One thing that has allowed the horror genre to thrive and evolve in the way it has, is that it is universal. Every culture has its own ghost story or folk tale designed to shock and frighten any who dare to listen. Some of the scariest stories come from Japanese culture, and this is evident in the imported horror movies from the country.
Updated September 23, 2022: It’s difficult to narrow down the best horror movies from Japan, but if you’re a fan of J-horror whatsoever, we’ve updated this list of essential titles for you to check out.
From the early yōkai films with supernatural spirits and the giant monsters of its kaiju movies, to the psychedelic freak-out movies of the ’60s and ’70s and the modern, disturbing nightmares of its modern movies, Japan has always been a dominant force in the world of cinematic horror. Honestly, each decade of Japanese cinema has multiple masterpieces in the horror genre, from Kwaidan and House to Jigoku and The Suicide Club, but here we present a more succinct list of the most important. These movies are so influential, that many of them were remade into American movies. From ghosts and demons to monstrous madmen, here are some of the best Japanese horror movies.
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12 Godzilla (1954)
Toho
The kaiju genre is one of the most popular subgenres of Japanese horror, and no monster is more iconic than Godzilla. Over 30 Godzilla films have been made, and the character became mostly known for fighting other giant monsters. It may not seem scary today, but the origins of the original film were bred from pure terror: the horrors of nuclear warfare.
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Godzilla was released in 1954, just nine years after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The terror felt during these attacks was still felt throughout the country, and that is where Godzilla comes in. The character was born from nuclear energy and he has one thing in mind: destruction. The original film doesn’t feature monsters fighting each other, or Godzilla protecting Earth from an alien threat. Godzilla was the physical manifestation of nuclear destruction.
11 One Missed Call (2003)
The American remake of One Missed Call was critically panned when it was released. Because of the film’s less than stellar reputation, many fans will opt out of seeing the original from the great Takashi Miike. This is a huge mistake, as the original is a much better film. Based on the novel Chakushin Ari by Yasushi Akimoto, One Missed Call sees people receiving mysterious voicemails from unknown numbers. The messages are dated several days in the future and contains audio of the recipient dying. When the date the message contains arrives, the recipient dies in unnatural and brutal ways. When a young girl receives a message after losing her friends, she must solve the mystery before her time arrives. The movie is filled with J-Horror tropes that will be familiar to fans of the genre, but it is still a creepy and effective film.
10 The Depths (1957)
The Depths (also known as Ghost Story of Kasane Swamp) is a chilling tale about revenge and sacrifice. The film relies heavily on atmosphere to convey its message (like Ugetsu and other early, dread-filled Japanese masterpieces), and it sticks with anyone who watches. The film follows a young couple whose fathers killed one another many years ago. The two try to travel through Kasane Swamp, where their fathers’ spirits rest. The movie is a cautionary tale about revenge and anger and remains one of the most popular J-Horror films from this era. The movie was remade several times, but most agree the original is the best version of the story.
9 Audition (1999)
Omega Project
Equal parts taut thriller and disturbing horror, director Takashi Miike helmed the lauded 1999 film Audition, following recent widow Shigeharu Aoyama as he sets out to find a new bride under the guise of a mock casting audition. Aoyama believes he found the perfect partner in the beautiful but reserved Asami, and the pair swiftly begin a courtship.
It doesn’t take long until the widow and audiences realize Asami is not what she seems, and the film takes a brutal and hair-raising turn as her disturbing and unhinged tendencies are revealed. The movie includes difficult-to-stomach torture scenes and a gruesome final sequence that left both viewers and critics stunned. Audition has been praised for its inclusion of themes like feminism and misogyny, as the vengeful Asami is fueled by her disgust and rage towards men.
8 Horrors Of Malformed Men (1969)
Toei
Even a title as eye-catching as Horrors of Malformed Men can’t prepare the viewer for what this film has to offer. A mental patient realizes a man who looks exactly like him had died. The man pretends to be his resurrected doppelganger to escape and travels to an island to discover who his late doppelganger was. He then discovers the base of a crazed scientist who performs sick operations on people to make them “perfect.” He soon realizes his own family’s connections to the scientist, which is where the real horrors begin.
On top of having an intriguing mystery, the film has some truly disturbing imagery involving the human test subjects. Horrors of Malformed Men is fascinating, yet hard to watch at times. This is a film that has truly earned the name of its genre, and though it may not be one of the most important horror movies of all time, it is still one that deserves to be seen by horror fans.
