10 Underappreciated Japanese Horror Films That Are Worth a Watch

Welcome to Ranking Horror where we do nothing but rank horror movies. Today we are taking a look at 10 Underappreciated Japanese Horror Films That Are Worth a Watch.

Let’s be honest for a second. J-Horror has had its day. It’s a sad fact of life as Japan was the best country in the world when it came to scaring Westerners for quite awhile in the 90s and 2000s. Brilliant horror hits like Ringu, Audition, The Grudge, and Pulse were eye opening experiences for J-Horror newcomers.

That doesn’t mean that there aren’t any surprises to find when it comes to Japanese horror movies, though. Due to the popularity of certain films, others went completely under the radar. Today we are going to be bringing you ten of the most underappreciated Japanese horror movies around.

Sure, J-Horror aficionados will probably know most, or all, of these movies. But for everyone in between, you may find something new to enjoy. A few of these films will only appeal to certain horror fans but all are worth, at least, checking out. Let’s take a look.

10. Grotesque (2009) – Torture Porn Extreme

Why it Ranked: Let me clear this up before we go on with this entry. Grotesque (Gurotesuku) is not a good movie. Noroi director Kôji Shiraishi is beyond prolific when it comes to the horror genre. And with that immense level of output, there are bound to be a few stinkers. Grotesque is one of those stinkers but it is worth watching. This movie is an exploration into depravity. Full of nudity and intimate, graphic, depictions of body horror. The UK refused to give this film a certificate meaning it is, essentially, banned. Grotesque takes the stuff that movies like Hostel and Saw do and asks them to hold its beer while it violates the very souls of the people watching. Horrifying, but hard to turn away from.

Synopsis: A young couple is kidnapped by a sadistic doctor who aims to show them levels of pain they have not yet experienced. Trapped in a basement, they are subjected to a series of brutal and humiliating torture games for his own sexual gratification.

Where to Watch: Available to rent or buy on Apple TV and other VOD services.

9. Marebito (2004) – Subterranean Terror

Why it Ranked: Legendary Japanese horror writer and director Takashi Shimizu put this movie together in just 8 days between the filming of Ju-On: The Grudge and its sequel. Marebito is definitely an underappreciated Japanese horror movie but I feel that is changing in recent years. I would say it is getting a little more love, nowadays, which is a really good thing because this is a very watchable flick with a different approach to horror. I genuinely enjoyed it when I originally watched over 15 years ago. The big problem with Marebito is that the second half really doesn’t live up to the first. Still absolutely worth checking out, though.

Synopsis: A freelance photographer obsessed with fear discovers a hidden world beneath the Tokyo subways. He finds a naked, feral woman chained in a cave and brings her home, only to discover that she subsists on human blood.

Where to Watch: Available to rent or buy on Google Play and other VOD services.

8. #Manhole (2023) – Social Media Rescue

Why it Ranked: #Manhole is, by far, the most recent movie on this list. It’s also a pretty good reminder that Japan is still putting out decent horror. It can just be a little more difficult to find than you may expect. This is, probably, more of a thriller than a horror but the crossover between the genres means it should appeal to horror fans. The mystery at the heart of #Manhole keeps it pretty engaging from start to finish. It’s also pretty funny for a horror movie which helps quite a lot. Sure, you are going to have to suspend your disbelief a fair bit but there is a lot of fun to be had, here.

Synopsis: A successful man falls down an uncovered manhole on the night before his wedding. Injured and unable to escape, he enlists the help of internet users on social media to locate him, only for the online search to take a dark and unexpected turn.

Where to Watch: Streaming on Philo, Screambox, Amazon Prime Video (with ads). Also free on Kanopy and Hoopla.

7. P.O.V. – A Cursed Film (2012) – School of Ghosts

Why it Ranked: How about a little more from the J-horror found footage genre? P.O.V. – A Cursed Film (POV: Norowareta firumu) is one of those movies that isn’t exactly great but it scratches that paranormal J-Horror movie just enough to make it worth a watch. You know what to expect, here. P.O.V. – A Cursed Film is your standard “group of characters walk around a scary location with a camera” paranormal horror. It’s just done in a very J-Horror fashion with better scares than most Western equivalents, more humour and a better atmosphere. Sure, the acting can be a bit lacking and the ending is not great. But if you are looking for paranormal thrills, you could do a lot worse.

Synopsis: A pair of idols hosting a television show watch a creepy viewer-submitted video. After bizarre phenomena occur at their studio, the crew and the idols head to the school where the video was filmed to investigate the haunting.

Where to Watch: Available to rent or buy on VOD services like Apple TV and Google Play.

6. Premonition (2004) – Newspaper of Terror

Why it Ranked: We have a title that is, for sure, an underappreciated horror next at number 6 with Premonition. Premonition was released as part of producer Takashige Ichise’s anthology series **J-horror Theater**. A series designed to capatalise on the popularity of the horror classic Ringu. None of the movies ever really saw the level of success of their inspiration but Premonition (Yogen) is a movie that didn’t get enough credit. Again, focusing on the concept of having foreknowledge of someone’s death. Premonition has a shocking opening and a great climax. The middle, however, leaves a lot to be desired. Still, there is plenty to like here and it is well worth checking out. It is a great reminder of how awesome slow burn J-Horror can be.

Synopsis: A high school teacher finds a scrap of newspaper in a phone booth containing an obituary for his young daughter. Moments later, a truck crashes into his car, killing his child. Three years later, still haunted by the event, he teams up with his ex-wife to solve the mystery of the “Newspaper of Terror.”

Where to Watch: Available to rent or buy on VOD services like Apple TV and Prime Video.

