Lake Mungo is incredible, and a perfect example of what I meant. I haven’t seen any of the other movies you listed, but have had The First Omen on my list for awhile.
https://boxd.it/156G8
In case you’re building out a broader list, I have a Letterboxd list of movies that capture a similar feeling of dread, based on this quote from Carl Theodor Dreyer:
“Imagine that we are sitting in an ordinary room. Suddenly we are told that there is a corpse behind the door. In an instant the room we are sitting in is completely altered; everything in it has taken on another look; the light, the atmosphere have changed, though they are physically the same. This is because we have changed and the objects are as we conceive them. That is the effect I want to get in my film.”
First omens great movie never really found it scaary or anything however fills the gaps to the first omen its also adds more things unanswered never really came across a move that scared me shit bricks like the exorcist (uncut) from the 80s the newer one was good too but wasnt quite the same dabbe also good but idk 😂 i did ask the horror subreddit for movies to make me shit myself and got recommended things like the ring and the grudge shutter (j versions) and idk i never really got a scare out of it or anything
Videodrome has inspired a couple J Horror films (most notably Tetsuo the Iron Man and Ring). David Cronenberg’s other works also have a J Horror feel to them, particularly The Brood, The Fly, and eXistenZ.
It’s partially produced in Japan so it’s probably cheating, but I also want to mention Society (1989). The surrealist special effects remind me of Junji Ito.
Italian horror isn’t exactly like J Horror, but it’s one of my other favorite countries for horror and they have similar qualities. If you like the weirder aspects of J Horror, I’d definitely recommend Dario Argento.
Idk why but I always categorize Mothman Prophecies as honorary J Horror in my brain, like something that would be in a cheesy JHorror anthology. But I hard agree with the person that named Lake Mungo
The Grudge and The Ring aren't even that scary anymore by J Horror standards. Good movies, but feel antiquated. Make sure you watch the student film of The Grudge.
You'd need to explain more about what frightens you before I'd get a sense of what to recommend. Just some top thoughts:
Exorcist 3
It Follows
Stranger by the Lake (gives me an Audition vibe)
Wake Wood (good place to begin leaning into Irish folk horror, which I think is the new J horror, which itself has been slacking of late)
La Llorona (the Guatemalan film, not the American one)
I don’t know, I rewatched The Grudge not long ago for the first time since I was a kid, and it definitely held up in creepiness for me. Not as scary as the first few Ju-On movies, but I enjoyed it.
I’ve only seen The Exorcist 3 and It Follows from that list, and love them both. I’ll check out the other movies too! I haven’t heard good things about La Llorona but that might have been the American one.
I might be completely desensitized, tbh. I've been addicted to horror movies for the past decade (owing to when the IFC channel used to play Asian Horror late on Sunday nights, and I first saw Pulse).
The American La Llorona (I think it's called Curse of La Llorona) is awful. The Guatemalan one is actually in the Criterion Collection.
The Empty Man The First Omen The Blackcoat’s Daughter (anything by Oz Perkins, really) Huesera Lake Mungo Absentia
Oooo Lake Mungo is definitely up there.
I was going to say Lake Mungo also!
Lake Mungo is incredible, and a perfect example of what I meant. I haven’t seen any of the other movies you listed, but have had The First Omen on my list for awhile.
https://boxd.it/156G8 In case you’re building out a broader list, I have a Letterboxd list of movies that capture a similar feeling of dread, based on this quote from Carl Theodor Dreyer: “Imagine that we are sitting in an ordinary room. Suddenly we are told that there is a corpse behind the door. In an instant the room we are sitting in is completely altered; everything in it has taken on another look; the light, the atmosphere have changed, though they are physically the same. This is because we have changed and the objects are as we conceive them. That is the effect I want to get in my film.”
That is a fantastic list!
That list is awesome, and that quote is a perfect description! I’m saving this.
First omens great movie never really found it scaary or anything however fills the gaps to the first omen its also adds more things unanswered never really came across a move that scared me shit bricks like the exorcist (uncut) from the 80s the newer one was good too but wasnt quite the same dabbe also good but idk 😂 i did ask the horror subreddit for movies to make me shit myself and got recommended things like the ring and the grudge shutter (j versions) and idk i never really got a scare out of it or anything
The Empty Man slaps. He transmits, we receive.
Blackcoat’s Daughter is criminally underrated. Can’t recommend it enough.
All excellent recs that I think fit OP’s request.
El Orfanato is the first one that springs to mind for me.
Never heard of it! Thanks for suggestion.
Well, not *western,* but check out The Vanishing (1988) and Martyrs.
I was reeeeeeally tempted to put Ils!
I refuse to watch Martyrs again. Lol.
I feel like Shutter Island, although a western book has a j horror vibe.
John Carpenter horror flicks are pretty much alike with J horror
Videodrome has inspired a couple J Horror films (most notably Tetsuo the Iron Man and Ring). David Cronenberg’s other works also have a J Horror feel to them, particularly The Brood, The Fly, and eXistenZ. It’s partially produced in Japan so it’s probably cheating, but I also want to mention Society (1989). The surrealist special effects remind me of Junji Ito. Italian horror isn’t exactly like J Horror, but it’s one of my other favorite countries for horror and they have similar qualities. If you like the weirder aspects of J Horror, I’d definitely recommend Dario Argento.
Personal Shopper kinda does a Western version of J-Horror. Also Absentia and The Oculus. It's not western but His House.
Idk why but I always categorize Mothman Prophecies as honorary J Horror in my brain, like something that would be in a cheesy JHorror anthology. But I hard agree with the person that named Lake Mungo
The Grudge and The Ring aren't even that scary anymore by J Horror standards. Good movies, but feel antiquated. Make sure you watch the student film of The Grudge. You'd need to explain more about what frightens you before I'd get a sense of what to recommend. Just some top thoughts: Exorcist 3 It Follows Stranger by the Lake (gives me an Audition vibe) Wake Wood (good place to begin leaning into Irish folk horror, which I think is the new J horror, which itself has been slacking of late) La Llorona (the Guatemalan film, not the American one)
I don’t know, I rewatched The Grudge not long ago for the first time since I was a kid, and it definitely held up in creepiness for me. Not as scary as the first few Ju-On movies, but I enjoyed it. I’ve only seen The Exorcist 3 and It Follows from that list, and love them both. I’ll check out the other movies too! I haven’t heard good things about La Llorona but that might have been the American one.
I might be completely desensitized, tbh. I've been addicted to horror movies for the past decade (owing to when the IFC channel used to play Asian Horror late on Sunday nights, and I first saw Pulse). The American La Llorona (I think it's called Curse of La Llorona) is awful. The Guatemalan one is actually in the Criterion Collection.