Japanese horror films are known for their excellent use of light, color, and creative sound effects that appeal to fans of the horror genre.
They are also recognized for their:
- Unique storytelling: Their distinctive storytelling style is very different from Western films.
- Psychological horror: Japanese horror movies are not afraid to push boundaries, creating a deeply unsettling viewing.
- Supernatural elements: The supernatural often plays a key role in Japanese films.
So, what are the seven best Japanese scary films?
Let’s take a look!
Table of Contents
1. Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)
Ju-On: The Grudge is a classic Japanese horror film released in 2002.
Written and directed by Takashi Shimizu, it tells the story of a cursed house in Tokyo, home to a series of murders and mysterious supernatural activities.
Eerily, anyone who enters the house becomes cursed and haunted by the evil spirits that live there. It was believed that the curse started when a woman named Kayako was murdered by her husband in a jealous rage.
The curse seems to be passed to anyone who enters the house, the premise being, if a building has endured a single horror, it then passes that on to anyone who visits.
The plot jumps back and forth in time, keeping the viewer on their toes, eventually leading us to the present day.
The film quickly became a cult classic, and several sequels and remakes were made in Hollywood and Japan. However, the Japanese version remains the most highly regarded.
2. Ringu (1998)
Films don’t get much scarier than Ringu. Released in 1998, the movie is based on the novel by Koji Suzuki and is considered a classic horror movie.
The story follows Journalist Reiko as he investigates a videotape that causes anyone to die who watches it within seven days. During her investigation, she realizes her niece has watched the tape and therefore only has seven days left to live.
Reiko then goes on to try and stop the vengeful spirit who haunts the tape and uncover the mystery behind it.
It is well known that Ringu inspired one of Hollywood’s most popular horror movies from the 2000s “The Ring” which was released in 2002.
The eerie music, creepy imagery, and sound effects earned Ringu a lot of praise.
This film made a significant impact on the horror genre and was responsible for the rise in “cursed videotape” horror movies around this time. No horror movie fan should miss this one!
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3. Dark Water (2003)
Dark Water is based on a short story by Koji Suzuki, the author of “The Ring” and is directed by Japanese director, Hideo Nakata.
It follows the story of a young mom and daughter who move into a new apartment and discover strange things happening in their new home.
They discover water leaking from the ceiling and a mysterious red backpack that keeps appearing. It turns out there is a much darker history to the building than the two first anticipate, involving the tragic death of a young girl.
Many horror movie buffs enjoy dark water for the sense of tension and dread that is built up as the story progresses.
Dark Water is considered a classic Japanese horror film and has been remade many times. The American version, starring Jennifer Connelly, was made in 2005 and was a huge hit around the globe.
4. Audition (1999)
Released in 1999 by Japanese director Takashi Miike, Audition is an unsettling, psychological film that follows middle-aged widower Shigeharu Aoyama as he chooses a new girlfriend through an audition process.
Aoyama is persuaded by a friend to hold auditions for a fake film to try and find a new wife. He soon becomes infatuated with a quiet, innocent young lady, Asami Yamazaki. As the film progresses, we realize that the woman he has chosen has a very dark and disturbing past, and she is, in fact, not the quiet, innocent woman he first thought.
Known for the clever slow build-up of tension, unnerving atmosphere, and graphic violence, Audition also explores themes of desire, control, and loneliness.
Some viewers have found it difficult to watch due to the graphic content, and the film received some criticism for this, as well as its objectification of women.
Audition is a thought-provoking film that is not for the easily disturbed. If you are a fan of horror movies and psychological thrillers, it is definitely worth a watch.
5. Pulse (2001)
This terrifying film follows the story of a group of friends who begin to experience supernatural experiences after their friend’s death.
Released in 2001 by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, the film cleverly explores human interactions and relationships and how technology influences them.
The friends start receiving mysterious computer messages from their dead friend, eventually realizing that a dark spirit is using the internet to pass through into the real world.
Pulse was praised for its observations of social isolation in this important period of the digital age. It was released to huge success in Japan and was remade in several other countries, including the US, where actress Kristen Bell played a lead role.
6. One Missed Call (2003)
Released in 2003, One Missed Call is a Japanese horror film about a group of friends who receive phone calls from their future selves and are given details, predicting their deaths.
The friends each receive mysterious voicemails which predict the exact date and time of their deaths.
Each friend then seemingly dies shortly after their phone call, in a mysterious and gruesome manner.
As the source of the calls is investigated, a dark secret is discovered in the past, linking all the friends together. The unsettling atmosphere and creepy imagery made it one of Japan’s top J-Horror films. There have been numerous sequels made and an American version was made, which was released in 2008.
7. Noroi: The Curse
This quirky film is definitely worth a watch if you are into found-footage horror movies.
Here are some facts you may not know about Noroi: The Curse:
- The film was shot entirely on digital video, which adds to the “found footage” look the director was aiming for.
- Noroi is considered one of the best examples of found-footage horror, receiving praise from film critics for its creative use of digital video.
- The film uses a mix of documentary-style interviews, footage from the investigations, and clips from the TV show “Spirit Sightings” to tell its story.
Released in 2005, Noroi: The Curse tells the story of Masafumi Kobayashi, a documentary filmmaker who investigates strange, supernatural events occurring in a town in rural Japan.
The film is full of peculiar characters including, a demon, a possessed woman, a psychic, and a missing girl. Kobayashi eventually uncovers a sinister plot that involves a cursed videotape appearing to show human sacrifice.
Upon release, Noroi was praised for its use of found-footage techniques, paving the way for many other filmmakers to adopt the same skills and inspiring other classics such as Ringu and Ju-On: The Grudge.
Final Thoughts
If being on the edge of your seat, and sweating with anticipation is your thing, then Japanese horror will most certainly be for you! Check out any of these movies and be left frozen in fright. But don’t say you weren’t warned!
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