Korean horror

K-Horror is the term given to horror films made in Korea. The term literally means "Korean Horror".

The term itself emerged to distinguish from and follow the enormous success of the horror films in Japan, which itself was initiated by the film Ringu. This movement in Japan was tentatively called J-Horror.

K-Horror features many of the same motifs, themes, and imagery as J-Horror, but set to local venue and cultural elements. K-Horror movies tend to focus on suffering and anguish of the characters rather than over-the-top gore effects.

List of notable films

• 301, 302
• Acacia
• Antarctic Journal
• APT
• Arang
• Bloody Beach
• Bunshinsaba
• Cello
• Cinderella
• Dead Friend
• Death Bell
• Doll Master
• The Early Years (film)
• Evil Twin
• Face
• A Ghost Story of Joseon Dynasty
• Hansel and Gretel
• The Hanuted Villa
• Into the Mirror
• Loner
• Memento Mori
• Muoi: The Legend of a Portrait
• Nightmare

• Phone
• R-Point
• The Record
• The Red Shoes
• Redeye
• The Ring Virus
• Say Yes
• Sorum
• Someone Behind You
• Suddenly at Midnight
• A Tale of Two Sisters
• Three ("Memories" segment)
• Three... Extremes ("Cut" segment)
• To Sir, with Love
• Unborn But Forgotten
• The Uninvited
• Voice
• The Wig
• Wishing Stairs
• Whispering Corridors

Korean horror directors

• Ahn Byeong-ki - director of the horror films Nightmare, Phone, Bunshinsaba, and APT
• Bong Joon-ho - director of the horror films The Host and Memories of Murder; also writer of Antarctic Journal
• Kim Dong-bin - director of the horror films The Ring Virus and Redeye
• Park Ki-hyeong - director of the horror films Whispering Corridors and Acacia
• Kim Ji-woon - director of the horror films A Tale of Two Sisters, Three (the segment "Memories"), and The Quiet Family
• Kong Su-chang - director of the horror films Tell Me Something and R-Point

See also

• J-Horror
• Horror film
• Cinema of Korea

External links

• Discovering Korean Cinema: Horror - an analysis by Kevin Gilvear (DVD Times)
• K-Horror Needs A Haircut - an essay by "Seattle Maggie" (Cinecultist)
• K-Horror is New J-Horror - an essay by Jason Silverman (Wired.com)
• Who are the Asian Scream Queens? - an analysis by Staci Wilson (About.com)
• Korean Horror & Suspense Movies - a list of Korean horror film reviews (About.com)
• Seoul's Long, Hot, Horrid Summer - an analysis of horror's allure within Korean society by Andrew Salmon (International Herald Tribune)