The influence of Asian cinema on the horror genre since the turn of the century cannot be overstated. Its unique blend of dread and moral complexity has influenced countless Hollywood remakes and inspired many original titles.
In an era when slasher films like Scream, Halloween and Saw dominated Western horror, filmmakers from Japan to South Korea chose to tell subtler, atmospheric stories that favoured minimalism and folklore over jump scares and gore.
Audition (1999)
Director: Takashi Miike
Japan
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Takashi Miike’s J-horror classic lulls you into a gradual, suspenseful drama before plunging you into one of the most shocking and disturbing final acts in cinema. When a middle-aged widower (with the help of his producer friend) stages a fake casting call to find a new wife, he becomes infatuated by the enigmatic Asami, whose dark past leads to horrifying consequences. Renowned for its startling tonal shift and gruesome conclusion, Audition will leave you either unable to look away—or retching.
Cure (1997)
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Japan
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An unsettling, minimalist psychological horror film, Cure follows a Tokyo detective investigating a series of bizarre murders in which individuals commit heinous acts while seemingly in a trance, with no recollection of their actions or the crimes they’ve committed. Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s immaculately crafted thriller helped reignite the late 1990s Japanese horror boom, paving the way for influential films like Ringu and Ju-on, which would later be remade in the West as The Ring and The Grudge.
Dark Water (2002)
Director: Hideo Nakata
Japan
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From the director of Ringu comes a restrained exploration on grief and motherhood revolving around the haunting of an apartment building. When a divorced mother and her daughter move into a rundown complex, they begin to experience unsettling water leaks and noises that lead them to a tragic history surrounding a missing child. Hideo Nakata (mainly) forgoes jump scares, instead opting for the J-horror staple: ominous dread. You’ll never look at mould the same way again.
House (1977)
Director: Nobuhiko Obayashi
Japan
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This 1970s psychedelic ghost story leans heavily into the goofier side of horror, but its absurd and nightmarish whimsy is so charming that it practically begs to be included on any must-watch list. When a high school girl visits her aunt’s haunted mansion with her friends during summer vacation, they encounter bizarre supernatural events—including a fluffy white cat that shoots lasers from its eyes and a killer piano. Perhaps the only things more memorable than its jazzy pop soundtrack and surreal, hand-made special effects are the characters’ names: Gorgeous, Fantasy, and Kung Fu.
Incantation (2022)
Director: Kevin Ko
Taiwan
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Inspired by real events and Taiwanese folklore, Kevin Ko’s found-footage horror film leverages its post-vlogger aesthetic, resembling a long form YouTube video essay rather than a dusty, old miniDV tape. The narrative shifts between two time periods, documenting the supernatural torment faced by a woman and her young daughter after she violated a religious taboo years earlier. Ko eerily innovates on classic found-footage tropes by having characters break the fourth wall, directly addressing the viewer and involving them in the resolution.
Noroi: The Curse (2005)
Director: Kōji Shiraishi
Japan
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Koji Shiraishi’s haunting entry in the found-footage genre follows a fictional documentary filmmaker investigating a series of paranormal events linked to an ancient Japanese curse. Shot in a stark, realistic style, this atmospheric horror builds an intense sense of dread, leading to a shocking crescendo. What truly sets it apart is Shiraishi’s skill in weaving together footage from varied sources—including Japanese variety shows—while preserving an eerily authentic feel throughout.
Pulse (2001)
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Japan
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It might feel like a cop-out to include two films by the same filmmaker on the same list, but any mention of Cure must also feature Pulse. This eerie, dread-inducing entry in the J-horror canon revolves around a group of friends in Tokyo who become tormented by supernatural forces emerging from a disturbing, mysterious website. Kurosawa’s cult techno horror highlights the juxtaposition of disconnect and alienation that a digitally connected society breeds and features one of the scariest on-screen walks ever committed to film.
Shutter (2004)
Directors: Banjong Pisanthanakun, Parkpoom Wongpoom
Thailand
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After fleeing the scene of a hit-and-run, photographer Tun and his girlfriend begin to notice ghostly images of a woman appearing in his photographs. As dark revelations unfold surrounding the woman in question, Shutter proves to be more than just another riff on The Ring, offering harrowing explorations of personal guilt and regret intertwined with supernatural suspense.
Train to Busan (2016)
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
South Korea
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A neglectful father boards a train from Seoul to Busan with his young daughter, unaware that a zombie outbreak is about to unfold. Train to Busan puts a unique spin on the zombie genre, confining its characters to fast-moving, claustrophobic spaces. This enclosed setting amplifies the tension and emotional stakes, turning the journey into an intense, suspenseful ride filled with surprisingly tender and heartbreaking moments.
The Wailing (2016)
Director: Na Hong-jin
South Korea
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A bumbling police officer becomes embroiled in an investigation when a mysterious illness drives his hometown into madness and murder. South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin masterfully blends elements of mystery, thriller, and supernatural horror in this gripping and atmospheric tale of panic and paranoia that permeates a rural village. The Wailing playfully toys with genres, often feeling like a “greatest hits of horror” tribute showcasing demons, ghosts, possession and zombies.
