Okay, I know Christmas is almost a week away and what not. However, I've noticed a trend in the US lately. Is it just me or are the movie studios realizing that gullible teenage girls desperately in need of a shower, a few knives/chainsaws/various sharp/blunt objects, and a lot of special effects just arent having the same effect they used to back in the early days of Jason and Freddy's careers?
I had very very very limited exposure to any of the Asian horror flicks that have recently been adapted to American film before this year. I knew "The Ring" came from "Ringu", what I didnt know was that "Ringu" was almost 4 years old when "The Ring" came out on American shores. Now weve seen an American remake of Ju-On, "The Grudge" for those unfamiliar with the Japanese name. We'll see "The Ring Two" next spring. However, there are more movies in the "Ringu" series. Theres also a "Ju-On 2". These are just a couple of some very good, and VERY scary, flicks that have come from Japan in the last 10 years. Korea and Hong Kong have some very good ones as well.
As GHammer will vouch or has probably already mentioned, being in China, you have the opportunity to get your hands on almost any DVD imaginable. If you can't see it on the shelf of your local shop, just tell them the name, and they'll usually have it for you in a week. I've been able to get my hands on some PRIMO Asian horror flicks. Which has lead me to this...
Westerners don't have a friggin clue how to make a good horror flick. The last good master of horror that didn't use rediculous amount of blood and guts was Alfred Hitchcock. Since then they have all gone for shock value. Its not about horror anymore, its about seeing how many people in the audience they can send running to the bathroom to vomit.
If any of you are into horror flicks, then you may have already found this little piece of horror movie heaven. If you haven't, I would strongly suggest looking into Asian horror. It's right on the money. It's more about the situation and the thought of things happening. They also really know how to put a musical score together that will have your spine crawling right out of your body.
Maybe I'm just into psychological stuff and it's just me. If so, disregard my rablings. However, for those interested, check it out. I don't condone frivelous downloading of protected property, but if your curious, search it on the internet or download a few clips. If you like what you see then head over to
http://www.yesasia.com. There you can find all sorts of Asian music, movies, and books at reasonable prices. The average cost of their merchandise is about the same as an American DVD, CD, or book in a mall anywhere in the US.