Good Starting Point for Asian Horror?

[Zer0_II]

I'm relatively unfamiliar with Asian horror films. I was hoping that someone would be willing to recommend a few films that would serve as a good introduction to the genre. I'm primarily interested in the films that would be considered cult classics, and genuinely scary, yet not so dated that I would have to suspend belief. On a side note, I'm also interested in soundtracks and composers to these films. Can any of you recommend some classic soundtracks to Asian horror films as well? Thanks in advance.

[Stygian Underground]

I enjoyed Ju-On, Ringu, and Audition. All three are Japanese films and are scary as heck! They're not too dated...about ten or eleven years old apiece.

[TheLurkingFear]

Is anybody a fan of Tetsuo?

[Francesco Dellamorte]

Tetsuo is awesome. I am a huge fan of Asian horror. Films I would recomend are...

Battle Royale, Sympathy For Mr Vengeance/Oldboy/Lady Vengeance, Noroi, Flowers Of Flesh & Blood, Visitor Q, Grotesque, Bedeviled, Carved A Slit Mouthed Woman, Shutter, Versus, Ichi The Killer, Mermaid In A Manhole, The Untold Story, Tokyo Gore Police, Splatter Naked Blood, Cello, A Tale Of Two Sisters, Vampire Girl Vs Frankenstien Girl, Chanbara, Junk, Audition, I'm a Cyborg But It's Ok, Thirst, MPD Pyscho, Ju On, The Ebola Syndrome, Tumbling Doll Of Flesh.
To name a few :)

[TheLurkingFear]

Thanks for these recommendations! They should keep me busy for a while! I love the Tetsuo films too, and am always trying to see more Asian horrors.

[Stygian Underground]

Oh check out the anime Perfect Blue. It's more of a psychological thriller but it really screws with your mind and freaks you out nevertheless

[Francesco Dellamorte]

Oh check out the anime Perfect Blue. It's more of a psychological thriller but it really screws with your mind and freaks you out nevertheless

Anime is something I should watch more of. I have seen a few like Akira & Urotsukidoji but my knowledge of the genre is limited. I will check out Perfect Blue,.
Thanks for the recomendation.

[Stygian Underground]

No prob! Creepy ass movie like I said.

Asian horror, especially Japanese horror, is unique in its approach compared to American. I say especially Japanese because I'm more familiar with it. They seem to favor the ghost story more than anything else, although they do love the occasional splatter flick like Grotesque. That movie was indeed grotesque so it was aptly named haha

[TheLurkingFear]

Tetsuo is awesome. I am a huge fan of Asian horror. Films I would recomend are...

Battle Royale, Sympathy For Mr Vengeance/Oldboy/Lady Vengeance, Noroi, Flowers Of Flesh & Blood, Visitor Q, Grotesque, Bedeviled, Carved A Slit Mouthed Woman, Shutter, Versus, Ichi The Killer, Mermaid In A Manhole, The Untold Story, Tokyo Gore Police, Splatter Naked Blood, Cello, A Tale Of Two Sisters, Vampire Girl Vs Frankenstien Girl, Chanbara, Junk, Audition, I'm a Cyborg But It's Ok, Thirst, MPD Pyscho, Ju On, The Ebola Syndrome, Tumbling Doll Of Flesh.
To name a few :)

Hi Francesco: been reading up on the films you recommended. Would you say Flowers of Flesh and Blood would be the best Guinea Pig film to start with? Mermaid in a Manhole sounds very intriguing!

I read that Charlie Sheen reported FOFABlood after mistaking it for a genuine snuff film! That's some recommendation: a film that offended Charlie Sheen!!:lol:

[Francesco Dellamorte]

Flowers Of Flesh & Blood has no real plot to speak of, it's just a guy dressed as a samurai that drugs & slowly mutilates a woman. The SFX are startlingly good. There is a moment where a severed hand clasps the hand of the samurai due to refelex action, It's so well done. Mermaid In A Manhole has a strong storyline. I would recomend them both, but maybe suggest starting with MIAM. If you enjoy FOFAB, you could watch Grotesque & even Tumbling Doll Of Flesh.

[TheLurkingFear]

Mermaid does sound like the more imaginative of the two, but Flowers of Flesh and Blood is such a great title. I'll check them out.

[The Traveller]

I'd second Oldboy or Ringu.

[woodenheart]

Untold Story is a nice choice. 3 Extremes, All Night Long series. Red To Kill and Horrible High Heels are good. Red Room 1&2....oh yeah Dr. Lamb and Visitor Q. These are CAT III films you may want start with a bit tamer movies or not..some were mentioned above...Have fun on your journey.

[TheLurkingFear]

Untold Story is a nice choice. 3 Extremes, All Night Long series. Red To Kill and Horrible High Heels are good. Red Room 1&2....oh yeah Dr. Lamb and Visitor Q. These are CAT III films you may want start with a bit tamer movies or not..some were mentioned above...Have fun on your journey.

Good, more recommendations I must check out; I'm always looking to further my asian horror education!:)

[Francesco Dellamorte]

Red To Kill is a great Cat III movie, I would also add Her Vengeance, Naked Killer & Daughter Of Darkenss & it's sequel

[hindustallion]

India always been in the back bench considering the horror film industry. They are all just creepy ghosts haunting someone and finally its get ridden off. My uncle is a horror story writer and one of his horror novel got into a Malayalam movie in 2005. It was somewhat different from other Indian horror films. I suggest you guys check it out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anandabhadram

[TheLurkingFear]

India always been in the back bench considering the horror film industry. They are all just creepy ghosts haunting someone and finally its get ridden off. My uncle is a horror story writer and one of his horror novel got into a Malayalam movie in 2005. It was somewhat different from other Indian horror films. I suggest you guys check it out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anandabhadram

Wow, fascinating! The Raji Ravi Varma paintings are beautiful. I'm an artist myself, so appreciate having my attention drawn to artists I'm unfamiliar with. Will definitely have to check out the film, sounds interesting; I'm currently catching up on a lot of Japanese horror at the moment. Shinya Tsukomoto I'm a huge fan of, and Yoshitaka Amano is a big influence artistically.

[jake]

I recommend the mainstream flix like the Ringu & Ring, Juon & Grudge, and Rec & Quarantine. :)

[Francesco Dellamorte]

India always been in the back bench considering the horror film industry. They are all just creepy ghosts haunting someone and finally its get ridden off. My uncle is a horror story writer and one of his horror novel got into a Malayalam movie in 2005. It was somewhat different from other Indian horror films. I suggest you guys check it out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anandabhadram

Looks interesting I will definatly check it out, thanks.

[Stygian Underground]

Anybody seen Kairo (the Pulse?) I don't highly recommend it lol. One of the few where i thought the American remake was better. The original was just kinda boring.