5 Korean Movies for Every Horror Fan

If watching horror movies is your ideal way of preparing for Halloween, you’re in for a treat. Korean horror films have risen in popularity in the last few years because of their originality and scare factor. We’ve gathered our favorite five among the top-rated Korean flicks for every horror fan out there, from the least frightening to the most.

• The Host (2006) 

The Host, directed by the renowned Bong Joon-ho, is a classic monster movie with a side of dark humor. A mutant sea monster hiding in the Han River begins terrorizing Seoul, leading to chaos around the city, military intervention, and even protests! But when a middle-school girl is taken by the monster, her family does everything possible to get her back. This will have you at the edge of your seat until the very end, not really knowing what to expect, and is a great option for those of you who want to enjoy a good horror movie without the jump scares. 

• The Divine Fury (2019) 

We’ve talked about Kim Joo-hwan’s The Divine Fury  when it debuted in U.S. theaters two months ago, but it’s a must-have on this list. An MMA fighter (Park Seo Joon) who lost his faith in religion when he was a child is led to a famous priest when his nightmares get a little too real. The two of them form an unlikely team to take down the evil spirits who are possessing innocent people. It’s action-packed with enough creepy scenes to make it a worthy ghost-exorcism movie!

• Rampant (2018)

If you’re looking to fill the void Train To Busan left on your zombie-movie-loving heart, Rampant is for you. Director Kim Sung-hoon took one of the most popular horror-movies genres and gave it a historical twist. The Prince of Joseon returns to his kingdom after ten years of being captive by the Qing dynasty only to find to find an infectious disease is turning people into rampant monsters. Rampant has plenty of nail-biting scenes and action to keep you at the edge of your seat throughout the entire movie. 

• I Saw the Devil (2009) 

This is where true horror fans will rejoice. I Saw the Devil, directed by Kim Jee-woon, is a shockingly violent and a very graphic depiction of serial killer who targets women. The story takes an unexpected twist when the hunter becomes prey after one of the victims turns out to be the fiancée of a special agent. If you have a weak stomach, you may want to stay away from this movie; but otherwise it’s a fast-paced, action-packed, slasher film with an ending no one saw coming!

• Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018)

Lastly, it wouldn’t be a horror-movie list without a beloved haunted tale. But this is not an ordinary ghost story, Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is what nightmares are made of. Directed by Jung Bum-Shik, this movie follows the crew of a horror web show that’s trying to prove whether this infamous abandoned asylum is really haunted. All of this happens while they’re broadcasting live to their thousands of followers. This movie is cover-your-eyes scary. It’s chilling, unpredictable, and full of hair-rising suspense. Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is not for the faint of heart but if you’re a fan of ghosts horror movies it will not disappoint. 

Have you seen any of these movies? Let us know in the comments below, and make sure to check out 5 Korean Thrillers To Watch This Halloween for even more recommendations!

Cover Image: Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum
Written by Dianelys Fuentes