The Future of Horror - Asia?

[Amelie]

There's an article on CNN (click here for link (http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/07/asian.horrors/)) that talks about the Western popularity of Asian horror movies. The article says:

"For the average American cinemagoer, the world of Asia is extremely exotic and it represents a chance to look into a world that they will probably never visit," McAlpine said.

I think that's true. Asian horror movies like "Dial D For Demon" and even "The Eye" are more interesting because even when they use horror-movie cliches (kids on vacation being killed off one by one, ghosts, etc.), those cliches are in the context of a non-Western culture. That makes them more interesting to me, fresher somehow.

I think (for me, anyhow) part of the appeal of Asian horror movies is that Asian directors - especially Japanese - aren't afraid to be gruesome. Japanese movies are more violent in general than Western movies, so Japanese directors aren't bound by the same pseudo-moralism that American filmmakers face. The first scene in "Suicide Circle", for example, where dozens of schoolgirls jump in front of a subway train and blood splashes everywhere... there's NO way that would be made in the US.

Does anyone else watch/like Asian horror movies? What are your favorite ones? Why do you like them?

[avenger00soul]

Ringu was very awesome. I'm dying to see Versus and Battle Royale. And, I know it's not quite horror, but The Heroic Trio is one of the best fantasy films I've ever seen. Loved it.

[SCREAMERatorX]

I think that's true. Asian horror movies like "Dial D For Demon" and even "The Eye" are more interesting because even when they use horror-movie cliches (kids on vacation being killed off one by one, ghosts, etc.), those cliches are in the context of a non-Western culture. That makes them more interesting to me, fresher somehow.

i totally agree, Amelie..
I havnt seen any japanese horror:(
... im always keen 2 watch something different, interesting and meaningful.
whats 'the Eye' all about??

[SCREAMERatorX]

I definatly would not say that Asia is The Future of Horror!!
No country or culture is the future of anything....
The future of horror is becoming what we became,??:D

The Past created it, the Present is shaping it and
the Future is Undetermined.......or is IT! hhhmmmhhhheehaaa.


keeping in mind why we even watch horror movies
ENTERTAINMENT.:rolleyes:

[Amelie]

Originally posted by avenger00soul
Ringu was very awesome. I'm dying to see Versus and Battle Royale. And, I know it's not quite horror, but The Heroic Trio is one of the best fantasy films I've ever seen. Loved it.

I really like the Asian fantasy films, like "Bride with White Hair". They're like crazy offshoots of the supernatural martial arts movies, which I also like. "Royale" is great. Haven't seen "Versus" yet. If you see it before me, let us know how it is!

Originally posted by SCREAMERatorX
i totally agree, Amelie..
I havnt seen any japanese horror:(
... im always keen 2 watch something different, interesting and meaningful.
whats 'the Eye' all about??

"The Eye" is about a blind chick who is able to see after a cornea transplant. Unfortunately, the corneas she is given enable her to see spirits. It's a really good and really scary movie.

Another good one is "Dark Water". It's made by the same guy who did "Ringu", but I like "Water" better. It's got a ghost theme as well.

There's some stupid Asian horror too, just like anywhere. "Uzumaki" is a super-well-filmed movie with a lot of cool effects, but ultimately pointless. And don't even bother with "Evil Dead Trap 2".

One of my favorite directors is a Japanese dude named Takeshi Miike. Most of his stuff is not what you'd call horror, but I think horror fans would like him. Check out his movie "Audition" - it's definitely horror, really brutal and scary.

[Tony]

I say bring em. Horror is horror.

[Sean1605]

Eh...I hated Ringu...and I hated the Ring even more. The Eye doesn't appeal to me in the least.


Versus was fucking awesome. Lots of gore and martial arts...can't beat that. *runs to watch Kill Bill again*


Battle Royale was great too, but I see it as more a Lord of the Flies type thing...and I wouldn't call that horror really, more drama since it is more about the social comment than the point of the violence. But I suppose horror relates to that, as a lot of it is social commentary, and could all be considered drama since it plays on our emotions.

[ChaoticMinister]

Best Movie out of Asia Ever?

Riki-Oh!: The Story of Ricky

Cover Picture @ Amazon:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004TJM8.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

I know it's not really horror, per say, but it is filled with lots of senseless/absurd gore

Editorial Review@ Amazon:

One of the most absurdly violent films ever made, this outrageous comic book of a movie is short on style but makes up for it in sheer audacity and excess. Brooding street kid Ricky Ho (Fan Siu Wang, playing the part of avenging angel with self-righteous earnestness) walks into the corrupt corporate prison system with superpowered martial arts skills and proceeds to punch his way through every bullying thug and sadistic guard who comes his way. Literally. His fist puts a gaping hole through the stomach of a giant sumo-wrestler-sized thug and the jaw of a pompadoured bully, and turns the skull of a pathetic guard into a bloody stump. As Ricky becomes a hero to the downtrodden prisoners, the assistant warden (who keeps breath mints in his removable glass eye) organizes the dreaded "gang of four," the cell block gang leaders, to take Ricky down. Fat chance!

