Overturn your sense of fear! The global appeal of Japanese horror films

Hello、This is Nagano Makoto!

Don't you think of horror movies as just a scary entertainment?

If so、Japanese horror movies (J-horror) fundamentally overturn these preconceived notions。

J-horror goes beyond just a terrifying production、It is characterized by a sense of anxiety that creeps deep into the heart and a lingering aftertaste that remains after viewing。The "Ring" and "Ju-on" which have become a hot topic all over the world are great examples.。

myself、I still can't forget the night I first saw "Ring"。I suddenly stared at TV in the middle of the night、It was like Sadako was coming out, so I couldn't sleep at all.。That experience led to、I've become fascinated by the unique aesthetics and fear of Japanese horror films。

In this article、Why Japanese horror films are loved all over the world and、Here are some of the most popular works。

table of contents

1 Why are Japanese horror films attracting attention around the world?
2 Recent featured works
3 Also pay attention to masterpieces
4 lastly

Why are Japanese horror films attracting attention around the world?

1. The terrifying performances hidden in everyday life

What is the characteristics of J-horror?、Not only is it a scary look、It is a psychological sense of fear that permeates the audience's daily lives.。

For example, in the "Ring"、A familiar item called a cursed videotape is used as a symbol of fear.。The scene where Sadako crawls out of the TV screen、This is a famous scene that combines visual fear and psychological anxiety.。

myself、I can't forget the shock I felt when I first saw this scene。It was a moment when the TV at home felt like a source of fear, not just a home appliance.。

2. Cultural background and unique themes

Japanese horror movies、Weaves traditional ghost images and cultural values into the story。

For example, in "Ju-on", we use the unique Japanese concept of "vengeful spirits."、It depicts a fear of a chain of grudges。"Audition" is、The theme is the loneliness and distorted relationships of modern society。

These works are、Beyond just a horror movie、It is a window that reflects the essence of Japanese culture and society.。For overseas audiences、It also has the charm of discovering unknown cultures and values。

3. A remake that will affect the world

The popularity of J-horror、It is also reflected in Hollywood remakes.。

"Ring" and "Ju-on" are particularly successful examples.、The detailed storytelling and unique terrifying performance of the original Japanese version are appreciated.。

Recent featured works

in recent years、Japanese horror films are evolving even further。The following new releases are particularly noteworthy。

"Good luck to everyone" ：2024Works released on January 19th, 2019。Shadows floating in the darkness、This movie has a distinctive, creepy sound effect、It deeply explores the hearts of viewers。The story is about human sin and salvation.、The final developments shock the audience。
"Minna's Uta" ：Director Shimizu Takashi's latest work。The depiction of abnormalities suddenly appearing in everyday life is impressive.、The new approach of music's curse will attract audiences' interest。
"Forbidden Play" ：Films are flooded with screening offers from 47 countries around the world。This movie is、It combines beautiful visual beauty with eerie、Attract audiences with stories that contain philosophical themes。

Also pay attention to masterpieces

"ring"(1998)： The original setting of a cursed video and the iconic presence of Sadako、This is a work that is passed down all over the world。
"Ju-on"(2002) ：A depiction of the terrifying concept of vengeful spirits, unique to Japan.、It produced many remakes。
"audition"(1999)： Psychological horror masterpiece。The story that blew the viewers' hearts and the unexpected ending scene are impressive.。