The Cerebral Mystique of Asian Horror Films

In recent years we’ve seen more horror coming from the Philippines and among the finest examples is Midnight in a Perfect World. Like something out of the world of Silent Hill, the film depicts a world where everything seems perfect… except for strange mysterious blackouts that occur at midnight causing those caught out of city safe zones to disappear. The four protagonists don’t seem to believe it’s a real thing until they are caught in a blackout and must face the terrors hidden in the strange phenomena. It’s a perfect example of Philippine horror.

If you’re a fan of found footage films, you have to check out the Malaysian film, Irul: Ghost Hotel. Here we witness a small documentary crew (producer, director, and sound engineer) investigating the missing brother of the producer in the titular hotel. A few ghost hunters tag along for the ride as they all systematically discover the dark depths of the hotel and meet their own deaths. It’s remarkably well done and breathes life into a subgenre that many are growing tired of.

Another Filipino entry into horror, Eerie takes place in a Catholic school for girls. After the student body suffers a frightening death, a guidance counselor is at the center of their grief, doing her best to help the students deal with the tragedy. Of course, there’s always more to the death, and the school seems to want to keep the truth under wraps despite the counselor's own investigations. There’s truly something sinister hidden in the school and it’s not what you’d expect. Despite the title, Eerie is capable of being more than just “eerie.”

A popular favorite among international horror connoisseurs, the Indonesian film Satan’s Slaves should be required viewing for everyone. The story takes place in the 1980s and involves a family struggling financially along with a mother that is ill. When she dies, the family is left reeling in grief and forced to figure out why. Soon they believe her ghost is haunting them and before any of that can be dealt with, an evil housekeeper arrives to inadvertently destroy the family. The film does an excellent job of creating a deadly atmosphere that defies expectations, including an inventive take on religious culture and the belief in demonic presences.

Korean horror has been at the top of the genre for a long time and it’s not difficult to understand why when you encounter films that are as frightening and well-made as Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum. Get ready for some more found footage because the film drops viewers into the role of YouTubers who seek out the next best abandoned and haunted location. This time they go for the eponymously named Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital where they aim to set records with a live broadcast. Of course, things don’t go according to plan and what they “want” ends up being what they get. You’ll want to leave your phone on silent so that you don’t miss a single frame.

A good haunted house is one that’s full of surprises and Thai film Laddaland delivers—and then some. The story itself might be familiar but it’s in the atmosphere and pacing of the film that we see what makes Asian horror so unique from the haunted houses we’ve seen put to film stateside. 

A family is struggling financially and is forced to relocate to Laddaland, a housing estate in Chiang Mai. Blending together a stressed familial bond along with the new mortgage that threatens to demolish the family’s funds, the quiet neighborhood yields its own secrets. Neighbors reveal that they have a penchant for violence and soon the family unravels and buckles to increasingly disturbing events. Laddaland is like J.G. Ballard’s Super Cannes, but done with more heart and soul.

Perhaps one of the most unsettling Korean horror films in recent history, The Wailing will get under your skin. The film starts off like any other thriller, a detective investigating a series of murders in Gokseong, a remote village. Soon after the investigations begin, there are rumors that a wicked spirit could be harming the town. The Wailing is one of those films that keeps up its unrelentingly chilling atmosphere as it continues to elude viewers’ expectations. The perfect example of Asian horror at its pinnacle, it never relies on jump scares or any tropes. The film commands its own spiritual core and manages to feel as much like an irresistible piece of cinema as it is a curse. The mystique and eerie qualities found in Asian horror are well-represented and running strong in films like The Wailing. Just prepare yourself for the film's relentlessness.