Top must-watch Japanese Horror films to watch on Netflix
I know for a lot of people this spooky month is all about reaching the best horror films and to have a jump or two out of a good movie, with that in mind I welcome you to my selection of pieces created just for that, give you as many chills as possible, so let’s start with a little bit more of information on the genre as I like to just know a little more about everything, just as many of you reading this article.
Japan is one of the places where the supernatural tales and legends have been more popular, mainly about ghosts and urban legends. What makes the Japanese Horror film industry most appealing it’s its simplicity; always counting on an original story. Japanese horror films are part of the genre known as J-Horror, and it focuses on psychological terror using elements such as ghosts, that are known in the Japanese folklore as yūrei, toping among the film industry and also in Onryō stories, meaning, ghosts that come back to the physical world to generate unrest, generally motivated by a sense of revenge and are usually women dressed in white, with their faces covered by long black hair altering their features and causing fear. The Japanese often portrait the yūrei dressed with funerary kimonos and long dark hair. Originally the yūrei were represented in the art and theater as common folk, but their style changed in the 18th century. Since then the ghosts have that spectral appearance and for some reason the yūrei are often represented as female characters.
The yūrei tend to torment one person completely, or being in a specific place. Given that the yūrei have a specific reason for coming to this world, they don’t attack other people that are not related to them.
There are other characteristics that distinguish the Japanese Horror such as:
- The universe is governed by rules.
- These rules go beyond human comprehension.
- Modern society does not offer protection against spirits and ghosts.
- Perseverance against imminent destruction.
- Watery scenarios (ghosts are associated with water).
With that being said, let’s start with the list of films to give you a wide open eye all nighter:
Kisaragi Station
Year: 2022.
Runtime: 1h 22m.
Director: Jirô Nagae.
On January 8, 2004, Hasumi shared a bizarre tale on 2channel. She woke up on a mysterious train with all passengers asleep, no stops, and no accessible staff. After an hour, it stopped at Kisaragi Station, but online users could not find it. Hasumi exited, tried to call for help but could not be located. Strange events unfolded, and she ventured into a tunnel. A one-legged man warned her, then dissapeared. Panicking, she fled further into the dark tunnel. Afterwards, a stranger offered a ride to the mountains. Hasumi’s last message was eerie, hinting at impending danger.
Lesson of the Evil (Aku no kyôten)
Year: 2012.
Runtime: 2h 9m.
Director: Takashi Miike.
Seiji Hasumi is an English teacher graduated from Harvard University, very loved and respected by his students and colleagues. He returns to Japan to pursue his carrer as a teacher after working for two years in an investing bank in Europe. Behind his facade, is hidden his terrible nature, masking his sociopathic behavior and no regard or empathy towards other human beings.
Having killed his parents at age 14, Hasumi becomes a calculative and clever killer. Discover his ways on this intense horror film.
Be sure to download NordVPN to be able to access this film beforehand.
As the Gods Will (Kamisama no iu tôri)
Year: 2014.
Runtime: 1h 57m.
Director: Takashi Miike.
Shun Takahata, a typical second-year high school student, experiences a drastic shift in his life when he is unexpectedly thrust into a deadly series of children’s games, including “Daruma-san ga Koronda”. Losing these games means facing a fatal consequence. With no insight into the game’s orchestrator, Shun is left with one imperative-to keep winning, ensuring his safety and that of his childhood friend, Ichika. Amidst this perilous situation, a troubled classmate, Takeru, appears to take pleasure in the chance to endanger his fellow students’ lives.
Stigmatized Properties (Jiko Bukken: Kowai Madori)
Year: 2020.
Runtime: 1h 51m.
Director: Hideo Nakata.
Yamame Yamano, portrayed by Kazuya Kamenashi, is a struggling and little-known comedian. His senior comedian advises him that he could potentially land a TV gig by staying at properties notorious for their connection to past murders. Intrigued by the prospect, Yamame Yamano embarks on a peculiar journey, spending his nights at these eerie and stigmatized locations. During his stays at those properties with dark histories, he finds himself entangled in a series of bizarre and inexplicable supernatural events.
Liverleaf (Misumisô)
Year: 2018.
Runtime: 1h 54m.
Director: Eisuke Naitô.
