Asian vs American Horror Films: Three Flicks to Help You Make Your Own Opinion

If you've seen a horror movie in the past few years, there's a good chance that it's a remake of one that was originally done in Asia. The Ring (Ringu) and The Grudge (Ju-on) are two of the best known of these types of movies. Others include the recently released Pulse (Kairo) and The Eye (Gin gwai) which is due out sometime in 2007. American directors have begun seeing the true art of Asian horror cinema and in an effort to recreate that surreal feel have brought their altered vision to the American screen. Does it work? Critics would say no. Asian horror flicks have a feel all to themselves, a sort of vague train of thought that captures the audience without ever coming out and explaining what's really going on. This is part of the beauty of the Asian movie. Yet once it gets to America, there almost seems to be a "dumbing down" of the whole plot. Maybe the directors don't feel most Americans will enjoy the subtleties of Asian horror, or perhaps their own scope doesn't give them the edge needed to recreate what was originally done. Either way, some just can't appreciate the remakes like they can the originals.

However, a good portion of the population does enjoy the Americanized versions, some opting out of ever even seeing the Asian originals. An easy horror is enough for them, and admittedly, the US versions often have a high jump factor, satisfying that quick thrill that a moviegoer is looking for in the first place. They don't care about a thought process in the plot. The scary children (a main part of Asian horror) and creepy visions are enough to be worth their eight dollar movie ticket.