-back0EWC 2025 Regional Qualifier Results26
StarCraft 2
General
Firefly do had match fixing CN community: Firefly accused of suspicious activities The SCII GOAT: A statistical Evaluation How does the number of casters affect your enjoyment of esports? Serious Question: Mech
Tourneys
$3,500 WardiTV European League 2025 Bellum Gens Elite: Stara Zagora 2025 Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament SOOPer7s Showmatches 2025 Master Swan Open (Global Bronze-Master 2)
Strategy
[G] Darkgrid Layout Simple Questions Simple Answers [G] PvT Cheese: 13 Gate Proxy Robo
Custom Maps
[UMS] Zillion Zerglings
External Content
Mutation # 477 Slow and Steady Mutation # 476 Charnel House Mutation # 475 Hard Target Mutation # 474 Futile Resistance
Brood War
General
BGH auto balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Mihu vs Korea Players Statistics BW General Discussion Will foreigners ever be able to challenge Koreans? [BSL20] ProLeague: Bracket Stage & Dates
Tourneys
[ASL19] Grand Finals NA Team League 6/8/2025 [Megathread] Daily Proleagues [BSL20] ProLeague Bracket Stage - Day 2
Strategy
I am doing this better than progamers do. [G] How to get started on ladder as a new Z player
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread What do you want from future RTS games? Armies of Exigo - YesYes? Nintendo Switch Thread Path of Exile
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
LiquidLegends to reintegrate into TL.net
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Vape Nation Thread European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
Maru Fan Club Serral Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Korean Music Discussion [Manga] One Piece
Sports
2024 - 2025 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion NHL Playoffs 2024
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Cognitive styles x game perf…
TrAiDoS
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Heero Yuy & the Tax…
KrillinFromwales
I was completely wrong ab…
jameswatts
Need Your Help/Advice
Glider
Trip to the Zoo
micronesia
Poker
Nebuchad
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 22446 users

My 5 Favorite J-Horror Films Of All Time

Blogs > DoctorHelvetica
Post a Reply
1 2 3 4 Next All
DoctorHelvetica
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States15034 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-05 06:19:31
August 05 2010 04:31 GMT
#1
[image loading]


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]


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]


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]


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.

*****
RIP Aaliyah
BisuEver
Profile Joined May 2010
United States247 Posts
August 05 2010 04:35 GMT
#2
DoctorHelvetica, how the heck do you write so fast?
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/10873775/pa-presents-diablo-iii-console-comic-by-katie-rice-9-13-2013
DoctorHelvetica
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States15034 Posts
August 05 2010 04:35 GMT
#3
On August 05 2010 13:35 BisuEver wrote:
DoctorHelvetica, how the heck do you write so fast?


I'm in that mood tonight
RIP Aaliyah
apm66
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Canada943 Posts
August 05 2010 04:50 GMT
#4
i so wanna watch those! but I know if i do, i most likely wont sleep for a week or 2 for sure
(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
Pwntrucci[sR]
Profile Blog Joined June 2006
Canada1519 Posts
August 05 2010 04:50 GMT
#5
I wanna watch all these movies but I don't either
bg
deathgod6
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
United States5064 Posts
August 05 2010 05:08 GMT
#6
I'm thinking of watching your number 1 and 2 movies, but then I will be scared for a while when I enter dark rooms and when I sleep.
4.0 GPA = A rank 5.0 GPA = Olympic --------- Bisu, Best, Fantasy. i ♥ oov. They can get in my BoxeR anyday.
Chairman Ray
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
United States11903 Posts
August 05 2010 05:19 GMT
#7
Im dling noroi and audition right now. They look so intense. Thanks for bringing this up to us!
jgju
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States454 Posts
August 05 2010 05:20 GMT
#8
These sound like awesome movies, but I'm a big fan of being able to sleep, so I think I'll pass.
"For you biting zealots, here's a quote" - Lauryn Hill
ISighZ
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States270 Posts
August 05 2010 05:31 GMT
#9
! It's recommended horror movies..
I'll definitely watch 1,2,5
Thanks.!
There is no one to help you unless you help yourself
Thratur
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Canada917 Posts
August 05 2010 05:39 GMT
#10
And what are you favorite 5 Non-Horror J-Film?
DoctorHelvetica
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States15034 Posts
August 05 2010 05:41 GMT
#11
On August 05 2010 14:39 Thratur wrote:
And what are you favorite 5 Non-Horror J-Film?

Honestly I'm not that into japanese cinema besides horror. Never took the time to explore it.

I guess Love Exposure is my favorite japanese horror film. I really should watch some other sort of japanese movies. I loved Battle Royale too.
RIP Aaliyah
Cambium
Profile Blog Joined June 2004
United States16368 Posts
August 05 2010 05:42 GMT
#12
Noroi sounds pretty interesting. I actually enjoy good horror movies, i.e. not movies that just pop scary shit onto the screen for no reason.
When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.
DoctorHelvetica
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States15034 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-05 05:46:08
August 05 2010 05:44 GMT
#13
On August 05 2010 14:42 Cambium wrote:
Noroi sounds pretty interesting. I actually enjoy good horror movies, i.e. not movies that just pop scary shit onto the screen for no reason.


Exactly. I've seperated those sort of films into a genre I like to call "Surprise" or "BOO" type movies. The scare comes from an unexpected event occurring, or the loudness/sudden nature of it. I've never really been scared watching those movies, but when the bad guy jumps out of the closet with a BANG, it makes me jump out of my seat.

