10 Terrifying Taiwanese Horror Movies You NEED To See
8. The Heirloom (2005)
There's a deep well of tropes and clichés that horror movies can delve into when looking for a nice set-up. You've got hot topics like murder-infested summer camps, zombie outbreaks, demonic possession and one of the oldest in the book, the classic haunted house. This movie delves into the latter, and while it's far from flawless, it's a real haunting watch.
After living abroad for many years, a man named James returns to Taiwan to live in his newly inherited family home. However, it becomes apparent pretty soon that something malicious is happening in the house as James and his girlfriend start to experience increasingly bizarre events. It seems they aren't alone.
The Heirloom is a loving exploration of the haunted house story, and while it doesn't do much to reinvent the genre, it does ground it with slow-burn pacing. It takes the time to establish mood and atmosphere, making for some incredibly tense moments and shocking imagery.
This flick also plays with some real-life practices which cannot be discussed for the sake of making this entry spoiler-free. But, it's safe to say that there are some shocking revelations in the plot that will leave you horrified.