20 Awesome J-Horror Movies Every Horror Fan Should See
5. Ugetsu
Plot: A fable concerning two men who strive for success and the prices the women in their lives pay for their folly.
This 1953 ghost story was, alongside Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon in 1950, one of the films which really put Japanese cinema on the map and it remains an absolutely essential Japanese film.
One of the earliest J-Horror films and still one of the best, Ugetsu is a spellbinding, beautifully emotional fable that is a real masterwork of storytelling. Not only does it contain some enormously compelling characters, but it also hammers home its emotional drama, lessons and themes better than most message movies ever could.
Like many of these older J-Horror films, it isn't exactly scary but it does create an eerie, mesmerising atmosphere thanks to the wonderful soundtrack and great visuals. It's a deeply sad movie that strikes a heavy emotional blow as well, so bring the tissues.