As you can probably tell, I thoroughly enjoy Asian movies especially their horror films. I have wanted to do this for a while now so I've decided to make May my personal tribute to Asian horror films. From here on out it will be a yearly tradition where I focus exclusively on just Asian horror for the entire month. This doesn't mean I won't continue to cover Asian movies throughout the year, just that May will be a time dedicated solely to them.
To kick things off--and to set the tone properly--I wanted to take a look at a few films that deserve more attention from fans and critics alike. While not all of these movies are necessarily good in a traditional sense, for one reason or another, they are certainly better than many would have you believe. Finally, I want to note that, of course, legends like "Shutter" and "Ringu" aren't on this list since they receive plenty of praise. Now, without further ado, let's take a look at the most underrated horror films Asia has to offer!
Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):
February 29 - Definitely underrated, but I think the criticisms laid against this film are fair enough. Still...it's incredibly original and deserves some acknowledgement.
Reincarnation - The main problem is this movie failed to realize its vision for the story. If there was slightly more coherency, this would have been amazing. It still went way outside the box of typical Asian horror so it gets credit.
Alone (2007) - As the followup from the duo who made "Shutter," I think the hopes were too high. This is still a commendably scary movie, but it could have been way better.
Ju-on: The Curse - Often overshadowed by "Ju-on: The Grudge," this film is just as good if not better given the paltry, made for TV budget. However, I think this film gets just enough praise to fall short of my list.
10. Zoo (2005)
I kind of debated adding this simply because a few of the segments in this anthology aren't horror. Nevertheless, this is a surprisingly well done film. Not every segment is a winner, but each brings something unique to the table. Beyond that, the aesthetics are especially beautiful. Considering the bizarre nature of the poster, and the high quality of the production, I'm surprised not many have sought this one out. Definitely track this down, but, be aware, the tales are not all horror and the poster mascot is absent.
9. Twilight Syndrome: Deadly Theme Park (aka Dead Go Round)
Does this film have a cheap feeling to the production? Yes. But is that reason enough to disregard the merits? Considering this and "Twilight Syndrome: Dead Cruise" were merely meant to be promotional tie-ins, you have to cut them a little slack. What I truly love about this movie is the way in which the audience's expectations are toyed with in regard to who is the main character. Likewise, the characters start off as lame cliches but quickly open up with fun banter. Besides, you can't go wrong with the amusement park setting. Now, I'm not saying this movie is amazing or anything, but if an absolute piece of shit like "Jaws in Japan" can get an 8/10, then this film deserves a little more love than the 4 or 5/10 range!
8. Forbidden Siren (aka Sairen)
Another video game tie-in except this one actually looked respectable. Honestly, there is one thing setting this film back--albeit, one HUGE ass thing. The ending kind of ruins the entire movie. If you can get past that fault, or even appreciate it, then this movie is quite good. Again, we have terrific originality complemented by a first-rate mystery that thoroughly engrosses the audience. Seriously, if they didn't drop the ball at the end this may have easily been regarded among the J-horror legends or, at the very least, looked upon in a favorable light.
7. Suicide Club (aka Suicide Circle)
It bugs me that the fan consensus appears to be that the (extremely loose) sequel, "Noriko's Dinner Table," is looked upon as the superior film. Due to this, "Suicide Club" does not get the kind of love it deserves. Sure, this is an incredibly weird and bizarre tale that may leave the viewer baffled by what they just watched, but, hey, that's Japanese cinema for you. One cannot deny this has one of the craziest opening sequences in all of film itself, and the audience is certainly engaged by the mystery that follows. For a brief window in the early 2000s, this was highly discussed when it came to pushing things to the extreme. I'd love to see this film receive that same level of admiration once again.
6. Sukob (aka The Wedding Curse)
Far too often is this film disregarded--considered a ripoff for no discernible reason. On the contrary, this is actually quite original despite its usage of existing tropes. While this was a big success in the Philippines, it has never received the international acclaim it deserves. I rank this among the Asian horror legends and give it a lot of respect for taking the existing cliches and making them feel fresh again. I think a lot of fans play it safe with just Korean and Japanese movies so I'd suggest exploring the other Asian film industries from time to time.
5. POV: A Cursed Film
Okay, now we're definitely into territory of films I bring up often. I get that the found-footage genre has burnt people out, but this one plays with your existing expectations. On top of that, the pacing is solid and keeps you engaged unlike most found-footage that spends all movie building up only to deliver a lackluster climax. This movie does have its shortcomings, without a doubt, but it doesn't deserve to be casually overlooked either. And, c'mon, you gotta love the decoy endings and admit the effects were pretty damn good considering the budget. Give this one a shot even if you're tired of found-footage.
4. Hide and Go Kill 2
First, I do want to acknowledge that "Hide and Go Kill 1" is also seriously underrated. Personally, I think these two should be viewed as a double feature, however, if you can only watch one you should go with part 2 as it stands alone anyway. Surprisingly a lot of fans don't know about these two hidden gems. You've got tremendous originality, an interesting plot line, decent scares, and epic levels of atmosphere...what more could you ask for? Why are these two ignored? Other than limited exposure, I can't deny that the pacing is slow at times and the payoff might not be there. Though these two films are rare, they are certainly worth tracking down if you're a big Asian horror fan.
3. Coming Soon (2008)
How did this movie fall through the cracks? It's damn, fine Asian horror and impressively scary to boot. The story might not be as original as a few others on this list, but they successfully play with your expectations. The makeup effects are what seal the deal this time around as the ghost, Shomba, is right up there with the likes of Natre, Kayako, and Sadako. The only thing really holding this film back is the somewhat lackluster conclusion to the events. Realistically, I would say this film simply came too late to the party after all the Asian horror icons had been established.
2. White: The Melody of the Curse
I still can't get over the lack of appreciation for this amazing film. If anything, I feel the fundamental flaw is that Korea loves psychological horror and this film plays it too straightforward. As to why international audiences have not recognized it...that I have no idea about. We get yet another original spin on the genre as the dark side of the entertainment industry is tackled alongside a cool, and scary, looking ghost. Admittedly, the film does take a while to get going, but you are always invested in the events and characters. At this stage of the game, I have to give credit to any film able to invent new and creative scares. The main theme song is also insanely catchy and gets into your head! If this came out 10 years earlier, I wholeheartedly believe it would be ranked among the Asian horror legends.
1. Ju-on: The Grudge 2
This final pick shouldn't come as much of a shock. When it comes to comparing underrated films this is usually the one I choose to reference. While I also love "Ju-on: The Grudge," this film surpassed it in almost every regard. Sure, there are problems with the story that can make it overly confusing for no reason, and the ending is definitely disappointing. Despite these issues, this is peak form for Kayako and a glorious display of Asian horror at its zenith. The scares are relentless, the makeup and visual effects are amazing, and the story completely sucks you in. It pains me to see this film almost never get mentioned among essential, Asian horror viewing. That is not acceptable.
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