For horror movie buffs and scaredy cats alike, this freaky film binge list brings the best from Asia – because nobody does superstition and horror like we do.
You’ve heard the ghost stories, you know the urban legends. Let’s face it – there’s no other part of the world that excels in the genre of superstition and horror like Asia. For your viewing pleasure we’ve found the creepiest Asian horror movies from Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand and right here in Singapore… can you handle it?
Best Asian horror movies to watch
The Maid (Singapore)
Set during Hungry Ghost Month in Singapore, this flick hits a little too close to home. Domestic helper Rosa Dimaano sets foot in Singapore to work for an elderly couple and their mentally handicapped adult son. She adjusts to the superstitious customs with a few scares along the way. But the real horror lies in her employer’s shophouse as she stumbles upon a terrifying secret. Side note: Kudos to the director for capturing the ever cheery Joo Chiat shophouses in a different light.
Watch on Netflix
Ratsasan (India)
This is not a horror movie per se, but the screenplay will keep you hooked. Ratsasan (translates to demon in Tamil) follows a cat and mouse chase of a policeman and a serial killer. Schoolgirls are brutally murdered and wrapped in polythene bags and it’s up to the policeman and his team to capture the gruesome murderer. The film is filled with edge-of-your-seat twists. Though it drags a little towards the end, it’s an overall great watch.
Watch on meWatch
Folklore (6 countries)
Movie marathon in the cards? You might as well binge-watch this six-episode TV series that’s based on Asian myths and supernatural beings. The series takes place across Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, each helmed by a director in its city. So don’t expect anything less than the unadulterated horror stories we grew up listening to.
Watch on HBO GO
Kingdom (Korea)
Set in the Joseon dynasty, Korea is hit with a mysterious epidemic that turns people into zombies. It starts off with a rumour that the king in Hanyang is dead, but the queen and her subjects claim he is recovering from chickenpox. However, things take a turn when the prince, who is next in line for the throne, discovers something sinister inside the palace and heads down south to seek answers. With only 12 episodes, you can easily finish this series over the weekend.
Watch on Netflix
Sumpah Pontianak (Singapore)
Its title means ‘The Curse of the Pontianak’ – a vampiric female ghost. This classic black and white film is a local flick made during the late 50s, during Singapore’s golden age of film. It’s not only a glimpse into why this monster is one of the country’s most famous ghouls, but also a look at Singapore’s past.
Watch on YouTube
Aval (India)
A couple’s life takes a turn for the worse when a family moves in next door. Aval, which translates to “her” in Tamil, is probably one of the best Tamil language horror movies in recent times. There’s a good mix of scary staples – creepy hallways, an exorcism scene and a chill-down-your-spine flashback that comes together nicely in the climax.
Watch on Netflix
Ringu (Japan)
When her cousin Tomoko is killed, reporter Reiko gets to the bottom of a mysterious videotape that kills anyone seven days after watching it. She teams up with her ex-husband to solve the mystery and unveils some shocking discoveries. This one’s an oldie, but boy is it a terror. Ringu was rated one of the best horror films upon its release in 1998. In fact, the J-horror genre received international recognition thanks to it.
Watch on Amazon Prime Video
The Wailing (South Korea)
A small village in South Korea goes into hysteria when a mysterious disease with deadly side effects hits the village. A policeman does everything to solve the mystery but things get personal when his daughter is infected. It’s not all sinister though – there are some comedy elements to balance the scare factor. *Insert nervous laughter here*
Watch on iTunes
4bia (Thailand)
Remember the surge of Thai horror films that came after Shutter? Well, there were some crappy ones but Phobia is worth a watch. The anthology horror flick comes with four stories that also play with horror-comedy subgenres. Our fave? Flight 244, a spine-chilling story about an air stewardess, who’s stuck with the horrific task of escorting the body of a princess on a flight. Yikes.
Watch on iTunes
Jelangkung (Indonesia)
Four thrill-seekers find satisfaction in locating spirits at haunted places. They decide to travel to a village that’s infamous for spooky happenings. Despite locating a nameless grave, they fail to get what they want – until one of them performs the supernatural ritual, jelangkung. The traditional ritual is said to summon spirits and that are incarnated through dolls made from coconut shells and wooden sticks. Freaky! Things take a turn for the worse when they encounter a series of strange events after.
Watch on Youtube
Train to Busan (South Korea)
Train to Busan is a harrowing tale of a zombie outbreak in South Korea. It follows a group of train passengers as they make their way to the ‘safe zone’ in the country. While it is thrilling as a horror film, there are also other themes we can all appreciate such as family, sacrifice and non-stop action-packed zombie sequences.
Watch on iTunes
Battle Royale (Japan)
As part of some Draconian law aimed to prevent delinquency, 42 high school students are dragged to a deserted island where they must battle to the death – and the last one standing gets to live. Sometimes, humanity is the biggest horror movie there is. Sounds familiar? You might say the Hunger Games franchise is a mild rip-off.
Watch on iTunes
KL Zombi (Malaysia)
A field hockey-playing pizza delivery boy finds himself transformed from slacker to zombie slayer during an outbreak of the undead in Kuala Lumpur. More comedy than creepy, it’s no serious horror movie but one for the LOLs.
Watch on Netflix
Three… Extremes (Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan)
This anthology of Asian horror plays on a lot of things close to Asian culture: Food, family and pride. It will make you squeamish, and perhaps change the way you think of dumplings…
Watch on iTunes
Shutter (Thailand)
Everything about this movie is relatable. Person who loves taking photos of everyday life and loved ones – check. Southeast Asian superstitions – check. Creepy female ghosts stalking your every move – wait, what? We shan’t reveal anything else…
Watch on Netflix
The Host (South Korea)
Although it has all the trappings of a classic monster movie about a mutant creature that developed as a result of toxic chemical dumping in the river, this Asian horror movie gives us the thrills. Filled with incident after incident, alternately terrifying, ridiculous, suspenseful and wry, it’s a wild ride.
Watch on iTunes
Which of these Asian horror movies give you the spooks? We can’t pick just one!
