Now we’ve covered a multitude of top five scary lists highlighting both the supernatural
and cultural horrors of that magical and mystical place known only as Japan - but we’re yet
to dive deep into their fictional canon of cinematic works, but don’t worry - because
that’s exactly why you’re here, right?
As so far as fiction goes - we have Japanese culture to thank for so, so many works of
horror art, which have inspired countless horror series and Western interpretations
- the majority of which never truly live up to their creators.
This list is a big one, guys - because for the most part, there is nothing quite like
Japanese Horror - so without further delay, let’s take a look at the best of the best.
Hello horror fans - what’s going on, and once again welcome back to the scariest channel
on YouTube - Top 5 Scary Videos.
As per usual, I’ll be your horror host Jack Finch - as today, we curiously take a look
at the Top 5 Scariest Japanese Horror Movies.
Roll the clip.
For the curious amongst you, that clip was from Battle Royale, released way back in the
year 2000 - and as chance would have it, it’s one of my favourite movies based on one of
my favourite novels - and I’d love to stick it on this list, but unfortunately it just
doesn’t hit the correct horror benchmarks for this channels standards.
That’s why it makes today’s honorable mention - alongside other Japanese hyper-violent
dystopian classics, like Ichi the Killer, Tokyo Gore Police and Tetsuo: The Iron Man.
I hope that’s enough due diligence.
Also, I know you’re all expecting 1998’s Ringu to pop up on this list - and rightfully
so, but that films been done to death - so we’re keeping it fresh for you.
Kicking off at Number 5 - Audition, 1999
And this wouldn’t be a Japanese horror list without mentioning the man himself, Takashi
Miike - who, if I’m being honest - could make up an entire five point list of his own
with all of the horror greats that he’s managed to consistently churn out over the
years.
Audition, released in 1999 and based on the 1997 novel by Ryu Murakami - is a film like
no other, and I mean that in a good way - but the only reason that it finds itself at our
Number 5 spot - is that I’ll honestly admit, this film really isn’t for everyone.
The true terror of Audition lies in the fact that you have to fully invest yourself in
this film to truly be horrified - but when the final third act of this film plays out,
there is nothing quite like it.
And it is - messed - up.
Audition tells the tale of Shigeharu, a middle-aged widower who, at the behest of his teenage
son - begins holding mock casting auditions for young women to play the part of his new
wife.
Suddenly, he becomes enthralled by a beautiful young woman named Asami - kicking off one
of the most painfully original, intense, slow-burning descents into obsession that horror cinema
has ever seen.
And that’s all I’ll say - because for those of you that haven’t seen Audition,
I really don’t want to spoil it.
This film makes The Hand That Rocks The Cradle and Fatal Attraction look like a Saturday
afternoon kids T.V show.
It’s perhaps Takashi Miike’s greatest works of horror - and it’s definitely an
experience, to say the least.
Swinging in at Number 4 - Perfect Blue, 1997
And you may be thinking that an animated film doesn’t necessarily deserve it’s place
amongst this list - but sadly, you’re wrong - because we have to address one of Japan’s
most celebrated and captivating visual mediums - animation, which culminates in perhaps the
greatest animated depiction of horror so far in the history of anything - Perfect Blue.
And since it’s release way back when in 1997 - nothing quite like it has managed to
leave that same, uneasy - hollow feeling that you get after watching Perfect Blue.
Somehow, this film manages to make a giggling woman in a pink dress terrifying - and that’s
just scratching the surface.
Directed by the legend of Japanese cinema, the late Satoshi Kon, Perfect Blue, like many
of its successors, is based on the magna novel Perfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosis - and
it tells the tale of Mima, a famous J-Pop Singer who decides to break away from the
industry and instead take a turn at acting.
It’s safe to say that a few of her fans are distraught at her new career move - and
suddenly, Perfect Blue thematically descends into the dangers of obsession, voyeurism and
the price of losing your own identity.
It is so refreshing to see an animated film cover such weighty themes - and back in 1997
it was downright revolutionary - but Perfect Blue never once let’s up on the horror,
albeit much more nuanced and subtle than most entries on this list.
This film will leave a mark on you - like a water-painting left out in the rain.
Coming in at Number 3 - Pulse, 2001
And no - no, no - not the awful 2006 American remake starring Kristen Bell - the original.
The great Japanese horror film - not that piece of nothingness.
And it’s a shame, really - because whilst I don’t enjoy hating on anyone's visual
creation - the remake of Pulse actually served to give the original a bit of a bad rep - and
it’s never been truly appreciated by a Western audience alongside the likes of the Ring and
the Grudge.
