With oppressiveatmospheric dreadand thought-provoking themes, there’s nothing quite like a Japanese horror flick, but not every horror film from the land of the rising sun is all about subtle chills and slowburn terrors; there’s a ton of variety to be had here, from the shocking to the downright strange.
If you’re a fan ofhorror films, there’s a chance you’ve heard of some of the country’s more famous outings already, but if you’ve yet to watch the best of the best or simply want to know where to start with J-Horror, these are the Japanese horror films you’ll want to check out first.
10Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman
Am I Pretty?
Carved isn’t quite as well known now as it once was, butthe 2007 horror filmbased on the infamous Japanese urban legend of theKuchisake Onna,or slit-mouthed woman, does a fantastic job of selling the horror of the tale with some delightfully disturbing effects and chilling narrative twists.
Though eventually followed up with lackluster sequels, the original film, known colloquially to Western fans as Carved, has garnered a well deserved cult following over the years, and is easily worth a watch today.
9Dark Water
Slow Burn Supernatural Horror
Dark Water’s closest comparison is probably The Babadook, and for some of you, that comparison might be all you need to give this stellar introspective thriller a watch. The film focuses on the struggles of a lonely and isolated single parent, the struggles she faces raising her child, and the supernatural terror that grips the humble family’s new home.
Filled with suspense and trickling with atmospheric dread, Dark Water is sure to have fans of slowburn horror shivering in their rain boots, especially during the film’s haunting climax.
The name Dark Water is apparently really popular in Hollywood, so be sure not to confuse this 2002 J-Horror hit with the 2019 film Dark Waters or the 2005 film Dark Water, which is the American remake of this film.
8House
A Fever Dream Of Horror Comedy
One of the most bizarre horror films to come out of Japan by a country mile is the cult classic horror comedy House. Shot without any storyboards and on one of Japanese Studio Toho’s largest ever film sets at the time, the movie’s bizarre production history is almost as interesting as the film itself.
Starring a group of teenagers and a truly bizarrehaunted mansion, House’s intentionally unrealistic visual effects and bonkers storytelling make it both a wacky and memorable experience and an interesting footnote in Japanese horror history.
7Cure
X Marks The Spot
When patterns emerge in a series of mysterious and gruesome murder cases, detective Kenichi Takabe’s wits are put to the ultimate test. Each murderer is found close by the victim, each victim has an ‘X’ carved into their body, and each perpetrator remembers committing the crime. The only issue is, nobody can remember the motive.
Cure is a twisted neo-noir thriller with a haunting mystery at its center, and if its premise sounds interesting to you so far, you’re sure to be thrilled by what else the film has in store.
6Ju-On: The Grudge
One Of Japan’s Most Famous Flicks
You might have already seen the 2004 American remake of Takeshi Shimizu’s 2002 haunted house classic: Ju-On: The Grudge, but even so, we recommend giving the Japanese original a shot if you liked anything at all about the American version. Trust us, this is easily the better movie.
Exploring the lingering evil that one’s actions can leave on a physical place, Ju-On’s narrative, which depicts a multitude of terrible events surrounding one specific location, has well withstood the test of time.
5Perfect Blue
Satoshi Kon’s Horror In Identity
Not every horror film from Japan is a live action thrill ride. In fact, one of the country’s most frightening films is none other than Satoshi Kon’sanime thriller: Perfect Blue.
Loosely based on the Japanese novel of the same name, Perfect Blue follows Mima, a former idol, whose recent acting escapades are stopped at every turn by a mysterious string of murders. As the killings get more extreme, Mima’s reality begins to distort further and further, until she is no longer sure what to believe, or who to trust.
4Kwaidan
The 1964 Horror Anthology Classic
Kwaidan’s notoriety in the cinephile community is in large part due to its status as one of the most hauntingly beautiful horror films to ever come out of Japan, as well asthe cultural importanceof the stories it adapts.
Based on four of the country’s most prominent tales of the night, this horror anthology might be your thing if you’re a fan of cinematic history, classic Japanese ghost stories, or simply find older horror films to be more than a little unnerving, but even if you’re not a classic movie buff, we still recommend Kwaidan for its haunting execution and excellent cinematography.
3Testuo: The Iron Man
Body Horror At Its Most Disturbing
When in 1989, Shinya Tsukamoto introduced the world to his terrifying black and white body horror masterpiece, the grotesque and shocking experience was showered with praise and awards. Viewing thistragic horrorfilm today, it’s easy to see why.
Testuo: The Iron Man sees a man named Testuo suffering a terrible curse after he accidentally kills a strange man in the street. In the days that follow, the terrifying true nature of the curse reveals itself, and Testuo is forced to confront his own body as he transforms into a horrific mixture of man and metal.
2Audition
Lights, Camera, Terror
The suspenseful terror of this drawn-out nightmare isn’t the only reason you’ll be squirming in your seat. Audition also happens to feature some of the most disturbing depictions of violence any horror movie ever has, and as a result, the film has made its way onto several iceberg charts and disturbing movie all-time lists.
When a widower holds auditions to find a new romantic partner, his most promising candidate turns out to be more than the poor man could ever have bargained for. If you want a film that’s going to haunt you– and I do meanhauntyou– look no further than Audition.
1Ringu
Seven Days
Ringu is without a doubt the most infamous Japanese horror films of all time, and the influence this iconic movie has had on what came after cannot be overstated. Sure, the American remake does a fine job of making you feel ill at ease, but for a true taste of J-Horror excellence, we cannot recommend the original Ringu enough.
If you like creepy kids with long black hair, creaky wails of terror, and abstract visual delights, the inspiration behind The Ring has got you covered, and is absolutely the film to watch if you want to understand the true appeal of Japanese horror.
