Are you becoming weary of Hollywood’s elite releasing so many recycled horror concepts? Do classic American horror films no longer give you the chills? Yes, I understand. The best Asian horror movies may be what you need to watch right now.
You’re missing out if you haven’t looked to the East yet to satisfy your horror craving. Sure, we’ve grown used to the long-haired ghosts of Asian horror films, but there is so much more waiting to horrify you on the other side of the Pacific!
This list of the top Asian horror movies includes everything from monsters to deadly things that go bump in the night to keep you entertained until the next dreadful but “highly-anticipated” horror sequel hits theaters. You can also watch these movies online.
20 Best Asian Horror Movies You Should Watch
In this article you can find out the best Asian Horror Movies.
20. Ugetsu (1953)
Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Country: Japan
Where To Watch: Rent or Buy
Sometimes you have to travel a little further back in time to locate a fantastic horror film. We’re going back in time to the 1950s for Ugetsu, where Kenji Mizoguchi created this supernatural film based in Japan’s Azuchi-Momoyama era.
Although Ugetsu is sometimes regarded as more fantastical than horrific, it’s not an effects-laden paranormal adventure, and its use of the supernatural is effective. The horror of the spirit luring peasant farmer Genjuro and the catastrophic consequences of the civil war erupting around them remain undone by the family drama that takes center stage.
A movie that verges on the horror genre is Ugetsu masterpiece of Japanese cinema.
19. Macabre (2009)
Director: Mo Brothers
Country: Indonesia
Where To Watch: Physical Only
Often compared to Indonesia’s version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Macabre centers on a group of unfortunate travelers who discover Maya, a stunning and distraught woman who had been mugged and left for dead. Although Maya and her family are not a hideous redneck family, they do have a similar function to Leatherface’s family.
Even though Maya was initially defenseless, it quickly becomes apparent that no one could rob her and get away with it. The hitchhiking beauty is not nearly as strange as her family, who seem to enjoy some really strange fair.
Bloody and a little scary, Macabre is particularly so when you realize that Maya and her family might very well be your next-door neighbors.
18. Reincarnation (2005)
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Country: Japanese
Where To Watch: Physical Only
Do you think that people reincarnate? In any case, Professor Norihasa Omori did. Or, at least, that was his intention when he killed over a dozen people and killed himself in a hotel, hoping to gain a better understanding of what happens to those who pass away.
Ikuo Matsumura, the director of horror films, was equally enthralled with the killings as Omori was with the idea of rebirth. He therefore decides to film the murders, using Nagisa Sugiura to play the professor’s daughters.
Naturally, Sugiura discovers that it was a bad idea to bring up the hotel’s violent past when she starts to see ghostly images of Omori’s murderous rampage.
17. Alone (2007)
Director: Banjong Pisanthanakun / Parkpoom Wongpoom
Country: Thailand
Where To Watch: Netflix
In this Thai horror film about conjoined twins, Thai-German pop singer Marsha Wattanapanich makes her acting comeback after a 15-year break.
The movie turns into a terrifying ghost story with an insane twist when jealousy over a boy’s affection leads them to have an unsuccessful separation surgery.
As the two twins, Wattanapanich gives a stunning performance that demonstrates the breadth of the well-known musician’s acting abilities. Film festivals all over the world, such as Toronto After Dark and Fantastic Fest in Austin, were drawn to the movie Alone.
Alone is a fun exploration of the paranormal with some eerie effects that will appeal to everyone who enjoys a good ghost story.
16. Dumplings (2004)
Director: Fruit Chan
Country: China (Hong Kong)
Where To Watch: Prime Video
Is a movie about dumplings really that disturbing? Thanks to writer Lilian Lee and director Fruit Chan, the response is “very.” A woman looks to an unlikely source—dumplings—when she feels like her life is unraveling. But those little morsels aren’t made of pork or chicken; Aunt Mei’s recipe uses a human fetus instead.
While I don’t want to reveal too much about the more contentious aspects of the film, let me just say that Dumplings features abortion clinics, cannibalism, and incest. This is one of those horror movies that will make you feel uncomfortable and disgusted, but it’s also surprisingly entertaining, so you won’t be able to look away.
When one or two conversations delve into the specifics of the main ingredient’s texture—the dumpling—things get really strange and sickening.
15. Suicide Club (2001)
Director: Sion Sono
Country: Japan
Where To Watch: Rent or Buy
Japanese horror movies frequently address significant or contentious topics. Among these is Suicide Club, which raises awareness of suicide as well as the concept and justification for mass killings. These themes are covered by Sion Sono in a graphic horror film that has earned a cult following.
The movie centers on a string of suicides that take place in and around Tokyo, as well as the investigation into their causes. Even though the incidents at first appear unrelated, there might be a darker motive behind the spate of self-mutilations.
Even though Sono adopts a satirical tone, he doesn’t shy away from the real horrors when seemingly random groups of teenagers begin torturously killing themselves.
14. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
Director: Kim Jee-woon
Country: South Korea
Where To Watch: Prime Video
A good ghost story from Japan is always worth reading. Your playlist should start with a great one, such as A Tale of Two Sisters. Su-Mi (Im Soo-jung) is plagued by terrible nightmares when she gets home from a mental hospital. Are they artifacts created from her twisted and broken mind, or are they the ghosts of her family’s troubled past, returning to warn the vulnerable girl?
One of the best horror movies ever made in Asia, Jee-woon skillfully crafts a story that emphasizes mental illness while providing the necessary fright. The iconic Janghwa Hongryeon jeon folktale. served as the inspiration for the South Korean film, which tells a haunting tale that will stick with you.
As is customary for an Asian supernatural film, the scares are strong and the specters are terrifying.
13. I Saw the Devil (2010)
Director: Kim Jee-woon
Country: South Korea
Where To Watch: Crackle, Popcornflix, Vudu, Tubi, Pluto,
I Saw the Devil is more of a horror thriller, and it does a great job of keeping the audience on edge and uneasy. After his fiance is mutilated and thrown into a nearby stream, viewers follow National Intelligence Service agent Kim Soo-hyun (Byung-hun) on a mission of retribution.
The title is immediately justified by the eerie opening sequence, but director Jee-woon has much more in store for the audience. particularly when Soo-hyun goes on a rampage driven by his desire for vengeance.
Blood is sprayed everywhere as both men demonstrate their extreme viciousness.
12. Noroi: The Curse (2005)
Director: Koji Shiraishi
Country: Japan
Where To Watch: Shudder
Have you ever wondered how other nations approach found footage horror movies? This is your chance to find out, Noroi: The Curse. The Japanese psychological horror movie manages to avoid feeling like a rehash of a concept that has been done countless times.
The story of the film is told from the perspective of a paranormal investigator who is tasked with solving the mystery surrounding a mother and her son. The expert is up against a lethal supernatural force as those close to him begin to disappear and die off.
A tough and unrelenting film, Noroi: The Curse, has the potential to rekindle the interest in found footage horror.
11. The Host (2006)
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Country: South Korea
Where To Watch: Rent or Buy
Bong Joon-Ho unleashed a tentacled horror on South Korea prior to stunning audiences with the Oscar-winning film Parasite. The Host was faithful to monster movies even though it was a little silly, especially with the uncomplicated Park Gang-du (Song Kang-ho) leading the cast.
Though it may not have attained the same level of fame as other Asian film monsters, the amphibious monster terrifying South Korea’s Han River certainly deserves it. Its size, speed, and assortment of lethal appendages contribute to its terrifying nature, particularly for individuals who are constantly afraid of what lies beneath murky waters.
Although The Host would have outperformed the found-footage creature feature if it had done better in the American market, Cloverfield is frequently praised as the definitive monster movie of the new millennium.
10. Shutter (2004)
Director: Banjong Pisanthanakun / Parkpoom Wongpoom
Country: Thailand
Where To Watch: Rent or Buy
This supernatural horror movie from Thailand is sure to give you a spooky time. Of course, there is an American version as well, but to truly appreciate how unsettling even something as ordinary as a camera can be, you should watch the original.
Following an automobile accident that is said to have killed an unidentified woman, Tun (Ananda Everingham) begins to see ghostly images in photos he takes. His girlfriend Jane (Natthaweeranuch Thongmee) looks for answers after thinking they are the ghost of the girl they hit, but instead finds a past it was best to forget.
You’ll feel very differently about taking selfies after using Shutter.
9. Pulse (2001)
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Country: Japan
Where To Watch: Prime Video
Pulse is up there with Ringu and Ju-On as classic Japanese horror films that were pretty much obliterated by U.S. filmmakers. The 2001 supernatural horror movie sees our world being invaded by ghosts, using quite a unique medium—the Internet. Of course, the Internet of 2001 was quite a different creature than it is today, and Pulse was a clever way of using that relative newness to scare the masses.
Like many Japanese ghost stories, Pulse is filmed well and relies heavily on slow-burn tension to pull off effective scares. Its supernatural entities aren’t overdone, reminding us that ghosts don’t need to be wispy CGI monstrosities. That the movie also pits our beloved Internet as a portal for evil feels like social commentary that was maybe a little ahead of its time.
8. Audition (1999)
Director: Takashi Miike
Country: Japan
Where To Watch: Shudder, BFI Player
Oh, you already know about Audition. You absolutely do. You’ve heard of its most disturbing and grotesque scenes, but haven’t had the stomach to sit down with the full movie. Don’t just settle for hearing about the movie’s most shocking moments, however, as the real horror of Audition is woven into a dreadful tale of obsession and abuse.
There are some heavy themes found within Miike’s adaptation of the 1997 novel of the same name, and whether or not they speak to you may amplify how Adaptation affects you. The tragic life of the devilish Asamy Yamazaki (Eihi Shiina) almost makes you feel bad for her – until you remember her disgustingly horrific acts.
Even if you have to look away during the movie’s more disgusting scenes, Audition is a must-see for horror fans. Especially if you’re about to get back into the dating world.
