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The 15 Best Asian Horror Films of 2021

The 15 Best Asian Horror Films of 2021

5. Howling Village (Takashi Shimizu, Japan)

When “” comes off best is a generally enjoyable storyline from Shimizu and Daisuke Hosaka that merges several intriguing storylines together. As we get a strong sense of Kanae's bizarre powers to see and communicate with ghosts and the tragedy that brings to her friends and family with the nightmarish events that occur to those around her, it sets up the emotional resonance of the first half nicely. Due to the tragedies that have taken place, the revelations that emerge not just about the source of her powers but the family's connection to the cursed village and the actions taken place there, there's a rather involved setup at play. When combined with the way the local authorities treat the connecting tunnel into the cursed village and the stories surrounding it, there's a lot to like with this storyline. (Don Anelli)

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4. The Maid (Lee Thongkham, Thailand)


Given this effective setup, “” switches gears in the second half to a gruesome, over-the-top bloodbath of action. Finally getting the resolution to the ghostly hauntings featuring the truth about the family relationships and affairs that come to light, this sets the stage for the resulting bloodbath that takes place at the party being held at the house. Focusing on highly gruesome and bloody deaths not just to the staff members and guests attending but the others who are unfortunate enough to be caught in the crossfire, there's a lot to like here. The build-up with the slow-burn piece of dread contrasts incredibly well with this energetic display, with Joy going through the house slashing whoever she wants for a high-energy display. The contrast is quite apparent with the change over into a wild, raucous slasher-style feature from a moody ghost film that creates an enjoyable atmosphere and adds a fantastic quality to “The Maid.” Coupled with the fantastic effects-work on the kills highlighting this sequence rather nicely, there's a lot to like here. (Don Anelli)

3. V/H/S 94 (Timo Tjahjanto, Indonesia/USA)

– Photo Credit: Shudder

Tjahjanto directs a part that unfolds as a combination of “Dr. Frankenstein,” survivor horror video games (as in “Resident Evil”), and some elements that remind of “The Raid.” The mixture works exceptionally well, with the action, the grotesqueness, and the graphic violence resulting in a truly entertaining spectacle. At the same time, the Indonesian also manages to make some comments about human nature and the way authorities work in the country. (Panos Kotzathanasis)

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2. The Medium (Banjong Pisanthanakun, Thailand)

Sawanee Utoomma as Nim – – Photo Credit: Sasidis Sasisakulporn/Shudder

Once the setup is in place, “The Medium” provides a lot of fun with the realization that Nim has to use her powers to help the possessed Mink. Having gathered a series of clues not just from those behavioral changes and outbursts but also much more in the wake of how we're told they came together leading to that conclusion, the tension and action ramp up considerably. Once Mink's condition has been revealed and the outbursts turn violent including the shower attack or the beatdown with the video camera during a ritual ceremony, it all leads to a far more intense and suspenseful second half. The attempts at using Nim's own powers as a means of controlling and figuring out what's going on have a fine localized flair that involves several rituals and the realization that they've been deceived all along, the race to uncover the truth about what's possessing Mink and free her from its grasp results in some fascinating ritualistic work. The final exorcism itself, a massive outpouring of dark magic rituals and ceremonial preparations that take place in several fine scenarios throughout here, are chilling and somewhat shocking to witness, making for a highly effective and enjoyable effort. (Don Anelli)

1. The Sadness (Rob Jabbaz, Taiwan)

With this setup in place, “” goes overboard in featuring tons of outlandish zombie attacks that are incredibly fun. From the early sequences of the outbreak occurring on the streets, featuring the couple going past infected citizens being detained by police to the chaos at the restaurant where he's attacked by several infected zombies, there's a frenetic quality to the encounters that's quite chilling. Given the treatment of the zombies here where they're shown to be mentally aware and cognizant of what's going on but delving into their baser instincts without pity or remorse, it creates some tension and fear in the scenes where they're confronted by the creatures. The way they run after victims, taunt them before killing and are shown to be in complete control of how they're behaving all help to make them more terrifying. (Don Anelli)

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