Japanese horror movies have long been a fan favorite because of their innovative way of combining traditional ideals and myths with innovative technology and storytelling to both thrill and horrify audiences. By looking at the cinematic elements in some of Japan’s most popular horror movies, we can better identify key themes and understand what elements serve to make these films so scary and so popular.
“The Ghost Story of Yotsuya”
“Ghost Story of Yotsuya” the 1959 film directed by TokaidoYotsuya, is representative of the traditional Kaidan genre. The plot revolves around the ronin Tamiya Iemon who lives a double life as a samurai while secretly killing women. When he cause the death of his wife Oiwa, her ghost sets out to take her revenge. The film is based on an old folk story passed down through generations of Japanese families.
The setting of “Ghost of Yotsuya” is feudal Japan. The traditional setting connects it to Kaidan’s pre-westernized style. Technology used in this film is relatively old, mainly relying on costume and storytelling instead of special effects to create horror. This film was among one of the first to use color technology. The bright reds of blood, the changing of the spirit’s color, and color coming through the misty environment all suggest horror.
The story steadily builds following the steady fall of the ronin, climaxing at the point of Oiwa’s death. The family is very traditional, with Oiwa’s father clearly the head and dictator of her life until she becomes the ronin’s wife and he takes on that role. The use of samurai’s as protectors of the land is also prevalent. Honor remains a theme, the dishonor of murder is the precursor to all of the action in the film.
As a ghost, Oiwa is presented in her white burial robes. Her wild haired appearance is common in Kaidan style. I learned that traditionally a woman’s hair is always combed and carefully styled; the wild hair depicted in horror movies shows that something is amiss with the woman. In this case it indicates that she is a ghost. Oiwa’s face is also deformed with her left eye bulging contributing to her grotesque appearance. The film closely resembles a work of Japanese theater.
“Ringu”
“Ringu” the 1998 film directed by Hideo Nakata, is a very scary and popular movie that spurned several sequels and remakes. The film tells the story of Shizuko Yamamura and her daughter, Sadako. The setting is Oshima Island where the psychic abilities of a mother and daughter garner the attention of a researcher interested in the study of ESP . However when a test malfunctions, Sadako’s abilities transforms. Thirty years after the event strange deaths are still reported in the area. A reporter Reiko, sets out to determine the cause of the deaths that leads her to a video tape. She discovers that all who watch the tape die exactly seven days later.
The plot gradually builds with spooky imagery, and ends in a rather chilling climax. The film takes place mostly in modern houses, emphasizing the normality of the setting, leaving the viewer to fill as if this could be their own home. The nearby seaside and wooded areas also figure into the plot.
In this film, technology becomes the villain itself. The use of a video tape as a predecessor of murder was rather unique. Dark moody lighting and eerie sound effects also contribute to the atmosphere. The ticking of a clock representing the seven day time limit contributes to a sense of urgency.
The girl ghost character is shown usually in a simply white smock with long hair disguising her face. The awkwardness of her gait and long hair are the only indicators that she is not “right”. There is little to no gore, blood, or disfigurement in the film. Instead the film uses its masterful storytelling and imagery to build an intensely psychological thriller. The imagery of “Ringu” is outstanding, particularly in the video tape itself! The video consists of such normal yet chilling images that sick with the viewer long after watching “Ringu”. The mix of normalcy and horror make the film seem very real and even more terrifying.
“Cure”
The 1997 film “Cure” directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, is characterized by its ever evolving characters. The main character Detective Takabe, is investigating a number of violent murders whose only commonalities are the methods used. Struggling to find a connection, she eventually stumbled upon Mamiya, a medical student studying the theories of Mesmer. Mamiya is connected to all of the murders but can’t remember anything.
Identity remains the predominate theme throughout the film. The plot builds as the characters discover new aspects of the identity and the identity of the killer. Moment by moment clues are revealed, challenging the view to help solve the case.
The setting is a modern urban environment that is chilling because of its run down appearance. Sound helps make the murder scenes even more unnerving. Blood and gore is moderately. The film is gritty and dark. The ‘X” cut into the throats of the victims is imagery that is associated with this film. The audience’s inability to fully understand the characters and their motivation is the most chilling psychological aspect of the film. There are only moderate supernatural undertones, such as the connection with Mesmer. However, the villain is clearly human and more serial killer than supernatural being. This film seems to destabilize what we know about identity.
“Séance”
The 1999 film “Séance” also directed by Kurosawa Kiyoshi, is also an intense psychological thriller. The plot revolves around a woman wishing to advance her career as a medium. The woman, Junko’s ability to see the dead adds the supernatural aspect to the film. Ironically Junko is called upon by the police to use her gift to find a missing child that we find out is found at Junko’s home.
The plot builds steadily as we see Junko become more and more haunted by the spirits around her. There are many ghosts throughout the film, all leading police to eventually doubt Junko and lead them to find out about Junko’s wrong doing. Together supernatural is woven through social commentary about power. Junko is afraid of her own powers. The trait that makes Junko successful also leads to her downfall.
The film doesn’t focus much on the visual aspects of the ghost instead constructing the environment and actions of the haunted to convey that spirits are about (Foutz, 2012). The acting throughout “Séance” is the most convincing horror aspect. The lighting and use of sound effects also enhance the eerie mood. Since one of the main characters is a sound effect artist, sound plays a crucial role in the film. Ambient noise and electromagnetic drones are used to unnerve the viewer.
