japanese horror movies: are they much scarier than hollywood horror movies?

Philippines
March 22, 2009 12:04pm CST
i've watched so many horror movies. i've always loved watching movies that pique my curiositly. especially those that seem like they may happen in real life. but when the japanese horror movies came out a few years ago, i started getting really scared. after having watched "the ring," i was so afraid of wells and switched-off televisions! and then there was "grudge" and "the eye" and a lot of other japanese horror movies came out. very scary. many of my friends say that these japanese movies are a lot better than hollywood ghost horror movies. they say hollywood movies usually just startle you, but you're no longer afraid after the movie is over. the japanese movies, on the other hand, tend to stay with you a little longer. do you also believe this is the case? if so, why do you think the japanese are much better at horror movies?
3 people like this
13 responses
• Romania
22 Mar 09
it's true:) japaneese horror movies are the best! i saw Shutter and i was absolutley terrified. also, The Grudge is absolutely horrifing! so, yes japaneese hooror is the best!
• Philippines
22 Mar 09
shutter is also a scary movie. no wonder so many japanes movies are being "hollywoodized"!
@modstar (9605)
• Philippines
23 Mar 09
"Shutter" is Thai. Regardless, it is indeed terrifying. The Hollywood version is another thing. Lol!
@cieldz (709)
• Indonesia
29 Mar 09
shutter isnt japanese movie, but thailand horror movie... yes i love watching horror movies, especially japanese, korea, and thailand horror movies... =)
@modstar (9605)
• Philippines
23 Mar 09
Did you specifically mean Japanese horror? I'm not sure and i may be wrong but "The Eye" i think is not Japan-made. There are lots of creepy Asian horror films. Thai horror films are catching up too. Asian horror is so good that Hollywood is coming up with their own version although most of them are disappointments like "One Missed Call" and "The Eye". I can't really say that Asian/Japanese horror films are better because Hollywood has came up with the best horror films around like "The Exorcist" and "The Others". Asian horrors are more twisted i admit.
@modstar (9605)
• Philippines
29 Mar 09
I think asian horror looks a lot terrifying because of the weird ambience it creates. From music score down to lighting. Have you noticed the dark blue/blue green tint on asian horror films? I just hope they'd lessen terrorizing with too much hair. "The Exorcist" on the other hand is unique in a sense that it is satanic in nature. It's nothing about chemicals, accidents, etc gone wrong. Have you seen the Director's Cut? It's a lot disturbing. If i have to ask you, would you rather be with quiet Sadako in one corner of the room or with Linda Blair whose face is vivid and speaks Latin?
• Philippines
29 Mar 09
i would say neither, lol ^_^ i noticed the hair things with asian horror flicks as well. you can say it even exists in the philippines... white ladies here are portrayed as women with long hair.
• Philippines
28 Mar 09
the exorcist and the others are really scary. but after i watched the movie, i was no longer scared... :( but the women with long black hair covering their faces standing at the corner of the room (in japanese and other asian horror movies) really creep me out! i sometimes go home scared of dark rooms whenever i watch them, lol ^_^ hollywood movies are also scary, but they have a certain flavor that's different to that of asian movies, i guess. ^_^
@Darkwing (21583)
26 Mar 09
I've never watched Japanese horror movies but I would imagine you're probably right, in that they're especially scarey. Even some normal Japanese films are scarey. I was watching one on TV the other night about kids, and I had to switch channels! lol. Brightest Blessings, my friend.
@Darkwing (21583)
29 Mar 09
Errrrm... I know I'm a night person and a pagan at that, and I can watch most scary or bloody films you put in front of me, but maybe I'll give this one a miss!
• Philippines
28 Mar 09
oh, you realy should watch a japanese movie! i recommend "the ring." find it, please! lol ^_^ it's so good! i kept thinking of the movie days after i saw it. it leaves quite a wake. you won't regret seeing it - that is, if you won't regret getting super scared out of your wits, lol ^_^
1 person likes this
• Philippines
29 Mar 09
hahaha, i don't blame you! they're freakishly scary! lol ^_^
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
22 Mar 09
I do think that the japanese are better at horror movies. The reason is they do a lot better at the psychological aspect of it. They don't rely on blood and gore but they do have it. But they do get into our psyche!!!
• United States
31 Mar 09
Watch the japaneese version of one missed call and tell me if you were scared.
