Which type of horror films do you tend to find scarier? The gruesome american ones with lots of blood and monsters? or the east asian - in particular japanese - films which use more of a realistic sense of fear - creating an atmosphere that could haunt you when you're alone in the semi-darkness.
The reason im asking this is: an english mate of mine found zombie movies like dawn of the dead scary, but not japanese directed movies like the grudge (the hollywood one was directed by a japanese so is essentially east asian in style) or the ring. I did not find any dawn of the dead, chainsaw massacre or movies like that scary at all, but about a day after watching the grudge - i kept getting freaked out when hearing noises in my roof and when i saw the back of my mum's black, asian hair (which looked like that of the grudge). and also, after the ring, i found it hard to look at the reflection of a television that wasn't turned on - we have three in our house).
[question posted by glra2222]
responses and comments:
Definitely the Japanese horror types, because although you might not be that scared while watching it, the movies tend to stay with you and are still scary hours after you've finished watching them. The gory ones, well, they don't scare me at all, yeah, they can be jumpy because of the loud music and random startles but that's not really horror, you're just shocked when you see those scenes and the experience lasts only until you're inside the theater. You're right, the other kind does have a tendency to haunt you and make you think, long after the movie is finished, plus they're more realistic, in terms of true stories and ghost stories that we've heard our whole life, and that really hits home, but a zombie is hardly real and you know that's definitely no chance of actual existence with those. [vega83]
I am a big fan of the horror genre! and enjoy both types of it! the American slasher movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Zombie flicks like Dawn of the Dead. But one thing that gives American Movies the edge over their Asian counterparts is that American movies are fast paced whereas movies like Grudge are a bit slow to begin with! but that doesnt mean they are not scary!! in short i love both types! [destroyer]
I'm also a horror fan and i have to say that japanese horrors are way scarier! Although i've seen some good american ones like The Blair Witch Project 1 that haunt me long after i finished seeing that movie. I was also impressed by a thai movie that i've seen some time ago - highly recommendable for asian style lovers - The Shutter. [september_1st]
Asian horrror films are far more scary, Evil little girls are soo scary [rekkusu]
For me it's definitely Japanese movies. There's a bit in the second Ringu movie that still freaks me out just thinking about it even though the rest of the movie isn't that good. A movie such as Dark Water was also scary because it deals with a ghost and the atmosphere is very oppressing. [5000ml]
None are really scary if you understand the nature of evil and know that you are watching a movie. We don't get too concerned about anything we watch unless it is the House of 1000 corpses. That got pretty intense and it appears to have happened for real at some point. yuck. Grudge was simple and there was a need for the spirit. Really like the Ring, poor little girl. Zombies are intense yet with the right tools manageable. We do like a movie to leave some things to the imagination since it is better normally than anything that can be shown on the screen. [Willowlady]
i agree. after about a week, the grudge monster started to look unrealistic in my mind and that's when the fear started to dissipate. in fact, now whenever i picture that monster i see the cg animation and laugh at how much she looks like golum from lord of the rings. [glra2222]
I really dont prefer to watch horror movies.... even if i watch one i dont get scared... touchwood...!! But Zombies are an exception... i get scared only because of the Special effects and the Surround sound...!! Otherwise i could even walk a lonely road with being scared ..!! [nash2060]
Well.. japan horor is more scary -hiiii- Mandarin horor, korean also scary... Now western movie also try to do like Asian way... but I think there are still more daylight in western horror movie... in Asian movie, I'm stuck with the darkness all the time [femimi]
definitely, that is what really makes them asian movies more scary - the fact that they are almost always set in dark lighting. in fact - the times i find scariest at home is not pitch blackness. its the times when it is very dim - especially when my room looks blue. i think they use blue filters in these movies to make them look scarier. [glra2222]
Oh the Japanese ones are definitely the ones that scare me most. The Japanese original of "The Ring" was much scarier than the Hollywood version and as for "The Grudge" .... I was freaked out by that movie for days!! I think they're more effective at scaring us because they're not so "obvious". They're more atmospheric than most of the American ones which tend to be more gruesome. [Stiletto]
japan films. american films are ok, but who doesnt love getting scared to hell by a small girl comming out of a tv? [DexterMarcus]
hahaha, yeh, but some people are not scared of this - very wierd - but i suppose they find us weird. [glra2222]
i kind of like asian horror films, they make me scream out loud! horror films here in the philippines are still corny and not scary at all. [laiza14]
I'm a fan of horror movie.The Japanese horror films is the most scarest.The scene is not very horror,but the voice of the atmosphere is so ... In a word,I like the horror movie . [Chelseachan]
Horror films that I find the most scariest are those Japanese NC-17 horror movies. Those films show every little gory details. Its is really scary and not only that, its also disgusting at times. There is just way too much details involved. But that's because its those NC-17 movies. Those moves are like illegal in all 50 states (not really, but you can't find 'em in block buster). Those horror movies that involves monster and weird looking creatures and scary at all, they just look like something that absolutely can never happen. If anyone is looking for a real thriller, then you just gotta check out a Japanese NC-17 movie. These don't have any monsters in them, the horror comes from violent, gory, realistic scenes. PS.> I'm not a weird freaky person who adores these movie. They are just fun to watch with friends. [sir_talk_alot]
