| Author | Message | ||
     Lincoln Brown (Lincoln_brown) Username: Lincoln_brown Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 121.220.1.140 |
Hello Huw - was after some recommendations re Asian horror flicks. You helped me out a while ago, but I can't find the thread. Watched 'Kairo' over Xmas, and I need more! Thanks. | ||
| Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.244.137.179 |
Well, I am not Huw, but I can also recommend you a few titles to check. Kairo was great indeed. Some of the following titles have had American remakes. - Shutter - Nightmare Detective - A tale of two sisters - Audition - One Missed Call - Ring - Dark Water - Marebito - Another Heaven - Ichi The Killer (not to my taste but for horror buffs a must to check out) - Ju-On (The Grudge) - Uzumaki (Spiral) - The Eye - Double Vision Not exactly horror but interesting enough: - Death Note - Haze - Tetsuo - The Host - 13 Beloved - A Chinese Ghost Story (a lot of fun and it features the best kiss in movie history) - Battle Royale - Gemini I have not yet seen the following ones (they're in the pile), but they are probably worth checking out: - Antarctic Journal - R- Point - Sick Nurses - Tokyo Gore Police (not exactly a date movie) - Spider Forest - Dumplings - Tropical Malady - Re-cycled - The uninvited Enjoy! | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.53.160 |
I'll never forget the scenes involving the actual eating of the dumplings. Impressive film. | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.4.251.92 |
Huw, or HUW?... ANTARCTIC JOURNAL sounds intriguing. But TOKYO GORE POLICE just sounds like a fun time for all.... | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 61.216.32.115 |
Lincoln, glad you enjoyed Kairo! Tom has already covered a lot of the films I'd recommend, but I'll post again a little later after I've had time to think on it and compile a list. I'm about half way through watching a new Korean film called Hansel and Gretel right now, and it is very good so far - the best 'weird' film I've seen in quite some time, I think. Some of its story elements are positively Aickmanesque. | ||
| Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.244.137.179 |
> Hansel and Gretel I forgot to add it in the 3rd category, it's also in my pile of to be viewed movies. I expect great things of it. | ||
| Laird Barron (Laird) Username: Laird Registered: 05-2008 Posted From: 71.212.78.3 |
SPIDER FOREST is good. Kurosawa's CURE is a must see. GOZU by Miike...one of my favorites, but definitely not for the casual viewer. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.242.126 |
Kurosawa's CURE is a must see. Seconded. I'd also agree that GOZU is staggering. Also see everything else bu Miike. MEMORIES OF MURDER and the VENGENCE trilogy are masterpieces. | ||
| Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.244.137.179 |
Has anyone here seen Kurosawa's SEANCE ? I'm curious about that one. I liked CURE and I also think that KAIRO is even better. GOZU is also in my to be viewed pile. Miike often disappoints me, and I guess that's why I have been postponing viewing it. BTW, a lesser known and yet strongly recommended Miike is "The bird people from China". | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 61.216.32.28 |
Seance has its moments (including a couple of well-executed creepy scenes) but it's not as strong as Kairo, Tom. Bright Future and Doppelganger are both quite good, but not horror. His more recent Loft I found hugely disappointing. I have his latest Retribution, but haven't got around to watching it yet. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.242.126 |
SEANCE seems like a loose remake of the brilliant SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON. I had a bootleg of it a couple of years ago, watched the first half...and the DVD stopped working. :-/ What I did see, though, was excellent. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.185.212 |