So bad, it's funny... sadly this film was made in earnest.

Honorary AZN Pride!

*FADE OUT*

[Ritualistic]

Originally posted by ChaoticMinister
Best Movie out of Asia Ever?

Riki-Oh!: The Story of Ricky

Cover Picture @ Amazon:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004TJM8.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

I know it's not really horror, per say, but it is filled with lots of senseless/absurd gore

Editorial Review@ Amazon:

One of the most absurdly violent films ever made, this outrageous comic book of a movie is short on style but makes up for it in sheer audacity and excess. Brooding street kid Ricky Ho (Fan Siu Wang, playing the part of avenging angel with self-righteous earnestness) walks into the corrupt corporate prison system with superpowered martial arts skills and proceeds to punch his way through every bullying thug and sadistic guard who comes his way. Literally. His fist puts a gaping hole through the stomach of a giant sumo-wrestler-sized thug and the jaw of a pompadoured bully, and turns the skull of a pathetic guard into a bloody stump. As Ricky becomes a hero to the downtrodden prisoners, the assistant warden (who keeps breath mints in his removable glass eye) organizes the dreaded "gang of four," the cell block gang leaders, to take Ricky down. Fat chance!

So bad, it's funny... sadly this film was made in earnest.

Honorary AZN Pride!

*FADE OUT*

fucking awesome flick.. as for my opinion of asian horror. I love it!! but I dont believe they are going to be the future of horror..
I like: junk, stacy, versus, the eye, and many more

[Killer Clown#1]

I hope Asian horror is not the future for horror I hate it imo. Since the ring came out we have been getting these fucked up little movies. Damn the ring:mad:

[abbycomix]

I like Ringu and just saw Tetsuo 2 and Tokyo Fist which are both worth checking out. Quite gory and artsy.
But the best wacky gory movie I saw from Japan lately was Wild Zero, I totally loved it. I think people who are into Evil Dead 2 style wackiness and rock n' roll will like it a lot.

[dmihatmttl]

Love 'em. Can't get enough of Asian horror movies. Count me in as a *huge* fan.

A few of my favorites (in order):

- RINGU
- ODISHON (AUDITION)
- BATTLE ROYALE
- KAIRO (PULSE)
- RINGU 0: BIRTHDAY
- CURE
- ICHI THE KILLER
- VERSUS


Bought THE EYE this past weekend, and while it was a tad disappointing -- wasn't *quite* as good as I'd heard it'd be -- I still enjoyed it. Can't *wait* to see UZAMAKI (SPIRAL), TWO SISTERS, or DARK WATER. I have a copy of STACY but I haven't got around to watching it yet -- supposedly it's really cool.

The one I *especially* can't wait to see, however, is JU-ON (THE GRUDGE).

THE GRUDGE looks to me like it just might be the scariest goddamn thing ever.




J.N.
http://members.tripod.com/~NEWMANATOR/index.html

[Ritualistic]

OH MAN!! I completely forgot about the guinea pig films.... IMO they are the fucking best asian horror films ever made....

[mictlan]

I like Asian horror stuff a lot. My favorite has probably been Dark Water. I liked the Ring, didn't like any of the sequels much, though Birthday had its moments.

Kairo was creepy and atmospheric but not really scary, same with Uzumaki and the Eye.

Audition was really cringey - and definitely a horror film, the imagery and situations really stayed with me, even before the famous grueling ending.

Organ was great, worth looking for.

Tsukamoto's films (Tetsuo I and II, Tokyo Fist, Gemini) aren't really horror, though a lot of Tetsuo I is. One of his earlier films (I don't remember the name) is about a Japanese goblin who invades a school - has a few great horror moments.

Ricky-O is soooo gooood, so gross. I love the guy who whips out his own intestines to strangle Ricky. I never saw the Guinea Pig movies but have heard that they are pretty twisted.

The question was, is Asian horror the future? Maybe not, I think the vast majority of American audiences can't relate because the cultures are very different. But people keep asking that question because most new Asian horror films are way better than most new American horror films. The Asian films don't rely on big budgets, unoriginal plots, T+A, overdone effects, or truly crappy but cute actors.

[bloodrayne]

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