• Philippines
31 Mar 09
i've watched that some time ago. it scared me a bit, but it still made me download the ring tone. hehe. the way they presented the premise is scary, but although i am a huge HUGE fan of horror flicks, i know the ringtone is cool although it's scary. lol ^_^
1 person likes this
• Philippines
28 Mar 09
that's true; there is no gore at all. and even without the suspense in some areas of the japanese movie, i still get scared because it's easy to put yourself in the protagonist's shoes. it seems that the japanese are very good with horror movies. maybe it's because they actually really believe in ghosts. this makes their real fear very visible in their horror movies. i've watched many hollywood scary movies. they did freak me out, but only in the cinema. once i'm out, i no longer get truly scared. but japanese films are different; it's as if they can instill fear in me! lol ^_^
1 person likes this
@lazeebee (5461)
• Malaysia
31 Mar 09
Hi Sandra, I would think so. In fact, Asian horror movies are creepier - I've seen Korean and Thai horror movies as well, though I can't understand a word they say, but the subtitles are pretty good. Hollywood horror is more like an ant's bite compared to these!
@lazeebee (5461)
• Malaysia
31 Mar 09
Well, I’ve seen Into the Mirror – I think the Hollywood movie Mirrors (starring Kiefer Sutherland) used similar storyline. Others are The Red Shoes and A Tale of Two Sisters. Hope you can find these - they were maybe one or two years back.
• Philippines
31 Mar 09
i'll try to. i've heard of a tale of two sisters, but i never got to see it. maybe this time i'll get the chance... ^_^
• Philippines
31 Mar 09
an ant's bite, haha that's funny! ^_^ i kinda feel the same way, i hate to admit... ^_^ i haven't watched any korean horror films. can you suggest a few? i want to buy a few movies this week. i'm in the mood for horror flicks - perfect for the rainy monsoon this week!
1 person likes this
• Philippines
30 Mar 09
I'll go with Japanese horror movies. I think the Hollywood use too much effects and it look like more techie rather than scary, I bow down to them when using effects, but in horror? naah! BTW, "The eye" I think is from Singapore, a Chinese film ^_~ Try to watch "Shutter" from Thailand if I'm not mistaken It's creepy
• Philippines
30 Mar 09
i've watched both. made the hairs at the back of my neck stand, too.^_^ hope they make more of those... i like scaring myself, lol!
22 Mar 09
Hi sandra, I never watch horror movies as I get nightmares and I hate horror movies best of time never mind japanies ones. Tamara
• Mexico
23 Mar 09
ya its true sometimes.I saw grudge recently and i like it very much.I wish to saw its 3rd part.
@jlamela (4897)
• Philippines
23 Mar 09
I agree that Japanese horror films are scarier than Hollywood films, in fact Asian horror films are better than those of Hollywood horror films. Korean horror films are also good, but I like Japanese horror films, they are very good and you will really have nightmares after watching their horror films, just like what I had experienced after watching "The Grudge".
• Philippines
31 Mar 09
i don't think i've seen any korean horror films. can you name a few? i'd love to rent or buy them within the week. i've only watched japanese and thai horror movies so far... :(
@inkyuboz (1392)
• Mandaluyong City, Philippines
30 Mar 09
I've watched a lot of Japanese horror movies and I keep on forgetting their titles. Anyhow, to answer your question: "Yeah, indeed it is much scarier." You know why? Because they don't rely on gory special effects or anything cheesy like that. The Japanese horror films I've watched are scarier because they have pretty disturbing themes and very original plots. Hollywood horror movies are pretty formulaic and as I said, rely on "movie magic" too much.
• Philippines
30 Mar 09
i agree. after having seen so many make-up effects on ghosts and monsters, i think i'm already immune. but the asian ghosts don't even have those stick-on ugly faces; at the most, they're pale with white makeup, but that's it. instead of relying on plaster and latex and whatever makeup artists use to transform a face, they just rely on the mystery. this perhaps makes it a novel ghost, and i'm definitely not immune to ghosts that look pretty much human! even the video bit in the ring (the one that purportedly spread the evil spell) is so eerie. when i saw that video clip, it freaked me out! to think that video clip had absolutely no suspense - no surprising scene with the loud sound effects that go with it, no sudden close up on someone scary, etc. if you've watched "the ring," you might be pleased to realize you're still scared days after you've watched it... ^_^
@CMTS_87 (1339)
• Philippines
23 Mar 09
I think japanese horror movies are scarier than american horror movies. And this is evident during the first half of of the decade wherein japanese horror movies are ll over the place.
@russso (1693)
• Philippines
27 May 09
I prefer Japanese Horror Movies over American Horror Films. ... two-thumbs up for execution. The setting used in Japanese Horror Flicks are also more scary. That alone gives an eerie effect already. I'd also like to add that the musical scoring is always very effective in giving that terrifying feeling. I always get nightmares after watching a Japanese Horror Movie.
@shhheila (1845)
• Philippines
28 Jul 09
asian films are much scarier than US horror movies. try watching COMING SOON - its a thai horror movie. it really scare me. japanese movies are also great... like the grudge, one missed call and the ring.