20 Awesome J-Horror Movies Every Horror Fan Should See

2. Battle Royale

Battle Royale
Toei Company

Plot: A high school class is taken to an island and forced to kill each other until only one person remains.

Battle Royale, which is easily the most beloved and culturally influential film on this list, is a phenomenal work.

It's horrifyingly violent, brutally intense and endlessly disturbing, but this is more than just a controversial, incendiary film. It's got great characters, a ton of heart and finds a lot of humanity within the horror, making this a perfect blend of style and substance.

It's a very shocking and gruesome film which won't be for everyone, but for those who can handle its raw power, Battle Royale is absolutely essential viewing and one of the very, very best sci-fi horror films ever released anywhere.

The special edition, which is slightly extended, is even more impressive. Don't go anywhere near the abominable 2003 sequel though.

Contributor

Film Studies graduate, aspiring screenwriter and all-around nerd who, despite being a pretentious cinephile who loves art-house movies, also loves modern blockbusters and would rather watch superhero movies than classic Hollywood films. Once met Tommy Wiseau.