As soon as the movies over I forget about it. That's not true horror as far as I'm concerned. I also appreciate horror with a decent plot. If you're into plot heavy horror I'd suggest Marebito, Vital, or Rampo Noir. Rampo Noir has the best cinematography and imagery I've seen in a horror movie and the stories are excellent.
RIP Aaliyah
MetalMarine
Profile Joined June 2007
United States1559 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-05 06:20:26
August 05 2010 06:18 GMT
#14
On August 05 2010 13:50 Pwntrucci[sR] wrote:
I wanna watch all these movies but I don't either


LOL exactly how I feel. Japanese horror movies are freakin insanely scary. I saw audition and it wasn't too bad.. I wanna see Noroi, but it seems WAY too scary. What u think DH?
DoctorHelvetica
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States15034 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-05 06:25:06
August 05 2010 06:24 GMT
#15
On August 05 2010 15:18 MetalMarine wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 05 2010 13:50 Pwntrucci[sR] wrote:
I wanna watch all these movies but I don't either


LOL exactly how I feel. Japanese horror movies are freakin insanely scary. I saw audition and it wasn't too bad.. I wanna see Noroi, but it seems WAY too scary. What u think DH?


Noroi isn't that scary. This isn't the top 5 SCARIEST movies, it's the ones I like the most. I think Noroi has a cool premise, great execution, and engaging characters. It's the most immersive horror film I've seen but it isn't really that scary.

It is very unsettling though and the last scene will make you shit a brick the size of texas. What scares you is getting caught up in it and forgetting the documentary isn't real. But if I lost sleep over anything because of that movie, it was over thinking about it and not fear. But it is certainly pretty creepy.

If I had to pick the scariest film I'd pick Ju-On probably.
RIP Aaliyah
zaMNal
Profile Blog Joined November 2005
Mongolia385 Posts
August 05 2010 06:28 GMT
#16
those who like bizzare creepy stuff, should also check Uzumaki (aka Spiral)
DoctorHelvetica
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States15034 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-05 06:29:16
August 05 2010 06:29 GMT
#17
On August 05 2010 15:28 sinK wrote:
those who like bizzare creepy stuff, should also check Uzumaki (aka Spiral)


I would suggest the manga over the movie. I think the movie was ruined for me in some aspects by the manga. Anything with Junji Ito's name on it is gold though.
RIP Aaliyah
endy
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
Switzerland8970 Posts
August 05 2010 06:31 GMT
#18
Thanks for sharing, I'll watch Noroi.
I think japanese horror movies are very scary. I watched Dark Water in the darkness when I was alone at my apartment and it scared the shit out of me. I didn't dare to enter my bathroom until the next morning :|
ॐ
jasp
Profile Joined April 2010
United States49 Posts
August 05 2010 07:49 GMT
#19
wow, awesome! thanks for the list, doc!
Issor
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States870 Posts
August 05 2010 08:14 GMT
#20
Watching noroi right now. It's really not very scary but it is very engaging. It may be because of the fact that i'm watching it on youtube but so far it's pretty tame.

I'm on part 5 of 11 right now and I think I'll stop there. It's getting too late o_o

thanks for the recommendations!
1 2 3 4 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 9h 35m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
OGKoka 531
Hui .232
IndyStarCraft 219
Rex 191
mcanning 90
ProTech88
StarCraft: Brood War
Rain 12906
Sea 4105
EffOrt 1287
Horang2 954
Stork 577
Snow 374
Mini 367
firebathero 337
sorry 80
sSak 70
[ Show more ]
Sharp 61
Pusan 61
Yoon 58
Hyun 51
Barracks 50
Movie 35
Backho 27
Terrorterran 23
yabsab 14
Shine 12
Rock 8
Bale 7
Dota 2
Gorgc7476
qojqva2654
syndereN313
XcaliburYe265
League of Legends
Dendi1745
Counter-Strike
byalli387
markeloff163
FunKaTv 38
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King101
Other Games
singsing2080
B2W.Neo1635
Fuzer 825
hiko612
crisheroes445
Lowko298
ArmadaUGS186
XaKoH 165
Beastyqt122
Liquid`VortiX60
QueenE54
KnowMe22
Organizations
StarCraft 2
WardiTV1336
CranKy Ducklings173
IntoTheiNu 55
StarCraft: Brood War
Kim Chul Min (afreeca) 5
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Adnapsc2 12
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• C_a_k_e 3888
League of Legends
• Nemesis8168
• TFBlade1003
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
9h 35m
Replay Cast
19h 35m
WardiTV Invitational
20h 35m
WardiTV Invitational
20h 35m
PiGosaur Monday
1d 9h
GSL Code S
1d 19h
Rogue vs GuMiho
Maru vs Solar
Online Event
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
GSL Code S
2 days
herO vs Zoun
Classic vs Bunny
The PondCast
2 days
[ Show More ]
Replay Cast
3 days
WardiTV Invitational
3 days
OSC
3 days
Korean StarCraft League
4 days
CranKy Ducklings
4 days
WardiTV Invitational
4 days
Cheesadelphia
5 days
GSL Code S
5 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

CSL Season 17: Qualifier 2
BGE Stara Zagora 2025
Heroes 10 EU

Ongoing

JPL Season 2
BSL 2v2 Season 3
BSL Season 20
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 2
NPSL S3
Rose Open S1
CSL 17: 2025 SUMMER
2025 GSL S2
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 7
IEM Dallas 2025
PGL Astana 2025
Asian Champions League '25
ECL Season 49: Europe
BLAST Rivals Spring 2025
MESA Nomadic Masters
CCT Season 2 Global Finals
IEM Melbourne 2025
YaLLa Compass Qatar 2025
PGL Bucharest 2025
BLAST Open Spring 2025

Upcoming

Copa Latinoamericana 4
CSLPRO Last Chance 2025
CSLPRO Chat StarLAN 3
K-Championship
SEL Season 2 Championship
Esports World Cup 2025
HSC XXVII
Championship of Russia 2025
Murky Cup #2
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.