When it comes to horror flicks, there’s no denying that Asian countries have the upper hand over their Western counterparts. While scary movies like “The Exorcist” and “Friday the 13th” was terrifying, “Ju-on” and the “Ring” was a whole new level. (We still get nightmares about it, shhh!)
According to an annual report by Stephen Follows, it seems like the horror movie genre has gained popularity over the past decade. Twenty years ago, the genre only accounted for 4.3% of all movies made. Whereas, this past decade saw an increase in the numbers, accounting for 12.4% of all the feature films that were released in 2017.
So, if you’re a sucker for Asian horror movies, brace yourself as here’s five Asian horror movie that is slated for release this year.
1. “0.0MHz”
- Date release: 27th June 2019
- Cast: Jung Eun-Ji, Lee Sung-Yeol, Choi Yoon-Young
The movie centres on a group of individuals who are disturbed by a supernatural being. They enter a haunted house to get to the bottom of this, in hopes of finding a solution to this problem. However, horror strikes as unexplainable things occur to them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkSRiJNNzM8
2. “Kuntilanak 2”
- Date release: 25th July 2019
- Cast: Sandrinna Michelle, Andryan Bima, Ali Fikry, Adlu Fahrezy, Ciara Nadine Brosnan
“A woman claiming to be Dinda’s biological mother, Karmila, comes to Aunt Donna’s house and asks Dinda to visit her at her house in the forest. Wanting to spend time with her mother, Dinda goes ahead with the visit without Aunt Donna’s agreement. This leads to her getting trapped inside the house in the middle of the forest, along with her siblings and friends. There, strange things begin to happen. Things turn worse when Dinda, who previously escaped an encounter with a female vampire ghost known as the Kuntilanak, finds herself once again facing the ghost, only it’s different from the one she defeated with spikes and spells before.”
3. “Curses”
- Date release: 25th July 2019
- Cast: David Asavanond, Sonthaya Chitmanee, Chinawut Indracusin, Wanpiya Omsinnoppakul, Thana Chatborirak, Autrud Kongrasree
This horror movie is divided into three chapters. The first chapter “Wicked” takes place during the reign of King Rama VI. It tells of a village deep within a forest where unexplainable events occur due to a curse. “Tattoo”, the second chapter is about a cruel curse that is embroidered through ink into the victim’s skin, forcing them to carry the curse until they die. In the third and final chapter, “Wife’s Curse”, the story centres on a person who has accumulated damning curses to the point of no return, which no good deed can ever erase. Thus, his fate will be determined by those curses.
4. “The Killer’s Apprentice”
- Date release: 1st August 2019
- Cast: Hoang Yen Chibi, Quang Tuan, Dinh Y Nhung, Kieu Trinh, Thanh Tu
“In a remote village in Mekong Delta, Vietnam, a deaf-mute girl named Soi falls in love with a stranger, Luu Huynh, who lives on a boat. After he miraculously heals one of the villagers, everyone starts looking up to this man who claims to be a shaman healer. Soi marries him but after doing so, she discovers his dark past and his disturbing desire for immortality. The rituals he does for it involve the conjuring of the dead and human sacrifice.”
5. “Ikut Aku Ke Neraka”
- Date release: 19th September 2019
- Cast: Clara Bernadeth, Rendy Kjaernett, Cut Mini Theo, Sara Wijayanto, Rini Mentari, Teuku Rifnu Wikana
The story centres on a mother who struggles to keep her family from an evil being that IS trying to drag them to hell.
Bonus:
6. “Till Death: Azalea’s Wrath” (Dendam Azalea)
- Date release: 9th August 2019
- Cast: Vanidah Imran, Khir Rahman and Nam Ron
“The film is about a couple who just lost their baby due to complications during childbirth, and they move to a new house to start fresh. Little do they know, the house carries a dark secret and their journey of hardships have only just begun.”
Speaking about the film, local filmmaker Sein Qudsi, said, “I never thought I would venture into another horror film after I did ‘Bangunan’ in 2015. I consider myself more of an action drama/thriller film lover, but ‘Till Death: Azalea’s Wrath’ has a strong relatable story at its heart. Apart from the horror genre, the main theme of this film is family and support. Losing a child is a great loss and affects a family in many ways – especially the mother. We explore these themes in the film, with elements of suspense, horror and vengeance”.
Are you excited for what’s to come?