Lincoln, I've probably missed a few, but here's my list of Asian horror/weird film recommendations: Ring Ring 2 Dark Water Cure Korei (aka Seance) Kairo Tetsuo (also Tetsuo 2) A Snake of June Nightmare Detective Gemini Haze Marebito Juon (all 4 Japanese originals) Uzumaki One Missed Call (avoid the remake at all costs!!) Audition Happiness of the Katakuris Gozu Visitor Q Battle Royale Tales of the Unusual A Tale of Two Sisters Three Extremes (aka Three 2) The Eye The Uninvited Into the Mirror Antarctic Journal Hansel and Gretel Memento Mori The Quiet Family Memories of Murder The Host Nang Nak The Unborn Shutter Alone A Chinese Ghost Story Rouge Double Vision The following I would recommend renting - they aren't, in my view, as good as the ones listed above, but they all have some scenes that are well worth watching: Ring 0 Rasen Joyurei (aka Ghost Actress) Inugami Kakashi Reincarnation Hypnosis Three Going Home Premonition Long Dream Shikoku The Booth Junk Suicide Circle Another Heaven Tomie (various versions and sequels) St. John's Wort Vital Rasen Shibuya Kaidan Pyrokinesis Senrigan Silk The Heirloom Visible Secret R-Point Bunshinsaba Acacia Muoi The Gingko Bed Red Eye Whispering Corridors Wishing Stairs Dorm Sorum Tell Me Something H Doll Master Ryeong (aka The Ghost) The Red Shoes Inner Senses The Eye 2 The Eye 10 (aka The Eye Infinity) Re-Cycle Forest of Death Biozombie Bangkok Haunted A few I'd recommend avoiding are: Ghost System (avoid if you value your brain) Train of the Dead Jurei (shameless Juon rip-off) Letters of Death Arang Diary Return to Pontianak The Wig Pray Cello Kokkuri Guard Post Dead Waves Ghost Train I bet I've forgotten some, and you may enjoy some of the ones I listed as just being so-so more than I did. There are also several good non-horror films that I'd recommend, such as All About Lily Chou-Chou, Swallowtail Butterfly, Nabi, Il Mare, and others. I included things like Memories of Murder, The Quiet Family and Battle Royale in my lists as they all, to me, have a horrific element, even if they aren't all zombies or ghosts or what have you. Hope this helps... | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.185.212 |
Damn, how could I forget Spider Forest? Put that in the 'to see' list, Lincoln! Tom, I haven't seen a couple you listed - what is 13 Beloved about? I have a few one DVD that I still haven't watched yet - Painted Skin, 2LDK, Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Retribution - so I'll post about them later. Also, there are of course the old classics: Ugetsu, Onibaba, Kuroneko, Kwaidan, Yotsuya Kaidan are all worth seeing. Another one to miss, in my opinion - Rampo Noir. Mystery of Rampo was better, I thought. | ||
| Lincoln Brown (Lincoln_brown) Username: Lincoln_brown Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 121.220.1.140 |
Wow! Thanks Huw and Tom. Will keep me busy for a while. Much appreciated. | ||
| Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.244.130.186 |
I now realise that Huw and I have forgotten to mention two quite peculiar ones: - Electric Dragon 80000V. Not really horror but if you like Tetsuo and/or very loud rock music, it's worth checking out. - Wild Zero, one of the wackiest zombie films ever. It also features heavy rock and a scene of the band's singer battling UFOs with a samurai sword. That kind of stuff. Not really good but you may want to rent if if possible. > Tom, I haven't seen a couple you listed - what is 13 Beloved about? Ahh yes. You want to see this, Huw. You really want to. It's in essence about greed. A young clerk on the verge of being fired gets a phone call from a mysterious reality show programme that uses hidden cameras everywhere. His challenge: kill that annoying buzzing fly within 30 seconds and he'll get 200 dollars. Every following challenge is more and more perverse (would you eat that fly for money?) yet it brings also more and more money. One challenge in particular was the most difficult to watch scene I ever saw. Gimme the end of Audition any day compared to this. You'll know... I must say that it doesn't finish as superbly as it started, but it's a must see nevertheless. Optioned in Hollywood. Why is it so inconceivable for those frakkin' Americans to read subtitles ? > Another one to miss, in my opinion - Rampo Noir. Mystery of Rampo was better, I thought. ah yes I have them in my pile as well and I keep postponing them. Strange, as I do love Rampo's stories. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.198.41 |
Yes, Wild Zero is a weird one. I forgot to mention a couple of other zombie films: Versus and Stacy. mediocre really, but the latter is kind of fun if you're in the right mood (plus it makes reference to Bruce Campbell). Tom, I found 13 Beloved in my local movie/music shop today, so I'll be watching that soon (as long as it's not too disgusting). I also picked up a new Thai film called Coffin. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.37.199.45 |
It's a prequel to MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH. | ||
| Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.244.130.186 |
