July is J Horror Month!
If you’re anything like me, you’re wondering what the heck J horror even is. Before we get into the whole fun of this particular brand of horror, how about a definition and a couple of examples to sink your teeth on?
Wikipedia Definition:
Japanese horror is Japanese horror fiction in popular culture, noted for its unique thematic and conventional treatment of the horror genre in light of western treatments.
Clear as mud? I thought so. J horror has been around since the 1940-50s. The first movies were stories that incorportated Japanese myth and ghost tales. In the later 1950s, Japanese horror took a turn toward the very dark, violent, and sexual–bordering on soft porn with horror elements thrown in. Now, J horror has gotten back to its roots.
Have you heard of The Ring or The Grudge? These are two Japanese horror films that were remade in America. Each of these moves combines the stringy haired character, which is said to take after one of the mythical Japanese Gods. Finding these trailers with English subtitles proved to be more difficult than I thought, but check out the visuals…SCARY!
