A Basic Guide to Japanese Horror

Japanese horror films have been captivating audiences and gaining popularity worldwide in recent years. This article summarizes four characteristics typically found in Japanese horror movies and why the genre has attracted so many fans.

In general, Hollywood horror movies feature fast-paced action scenes and dramatic background music, but Japanese horror tends to be subtle and unique, differentiating and separating the genre from other types of horror. In recent years, Hollywood has started producing its own remakes of these Japanese horror movies, warranting mixed responses but also creating a name for Japanese horror abroad. Well-known reproductions include “The Ring” and “The Grudge,” released in the early 2000s. Produced as remakes in Hollywood, these movies were successful at the box-office, leading to sequels and franchises overseas. Other adaptions include "One Missed Call," based on the original of famous Japanese horror director, Takashi Miike, and "Pulse," based off of "Kairo" by Kiyoshi Kurosawa.

Four Features Unique to Japanese Horror

(1) There is No Happy Ending

In Hollywood horror, characters are usually picked off one after another, but leaving the main character standing at the end, no one survives in Japanese horror movies. There is no sliver of hope at the end of the story.

(2) More Silence Than Sound

For example, a common scene is a character notices a sign of someone behind them. The character then walks towards that direction. During that scene, there are typically no sound effects or music, thus drawing the focus of the viewer on the character and the character's movement. However, when the character realizes there is no one in the direction they are walking and turns around, there is suddenly black shadow right behind them, equally startling the character and the viewers of the film.

(3) Everyday Objects are Deadly

Stories in Japanese horror films take place in very ordinary settings that instill a sense of fear that seems logical or plausible to audiences. A woman comes out from a television set in "The Ring", and the sign of death in “One Missed Call” is a cellphone call. In other situations, a bathroom in school or bathtub in a house is a common place that something could happen in the plot. Those tools and places that are familiar to audiences give more real sense of possibility of something in the movie could happen at any time, without special circumstances or situations.

(4) Everything Happens in Tiny Closets

rror are usually limited on a small physical scale. Both “The Ring” and “Ju-On" take place in typically-sized Japanese houses in the suburbs, featuring narrow hallways and tiny closets. This is a similar technique to #3, creating a stronger sense of reality for the viewers and a more exciting and scary experience.

In Conclusion

Japanese horror movies have gained an international following and are continuing to gather popularity and critical acclaim through a growing fanbase and film adaptations in other countries. Compared to Hollywood horror and other horror genres, Japanese films feature a number of different story-telling and cinematic techniques which scare, surprise, and entice viewers to keep watching.