> Tom, I found 13 Beloved in my local movie/music shop today, so I'll be watching that soon (as long as it's not too disgusting). I also picked up a new Thai film called Coffin. Oh you will see 13 beloved completely, I am sure of that. The scene I was referring to happens quite early in the film. There is also some black humor here and there in the movie. Anyway, I've always thought that greed is a good subject for movies. For example "A simple plan" or "No country for old men". I am curious what you think about it, as I wrote above, I was a bit diappointed with the end but otherwise it's pretty interesting. "Coffin" should be rather good, or so I read somewhere (probably in the french magazine mad movies). Please inform after you saw it. | ||
| Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.244.130.186 |
Fyi here is a good review about 13 Beloved that doesn't give away more than what I wrote above: http://www.beyondhollywood.com/13-beloved-2006-movie-review/ (you'll want to see the movie!) | ||
| Lincoln Brown (Lincoln_brown) Username: Lincoln_brown Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 121.220.88.170 |
Found a few of these films at the local DVD shop - picked up the 'Ju-on' boxset (parts 1&2), 'Premonition' and 'Uzumaki'. Read some good things about 'Noroi'(The Curse), over at TLO - sounds very good, but I don't see it on either of your lists. Anyone seen it? | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.189.39 |
Lincoln, I've heard good things about Noroi - mostly from my friends at the Ring Forum and Snowblood Apple (which has some great reviews, by the way) - but haven't seen it yet. I ordered it a week or so ago, so I'm waiting for it to turn up... I thought Premonition had some good things going for it, but was let down by the bad acting. | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.189.39 |
Uzumaki is great - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! There's a lot more weirdness in the manga it's adapted from - definitely worth hunting down if you enjoy the film. | ||
| Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.243.25.24 |
The Uzumaki (Spiral) manga by Junji Ito is a true masterpiece in my not so humble opinion. It is seriously weird, better than the movie (which is interesting but it mainly limits itself to a few chapters), and towards the end in the 3rd tome displays a perfect lovecraftian feel of cosmic horror in a wholly original way, without any Old One in sight. Also typical for Ito is a peculiar mix of melancholy and horror in the finales of several of his stories. For those who have not yet read Ito, one of his short manga stories can be viewed online and it is a truly masterful weird short story, up there next to the best of, say, Lamsley, Matheson, and dare I say our Landlord. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, exhibit number one is Junji Ito's "The Enigma of Amigara Fault". You'll be hooked (mind that it's a manga hence you have to read from right to left): http://brasscockroach.com/h4ll0w33n2007/manga/Amigara-Full/Amigara.html | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.185.74 |
Tom, we've discussed this one before, and I agree with you, it's terrific. A lot of his stuff is truly bizarre and imaginative (and often not for the faint of heart). I still have that 16-volume Chinese set of his books to work my way through... Another reason I like Uzumaki (the film) is that instead of having the usual syrupy pop song playing over the end credits, it has the wonderful 'Raven' by Do As Infinity. Have you seen Long Dream, Tom? | ||
| Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.244.136.131 |
Yes indeed, we discussed Ito before, and I wanted to spread The Word to the heathens here ! This sample story should do the trick. > Have you seen Long Dream, Tom? Alas, I have never been able to put my greedy hands on it. Is it good? It's the director of Uzumaki, I believe. Of the other Ito movies I saw Tomie but I thought it rather bland and far, far inferior to the comics. I believe that Kakashi is also based on an Ito story, but I have not yet seen it either. I would love to read his relatively recent collection "Mimi's ghost stories", and I hope it gets translated soon enough to French or English. Can you read french, Huw? I have other tantalising recommendations :-) | ||
| Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.244.136.131 |
Oh, and do tell when you've seen 13 Beloved ! | ||
| Hubert (Hubert) Username: Hubert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.22.229.106 |
Very nice manga, Tom. |