What are some j-horror films that you feel don't get enough love? (particularly if there's a good dvd or blu-ray release out there) There's a lot of discussion about the big powerhouses like Kwaidan, Ringu, Dark Water, Kuroneko, Jigoku, etc. - I'm curious what your journeys have shown you, in terms of secret corners of the genre, that have truly gotten their claws in.
The Ghost Story of Yotsuya
This is a difficult one. You ask any Japanese horror filmmaker and they’ll probably state this as the prototypical Japanese horror film, and it definitely is, but it’s still completely overlooked in the West. It got a short release on Hulu through Criterion a few years back, but to my knowledge, that’s it. Not only my favourite Japanese horror film, but probably the best horror film of that decade too.
Battle Heater Kotatsu
Fantastically stylish and energetic horror comedy from the 1980s in the style of Return of the Living Dead. Great soundtrack, inventive special effects and cinematography, as well as being the only live-action horror movie I can think of that’s entirely about Tsukumogami. Sure, the film is about a haunted Kotatsu, but is it really any sillier than a haunted videotape? The director, Joji Iida went on to direct the original adaptation of Ringu with Ringu Kanzenban as well as Ranse, the discarded Ring sequel.
Blind Beast
I don’t even know if this film is well regarded or not, but I know I rarely ever see it mentioned. Directed by Japanese New Wave filmmaker Yasuzo Masumura from a story by god of Ero-guro-nansetsu Edogawa Rampo it’s a pretty wild movie despite being set almost entirely in one room. Up there with Teruo Ishii’s Horrors of Malformed Men as the best examples of the genre. Some of the most avant-garde set design you’ll ever see.
