Any horror fan around in the late 90s/early 2000s will be familiar with the J-Horror boom; the explosion of films like Hideo Nakata’s Ring, Takeshi Shimizu’s Ju-On, and Takashi Miike’s Audition. It was a trend that defined Japanese culture for many in the West and it, along with its string of American based remakes, had a profound impact thematically and stylistically on the horror genre. With The J-Horror Virus, filmmakers Sarah Appleton and Jasper Sharp, along with some of J-Horror’s key figures, look at where the movement came from, how it developed, and its influence not only in Japan, but also the rest of the world.
In The J-Horror Virus we are taken through the early days of straight-to-video low budget scares and the cultural origins of legends like Yotsuya Kaidan. It was Kaidan who gave us the image of the woman in white with long black hair, back from the grave to torment those that wronged her. Then come the big names like Ring and Ju-On, and the particular societal and technological anxieties that made them effective. A few lesser known, but no less impactful films are also featured. I myself was unfamiliar with these, but watching the documentary inspires you to seek them out.
Interviewees include the likes of Takeshi Shimizu (Ju-On), Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Pulse), and Hiroshi Takahashi (screenwriter of Ring), people who were on the ground floor of the movement and saw it grow. Kurosawa in particular was fascinating to listen to, a very thoughtful and insightful addition to the movie. The rare female creative voice in J-horror, Mari Asato, later talks about themes of sadness and loneliness, which I feel cuts to the heart of the source of J-horror’s particular brand of uneasiness. It isn’t just those behind the camera who were interviewed. Hearing from Rie Ino’o and Takako Fuji, the original actresses for Sadako and Kayako respectively, talk about their perspectives on their characters and their particular legacies, was a real treat.
One of the main threads throughout The J-Horror Virus is what makes J-Horror different. How the cultural perceptions of horror, and its approach to concepts like ghosts, shapes these stories. This is particularly key within the topic of J-Horror’s international appeal, and the American remakes that followed. What Appleton and Sharp have done here with The J-Horror Virus is to put the audience in the point of view of the trends, filmmakers, and critics to highlight the breadth of what J-Horror has to offer.
The J Horror Virus
Summary
A solid examination of the J-Horror trend, with a clear overview for newcomers but plenty of treats and insights for veterans.
The J Horror Virus was reviewed at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest 2023.
