10 Most Terrifying Women In Horror Movies

It can be difficult now to imagine the impact of Takashi Miike's Audition on an unsuspecting audience. The prolific Japanese director's 1999 movie proved one of the most shocking, influential horror titles of the decade ahead - yet from the early half of the film, you'd be forgiven for having no idea it was a horror movie at all. But once it gets into horror mode, it's one of the most unnerving things you'll ever see.

Ryo Ishibashi stars as a middle-aged widower who decides it's time to remarry. However, he takes a somewhat unconventional approach in doing so, staging a fake audition in order to meet and interview potential future wives. He thinks he's found the ideal candidate in the beautiful young Asami (Eihi Shiina), but finds out all too late that she's far more than she appears.

Initially, Asami just seems a little mysterious, which is clearly part of her allure. However, once the full extent of her violent and sadistic nature is revealed and Audition goes from a relatively grounded drama to a waking nightmare, it's a genuine shocker even all these years later.

Eihi Shiina's steely performance is unforgettable: you don't have to speak Japanese to be thoroughly freaked out by her utterance "kiri-kiri-kiri."