well im too not scared of japanese movie or even on our local movies..im most afraid of the haunting and drakula thing shown in hollywood.. [vanities]
I find it japanese horror movies are most scary, and i really love to watch, though i love horror movies still i dont dare to watch a japanese horror movie alone,. [jonastabuena]
The Japanese ones... I was also freaked out after I had seen The Grudge. I have seen mnay American style horror films and none so far has got me as scared as that one. [Nottie]
actually the american grudge was directed by the same japanese director as his original ju-on grudge so that is why it was actually more scary than other hollywood horrors - it was good for me because i was really expecting something corny. ju-on 2 was also good and actually quite smart with some original plots - you should watch that - its the japanese grudge 2. the american grudge 2 is actually different from ju-on 2 because the same director did not want to repeat his old story - i still haven't watched it yet but need to watch it - now, i can only watch it with someone else becuase i do not want to watch it alone. [glra2222]
well scary movies are not much good and i don't like them that much and what i like the most in that is that the are not scary but i find it funny. [Talha22]
i don't like zombies or american ghost cause they look fake enough... the one that relly take out my heart was those movies involving sprit which dont need a monster. for example "what lies beneath" and "the ring". the other movie like the grudge also freak me out especially the Japanese version one. Usually the revenge spirit will freak me the most [hjhafiz_82]
Yes, I agree with you. THe scariest movie i have watched is the ring. And the original movie was made in Japan. That was really scary. That was the most scariest movie i have watched.I can't forget that movie. It took me a month before i got over it. I was always thinking that the ghost will come out of my tv. hahaha. It did got into me big time!. Goodluck! [haedescanes]
Actually I'm getting bored of horror films now,cause they tend to show the same thing.I have the same feelings Janpese film can scare from your heart not from your eyes or ears maybe that's why the horror feelings tend to stay with you much longer. But I do like the tense air of the American films like the chase,searching and killing,feel really good. [mailovee]
I absolutely LOVE horror films, I can't get enough of them, especially the slasher movies with Jason Vorhees and Michael Myers, you know the Halloween and Friday 13th. My favourite films were Hostel, Saw and Hellraiser trilogy. I think the slasher movies are not that scary, films that make me jump are the scariest, when you are least expecting something and then whoosh! To be honest I couldn't stand The Grudge, I watched Children of The Corn II last night and even that I found tame. I have yet to watch Saw 3 and have been told that this is really really scary, so fingers crossed. I hate zombie flicks they are more humurous than scary. [wolfie34]
children of the corn's the funniest movie ive ever seen! hahaha i never found saw scary - just a bit annoying - but i guess it works for me - hostel and the hitcher would be the same. [glra2222]
Yeah, I don't like blood bath horror movies. It leaves nothing to the imagination. I like to horror movies to stick with me at night so that I can't sleep and I have to sleep in between my parents or curl up with my sister. LOL. I liked "the Others" I was so scared that I had my eyes close during most of the movie. [natalie1981]
I like horror movies of all kinds but I'm growing tired of the newest things to come out in the theaters. They are so typical and predictable. I hate when I already know what is going to happen before it does. I prefer the old Classic scary movies like Halloween and Friday the 13th. Back when they first came out they were really scary but now when I watch them I laugh at how stupid they are. I can't think of a single horror movie that really scares me. I wish film makers would come up with some better material. Even The Grudge and The Ring were weak to me. My son is studying film at his high school right now and hopes to get into the film industry after college. His preference is horror/scary movies but he wants to bring back the 'scare' of the old classic movies only better.. more current. I hope he does! [HeavenUnaware]
I agree the Grudge was scarier to me to then Dawn of the dead. [Shaun72]
If I watch the entire movie 'Arachnophobia', I get creeped out by every little movement. My favorite is 'Friday the 13th', any of the 11 movies from the set. I like alien movies, serial killer movies, psychological. Actually, I can't think of many I don't like. I think the scariest ones are the ones that take place elsewhere. Like 'Wolf Creek', 'Hostel', and 'Tourista'. We have a Wolf Creek, Oregon, and as a matter of fact, it's about 9 miles down the road, and it's about as scary. I hate the movies that are really quiet until something happens. I jump more because of the sudden noise than because I am scared by what I see. It's annoying. I also like movies that deal with real life stuff, like 'Jaws'. Sharks really exist and they really kill people. Scary. [jessigirl116]
I have a real talent for freaking myself out after I have read or seen a scary book or movie. Every little thing freaks me out no matter how totally illogical I remind myself it is. I mean, hey, the same noises were there before I saw/read, but now I am just being hypersensitive to them. Unfortunatley, it doesn't work. The Ring scared the daylights out of me. The Grudge was on tv a few weeks ago but I didn't dare watch it,even though I saw the reviews and it looks brilliant. I just thought, 'why do that to myself?' Zombie movies don't bother me at all. They remind me of watching things like Creature from the Black LAgoon and such when I was small. They are a bit nostalgic, if anything. [Woodpigeon]