Horror entertainment movies are a constant source of horror and terror. Japanese cinema has some great stories to share on big screens. These are the top Japanese horror movies that you can find on Netflix.
The Japanese film industry is responsible for a major shift in horror cinematography and has created films unlike any other. They have inspired many other Hollywood horror movies with their unique perspective. This is the place to go if you want to find Japanese horror films with an IMDb rating of six or more.
9 Japanese Horror Movies You Should Watch on Netflix
What is your weekend plan? If “Nothing” is your goal, let me recommend some Japanese horror films you can watch together or alone to make your weekend more exciting.
Watch And Cry In Terror!
#1 Cure (1977).
If you’re a big fan of Seven (1995), you will love this movie. Cure, a Japanese thriller horror film that was released in 1977, has been hailed as one of the greatest films ever made. The story is about a detective who is assigned to investigate a string of horrific murders where the killer leaves the X mark on the victim’s body.
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So the story begins with some horrendous murders in the village. Kenichi Takabe has been assigned to solve the crime. In each of these murder cases, he discovers that although the perpetrators may be different, they all have the same methods of killing. All three make the same X on the necks of the victims’ bodies. He will also find the perpetrator near the crime scene, and he accepts the crime. But, upon investigation, it is clear that they are not motivated to kill.
They find him later, with the help of Sakama, a psychologist. He is a master of hypnosis and capable of committing these devious murders on every person that he meets. They learn that he is a master at hypnosis and can make criminal suggestions in the minds of strangers. It is now clear why he did this and what happened at the end. This mystery will all be revealed in the movie Cure.
- Directed By: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
- IMDb Rating 7.4/10
- Run Time: 111 minutes
- Stream On The Criterion Channel. Netflix
#2 Ring (1998)
Ring, based on Kojo Suzuki’s 1991 novel, is a Japanese horror movie that went viral. It sparked the trend for western remakes. It was filmed on January 31, 1998. It tells the story of a cursed tape that kills its viewers seven days after being watched.
The whole story begins with Masami, a high scholar, and Tomoko, a student. They discover that a tape on videotape is cursed and causes death to viewers who see it. Tomoko excitedly watches the tape along with her boyfriend. Soon, strange things begin to happen to her. Tomoko and her boyfriend were later killed by an unknown force seven days later.
After Tomoko takes over the investigation, a newspaper report, her maternal aunt dies. She soon discovers many strange and impossible-to-believe details behind the tape. What was her next move, and how did she solve the mystery behind the tape’s existence? All the answers can be found in Ring.
- Hideo Nagata directs
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
- Run Time: 95 minutes
- Stream On HBO max, Vudu, Amazon prime video
#3 House (1977).
House is a Japanese experimental horror comedy film that was released in Japan on July 30, 1997. The film tells the story of a schoolgirl and six friends visiting her aunt’s home during vacation. She arrives at the house and witnesses some strange happenings as her friends begin to be devoured one by one.
Gorgeous, a young girl, plans summer vacations with her father in Italy. Surprised by her father’s return home from Italy, he announces a new stepmother to her. Gorgeous is upset by this and decides to abandon all plans with her dad and go to her aunt’s house with six of her friends.
When the girls first entered the house, they began experiencing supernatural things such as the Gorgeous possession of the mirror and Mac’s (Gorgeous Friend) head flying in mid-air. Some of these ghostly moments are hilarious. The film will reveal the mystery behind the haunted home. This film is a must-see for fans of Monster house (2005).
- Directed By: Nobuhiko Obayashi
- IMDb Rating 7.4/10
- Run Time: 88 minutes
- Stream On: HBO max, Vudu, Amazon prime video
#4 Noroi – The Curse
Noroi, The Curse is an American horror film that was released in Japan on August 20, 2005. This is a Pseudo-documentary-style movie that utilizes found-footage conversation. The film tells the story of a paranormal investigator that disappeared during his documentary. The film received favorable reviews from critics.
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Masafumi Kobayashi, a paranormal researcher with deep roots, has created many supernatural documentaries and books. The Curse is his first supernatural documentary. He disappeared during the filming, his house was burned down, and his wife was also found dead in the rubble. The film plays through his documentary using the recordings of Kobyashi cameraman Miyajima.
We see his past cases in the video recording. It is clear that something has happened to him since his last paranormal investigation. You will be shaken to the core if you watch this movie.
- Directed By: Koji Shiraishi
- IMDb Rating 7/10
- Run Time: 115 minutes
- Stream On: YouTube prime, Amazon prime video
#5 Kuroneko (1968)
Kuroneko, a Japanese horror film shot in black-and-white and TohoScope format, is based on supernatural folklore. This movie was released on February 24, 1968. It tells the story of the vengeful spirits that kill a mother and daughter-in-law.
