Something wicked this way comes: If you haven’t tapped into the horror movies from the East, you’re missing out on a rich resource. Some of my favorites:
“The Host” (2007): That’ll teach you to pour about 100 bottles of formaldehyde down a drain that feeds into a major river. This superb creature feature from South Korea has plenty of gasp-and-hold-your-breath moments and several clever light ones, too. Believe me, you want to see this movie.
“Ringu” (1998): A haunted videotape that leads to the death of the viewer seven days after they watch it — I love it. The ending in this Japanese is much nastier than the American remake, “The Ring.” Parts of the psychic subplot muddied “Ringu,” and I wish the appearance of the bodies were as gruesome as they were in “The Ring,” but “Ringu” is the superior film.
“Ju-on: The Grudge” (2003): The third in the Japanese “Ju-on” series is the basis of “The Grudge.” This original is more sophisticated and the plotline is more multilayered.
“Audition” (1999): Ryo Ishibashi stars as a widower looking for love in all the really wrong places, and his performance is a big plus. As the movie builds suspense to its cringe-inducing climax, I was reminded of Hitchcock.
Discuss horror movies with Jacqueline “Scream Queen” McCartney during the month of October on her blog at at www.heraldnet.com/screamqueen.
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