Horror movie junkies, hol up!
Asia has gained a reputation for bone-shivering horror films, both due to our love for all things horror, and our rich, spooky folklore. With Hungry Ghost Month creeping up on us, we’ve curated a list of 11 familiar and unexplored horror titles rooted in folklore, myth, and urban legend unique to this region.
Experience these scary stories that make up our Asian culture – all in the comfort of your home. Have a great Hungry Ghost Month!
Taiwan
Incantation has clocked in some serious ratings, having maintained its place in Netflix’s Global Top 10 list for non-English films for five consecutive weeks. Incantation’s immense popularity is for good reason, and missing out on it this month would be the true horror. Combining the elements of mysterious esoteric religions and unsettling rituals of Taiwanese folklore, the movie adopts a found footage, mockumentary format that immerses the audience as it explores the complexities of taboos and curses.
Thailand
Thailand is home to some of the scariest horror films. Catch School Tales The Series, The Medium, and The Whole Truth on Netflix and decide if they live up to the genre’s reputation.
Directed by seasoned Thai directors, School Tales The Series brings eight horrifying stories, based on comics, to life. This anthology is built around the theme of school-bound horrors, passed down from class to class, bringing back chilling memories of local schoolyard stories and legends.
What would you do if you noticed a hole in your living room wall but those around you insist that you are lying? In The Whole Truth, two siblings stumble on a strange hole in the wall of their grandparents’ house, and horrifying incidents that follow reveal sinister secrets about their family. Their attempts to find the answer could lead to the truth no one wants to know.
Indonesia
In recent years, Indonesia has become the go-to for horror fans, producing a number of popular movies bound to shock and terrify – all while providing a unique Indonesian perspective. Expect lots of blood, gore and brutal horror in May The Devil Take You, as the movie uncovers the consequences of satanic rituals and selling one’s soul to the devil in exchange for riches. Catch May The Devil Take You on Netflix if you are in for a wild, gruesome ride.
Vietnam
“Vietnamese Horror Story”
Vietnamese Horror Story interweaves three stories inspired by local folklore and urban legends – for instance, a 3 souls and 7 spirits (3 hồn 7 vía) Buddhist concept in the third story – following an actress seeking everlasting beauty; a magician who makes a deal with the devil; and a psychic seeking the remains of a deceased girl. Witness the integration of traditional cultures and beliefs with the element of horror this August to fully immerse in Ghost Month.
A revenge horror thriller that explores the darkness of the entertainment industry, The Guardian follows a backup singer who enlists the help of occult forces, black magic and a Kumanthong doll (a divine child spirit in a doll that is believed to bring luck and fortune to the owner) to achieve popularity.
Malaysia
Take a peek into Malay culture’s most popular malevolent supernatural entity, the Pontianak, as it makes an appearance in Dendam Pontianak on Netflix this August. In Southeast Asian mythology, the pontianak refers to a vicious, long-haired female vampire who is normally out to seek revenge. The movie is a modern retelling of this popular mythology complete with forbidden love, betrayal, witchcraft and murder.
Beginning with a Quranic passage about Satan, Roh is a disquieting rural Malaysian horror tale rooted in folklore and superstitions that explores the role of the devil in the context of a religious and spiritual society. The movie follows an isolated family living in a barren hut, deep in the jungle, who meet with a series of frightening supernatural incidents after taking in a little girl lost in the forest. Remain on the edge of your seats with this slow-burn plot.
“Munafik” and “Munafik 2”
Centering around a religious medical practitioner turned healer who struggles to come to terms with his wife’s untimely death, Munafik and Munafik 2 are films that grapple with issues of faith and religion. Guaranteed to spook all horror junkies, these films are worth the watch this August, especially with Munafik 2 being the highest grossing Malaysian film in 2019.
Philippines
When a student’s suicide rattles an all-girls Catholic school, a clairvoyant guidance counselor embarks on solving this mysterious death, and in turn, uncovers the convent’s abusive past. A film on how modern beliefs and faith can clash, Eerie brings to the screen thought-provoking issues while incorporating the element of horror.
More on scary entertainment? Read these:
Missed Out on Halloween Fun? Here are Some Ideas To Give Your Night A Thrill