5. Retribution (2006) – Murky Mystery

Why it Ranked: We have another entry into the J-horror Theater series, next, as legendary director Kiyoshi Kurosawa brings us Retribution (Sakebi) from 2006. The reason that Retribution has gone a little under the radar is because it is nowhere near as good as Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s horror megahits Cure and Pulse. The truth of the matter is, however, an average Kiyoshi Kurosawa movie is still a great J-horror, regardless, and Retribution is no different. It’s an utterly mind boggling, complex, psychological horror movie that goes in a number of strange directions while managing to stay creepy throughout. Criminally underrated.

Synopsis: A seasoned detective investigates the murders of several women in the local area. While signs point to a serial killer, he begins to be haunted by a woman in a red dress, leading him to suspect that he may be more involved in the crimes than he realises.

Where to Watch: Available to rent or buy on VOD services like Prime Video and Apple TV.

4. A Record of Sweet Murder (2014) – One Take Killer

Why it Ranked: Is this movie cheating? A Record of Sweet Murder (Aru yasashiki satsujinsha no kiroku) is a collaboration between South Korea and Japan but we will throw it in anyway because it’s a seriously underappreciated horror film. I am sure you can see where this is going, or can you? A Record of Sweet Murder is another Kôji Shiraishi entry and, while it is a perfectly good movie in its own right. It’s the twists and turns that will keep you interested and engaged in what is, for the most part, a small cast, limited location, production with more talking than action. For fans of found footage, this could be an excellent hidden gem.

Synopsis: A South Korean journalist and a Japanese cameraman are invited to an abandoned apartment to interview a serial killer. The man claims he has killed 25 people but needs to kill 27 to resurrect his dead friend and all of the previous victims, capturing it all on film.

Where to Watch: Available to rent or buy on Apple TV and other VOD services.

3. Long Dream (2000) – Nightmare Eternity

Why it Ranked: Long Dream (Nagai yume) may be a little harder to find than some of these titles. But the name Junji Ito should make it worth the effort for fans of Manga. This movies is based on a story by the legendary mangaka. This movie is ultra low budget and it shows. It won’t be for everyone and, on top of that, it is ruthlessly strange. Digging deep into matters of the philosophical and posing questions of the nature of a person’s own existence. Long Dream is, ultimately, a creepy and unsettling psychological horror that does a great job of bringing to life the warped imagination of Junji Ito. With the name behind it, it is kind of a wonder how it ended up being such an underappreciated horror movie. It keeps you enthralled and stays with you long after it is done.

Synopsis: A doctor treats a patient who complains that his dreams are becoming longer and longer every night. What feels like a day in a dream soon feels like a year, then decades, eventually threatening to shatter his mind and body as he ages rapidly in his sleep.

Where to Watch: Currently unavailable to stream on major subscription services.

2. Strange Circus (2005) – Twisted Reality

Why it Ranked: Sion Sono is one of the greatest minds in Japanese horror. The master director behind Cold Fish, Suicide Club and Noriko’s Dinner Table has put out so many great movies that it’s no surprise that a few are lesser known. One of those movies is Strange Circus (Kimyô na sâkasu) from 2005. J-Horror is never afraid to unsettle and disturb the viewer. Sono’s approach to a very taboo subject will stick with you long after watching and Strange Circus is, probably, not a movie to watch if you are particularly averse to the more extreme side of horror. It can also be rather confusing, at times, but it will leave you thinking long after it is done which is a very rare trait in horror indeed.

Synopsis: A wheelchair-bound novelist writes a sexually explicit story about a school principal and his family. The line between fiction and reality blurs as the story reveals a dark history of incest, abuse, and murder within a household that resembles a twisted circus.

Where to Watch: Available to rent or buy on Apple TV and other VOD services.

1. Helter Skelter (2012) – The Price of Beauty

Why it Ranked: The Substance places the spotlight on the perils of fame and Hollywood’s fascination with youth and beauty. Why am I bringing that up? Well, because Mika Ninagawa’s Helter Skelter (Herutâ sukerutâ) does something very similar but in a different way. Fashion photographer Mika Ninagawa has crafted a truly beautiful, truly strange, film with Helter Skelter. It’s exploration into Japan’s obsession with celebrity and beauty feels just as relevant in the west and acts as a scathing appraisal of just how much the industry will take from you. As a horror form of social commentary, Helter Skelter works incredibly well.

Synopsis: A supermodel, famous for her stunning beauty, harbours a secret: her body is entirely artificial, the product of illegal full-body plastic surgery. As her body begins to break down and rot, her mental state deteriorates as she desperately tries to maintain her career and fame.

Where to Watch: Streaming on Midnight Pulp, Fandor, DIRECTV, Philo, and free with ads on The Roku Channel.

The Rising Sun Still Brings the Scares

Well, there you have it, ten underappreciated flicks that prove J-Horror is much more than just sad ghosts with long, wet hair. From the ultra-extreme depravity of Grotesque to the complex, psychological mind-benders like Retribution and Helter Skelter. There’s so much more to dig into beyond the massive, classic hits.

Japan’s horror output remains bloody good, even if you have to look a bit harder to find it. We hope we’ve helped you unearth a few hidden gems to hunt down for your next fright night. Thanks for sticking around for J-Horror week and thanks for reading.

🇯🇵 Quick Picks: Underrated J-Horror

• 💄 The Visual Stunner: Helter Skelter (2012)
• 🎪 The Twisted Mind-Bender: Strange Circus (2005)
• 💤 The Lovecraftian Nightmare: Long Dream (2000)
• 📹 The Found Footage Gem: Noroi: The Curse (Wait, that’s not on this list… A Record of Sweet Murder!)
• 👻 The Kurosawa Deep Cut: Retribution (2006)