Japanese Horror Full List
An extensive list of Japanese horror films including some more obscure titles! I would advise sorting my iMDB rating because some of these films may not be to your tastes.
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- DirectorHideo NakataStarsNanako MatsushimaMiki NakataniYûko TakeuchiWhen her niece is found dead along with three friends after viewing a supposedly cursed videotape, reporter Reiko sets out to investigate. She finds the tape, watches it and receives a phone call informing her that she'll die in a week.The one that started it all.. Based on the Koji Suzuki book, this fantastic film is a classic. Does not feel dated and feels real unlike the American remake, which does not compare.
- DirectorTakashi ShimizuStarsYûrei YanagiYueRyôta KoyamaA teacher visits the house of one of his students after the boy goes missing, only to have a horrifying excuse for his absence from school.
- DirectorTakashi MiikeStarsRyo IshibashiEihi ShiinaTetsu SawakiA widower takes an offer to screen girls at a special audition, arranged for him by a friend to find him a new wife. The one he fancies is not who she appears to be after all.A strange one, utilising atmosphere and strange imagery, not relying on shock value until the end, this is a really well directed and beautiful looking horror film, focusing on moving on from past tragedy.
- DirectorTakashi MiikeStarsTadanobu AsanoNao ÔmoriShin'ya TsukamotoAs sadomasochistic yakuza enforcer Kakihara searches for his missing boss he comes across Ichi, a repressed and psychotic killer who may be able to inflict levels of pain that Kakihara has only dreamed of achieving.A bizarre film that has aspects of horror mainly due to its extremely gory nature, this is a another great Miike flick, with a true sense of individuality that sets it aside from its manga counterpart.
- StarsRen ÔsugiNaoki HosakaTomoko NakajimaAfter his wife is murdered, a homicide detective develops multiple personalities and takes revenge on her killer. Years later the killer seems to reappear from the dead.
- DirectorTakashi MiikeStarsYûta SoneKimika YoshinoShôhei HinoA yakuza enforcer is ordered to secretly drive his beloved colleague to be assassinated. But when the colleague unceremoniously disappears en route, the trip that follows is a twisted, surreal and horrifying experience.A film you need to watch twice. Essentially this is an anti-film that acts as a theatre display. The dialogue is absurdist, helping the horror aspect. It is however, a very funny film.
- DirectorHideo NakataStarsMiki NakataniHitomi SatôKyôko FukadaReiko takes Yôichi into hiding when her son begins to display frightening powers. Meanwhile, Mai Takano and the authorities begin a desperate search for them, as the mysterious Ring curse spreads.The better of the Ring sequels, watch this one before Rasen. (Discounting Birthday which I believe to be the second best in the series, the only serious contender with the original).
- DirectorJôji IidaStarsKôichi SatôMiki NakataniHinako SaekiA young pathologist seeks answers to the mysterious death of a friend and soon comes into contact with the same cursed videotape that caused the death of the friend's wife and son, which is haunted by the curse of Sadako, a relentless spirit.A terrible sequel to a classic movie. Makes no sense. The book this is based on is the one to check out, very intelligent and articulate, whilst this comes off as a very bad adaptation. There is a cool autopsy scene and that's essentially it..
- DirectorNorio TsurutaStarsHiroshi MikamiNoriko SakaiMaki HorikitaA newspaper predicts the deaths of a man's (Hiroshi Mikami) family members and friends.
- DirectorMasayuki OchiaiStarsMichiko HadaMari HoshinoTae KimuraINFECTION takes place in a dark, isolated hospital, where a doctor's mistake has led to dire consequences for a patient.
- DirectorTakashi ShimizuStarsYûkaKarinaKippei ShînaA Japanese actress begins having strange visions and experiences after landing a role in a horror film about a real-life murder spree that took place over forty years ago.
- DirectorTakashi ShimizuStarsShin'ya TsukamotoTomomi MiyashitaKazuhiro NakaharaA fear-obsessed freelance cameraman (Shinya Tsukamoto) investigates an urban legend involving mysterious spirits that haunt the subways of Tokyo.
- DirectorShin'ya TsukamotoStarsTomorô TaguchiKei FujiwaraNobu KanaokaA businessman accidentally kills The Metal Fetishist, who gets his revenge by slowly turning the man into a grotesque hybrid of flesh and rusty metal.The splatterpunk movie Tetsuo. A masterfully created film that is just awesome to watch. The film has this emphasis on speed and frantic movement that does not allow you to stop for a second. This is a great film.
