Note: Movie Trailer for Densen Uta
What happens if you ask this question - what Japanese horror movies have you seen? Chances are, you'll find someone who lists the usual ones (Ringu, Ju-on, Dark Water) . At this point, if you are really unlucky, someone will jump and gush "Oh my god, wasn't that Buffy girl in that movie?" The point is, there are a lot of underrated Japanese horror movies that never make the news. The above list is good but it's not the be all and end all of Japanese horror. So ... what movies shall I list?
* Kyua (Cure)
This one is for those who like mind-games. Kyua is a really old psychological thriller by Kiyoshi Kurosawa (1997). In a nutshell, there's a serial killer on the loose and cops must find it before it is too late. I may be way off with this comparison, but something about its synopsis reminds me of Death Note.
* Shikoku (The Land of the Dead)
This is another old one from the late 1990s. Shikoku will appeal to those who love a bit of ghostly horror. If gore is not your cup of tea and all you really want is a bit of story development , this one's for you. The movie promises to be a slow buildup of the storyline and thus, don't get your hopes up about edge-of-seat thrills. I'm not saying it's bad movie; I'm just pointing out that it's not for everyone.
* Kansen (Infection)
Word of advice - watch it while you can, the "Pimp My Horror" machine has spotted this one. I wouldn't mind remakes if it's done well but so far all recreations of the Japanese works have been disappointing. It's time to talk about Kansen now! Yet another excellent movie from the 1990s, it revolves around a hospital. Combine paranormal activity with bad conduct from medical staff and then explore the story in a non-linear fashion and you get the gist of the movie. It's a mind-bender and has weird twists in the whole story. All in all, it will be a thoroughly entertaining 1.5 hours.
* Densen Uta
Densen Uta is just 2 years old and it's not really a horror in the traditional sense. In fact, its plot line can best be described as the strange lovechild of Ringu and Samurai Jack. Listen to this - people listen to the latest pop song and then they kill themselves. It's a similar concept to Ringu but with music. In all fairness, the movie is different in many ways in that it is sleek and fast-paced.
Check out the trailer here.