But forget about cursed video tapes - because this film goes one better - cursed Internet,
and it manages to convincingly pull off the one trope that Japanese horror is so infamous
for - turn every day, mundane facets of life into something truly terrifying.
And that’s exactly what it does.
The thing that makes Pulse stand out from the rest of Japanese cinema, is that it doesn’t
rely on the blood, gore and innards that other films of its ilk do - but instead, unravels
itself in a dreamlike - supernatural and surreal display of psychological horror.
Pulse slowly unwinds it’s narrative in two parts - depicting the lives of a young man
and woman, who separately experience an invasion of paranormal souls into the physical world
via modern technology.
The premise rightly sounds insane, but Pulse is so surprising in it’s approach that it
will truly take you off guard - and more importantly, this film has something to say about the dangers
of isolation in our era of mass communication.
This film is really, really good - and if you haven’t seen it yet, you should.
Next up at Number 2 - Ju-On: The Grudge, 2002
And I bet you were just waiting for this film to rear its serene, expressionless, terrifying
head.
Now, if you’re asking me - I believe that the majority of Japanese cinema is split firmly
into two camps - those that depict the vile, grotesque bloody horrors of the body - and
those that rely purely on the supernatural fears of Japanese folklore.
And this film, is firmly in the latter camp - and it’s perhaps the most horrifying display
of the ghostly, Japanese yurei of legend in the whole of horror cinema.
If you’ve already seen this film - which you probably have - you’ll know that a cat’s
meow has never been more nightmare inducing.
For those of you that haven’t seen The Grudge though, it was written and directed by Takashi
Shimizu, originally being released as the third part of his Ju-On series - which the
previous installments being released directly to home video - because you know, the man
had a horrifying tale to tell - and he had to get it out there.
The narrative of the film is fragmented, slowly peeling back its mystery in a non-linear fashion,
as it tells the tale of a poor, unassuming young family who move into a new home - unaware
of it’s accursed origins.
I won’t say any more, because it’s a story worth discovering for yourself - but for me,
paranormal horror doesn’t get much better than The Grudge.
Of course it makes this list.
And finally - coming in at our Number 1 spot - Cure, 1997
And horror aside - I absolutely adore this film, because for two reasons.
Firstly, it’s a damn good horror murder-mystery in it’s own right - but more importantly,
secondly - it exemplifies everything that is so intriguing about Japanese fiction from
a Western perspective, be it literature or cinema - and it manages to sum up that strange,
powerful, surreal tone without saying a word about it.
That is a difficult thing to do.
This film is bleak - and it’s atmospheric in ways that you’ll only understand upon
viewing it.
It’s oddly familiar - but only the sense that the inner recesses of the human mind
are familiar.
And if that sounds insane - don’t worry, you’ll soon understand.
Cure, written and directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa - unravels the story of an emotionally detached
police detective - investigating a series of strange, bizarre murders - seemingly unconnected,
save for a large red-X carved into each victim’s neck.
And that’s all I’ll say, because part of the true horror of this film is in it’s
realisation, at slowly staring the darkest depths of the human psyche straight in the
face.
This film is truly mesmerising - it’s weird, it’s oddly nostalgic - it will absolutely
make your skill crawl - and it’s a thoroughbred horror in the truest sense of the word.
And if I haven’t yet sold it to you, I don’t know what will.
It’s fantastic.
Give it a watch.
Well - there we have it horror fans - our long awaited list for the Top 5 Scariest Japanese
Horror Movies.
Now, I know I won’t have pleased everyone with this list - so please, let us know your
version of events down in the comment section below.
Before we depart from today’s video - let’s take a quick peek at some of your more resounding
remarks from over the past few days.
First up, Gary Phillips Jr says --
Jack you have the best shirts, I actually named my kitten Lucipurr after your shirt
smoke catnip hail lucipurr - keep up the great work and run next time Lucy tries to shank
you.
--- Wow.
Gary.
I am truly honoured that you named your kitten in such a fitting fashion, that means the
world to me - because all cats are awesome.
Thanks buddy - and I will run, don’t worry.
On that note - that’s all we’ve got time for in today’s video - cheers for sticking
around all the way until the end.
If you were a fan of this video, make sure to hit that thumbs up button - as well as
that subscribe bell, and I’ll be seeing you in the next one.
As per usual, I’ve been your horror host Jack Finch - you’ve been watching Top 5
Scary Videos - and until next time, you take it easy.