- DirectorShin'ya TsukamotoStarsTomorô TaguchiShin'ya TsukamotoNobu KanaokaWhen metal-worshipping fanatics abduct his son, a father unleashes his dormant destructive power, as his naked rage transforms the once-feeble flesh into a grisly symbiosis of metal and tissue. Who dares to defy the ultimate body-hammer?A good sequel. A lot of charm is lost here, but if you enjoyed Tetsuo, you'll enjoy this too. I haven't added Tetsuo 3 for a reason..
- DirectorOsamu FukutaniStarsChisato MorishitaKenji MizuhashiYûko NakamuraAfter a group suicide, two journalists investigate the cycle of suicides caused by spirits bound by the Suicide Manual.A somewhat underrated film about a cursed videotape that makes the viewer want to kill themselves, this drew many parallels to the Suicide Club and Ring, however this was simply based on the Suicide Manual, a Japanese book that simply tells how to kill yourself. A very slow and depressing film, this is certainly not for everyone
- DirectorYûichi OnumaStarsShin AdachiNozomi AndôYûko DaikeThere has been a surge in the number of people killing themselves; a mysterious DVD is found on the bodies of the victims. Nozomi falls under the spell of a deadly cult. Yousuke, the policeman she is dating, soon realizes that the cult has something to do with the DVD. Then one day all trace of the group disappear along with NozomiEssentially the same film as The Suicide Manual with better visuals.
- DirectorKiyoshi KurosawaStarsKôji YakushoManami KonishiTsuyoshi IharaAn experienced police detective has to investigate the murder of an unknown woman dressed in a scarlet dress.
- DirectorAtaru OikawaStarsMiho KannoMami NakamuraYoriko DôguchiA traumatized young woman is trying to recover her memories with the help of a psychiatrist. During her hypnosis sessions, she repeats the name "Tomie" but is unable to recall where she knows it from.A favourite of mine, the film Tomie. Many despise this film, but because of my attachment to the manga this was based on, I couldn't help but enjoy this film. Spawned as many sequels as Tomie's clones but check it out. Make sure to find a good subtitle track if you can't read Japanese; if you can't check out the manga, you'll love it!
- DirectorShun NakaharaStarsNozomi AndôAoi MiyazakiJun KunimuraTomie terrorizes an artistically inclined young girl and her widowed father, slowly integrating herself into the family.
- DirectorTakashi ShimizuStarsMiki SakaiSatoshi TsumabukiKumiko EndôAn art student disappears after murdering his model. Now his friends and family are being haunted by the resurrected woman, Tomie.
- DirectorToshirô InomataStarsRuna NagaiAkira HiraiChie TanakaThe mysterious Tomie, the girl who cannot die, makes her way through three separate eposodic stories of terror.
- DirectorNoboru IguchiStarsMoe AraiMiu NakamuraAika OhtaA photography student's life takes a turn for the worse when her dead sister is welcomed back into the family home.The trashiest of the sequels. When one Tomie meets another they have a face off but unlike the John Woo film, there are no shootouts, this is a dry and unseasoned film. Only for the real devout Tomie fans out there.
- DirectorHiguchinskyStarsEriko HatsuneFhi FanHinako SaekiThe inhabitants of a small Japanese town become increasingly obsessed with and tormented by spirals.Titled Uzumaki and based on a Junji Ito manga, this film does not particularly stick to its source material but demonstrates an extremely eerie atmosphere unseen in many other Japanese horror films. The DVD is very expensive but it's worth it to watch this strange movie.
- DirectorTakashi MiikeStarsKen'ichi EndôShungiku UchidaKazushi WatanabeA troubled and perverted family find their lives intruded by a mysterious stranger who seems to help find a balance in their disturbing natures.A cool movie, I don't care for it so much, but Visitor Q himself is a great character. This is a pretty gross film, not gory so check it out.
- DirectorKiyoshi KurosawaStarsMasato HagiwaraKôji YakushoTsuyoshi UjikiA frustrated detective deals with the case of several gruesome murders committed by people who have no recollection of what they've done.One of my favourite films ever, let alone Japanese horror cinema, a crime horror film about murders with no apparent motive. The murderers turn themselves in. Over the film you learn why and how this happens and the ending cements how dangerous power can manipulate.