7 Cure (1997)
Daiei Film
Having an engaging horror movie is one thing; adding in a mystery plot that grabs viewers and refuses to let go is something else entirely. More than a modern murder mystery, Cure follows a detective as he attempts to solve a string of grisly murders. Each victim has an X carved into their neck, and the culprit is always found nearby. The problem is, none of the supposed murderers has any recollection of their crime. The detective quickly realizes there is more to this case than meets the eye, and he is desperate to find out what. Cure is a thrill ride from beginning to end, and began a string of horror masterpieces from director Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Few films can shock and intrigue audiences in such a way as this.
6 Pulse (2001)
Pulse (or Kairo), another masterpiece from Kiyoshi Kurosawa, is unique in that it features two storylines that run parallel with each other and eventually intertwine. The film follows two groups of people as they discover spirits are attempting to enter our world via the internet. In 2001, the internet was still relatively new and to some, scary. This film taps into that fear by suggesting there is something waiting in the World Wide Web. Something waiting for the right moment to strike and enter the human world. The film received the English remake Pulse in 2006. The remake, written by Wes Craven, was panned almost immediately. Even though it is far, far from Wes Craven’s best movie, the American remake somehow received two sequels.
5 Noroi: The Curse (2005)
Cathay-Keris Films / PMP Entertainment
Found footage horror is hit or miss. Sometimes it is by the numbers and dull, while other times it is chilling and engaging. Noroi: The Curse is very much the latter. The film is composed of supposed footage of an unfinished documentary made by a paranormal researcher. She went missing, and this footage was all that is left. This may sound like one of the countless Blair Witch ripoffs, but it arguably takes what that film did and make it better. The movie truly feels like it is found footage, and the uncanny realism makes the experience that much more terrifying. From open to close, the film’s scary imagery and unsettling, creepy atmosphere will latch on to the viewer. Odds are this film will still be felt long after viewing is over.
4 Onibaba (1964)
Taho
Onibaba is almost always mentioned when the topic of Japanese horror is brought up, and for good reason. The film is a period piece set in the fourteenth century, when two young women kill soldiers and steal their possessions. They soon realize the error of their ways when a samurai in a demonic-looking mask appears and enacts retribution. The film is a drama as much as it is a horror, and the two genres mix seamlessly and blend to create a fun and suspenseful time. The mask of the samurai is horrifying and sticks in the mind of the viewer for a long time. This samurai could have easily fit among the ranks of other horror legends had he returned for sequels.
3 Ju-on: The Grudge (2002)
Lionsgate Films
Whenever Japanese horror is mentioned, two films are almost always brought up. The first one is Ju-on: The Grudge. Takashi Shimizu’s film is about a vengeful spirit that punishes anyone who enters the house in which it resides. The movie is terrifying and chilling in all the right ways. Even the most grizzled horror hounds find this film a spine-tingling experience. The iconic spirits are still terrifying audiences to this day, and the groaning sound they make continues to be imitated. It is no surprise this movie is considered one of the best international horror films of all time. The film received an English remake in 2006 and took on a life of its own. What many people may not know is Ju-on: The Grudge is actually the third in a series. The first two were Ju-on: The Curse and Ju-on: The Curse 2.
2 Uzumaki (2000)
Tidepoint Pictures LLC
In his outstanding directorial debut, Higuchinsky brought to life a terrifying manga that centers on the small, cursed town of Kurouzu-cho where its residents become obsessed with spirals, a fixation that leads to people turning violent against themselves and others on their quest to create the mysterious curve. Uzumaki is a gruesome and chilling horror flick that is based on the Junji Ito manga series and features the town’s inhabitants taking their own lives in various creepy manners, such as crawling into a washing machine, using a power drill to the eye and stepping in front of a moving vehicle. Higuchinsky employs a spine-tingling atmosphere and unnerving build-up as the movie progresses, and viewers will definitely turn squeamish as they witness the residents spiral into madness and mayhem.
1 Ringu (1998)
While it could absolutely be argued that this is not be the scariest Japanese film of all time, it’s probably the most important and essential, as it popularized and defined J-horror around the world. Everyone knows the story of this film: a videotape is circulated that contains random and disturbing imagery. After the tape ends, the viewer’s phone rings, and a voice warns them they have seven days to live. True to the spirit’s word, the recipient dies a horrible death seven days later.
Ringufollows a reporter as she fights to get to the bottom of this sinister mystery. This film not only reached worldwide success, but it also kicked off the trend of American remakes of international horror when it was remade as (the actually good) The Ring in 2002. This movie spawned several sequels and spin-offs, one of which crossed over with Ju-on. Regardless of all the follow-ups, none come close to the horror masterclass of the original.