You lived with her daughter-in-law Shinge in a bamboo grove, where a band of samurai attacked. The samurai invaded their home and ra*ed them. They also burned their shelter and murdered them both. Later, the ghostly women returned to get revenge on every samurai.
Hachi, a man of Japanese origin, is tasked to defeat the ghosts responsible for the samurai’s deaths. He learned that spirits are his wife and mother, which he was able to defeat. What happens next? And what is Hachi’s role afterward? Kuroneko is the film that will answer all your questions.
- Kaneto Shindo directed
- IMDb Rating 7.7/10
- Run Time: 99 minutes
- Stream on: Criterion channel, Netflix
#6 Reincarnation (2005)
Reincarnation is a Japanese horror flick that was first released at the Tokyo film festival in October 2005. The film centers on a young actress who plays a role in a movie about the 35-year-old hotel massacre. As she begins to see the tragedy, she accepts her role.
So, the story begins with psycho Professor Norihasa Omori. In an attempt to understand and study reincarnation, Professor Norihasa Omori visits a hotel, where he kills eleven hotel guests, employees, and children and then commits suicide. After 35 years of horror filmmaking, a director decides to make the movie and cast Nagisa Sugiura as Omor’s daughter Christo.
She is now haunted by the ghosts of the massacre’s victims, even though she has accepted the role in the movie. Soon she was experiencing hallucinations and nightmares about the hotel massacre. What happens next, and how can she escape her terrible hallucinations? Reincarnation gives all the answers.
- Directed By: Takashi Shimizu
- IMDb Rating 6.2/10
- Run Time: 95 minutes
- Stream On: Amazon Prime, Mubi
#7 One Cut Dead 2017
One Cut Dead is a Japanese comedy horror film about zombies. It was made with a budget of $25,000 and earned $31.2million worldwide. The film, which premiered on November 17, 2017, follows a filmmaker’s and his crew’s missteps when they were asked to make a Zombie film to air live on T.V. They had to complete it in just one take.
Higurashi, the film’s director, takes on the responsibility of filming a zombie film for television. Because of his mounting debts, Higurashi desperately wants the film to succeed. He decides to shoot it in a WWII Japanese facility to make it more realistic. Higurashi set up a blood pentagon to activate real zombies since the actors could not perform as well as zombies.
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After activating the zombies, the assistant director is turned into a zombie by the cameraman biting him. The director is able to film the movie with real zombies while simultaneously saving himself. Check out his adventures in One Cut Dead. The movie has many surprises and twists that will make your stomach churn. You’ll find yourself laughing so hard you may burst into laughter.
- Directed By: Shin’ichiro Ueda
- IMDb Rating 7.7/10
- Run Time: 97 minutes
- Stream On: Vudu, Netflix, Amazon prime video
Will Leave You Crying Tears of Joy
#8 As the God Will (2014)
This is The Squid Game Lovers movie. The Gods will is a Japanese supernatural terror film. It premiered on November 15, 2014. The film is an adaptation of the first arc from the eponymous manga. It centers on a group of college classmates who are forced to play a deadly game. To remain alive, they must continue to win the task in each game.
Shun Takahata is a high school student who plays violent video games most of the time. He complains about how boring he is and that he has never done anything exciting in his entire life, but he does play video games. Soon, he was forced into a game of death where winning every task was the only means to avoid extinction.
The players had five games to win to avoid being killed in the movie. Which of these games was it, and who created them? All the answers can be found in the movie As The Gods Will. After the Squid Games series, you can see this movie as well.
- Directed By: Takashi Miike
- IMDb Rating 6.4/10
- Run Time: 117 minutes
- Stream On, Vudu, Netflix
#9 Lesson Of The Evil (2012)
Lesson Of Evil was released on November 10, 2012. It is a Japanese horror film based on a Takashi Miike 2010 novel. The film tells the story of a young, popular, handsome teacher who hides his dark past and his homicidal impulses beneath his fake gentleman persona.
Seji Hasumi holds an MBA degree and is an English teacher from Harvard University. Seji Hasumi had been working as an investment banker for two years before joining a school to teach high school English. Despite his appearance as a gentleman with great knowledge, he is an evil man. Hasumi, a sociopath without empathy for anyone, is a severe antisocial disorder patient.
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He has a dark past that includes killing his parents and former tutor when he was fourteen. This is the story of an evil teacher. What will happen next? And when did the rest of the world learn his true nature? The curtains from the mystery will be removed once you watch the movie Lesson Of The Evil.
- Directed By: Takashi Miike
- IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
- Run Time: 128 minutes
- Stream On: Amazon Prime Video, Netflix
