Even if you haven't seen Ringu or its numerous sequels and remakes, it's likely that you've heard of it. With this one movie, Japanese director Hideo Nakata completely reinvented the way we perceive horror in the West, drawing on the supernatural traditions of Japanese folklore to create one of the definitive ghost stories of our times. For those who may not know the basic story, Ringu follows a reporter called Reiko Asakawa who investigates rumors about a video tape that seems to somehow kill those who watch it. During her investigation, Reiko watches the tape for herself and then receives a call telling her that she will die in exactly seven days. In a race against time, Reiko tries to unravel the mystery and save both herself and her son, who also managed to get his hands on the tape. Ringu is the film that first put Japanese horror on the map and while it has spawned countless parodies since, the original is still one of the most chilling stories ever committed to celluloid. The impact may diminish somewhat for those who know the horror of the ending, but Ringu has been influential for a reason and shouldn't be discounted, even though it's one of the few Japanese horrors to actually receive a fairly decent remake in the US. You may be tired of seeing ghost girls with long black hair, but if you only watch one Asian horror movie this Halloween, make it Ringu. You won't be disappointed. Which foreign horror movies are you going to watch this Halloween? What's your favorite film on this list? And remember to share any more foreign horrors that everyone should check out before October 31st! Sound off in the comments section below.
David is a primary school teacher who tries his best to turn every math lesson into a discussion on the latest Pixar film. Passions include superheroes, zombies and Studio Ghibli. In between going to the cinema, moving to South Korea and eating his body weight in KFC, David writes for a number of movie sites, http://becarefulyourhand.blogspot.co.uk/
