10 Best Japanese Horror Movies of the 1980s

When discussing Japanese horror moviesFans often bring up the late ’90s to early 2000s classics like Ju-on: The Grudge Or Addition. Decades earlier, in the 80s, The genre was starting to become more experimental, ultimately leading it to evolve and inspire what we know today as a more customary movie subgenre, J-Horror.

In the 1980s, Japan impacted the audience by taking people’s ordinary lives and twisting them into daunting experiences. Directors liked to give the impression that this could happen to anyone, making it both relatable and anxiety-inducing. This style was what ultimately set the bar for movies to come. Some of the more obscure classics are what inspired many of the best horror movies of all time.

10

Evil Dead Trap (1988)

Trapped in terror

The terrible assumption of Evil Dead Trap Revolves around a camera crew going to check out an abandoned military establishment after receiving a sniff film coming from the place. A lot of common horror tropes are seen here, As the main character, the gravity of the situation shakes off, which leads to their downfall later. Scenarios where the characters split up and then get trapped are all present here as well.

While Evil Dead Trap Following the usual plot points for these types of movies, it still makes the audience’s jaws drop. The fact that they were trying to catch the original sender of the film and ended up running into two psychopaths instead was a remarkably unpredictable twist. The crew’s elaborate killing sequences reflect the level of advanced analysis that its production team also has.

9

Wicked City (1987)

The Dark Side of Tokyo

1987s Wicked City is a highly stylized original video animated film that introduces the idea of ​​two demons joining forces to destroy the world. AAnimation as a whole was still developing during the 1980s in Japan, however Wicked City Became one of the first of its kind to dive into the horror genre. By mixing horrific images with sci-fi, action and fantasy, It quickly became a well-rounded fan favorite.

The setting reminded audiences of famous movies at the time, vi Game Ghost in the Shell And Game Ninja Scroll, But its content around demons, humanoids, and cyberpunk-esque weapons made it extremely eerie. The dark art style that holds up well to this day, paired with extreme gore and abnormal adult scenes, Power Wicked City An unpredictable experience.

8

Battle Heater (1989)

Heat up the horror

Director Jôji Iida’s horror-comedy Battle heater is a terrible, confusing movie. It surrounds the events of a rock guitarist who turns a Kotatsu heater into a death-dealing creature after removing its protective seal. This demented plot leads to incredibly disturbing scenes like Kotatsu growing fangs or the close-ups of his disgusting pulsating metallic skin.

The enjoyment of the film will depend on the individual viewer’s tolerance for silly moments. The comedy-horror sequences are so weird that they will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression. Battle heater Plays with the viewer’s mind through moments like the electrocution of an elderly couple paired with goofy sound effects and music.

7

Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis (1988)

Tokyo’s last days

Born from Tokyo’s history and urban legends, Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis is unlike any film of the time. In this movie, we follow Kato, a demonic psychic who tries to revive a great evil and use it to reduce the city to ruins. The supernatural horror is so graphic that the only act of its existence is already very brave.

Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis Has tons of disturbing, yet creative concepts. From his discussions about human existence to the introduction of a Japanese general from ten centuries ago, who is also a demonic reincarnation, the film never ceases to amaze. The contrast between a blooming, modern Tokyo and its more unknown dark history and urban legends make it a must-watch.

6

Cyclops (1987)

One eye

The medically-focused horror film Cyclops, is one of the most haunting films J-Horror has to offer. With its traumatic depictions of medical equipment and scientists and doctors implanting one-eyed mutants into women, this is a film that iatrophobes want to avoid at all costs.

Cyclops Surrounds the aftermath of a woman giving birth to a large mutant Cyclops and a team of experts who seek to reproduce it. All the diverse, hidden deformed mutants trying to casually blend into society make this movie disturbing. The body horror visuals in this movie are prevalent, and scenes that go from 0 to 100 happen rapidly throughout all of it.

5

sweet home (1987)

Home sweet home…or is it?

1987s sweet home is a key film in the evolution of the very famous Japanese survival-horror subgenre. On the outside, it may look like any other eerie atmospheric flick, but on the inside, It is a chilling psychological experience. sweet home Tackles the story of a TV crew going to a big old house to film a painting on the wall, but to their surprise, they end up finding a child’s dead body instead.

The movie hit the Japanese audience so hard that a Fanicom game with the same name was later released. His iconic use of shadows and practical special effects are well executed, shining in scenes like the one involving a medieval weapon used by infants. Its mind-blowing intricacies, how the passage of the child relates to the painting itself, are also something worth pointing out.

4

Biotherapy (1986)

A breakthrough in medicine

In the realm of scary and disturbing films, Biotherapy Has a lot to offer. This revolting Japanese gore-fest focuses on a group of scientists who are followed and later murdered by an alien. Being definitive not for the faint of heart, The images of the alien trying to forcefully retrieve the scientists’ secret formula are enough to make even the hardest horror fans cringe.

Significant moments include one of the scientists having his eyeball removed, which highlights the artist’s level of convincing effects. Even in its short runtime of 35 minutes, Biotherapy is both entertaining and thrilling, Even for viewers who have no clue what’s going on. The film was interesting enough to be expanded into a feature-length film.

3

Guzoo: The Thing Forsaken by God – Part I (1986)

Abandoned by the gods

Guzoo: The thing abandoned by God is particularly frightening because, With its cast of cute Japanese girls and tentacles, it disguised itself as something it wasn’t. Viewers who tuned in were greeted by a different type of film than what they were expecting, as it contained zero nudity. From the beginning with the shocking, pulsating and vomiting creature to the absurdly confusing end with Guzoo changing reality itself, the film never gets boring.

While Guzoo: The thing abandoned by God Features a large amount of over-the-top completely, It still qualifies as a must-watch for fans of WTF cinema. The last ten minutes are very remarkable as the characters are chased around by the slimy critters, and they give a glimpse of hope before finally ending in the most baffling way.

2

Desu Pawuda (1986)

A nightmare come to life

If you are looking for a scary and nonsensical film, Desu Pawuda is a good option to consider. This Japanese cyberpunk horror film was so remarkable that it ended up molding more well-known movies like 964 Pinocchio And Gum’s lover. While the film’s material looked like it was a collage of multiple people’s work, the end credits let us know that, “All [was] Directed by Shigeru Izumiya.”

From scenes where a female creature with the “death powder” morphs while strapped down, to the three conspirators stealing the secret android itself, The special effects were so impressive that they brought the movie to life. The huge protoplasmic organism was an addition that was extremely difficult to look at. Desu Pawuda is simply a movie that leaves its audience scratching their heads.

1

Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)

A cyberpunk horror masterpiece

Considered one of the weirdest horror movies of the 80s that people love, Tetsuo: The Iron Man was one of the movies to popularize the horror-cyberpunk genre. Although the movie is a little too deep for a beginner, the vision of the director of Shinya Tsukamoto has turned into a 67-minute disturbing game about a Japanese salaryman, who horribly turns into a machine-human hybrid.

There is no way to prepare viewers for this disturbing experienceThe designs, the effects and the inclusion of some stop-motion make it a testament to the creativity and technical skills of the filmmaker. Moments like the dinner table scene are so raw in depicting the protagonist’s descent into madness and his obsession with metal. The scene where metal starts emerging from his skin is so shocking and psychologically disturbing that it stays with viewers long after the movie ends.