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| karasu99 254th Post
 
Copper Customer
    
|  "Japanese horror films anyone?" , posted Sat 2 Jan 03:15
I thought I would begin the new year with a request for guidance from everyone.
I've seen a few Japanese horror movies, Ringu being the most memorable (and most famous). I've seen a few others, some good, some bad, but I don't even know where to start to find the best ones.
For example: During Xmas week I traveled to see my family, and rented Rinne to watch on the flight there. It was... so-so. The conceit was interesting, as was the punchline, but it wasn't ever especially scary. Another well-reviewed film I've seen is Uzumaki, which while frightening was somewhat spoiled by the almost laughable special effects.
I should also note that I rarely enjoy recent western horror, mainly because of its large-scale transition in the last decade from fright-based and/or supernatural themes to films seemingly written and filmed with the intention of lovingly depicting scenes of torture (the Saw series being the most notable example). I'm not squeamish, I just don't care for watching movies about torture, and I'd rather be frightened than grossed out in any event.
What I'm really looking for is a film that's truly frightening, with the sort of nightmare imagery presented in Ringu, but without the trappings of modern western horror. And if possible, decent special effects rather than silly looking CG scenes of people being killed in a clothes washing machine. Anyone have any suggestions for my viewing pleasure?
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| nobinobita 672th Post
Red Carpet Regular Member
  
   
| "Re(1):Japanese horror films anyone?" , posted Mon 4 Jan 19:29:
quote:
I've seen a few Japanese horror movies, Ringu being the most memorable (and most famous). I've seen a few others, some good, some bad, but I don't even know where to start to find the best ones.
You might want to check out these films: Kwaidan, Jigoku and Gozu.
None of these are horror films exactly, but they may pique your interest. Kwaidan and Jigoku are real gems from the 60s, when Japanese studio system films were starting to get really bizarre. They are highly stylized and breathtakingly beautiful at times (especially if you are into East Asian paintings and theater/kabuki/chinese opera). The sets, costumes, cinematography and colors are tops. They might not scare you, but they are very moody. Quick word of warning, many people find Kwaidan to be exceptionally slow.
Gozu is a Takeshi Miike film from a few years back. It's not traditionally scary, but it is CREEPY AS HELL. It's one of his better looking movies and it maintains a very queer and unnerving atmosphere throughout. If you feel like watching something extremely surreal and eerie I suggest you go into Gozu cold without reading any story synopsis or reviews.
[this message was edited by nobinobita on Tue 5 Jan 08:59] |
| karasu99 256th Post
Copper Customer
| "Re(2):Japanese horror films anyone?" , posted Wed 6 Jan 01:40
Thanks, everyone, for your recommendations. I've had Pulse on my DVR for over a year now, so I think it will be good viewing this weekend, and a quick check of my local rental place's inventory shows that they have almost all of the films mentioned by everyone. The reason it's been hard for me to decide what to watch is that they not only have a Japanese film section-- they have an entire seven or eight shelves just devoted to Japanese horror. And a whole section for Japanese erotica, I should note.
Incidentally, Nobinobita, I've seen Kwaidan several times, and loved its pace and its beauty. In fact, it's probably one of my all-time favorite Japanese films, but honestly it's so beautiful that I have trouble counting it as a horror film-- it's more of a ghost movie. I'm going to focus on seeing Gozu, but I will avoid the temptation to read even a description of it, per your suggestion.
Also, on the subject of beauty in film, I should mention that while I really dislike Uzumaki and found Rinne to be unremarkable, their settings alone made them worth seeing-- I mean, that abandoned-looking coastal town in Uzumaki was breathtaking, and maybe it just drew my attention to the laughable special effects. And the early '70's era hotel in Rinne-- wow.
But I'm drifting off topic, aren't I?
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| Toxico 4834th Post
Platinum Carpet V.I.P- Board Master
    
     
  
|  "Re(4):Japanese horror films anyone?" , posted Wed 6 Jan 04:57:
quote:
Would we consider Tetsuo: The Iron Man horror? Or really upsetting art project, perhaps? That movie messed me up pretty bad the first time I saw it, but that probably has a little to do with the fact that I was 11. The third Tetsuo movie is coming this year! Exciting!
I had the experience of watching the first black and white Tetsuo movie in an old school cinema. The movie itself is not meant to be an horror movie per se, the movie just attempts to show you how cool looking can be that your whole body is starting to mechanize, all of this with wonderful low budget effects. Everything in the movie is secondary, the plot, the character interactions, the comprehensiveness of the pacing; everything falls on it kneels just to show you the special effects. The 80s version kinda looses the feel, because it follows the same premise; but you can't really go "whooa" to the freakness of the special effects
On topic, you should stay the hell away from The Call... It doesn't matter which version.
目に焼きつけて、死ぬがいい・・・
Translation txt currently off line.
Now sponsoring : video game analogies (ES)
Last update : Chapter 14 as of 11/12/09
[this message was edited by Toxico on Wed 6 Jan 05:01] |
| Ishmael 3653th Post
Platinum Carpet V.I.P- Board Master
| "Re(3):Japanese horror films anyone?" , posted Wed 6 Jan 05:43:
quote:
Thanks, everyone, for your recommendations. I've had Pulse on my DVR for over a year now, so I think it will be good viewing this weekend, and a quick check of my local rental place's inventory shows that they have almost all of the films mentioned by everyone. The reason it's been hard for me to decide what to watch is that they not only have a Japanese film section-- they have an entire seven or eight shelves just devoted to Japanese horror. And a whole section for Japanese erotica, I should note.
It sounds like you're suffering from an embarrassment of riches. While I'm sure there's a lot of good stuff in the horror section -and probably the erotica section, depending on what the store feels falls into that genre and what you feel like watching- trying to watch the store's entire stock wouldn't be the best way of finding the best material. I've been trying that method with my Netflix queue and while I've come across a number of gems I may have otherwise missed I've also watched more junk than I really want to think about.
You have probably already come across both of these films but I might as well add them to the thread.
Janghwa, Hongryeon / Tale of Two Sisters: The movie sometimes veered off into melodrama and the plot got a bit jumbled toward the end but I remember enjoying the way it updated Gothic horror to a modern setting and the sense of loss that permeated the film.
Honogurai mizu no soko kara / Dark Water: Hideo Nakata covers a lot of the same notes he hit in Ring but the film still stands on its own. Although it is not the major aspect of the work, Dark Water is also probably the most effective film about the horrors of bad rental property I've ever seen.
Oddly, both these films have had US remakes. The differences between the versions could make for some interesting viewing. Also, both of these films are good representations of the feminine perspective that ran through a number of the recent horror movies that came out after Ring.
EDIT:
quote:
I had the experience of watching the first black and white Tetsuo movie in an old school cinema. The movie itself is not meant to be an horror movie per se, the movie just attempts to show you how cool looking can be that your whole body is starting to mechanize, all of this with wonderful low budget effects. Everything in the movie is secondary, the plot, the character interactions, the comprehensiveness of the pacing; everything falls on it kneels just to show you the special effects. The 80s version kinda looses the feel, because it follows the same premise; but you can't really go "whooa" to the freakness of the special effects
I once met someone who felt that the first Tetsuo was all about growing up gay in Japan in the 1980's. That's as good an explanation as any, I suppose.
[this message was edited by Ishmael on Wed 6 Jan 05:48] |
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