The Catalyst

By Rachel Davis, Reporter

Popularized by American directors, an increasing number of remakes of Asian horror films have appeared in theaters. Movies such as “The Ring”, “The Grudge”, and “Shutter” have gained notoriety in the Western world, but they’ve also created some unfair misconceptions; whether as a result of misguided directing or the natural tendency to create tropes for a genre, many generally assume that if a scary movie comes from Asia, it’s going to involve a lot of creepy pale girls with long black hair. But while said creepy girls (called onryou, or vengeful ghosts) do play a major role in several films, they’re not the extent of Eastern horror’s capabilities.

As in the case of many movies, the remakes seldom if ever retain the true nature of the original. “The Grudge”, the American remake of “Ju-on”, kept a bleak atmosphere and a few ‘jump’ moments. “Ju-on”, on the other hand, is outright terrifying; though the majority of the movie takes place in the same house, director Takashi Shimizu relentlessly keeps the viewer on alert for the next surprise. The production is enhanced rather than hindered by minimalist camera work and dialogue, and a sense of claustrophobic fear prevails throughout the story. Since it relies heavily on suspense, the few gory scenes in the movie become all the more disturbing.

If psychological thrillers aren’t suited to your taste, a variety of slightly less subtle films abound in the splatter genre. In particular, Takahashi Miike is the Eli Roth of Asian cinema; a director skilled in the art of portraying the macabre, his movies have gained something of a cult following across the world. “Ichi the Killer”, based off of a popular manga series by the same name, is a gleefully twisted venture into the underworld of the Japanese mafia and a pariah’s violent battle against it. Though tastefully-executed gore and torture sounds like an oxymoron, “Ichi” demonstrates every atrocity with style and grace. Tadanobu Asano gives an outstanding performance as masochistic Yakuza member and antagonist Kakihara, comparable to Heath Ledger as the Joker in “The Dark Knight”.

Japan isn’t the only contributor to the horror market either. Chinese director Fruit Chan’s formidable, sometimes nausea-inducing film “Dumplings” isn’t for the faint of heart; while it has a noticeable shortage of gory murder scenes, the truly gruesome nature of the movie’s title dish is understated and thus made all the more horrific. Beautifully-shot and colorful scenery coupled with a grisly plot and fantastic acting makes “Dumplings” a visual treat, though not one for anyone with delicate sensibilities.

No horror fan should miss what Asian cinema has to offer, nor should anyone who appreciates quality movies. Next time you see a foreign title on the shelf at the video store, don’t pass it up in favor of another generic slasher remake; give it a try. It’s unique, it’s refreshing, and it’s not all about the girls with long black hair.