What is Japanese Horror?
Japanese style horror films are typically focused on the psychological aspects of horror, with an emphasis on suspense and the inclusion of the supernatural. Written in a perspective that contrasts with many Western styles of film, they also may include yūrei (ghosts), yōkai (Japanese demons), and focus on aspects of Japanese spiritualism and folk belief systems, drawing from Shintoism. Japanese films also include many touchstones of popular culture, such as Noh and Kabuki performance, which may be lost on the Western viewer.
This list is a collection of some of the most popular and critically acclaimed Japanese horror titles that we have in our collection that will interest both the novice and seasoned horror film fan.
Taking its title from a Japanese word meaning "ghost story," this anthology adapts four folk tales. A penniless samurai marries for money with tragic results. A man stranded in a blizzard is saved by Yuki the Snow Maiden, but his rescue comes at a cost. Blind musician Hoichi is forced to perform for an audience of ghosts. An author relates the story of a samurai who sees another warrior's reflection in his teacup. Watch the trailer here.
Widower Shigeharu Aoyama’s son suggests that he should find a new wife. Aoyama agrees, and with a friend, stages a phony audition to meet a potential new partner in life. After interviewing several women, Aoyama becomes interested in Asami, who responds well to him, although as they begin to date, her dark past begins to affect their relationship. Watch the trailer here.
Suicide Club [自殺サークル] (2001) Rated R
A wave of seemingly unconnected suicides strikes Japan and the police are baffled by the mystery of it. They attempt to determine why these waves of suicide are occurring and discover that a website might be the key to solving the mystery. This film is considered a cult classic due to its controversial, transgressive subject matter and overall gruesome presentation, going on to win the Jury Prize for “Most Ground-Breaking Film" at the 2003 Fantasia Film Festival. Watch the trailer here.
After college student Taguchi commits suicide, a number of young adults living in Tokyo witness terrifying visions transferred across the Internet. As more people disappear throughout the city, the Internet becomes a breeding ground for malevolent spirits. Three seemingly disconnected stories follow Michi, Ryosuke, and Harue as they attempt to solve the mystery behind the ghostly visions that are seeping beyond their computer monitors. The popularity of the film also spawned an American remake. Watch the trailer here.
Ju-On: The Grudge [呪怨じゅおん] (2002) Rated R
This non-linear film presents the premise that if a building has endured a singular horror, it absorbs it and returns it to those who visit. A series of seemingly unconnected vignettes, all with a suitably satisfying jolt are slowly pulled together by police investigating the strange events. This film inspired several American remakes and you can watch the trailer here.
In this moody Japanese horror film, newly-single mom Yoshimi Matsubara is enduring a bitter divorce and struggling to keep custody of her young daughter, Ikuko. As the unstable Yoshimi tries to make a fresh start in a new apartment, strange occurrences in the building gradually begin to take their toll. When Yoshimi and Ikuko both start seeing unsettling visions of a ghostly little girl, it's clear that they're being drawn toward the supernatural. Another film that inspired an American remake, you can watch the trailer here. This film is currently on order and a link will be provided to the item when it is in the catalog.