Asian Horror 101: Ten Pre-Remake Originals You Need to See
by Brian Tallerico

Hypothetically, let's say you can't talk your girlfriend into going to see The Eye this weekend, or you're understandably wary of yet another Asian horror remake that didn't screen for critics. If any of it is true, we have a much, much better way to spend your weekend. For those who still have a craving for something horrific and are curious about where the seemingly endless trend of Asian remakes started, The Deadbolt has assembled our own list of ten great Asian horror movies (including the original Eye) to check out. But don't consider this list the "be-all-and-end-all," it's just the tip of the iceberg. If you're one of those horror fans who can discuss the entire Tartan DVD catalog at length and have seen movies like Bloody Reunion, Arang, or Cinderella, then these ten humble choices will seem awfully "mainstream." Consider it "Asian Horror 101", a list of ten good-to-great movies that will give the average Joe an idea why so many of these flicks are being remade nowadays. Why almost none of them work in the English language is a feature for another day. Rent any one of these films (if you can find them), and you'll be better prepared for The Eye and whatever (and we're sure there are many more before the well runs dry) comes next.

Brief Disclaimer: After some consideration, we're not including the brilliant work of Chan-wook Park (Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, and Lady Vengeance) because, while we stretch the definition of "Asian Horror" with at least one inclusion on this list, Park's work would be going too far. All three of Park’s movies are far more dramatic than horrific. But if you want to see Park horror, check out the anthology film Three Extremes, which features the grotesque short film "Dumplings" by Fruit Chan, the fun "Cut" by Park, and the twisted "Box" by Takashi Miike.

In Chronological Order:

1. Ringu (Japan, Hideo Nakata, '98)

Often referred to as "the one that started it all," Hideo Nakata's Ringu has held up surprisingly well over the years, even if it's almost more interesting now as a reference point to identify where all the movies that have ripped it off in the last decade went wrong. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Koji Suzuki, Ringu draws its plot from an old Japanese folk tale, but it gives the fable a decidedly modern spin, playing off our fear of the technological world (the most common theme in J-horror). In case you're completely unfamiliar with the film that spawned several sequels, a TV show, manga, a video game and two American adaptations, Ringu tells the tale of a cursed videotape and, no, it doesn't star Paris Hilton. Seven days after you watch the tape, you die. And it ain't pretty. By blending mystery (What does the tape mean? What's really happening after seven days?) with a ticking clock, Nakata made a masterful horror film, one that will regain the luster it has lost because of its rip-offs as time passes. After all these years and countless similar films, the final fifteen minutes of Ringu is still some of the most powerfully terrifying celluloid shot in the last few decades. Be careful not to watch it alone in the middle of the night. You might have trouble sleeping. Or watching TV ever again. Or answering the phone. Let's just say, it could lead to a bad couple of nights.

2. Audition (Japan, Takashi Miike, '99)

Takashi Miike is one of the most deranged, bizarre, original filmmakers alive, and he's worked in essentially every genre of film, usually in the same year. For the pure gore-hound, Audition may not be the one to watch, but it features one of the most terrifying shots in the last decade (you won't look at burlap sacks the same way again) and a final reel that's unbelievably memorable. With Audition, Miike is warning us to be afraid of everyone, even the quiet girl down the street. (She might be crazy.) Playing with themes of obsession and revenge, Audition tells the story of a middle-aged widower who starts dating again through a mock-audition process set up by a film producer friend. He finds a young woman who plays the part of "normal" very well, though she's anything but. Urban legends persist about audience walkouts in the final reel of Audition and legendary shocker Rob Zombie even claims to have had difficulty watching the end scenes, which feature some of the most riveting torture ever put to film. It's not often cited, but considering how big a fan people like Eli Roth are of Miike, it's not hard to draw a parallel between Audition and the recent, mercifully terminated "torture porn" trend. Forget all the critical dissection. the infamous torture scene earned its way all the way to the #11 spot on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments EVER. You need to see that, don't you?

3. Battle Royale (Japan, Kinji Fukasaku, '00)

We’ll admit, Battle Royale is not directly a horror film and fans could easily argue that it's more of an action movie, but it's a masterpiece and features a plot that's pretty horrific if you think about it. So horrific in fact that it hasn't been released in the States, even on DVD. You'll need to go to Ebay, the coolest video store in town, or find a friend who's done the work for you to see Battle Royale. Trust me, it's worth the work. Battle Royale is about a group of students who are kidnapped by the Japanese government and selected to participate in the title game, a tournament created by the Millennial Educational Reform Act. Gassed, kidnapped, and left on an isolated island with metallic collars to monitor them, the students are instructed that only the last one standing will leave. And they can't wait it out. After three days, if one of them isn't the last one standing, the metallic collars will kill them all. The Japanese government labeled the film crude and tasteless, but it went on to be nominated for several Japanese Academy Awards and become an instant cult hit around the world (partially due to it never finding a distribution agreement in the States, making it "forbidden fruit"). Inspiring countless knock-offs since its release only just over seven years ago, Battle Royale is one of the most fascinating action films of the last decade and a must-see for any Asian movie fan, horror or otherwise.

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