Halloween movies to get you in the mood for the holiday
Happy Halloween! If you’re like me and you love getting into the Halloween spirit, here’s a few movies that you might have missed to get you in the mood for the holiday this year. The following list has been curated by the Overachiever team to bring you the best films highlighting Asian directors, producers and actors for your own entertainment. Have you seen any of these before?
The Medium (2021) by Na Hong-Jin and Banjong Pisanthanakun
Key words: Supernatural horror, mockumentary
The Medium is a collaborative project between Thai director, Banjong Pisanthanakun, and South-Korean director, Na Hong-Jin. The film revolves around a documentary crew wanting to travel to the Isan region of Thailand (Northeast) to interview a shaman who has inherited the spirit of a goddess her town worships. However, strange incidents start to occur and the spirit that possesses the town’s shaman may not be who they believe it to be.
This is a great movie for avid horror fans that want to branch out of Hollywood for Halloween this year. The film provides great cultural exposure for the Isan region of Thailand in which audiences will learn about spiritual ties, worship rituals and a way of life they may not have heard of before.
Shutter (2004) by Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom
Key words: Supernatural horror, classic
Shutter is considered a classic Thai horror film as it has been re-watched and spoken about for several years since its release. Its popularity can be noted in its remakes in various languages such as Tamil, Hindi and even English. The plot is based around a hit-and-run accident in which, a young couple kills a woman walking across the road at night. After this incident, the man, a photographer, finds that faces and shadows have appeared in his images and he is convinced that he is being haunted by the ghost of the woman.
This movie is a great classic for anyone wanting a decent scare to get into the Halloween spirit this year. It is fairly reflective and is a great piece of social commentary on morals, kindness and karma in the modern day.
Pee Mak (2013) by Banjong Pisanthanakun
Key words: Supernatural horror, romantic comedy
Based around the Thai folklore of “Mae Nak”, Pee Mak is an interesting modern remake that focuses on the story from the male perspective. Nak is the wife of a soldier and is left pregnant and alone while her husband, Mak, leaves to fight in a war. Due to health complications, Nak passes away from childbirth while Mak is away. However, upon his return, he finds that his wife is very much alive and ready to welcome him home. In reality, he meets her ghost and has to learn to confront reality before she reeks havoc on the entire town to stay with the man she loves.
This movie is a reflective piece about love and loss and how moving on from grief can be beneficial to humans and spirits. This movie is full of traditional Thai folklore for anyone who is interested in learning more Thai culture. For anyone who does not like watching anything dramatically scary, Pee Mak is a satire horror/comedy that incorporates horror visuals and elements with the script of a romantic comedy. It’s a very unique film for its genre and highly recommended for anyone looking to watch it this Halloween.
Umma (2022) by Iris K.Shim
Key words: Supernatural horror, generational trauma
Umma tells the story of a Korean immigrant, Amanda (played by Sandra Oh) and her daughter Chrissy. One day, Amanda’s uncle visits her and brings her her mother’s cremated ashes for her to keep. This forces her to recall and confront her childhood of abuse as her mother’s spirit causes supernatural incidents in Amanda’s life.
A story about generational trauma and confronting your fears, Umma is a great horror film that urges audiences, especially POC viewers, to reconsider what “heritage” means to them and the importance of establishing your own personhood in your family.
Train to Busan (2016) by Yeon Sang-Ho
Key words: Zombies, action-horror
For all the zombie-lovers out there, Train to Busan tells the story of a divorced father and his young daughter travelling to Busan so that the girl, Su-an, can spend her birthday with her mother. Once on the train, a sick woman enters one of the cabins and turns into a zombie; attacking all the passengers. An epidemic is announced following the zombie outbreak and the father, Seok-woo, along with other passengers, fight to survive until the train arrives in Busan which, has become a militarized quarantine zone.
Starring Gong Yoo and Jung Yu-mi, this movie was an immediate hit upon its release due to the actors’ onscreen reunion. For horror fans who prefer action over psychological thrill, this movie is a perfect blend of gory zombies and fast-paced shootouts.
The Grudge (2004) by Takashi Shimizu
Key words: Supernatural horror, classic
Another classic ghost story from Japan, The Grudge is known in popular culture as a sort of “blueprint” for a female ghost. The plot revolves around the narrative that you can be cursed to become a vengeful ghost or, onryo, when you die in a place gripped with extreme rage or sorrow. Kayako is killed by her husband and becomes this ghost as her husband believes that she was having an affair with another man. Although she loves this man, Kayako has never been unfaithful to her husband hence, her becoming a vengeful ghost once he murders her.
Most viewers will find that the ghost in The Grudge has become an inspiration for various female ghosts in cinema as she is always depicted with a white dress, ugly face and long black hair. A true classic horror, this film will leave audiences scared of encountering a ghost like Kayako as the curse she was born from is prophesied to always continue.
Spirited Away (2001) by Hayao Miyazaki
Key words: Animation, fantasy
A staple for anyone who loves to watch Studio Ghibli, Spirited Away is a Japanese animation film that tells the story of Chihiro, a young girl who is coaxed into working for a bathhouse for spirits when her parents give into their greed by feasting on food meant for spirits only. As she tries to free her parents, she meets various quirky characters along the way that help her find her voice and confidence to brave the spirit world and eventually, the real world when she returns.
This movie is for anyone who loves Halloween but does not want to suffer through horror movies and jump scares to celebrate the holiday. The film boasts stunning hand-drawn visuals accompanied with a dreamy soundtrack to transport you into an entirely different world.