7. Dark Water (2002)
Director: Hideo Nakata
Country: Japan
Where To Watch: Shudder, BFI Player
Oh, you saw the 2005 remake starring Jennifer Connelly and Tim Roth and don’t think you need to watch the original Japanese adaptation of Koji Suzuki’s short story collection? I really would advise you to put some time into Hideo Nakata’s 2002 film. You won’t regret it, unless, of course, you hate Asian horror movies that may actually scare you.
When a divorced mother is forced to move into a rundown apartment, she and her daughter are dragged into a a very wet supernatural horror. As hard as Yoshimi Matsubara (Hitomi Kuroki) tries to protect her daughter from the waterlogged spirit, the more she realizes the sacrifices that may need to be made.
Dark Water is a tale of love and loss sprinkled with everything needed to become one of the best Asian horror movies.
6. The Wailing (2016)
Director: Na Hong-jim
Country: South Korea
Where To Watch: Shudder
In 2016, South Korean director Na Hong-jim transported audiences to the rural village of Gokseong. This wasn’t some pleasure trip, however, as a strange man from Japan has arrived with a strange disease in tow. As the illness spreads throughout the village, it brings with it hysteria, violence, and death.
The Wailing isn’t simply a great horror movie, it’s an award-winning effort that follows a police officer as he immerses himself in the infection to uncover its origin. Watching the South Korean village crumble upon itself is both entertaining and frightening and well-deserving of the more than 60 award nominations it earned.
Don’t expect jumpscares galore as you dive into this supernatural thriller, which relies heavily on a slow burn to keep viewers at the edge of their seat.
5. The Eye (2002)
Director: Pang Brothers
Country: Singapore
Where To Watch: Shudder
Be careful whose organs you accept. It’s a strange message, but it’s sure to be your mantra after watching 2002’s The Eye. The Pang brothers and co-writer Jojo Hui crafted what amounts to a classic ghost story, complete with everything we love about supernatural flicks.
When violinist Mun receives an eye cornea transplant to cure her 18-year blindness, she finds that the gift of sight comes with a catch. Her newfound vision gives her the ability to see deaths before they happen, which could be useful if it didn’t come with the occasional horrifying ghostly visitor.
The Eye is a haunting movie that relies more on pacing and freaky ghosts to terrorize the audience.
4. One Cut Of the Dead
Director: Shin’ichiro Ueda
Country: Japan
Where To Watch: Shudder
Sometimes, the best horror movies are the ones that don’t take themselves too seriously. When Shin’ichiro Ueda released One Cut of the Dead, it’s unlikely he would have expected his zombie comedy would go on to become an award-winning film. Yet here he is, many quarts of fake blood and a $30.5 million box office later.
We’ve seen so many different zombie movies over the years, but this one is beyond delightful. Director Takayuki Higurashi (Takayuki Hamatsu) just wants to film a low-budget zombie movie, but his actors prove to be difficult. Before they can even make progress, the crew finds themselves in the middle of a real zombie apocalypse.
It’s a funny and chaotic take on zombie movies, exactly what was needed to breathe some life into a tired genre.
3. Train to Busan (2016)
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Country: South Korea
Where To Watch: Shudder, Netflix
Train to Busan isn’t your run-of-the-mill zombie movie. It’s so much better. Whether it’s the claustrophobic location of a train or the animal-like viciousness of the zombies, there’s something about Yeon Sang-ho’s zombie flick that elevates it above so many others.
The movie has a lot of heart and you’re going to love many of the characters you meet. That, of course, is mistake #1 in a zombie movie as you know nobody is off limits. Train to Busan absolutely pulls no punches when it comes to tearing your heart out and then immediately devouring it with an insatiable lust for blood.
You know you’re watching a great zombie movie when you’re fighting back tears one moment and feeling an adrenaline rush of fear the next. It’s also on Netflix if you haven’t caught it yet.
2. Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Country: Japan
Where To Watch: Shudder, Netflix
Even if you’re the most difficult person to scare, when you hear that freakish guttural death rattle, you’ll feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It’s simply unsettling, there’s no better way to describe it.
In Ju-On: The Grudge, when there is a brutal murder, a curse is set upon the location it took place. The curse manifests as horrifying pale-faced spirits that pop up at the most inopportune moments. LIke when you’re trying to cower under your comforter.
Even if Ju-On was a bad movie – which it absolutely is not – that death rattle and the long-haired specter of Kayako has rooted themselves as icons of the horror genre.
1. Ringu (1998)
Director: Hideo Nakata
Country: Japan
Where To Watch: Shudder, Netflix
If you’re one to shake your fist at the remake tendency, then you may want to shake it at Hideo Nakata. Ringu is essentially responsible for many of the Western horror remakes to appear in the previous umpteen years — and there’s a really solid reason why. Simply told, it’s a timeless horror masterpiece that leveraged our love for technology against us.
Even if you’ve watched the American version, you absolutely must sit down with Ringu. It simply does the premise of a vengeful spirit spreading its revenge via VHS tape much better. And much frightening. There’s something about that classic sequence that makes Ringu’s take of it so much better, and it’s probably that it’s a grittier movie that doesn’t have that Hollywood gloss to it.
While The Blair Witch Project was reinventing horror in the United States, Ringu was doing it in Japan.