Horror and crime-thriller as genres have received worldwide appreciation. Japanese movies have progressed a lot when it comes to thrillers. It has boasted about its twisted plots that have inspired various Hollywood films. Due to their unique footing, they have successfully created and got their position on the global platform. If you enjoy such thriller movies, we bring you our handpicked list of the top 10 Japanese thrillers of all time.
1. The Forest Of Love
Based on a true story, Forest of Love revolves around murder, torture, manipulation, and other gripping themes. It talks about a small group of filmmakers and a young girl who tags along with them. They are manipulated, seduced, and corrupted by an older man. Even when the group figured out that the man was nothing but a psychotic serial killer, they could not stop following his orders. The movie is not everyone's cup of tea, but the audience would thoroughly appreciate the graphic details of the film.
2. The Third Murder
The Third Murder shows the story of an elite lawyer, who is to defend a convicted criminal. He faces a lot of different situations on his way, and the convicted criminal confesses to his murder charge. The more the lawyer digs into the case, the more he finds the whole thing suspicious. Courtroom dramas can be bleak and monotonous, but this movie has the potential to change your thoughts about it. The film will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout its execution.
3. The World Of Kanako
When an ex-police detective and estranged father discovers his daughter's disappearance, he desperately starts digging deep into the whole matter. However, as he digs deeper into the case, he discovers something unimaginable about his daughter. The film tries to dismiss due to its misanthropic perspective of the world. The thriller progression is near-perfect in this movie, and it comes as a surprise to the audience.
4. Cold Fish
A regular middle-aged man living with his wife and teenage daughter, there is not much that can go wrong, right? The sinister development begins after the daughter secures a job in a fish store, despite getting caught stealing fish from that shop. Although generous at first, when the couple's dark secrets begin coming to light, the man must take extreme measures to save his family. The gruesome killings and blood are not the only thing in this film, as it plays with dark humor about our existential reality. The intense plot will surely, get you to your feet.
5. Outrage
Outrage revolves around men of the Yakuza clan, fighting and struggling to achieve power. One of the clan's men gets caught up in an escalating mob war, as his men get too deep into the fight with a rival gang. If you enjoy politics and crime syndicates, this movie is the right choice for you, because it shows the ugly side of mobs and a nihilist anti-hero.
6. Confession
A teacher and mother who has lost her young daughter realize that it was not just a mere accident but a murder. She thus resolves to exact vengeance. The movie Confessions bound around such a gripping story is one of the best in the thriller genre. The movie is set in a world where everyone is insane, as the protagonist's actions have little to no consequences. The reactions to each of the works are a collection of insanity itself.
7. Suspect X
The movie is based on the famous novel The Devotion of Suspect X. It is a sequel to the Japanese drama Galileo. The dead body of a male is discovered, strangled to death, his face destroyed beyond recognition and his fingers burned. Assigned to the case are two detectives. Elaborate bluffs, fake testimonials, difficult loopholes- all begin to appear in the detective's way as if intentionally placed to challenge him with mathematical brilliance.
8. High And Low (1963)
High and Low is one of the older films, but when it comes to the thrill, the movie has all of it. The movie is about a wealthy industrialist known as Kingo Gondo, whose family becomes the target of a cold-blooded kidnapper. Adapted from Ed McBain's detective novel King's Ransom, the film effortlessly moves from an excellent thriller to exacting social commentary.
9. Battle Royale
Based on the 1999 novel of the same name, the movie is set during a time when Japan suffered an economic crisis. During this time, the Japanese government sent a group of high school students to a deserted island. In the next three days, the students must fight and kill each other to survive. Due to its disturbing plot, the movie drew a lot of controversies. However, it has still been an inspiration to a lot of other media sources.
10. Kamikaze Taxi
The movie revolves around Tatsuo, a young Yakuza on probation, providing prostitutes to a famous Japanese politician. When one of the prostitutes is beaten badly during a bondage session, and the Yakuza's girlfriend is killed, he teams up with his friends to rob the politician blind. Even in today's setting, where numerous different thriller films are against each other, Kamikaze Taxi still stands as a chilling and gripping masterpiece in every sense possible.
