Recently I have been into thiss genre. I used to always avoid horror films after they all follow the same predictable ghosts, stalkers e.t.c. Films like Scream, Halloween and Texas Chainsaw Massacre did little to generate the fear response but after seeing a few Japanese horrors my opinions changed. The Japanese films aren't based on the same worn out predictable techniques but use other techniques which might include gradually unravelling thefear component where you keep discovering strange happenings or by communicating emotion and fear through weird characters. Here are my reviews on some Japanese Horrow films:
THE RING - This chiller is very effective in bringing the fear factor through the use of a supernatural forces. This is a gradual process while a journalist is investigating the video curse. Strange characters are used to keep the fear factor in place and there are enough shocks to get the heart palpitating
- 9/10
THE GRUDGE - IMO this is not as good as a lot of people seem to think. The story of a haunted house which is cursed and people who go their may suffer the curse, although this is less effective because I don't think the build up to the climax is as good as other Japanese horrors. The strange people give more of an idea of weirdness than developing the fear component. Although this is still effective in making you think that a supernatural force may be around you. The boy Toshio keeps you wondering as well.
- 7/10
AUDITION - The best horror film of all time. The story starts off like a love story when a businessman is recently widowed and he then tries to find another partner through an Audition. He thinks he's found the ideal partner but there is something strange about her and as we are learning why, the fear response starts to come on rapidly and when a growl comes from inside a blanket and rolls over while she is in her room, your heart will rage with fear and pump faster than a bullet. Then the fear factor is kept high when he then uncovers what is hiding in the blanket.
- 10/10
PULSE - Who'd have thought a ghost story could be scary? but this film is and achieves that by confronting the issue of death which most people don't want to hear. Discussions about death and lonely images of death help bring out everyones biggest fear.
- 8/10
THE RING 0 - The history of the video curse is very successful in bringing the fear factor through certain characters and through psychological technoques.
- 8/10
THE RING 2 - coming soon
ICHI THE KILLER - Not a horror film but there are certain parts which will shock. This is a psychological thriller which will have you thinking and feeling uneasy. The gangland story is a battle between a sadist who is used as a weapon by a rival gang and a masochist who believes the kidnapped boss is still alive and sets about finding him, featuring scenes of torture and self harm. The psycholgical elements of this film are enough to have you hiding under the cover.
- 10/10
Discuss and please share your views and opinions of the Japanese horror scene.
THE RING - This chiller is very effective in bringing the fear factor through the use of a supernatural forces. This is a gradual process while a journalist is investigating the video curse. Strange characters are used to keep the fear factor in place and there are enough shocks to get the heart palpitating
- 9/10
THE GRUDGE - IMO this is not as good as a lot of people seem to think. The story of a haunted house which is cursed and people who go their may suffer the curse, although this is less effective because I don't think the build up to the climax is as good as other Japanese horrors. The strange people give more of an idea of weirdness than developing the fear component. Although this is still effective in making you think that a supernatural force may be around you. The boy Toshio keeps you wondering as well.
- 7/10
AUDITION - The best horror film of all time. The story starts off like a love story when a businessman is recently widowed and he then tries to find another partner through an Audition. He thinks he's found the ideal partner but there is something strange about her and as we are learning why, the fear response starts to come on rapidly and when a growl comes from inside a blanket and rolls over while she is in her room, your heart will rage with fear and pump faster than a bullet. Then the fear factor is kept high when he then uncovers what is hiding in the blanket.
- 10/10
PULSE - Who'd have thought a ghost story could be scary? but this film is and achieves that by confronting the issue of death which most people don't want to hear. Discussions about death and lonely images of death help bring out everyones biggest fear.
- 8/10
THE RING 0 - The history of the video curse is very successful in bringing the fear factor through certain characters and through psychological technoques.
- 8/10
THE RING 2 - coming soon
ICHI THE KILLER - Not a horror film but there are certain parts which will shock. This is a psychological thriller which will have you thinking and feeling uneasy. The gangland story is a battle between a sadist who is used as a weapon by a rival gang and a masochist who believes the kidnapped boss is still alive and sets about finding him, featuring scenes of torture and self harm. The psycholgical elements of this film are enough to have you hiding under the cover.
- 10/10
Discuss and please share your views and opinions of the Japanese horror scene.