Haruka, a newcomer at her school, faces relentless bullying and torment from her classmates, with just one shining exception. Mitsuru, her sole friend, becomes her source of solace, making the ordeal of attending school and facing life’s challenges more bearable. However, the situation takes a dark turn when Haruka’s life is plunged into chaos as her family’s home is engulfed in a devastating fire. Tragically, her parents lose their lives in the inferno, and her sister sustains severe injuries. This catastrophic event fuels Haruka’s desire for retribution, a thirst for justice, and an unquenchable yearning for vindication.
One Missed Call (Chakushin ari)
Year: 2003.
Runtime: 1h 52m.
Director: Takashi Miike.
A strange and unsettling phenomenon unfolds as individuals begin receiving eerie voicemail messages from their future selves. These messages contain the chilling sound of their own reactions to violent deaths that await them, and the messages also bear the harrowing details of the exact date and time of their impending demise, all meticulously logged. As the story unravels, the surviving characters find themselves drawn deeper into a web of enigma and foreboding. Their quest for answers intensifies, driven by the hope that unraveling this mystery may hold the key to preserving their very lives.
You might get tangled too in this mystery, be sure to ensure your connection and download NordVPN to access this content.
It Comes (Kuru)
Year: 2018.
Runtime: 2h 15m.
Director: Tetsuya Nakashima.
Hideki’s life appears idyllic, residing with his stunning wife in their new suburban apartment. However, a fateful phone call from a colleague shatters this tranquility when he’s informed of a visitor waiting at his office. Arriving at the reception, Hideki is perplexed to find the visitor has vanished, leaving behind a cryptic message bearing his unborn daughter’s name, “Chisa”.
Two years later, their lives take a sinister turn as the colleague dies under mysterious circumstances, and their home becomes the target of a malevolent presence. Fearing for his family’s safety, Hideki seeks aid from a journalist named Nozaki and a renowned exorcist. Together, they embark on a quest on a quest to unravel the enigmatic forces at play. However, what they encounter transcends their wildest imaginations, thrusting them into a realm of terror beyond their comprehension.
Hiruko The Goblin (Yôkai hantâ: Hiruko)
Year: 1991.
Runtime: 1h 29m.
Director: Shin’ya Tsukamoto.
A school stands upon one of the Gates of Hell, a malevolent portal where legions of demons await their release to wreak havoc upon the Earth. From this nightmarish abyss, Hiruko, a cunning goblin, is dispatched on a reconnaissance mission to the mortal realm. His macabre objective: to behead students and utilize their severed heads to complete the spider-like bodies of waiting demons.
Amidst the mountain terror, Hieda, an intrepid archeology professor, and Masao, a tormented student plagued by evil forces, resolve to unravel the gruesome deaths plaguing their school. Their quest for answers leads them to a confrontation with the enigmatic Hiruko, and they find themselves locked in a fierce battle for survival against the sinister forces that threaten to engulf their world.
Remember to secure your connection and download NordVPN now to watch this film.
Prophecy (Yokokuhan)
Year: 2015.
Runtime: 1h 59m.
Director: Yoshihiro Nakamura.
Gates, the enigmatic leader of a group known as “Shinbunshi” orchestrates a peculiar collective donning newspaper masks. They disseminate internet videos, serving as an unconventional conduit to disclose their vigilant brand of justice, targeting individuals they believe have committed transgressions that fall beyond the purview of the law. In parallel, Erika Yoshino, a high-ranking investigator hailing from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s cyber crime division, undertakes the formidable task of tracking down the elusive Shinbunshi members and quelling their unorthodox vigilantism.
As the pursuit intensifies, a surprising twist occurs: Shinbunshi gradually garners the sympathy and backing of the public through their thought-provoking videos, blurring the line between right and wrong in the eyes of the masses.
Homunculus
Year: 2021.
Runtime: 1h 55m.
Director: Tsakashi Shimizu.
Susumu Nokoshi, once a corporate professional, now lives a homeless existence at a Shinjuku park at the age of 34. His life takes a bizarre turn when he encounters Manabu Ito, a medical student searching for volunteers for an unconventional surgical procedure called trepanation, involving drilling a hole in the skull. Though initially uninterested, Susumu agrees when offered 700,000 yen.
Post-operation, an eerie transformation occurs. When he closes his right eye and peers with his left, he witnesses people distorted in appearence. Manabu elucidates that this distortion reveals hidden facets of the human psyche. Susumu, now endowed with his extraordinary perception, connects with individuals harboring dark, concealed aspects in their subconscious minds.
There you have some horror to check out, some of the titles might not be available in some regions, so feel free to download NordVPN to access these titles completely and don’t miss on any of them, enjoy.
