Written by Clare Tibbits

Edited by Matt Wilson

 

I’ve always enjoyed a nice, gory horror flick – the trashier and bloodier the better in my opinion – especially the classic slashers of the 70s and 80s (films like ‘Black Christmas’ and ‘Halloween’). That is until I was introduced to the revelation that is A-horror. Whilst retaining the gore-factor that I so guiltily crave, Asian horror films seem to have developed an air of sophistication and an ability to realistically portray the more sinister aspects of the human condition (something that Western blockbusters often lack), creating truly beautiful art amidst the rabble. Here's a rundown of my favourites:-

KOREA- A Tale of Two Sisters (Janghwa, Hongryeon) 2003

Based on an ancient folktale, Kim Jee-woon's ‘A Tale of Two Sisters’ was one of the first A-horror films I was introduced to, and it sparked an ongoing love of all things Korean. Following the lives of sisters Su-mi and Soo-yeon as they return home after an unexplained stint in a mental health facility, this film lays claim to some remarkable acting, and an incredibly poignant and intricately constructed plotline, as it explores the evolution of human relationships within the family dynamic. The flawless cinematography, and the haunting classical and original soundtrack are cleverly taken advantage of to support each slow revelation and develop the audiences understanding of the characters and their story. The mood that results is an eerie, yet beautifully artistic atmosphere that is a joy to watch.

JAPAN- Audition (Ôdishon) 1999

“Words create lies. Pain can be trusted.”

Initially met with a series of audience walkouts, Takashi Miike’s ‘Audition’ has since developed cult-like infamy for having some of the most unbearable scenes of torture in film history. For me, it ticks all the boxes of a good horror film; a single man, a secluded house, a young girl, and blood everywhere, though not from who you’d expect. After losing his wife, Shigeharu is persuaded by a friend to hold fake auditions for a non-existent film in an attempt to find himself the perfect replacement, but first impressions aren’t quite as they appear. For those looking for an adrenalin rush this probably isn’t the film for you, as despite its scenes of prolonged and graphic torture ‘Audition’ is actually pretty light on the jump-scares. Instead it makes its mark as more of a psychological drama, reminiscent of the work of David Lynch, where the line between reality and surreal fantasy is hard to distinguish. Admittedly this film is pretty heavy on the horrific imagery, but the sharply constructed narrative perfectly highlights the sinister limits of human nature, leaving you wondering just exactly what you yourself would be capable of doing to another human being under the right circumstances.

THAILAND- Sick Nurses (Suay Laak Sai) 2007

Since the release of films such as ‘The Beach’ and ‘Only God Forgives’, and the increase in middle-class student travel, Thailand has become known for its idyllic beaches and impressive night-life-on-a-budget. It is a place to ‘find yourself’, but amongst these other qualities its contributions to the horror scene have been seriously underestimated and undervalued. Like the Japanese, Thailand seems to have an affinity for exploring the extremes of the human condition, and Piraphan Laoyant’s ‘Sick Nurses’ is no exception. After a group of nurses kill one of their own they must deal with the consequences of her vengeful spirit, in a typically bloody fashion. Whilst the majority of the gore is reserved for the latter half of the narrative, the rest of the film is still a lot of fun to watch and Laoyant’s black humour keeps the audience entertained throughout. Although ‘Sick Nurses’ has been criticised by some for falling back on the typical Japanese ‘Onryo’ ghost character, I think that the impressively bloody death scenes instead show the film begin to evolve and distort the cliché, and move beyond the usual revenge storyline to highlight the ghost’s sadism and revelry in her actions.

CHINA- Ab-normal Beauty (Sei Mong se Jun) 2004

Director Oxide Pang tends to focus on the psychological condition of his characters and ‘Ab-normal Beauty’ does not disappoint, with particularly cunning cinematography and sharp post-production that creates an unnerving and obsessive vibe throughout the film. The atmosphere Pang develops reflects the protagonist, Jiney – a woman obsessed with capturing the moment of death on camera – perfectly. The first half of the film is deliberate and beautiful, and focuses on exposing the world of the protagonist in an almost biographical fashion, following her descent into obsession rather than packing in the standard preamble characteristics of a horror film. Yet Pang intercuts this slow development with scenes of surreal violence and gore ; yet another example of the blurred lines between fantasy and reality , and slyly drops hints about his finale with each sinister ‘episode of decay’ that Jiney encounters. Though slow-burning to begin with, patience pays out as the final half an hour turns all your preconceptions upside down and leaves you reeling, and obsessed.