A dismembered arm that appears to move on its own indicates that everything we think to be true is not, the dead is not at rest. This film is also unique in that the audience both dislikes Junko and at the same time feels sorry for her (Foutz, 2012). It is clear that she is in outcast because of her abilities, but because of her ambition she made some very poor choices. Junko represents an abnormal woman trying to survive within a normal society.
“Dark Water”
“Dark Water “is a 2002 film directed by Hideo Nakata. “Dark Water” is a prime example of how setting can really enhance a film. Much of the film is shot in black and white or muted colors. It takes place in a dilapidated apartment building. The long dark hall ways, banging elevators, and isolated stairwells add to the feeling of discomfort. The plot revolves around a young mother and her daughter who move into the apartment building (Rucka, 2012). A girl with a raincoat appears to the two. After the sighting the mother is continuously tortured and mentally broken down by the spirit.
The characters are a bit underdeveloped but relatable in the since that the young mother wants nothing more than to protect her daughter and fears her ability to do so (Rucka, 2012). The horror continues to build until finally culminating in the mother’s total breakdown. This film presents the audience with a family crisis.
The lighting is a key aspect of the film; dark and shadow contribute to the spooky environment. Shots of color in the black and white world are indicators of the supernatural, such as the girl’s yellow raincoat or the red bag that continuously reappears. Sounds effects such as creaking and banging are also chilling. One never knows if they are the result of the creaky apartment building or the spirit haunting the mother.
“Juon: The Grudge”
“Juon: The Grudge” directed by Takashi Shimizu, follows social assistant Rika as she visits a family and is cursed by two spirits. The family appears to be an everyday family in an everyday house, but as the plot develops we learn that the home harbored some dark secrets. The house is clearly a focus of a “Juon” who inhabits it. Everyone who lives in the house or visits it disappears.
Cinematically “Juon: The Grudge” is a textbook horror movie. The lightning is dark and moody. Special effects and sound effects are incorporated to contribute to the horror. The Juon manifests in the form of a woman, a boy, and a cat. The cat is representative of a bakeneko, a monster cat of Japanese folklore. Children house ghosts are also very common in Japanese horror films. The appearance of these ghosts indicates that they are pale with unnaturally dark eyes.
The pace of the movie is very slow and the home is mostly quiet. At the most intense moments this silence is broken by terrifying screams and strange noises that shock the viewer out of their loll. Dark shadows play across the scene and inspire fear of the unknown. The film also uses flash backs and dream sequences to help explain the story. A fear of the house is almost as strong as the images of the spirits who inhabit it.
“Audition”
The 2002 film “Audition” directed by Takashi Miike, it alternates between time periods and dream/reality sequences. The main character is a young dancer, who the viewer first senses is vulnerable. Until it is revealed that she is the villain of the piece. Her innocence is a mask for her ploy to entrap men. Much of the film takes place in a “forbidden” room where she seduces Ishibashi. The room employees lighting and sound to contribute to the building intensity. Often the audience expects something is amiss but cannot see it. These blind spots add to the suspense.
Nudity, blood, and gore are all used. One unique feature of this film is that beauty also becomes a predominate theme. The killer in this case is a beautiful young woman and many of the shots and staging emphasize this trait and add a sexual element to the film. The director frequently uses Dutch angle, to symbolize confusion and horror. The idea that beauty can also be sick and twisted adds an unusual irony.
The man begins to suspect the dancer when he has intense dreams of torture and discovers a man were she used to work was dismembered. The intense and graphic torture scenes throughout the film are deeply disturbing and take viewers through a roller coaster of emotion as they try to decide what is real and what a dream/hallucination is.
“Reincarnation”
The 2005 film “Reincarnation” directed by Takashi Shimizu, explores ideas about reincarnation and karma ("Rinne-reincarnation," 2012). The plot revolves around film director Ikuo, as he sets forth to direct a film about a mass murderer ("Rinne-reincarnation," 2012). As filming begins, the cast sees some very odd things, and suspects that one of the victims may be haunting the set.
The settings include the film set and a remote hotel where the murders took place at. The remoteness and isolation of both locations adds to the feeling of fear. The ghost is shown as a spooky female child. Other than her demeanor there are no other “tells” that she is supernatural. Imagery of blood, gore, weapons, and hanging bodies all add to the suspense. Technology such as CGI and sound effects help build the strange sightings throughout the film. This movie within a movie keeps the audience on edge and struggling to determine what is “real” and what is not.
“Battle Royale”
The 2000 film Battle Royale directed by Kinji Fukasaku, is set in the near future Japan. Government has taken control of juvenile delinquents by exterminating teenage children. The teens are brought to an island and forced to kill off one another.
Violence is very prevalent in this film. The director doesn’t shy away from showing the brutality of the killings. Imagery of blood and gore is prevalent. There is a sense of irony the children are both victimized by being put in this situation and yet also the killers themselves. This dystopian setting plays on human fear of government control and economic collapse. Psychologically the film asks questions about what will happen to humanity in the future. The isolated island setting adds to the fear of being alone with those waiting to kill you hiding just out of sight. The island is quite except for the frequent attacks spurned on by a fury of sound effects and screams. The shots pan across the island leading the viewer to try and determine where an attack will come from next.
Overall Japanese horror movies ranges from traditional ghost/haunted house demographics to intense psychological thrillers. The creative takes on the horror genre have spurned countless remakes and sequels of these movies, a credit to their global appeal. Japanese legends and myths are often explored. Most focus on storytelling to convey a sense of horror. Tension typically builds throughout the course of the film. Mastery of lighting, sound, and filming techniques are used to thrill and horrify the viewer.
Works Cited:
Foutz, S. (2012). Seance. Retrieved from
Rucka, N. (2o12). Dark water. Retrieved from
