Halloween
A longstanding and distinctive trope of Asian horror is that of the vengeful female – women who were wronged in life and who return after death to exact their revenge. To celebrate Halloween, this Spotlight features some of the most chilling stories of women out to settle the score.
The Maid
(สาวลับใช้)
She didn’t come to serve the dishes.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Thailand • 2020
- Director Lee Thongkham
- Cast Ploy Sornarin, Kannaporn Puangtong, Savika Chaiyadej, Theerapat Sajakul, Keetapat Pongrue
- Genre Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Amazon Video, Redbox, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, VUDU Free, Plex
Satan's Slaves
(Pengabdi Setan)
A woman's unwavering love for her family, even in death.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Indonesia, Korea • 2017
- Director Joko Anwar
- Cast Tara Basro, Bront Palarae, Dimas Aditya, Endy Arfian, Nasar Anuz, M. Adhiyat
- Genre Drama, Horror, Mystery
- Available on Shudder, Shudder Amazon Channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel , DIRECTV, Apple TV, Vudu, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
The Housemaid
(Cô Hầu Gái)
What happens when love becomes too possessive?
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Vietnam, Korea • 2016
- Director Derek Nguyen
- Cast Kate Nhung, Jean-Michel Richaud, Kim Xuân, Svitlana Kovalenko, Kien An, Rosie Fellner
- Genre Horror, Romance
- Available on AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, DIRECTV, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Tubi TV, Kanopy
Bedevilled
(김복남 살인사건의 전말)
Nothing is more deadly than a woman seeking revenge.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Korea • 2010
- Director Jang Cheol-soo
- Cast Seo Young-hee, Hwang Geum-hee, Baek Su-Ryeon, Park Jeong-hak, Bae Sung-woo, Oh Yong
- Genre Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller
- Available on Hi-YAH, Amazon Video, Alamo on Demand, Apple TV
A Slit-Mouthed Woman
(口裂け女)
There is no right answer to her question.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Japan • 2007
- Director Kôji Shiraishi
- Cast Eriko Satō, Haruhiko Katō, Chiharu Kawai, Rie Kuwana, Kazuyuki Matsuzawa, Kaori Sakagami
- Genre Horror
- Available on Kanopy
The Maid
The dead have returned to tell the tale.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Singapore • 2005
- Director Kelvin Tong
- Cast Alessandra de Rossi, Hong Huifang, Benny Soh, Zhenwei Guan, Chen Shucheng, Mohd Haizad Bin Imram
- Genre Drama, Horror, Thriller
- Available on Kanopy
Dumplings
(餃子)
Eternal youth comes at a human cost.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Hong Kong • 2004
- Director Fruit Chan
- Cast Bai Ling, Miriam Yeung, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Pauline Lau, Meme Tian, Miki Yeung
- Genre Horror
- Available on Apple TV, Vudu, Amazon Video, Tubi TV, VUDU Free
Shutter
(ชัตเตอร์ กดติดวิญญาณ)
Photographs can capture what the eyes can't see.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Thailand • 2004
- Director Parkpoom Wongpoom
- Cast Ananda Everingham, Natthaweeranuch Thongmee, Achita Sikamana, Unnop Chanpaibool, Titikarn Tongprasearth, Sivagorn Muttamara
- Genre Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
- Available on Vudu, VUDU Free, Kanopy
Wishing Stairs
(여고괴담 3: 여우계단)
Watch your step
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Korea • 2003
- Director Yun Jae-yeon
- Cast Song Ji-hyo, Park Han-byul, Jo An, Park Ji-yeon, Gong Sang-ah, Hong Soo-a
- Genre Horror
- Available on Kanopy
Ju-on: The Grudge
(呪怨じゅおん)
From a terrible crime, a curse is born.
- ✭ ✭
- Japan • 2002
- Director Takashi Shimizu
- Cast Megumi Okina, Misaki Ito, Misa Uehara, Yui Ichikawa, Kanji Tsuda
- Genre Horror
- Available on Apple TV, Vudu, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, AMC on Demand, Freevee
Audition
(オーディション)
She always gets her part.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Japan • 1999
- Director Takashi Miike
- Cast Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Jun Kunimura, Tetsu Sawaki, Renji Ishibashi, Miyuki Matsuda
- Genre Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
- Available on Screambox, Fandor Amazon Channel, Screambox Amazon Channel, Hi-YAH, ARROW, Apple TV, Vudu, Alamo on Demand, Tubi TV, Darkmatter TV, AsianCrush, Kanopy
Ringu
(リング)
One curse, one cure, one week to find it
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Japan • 1998
- Director Hideo Nakata
- Cast Nanako Matsushima, Miki Nakatani, Hiroyuki Sanada, Yuko Takeuchi, Hitomi Satô, Yôichi Numata
- Genre Horror, Thriller
- Available on Shudder, Screambox, Screambox Amazon Channel, Shudder Amazon Channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, ARROW, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Alamo on Demand, Tubi TV, Darkmatter TV, VIX , AsianCrush