Horror is one of the most famous and loved movie genres in the world. Japan is one of the best countries when it comes to producing top-class horror movies. Japanese horror movies are popular among horror fans. They are unique in every possible way. Unlike western movies, they are way more creepy, unsettling and bizarre. So we would like to recommend to you some of the best horror movies Japan has produced to watch this Halloween.
1. Ringu
Ringu or ring was released in the year 1998. It’s one of the most cult horror movies of all time. It was directed by Hideo Nakata and starred Nanako Matsushima, Miki Nakatani, Yuko Takeuchi, Hitomi Sato, Yutaka Matsushige and Hiroyuki Sanada in lead roles. The story revolves around a mysterious videotape that kills everyone who watches it after seven days.
2. Battle Royale
Released in the year 2000 Battle Royale is a survival-horror film. It tells the story of 42 students who are sent to a deserted island they have to kill each other to survive. It was directed by Kinji Fukasaku and written by Kenta Fukasaku. It starred Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Takeshi Kitano, Chiaki Kuriyama, Tarō Yamamoto and Masanobu Andō in lead roles. The movie was banned in several countries because of its gory and unsettling nature but it is surely one of the biggest contributions ever made to horror cinema.
3. Ju-On: The Curse
Ju-On the curse tells the story of a man who kills his wife and his son in a fit of rage. It was released in the year 2000. It starred Yūrei Yanagi, Chiaki Kuriyama, Hitomi Miwa, Takako Fuji and Takashi Matsuyama in lead roles.
4. Noroi: The Curse
Released in the year 2005 its story revolves around a paranormal journalist who goes missing right after completing a documentary. It was directed by Kōji Shiraishi and starred Jin Muraki, Rio Kanno and Tomono Kuga in lead roles.
5. Dark Water
Released in the year 2002 dark water tells the story of a single mother Yoshimi and her daughter Ikuko who shift into a new apartment and start seeing disturbing visions of a ghost. It was directed by Hideo Nakata and starred Mirei Oguchi, Rio Kanno and Asami Mizukawa in lead roles.
6. Onibaba
Onibaba is a cult horror movie which was released in the year 1964. Its story revolves around a mother and her daughter-in-law who are trying to survive a war by killing soldiers and stealing their possessions. After learning the news that their son/husband is dead, the old woman starts scaring her daughter-in-law by wearing a demon mask so that she couldn’t leave her. It starred Nobuko Otowa and Jitsuko Yoshimura in the lead roles. It’s one of the creepiest yet great movies ever made.
7. Suicide Club
This film has one of the most unsettling openings where a large group of students commit mass suicide by throwing themselves under a train. Suicide Club was released in 2001. It was directed by famous Japanese filmmaker Sion Sono and starred Saya Hagiwara, Ryo Ishibashi and Masatoshi Nagase in lead roles.
8. Audition
Released in the year 1999 audition tells the story of a man who holds auditions to find a new wife and falls for a beautiful woman however the woman has many dark secrets. Audition was directed by Takashi Miike and starred Eihi Shiina, Ryo Ishibashi and Tetsu Sawaki in lead roles.
9. Pulse
Pulse also known as Kairo is a 2001 film about a virus that leaks from the internet into reality. The story revolves around strange disappearances happening in Tokyo. It was directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa and starred Haruhiko Kato, Koyuki, Kurume Arisaka and Kumiko Aso.
10. Tag
Released in 2015 this movie just like suicide club has a bizarre opening where a schoolgirl is on a bus with her classmates when everyone except her gets their heads chopped in half by an invisible rush of wind. It was directed by Sion Sono and starred Reina Triendl, Yuki Sakurai, Mariko Shinoda and Ami Tomite in lead roles.
