Spooky season is here! To get you into the Halloween spirit some AAAFF staff have rounded up their favorite Asian and AA/PI films that will be sure to give you the scare you’ve been craving. We hope y’all have a terrifying good time with these movies 😱
Image Source: IMDB
Director Jackie Kong was the most prominent Asian American woman in the VHS-fueled boom of 1980s low-budget schlock. Her third feature Blood Diner—an unofficial sequel/remake/pastiche of the splatter ur-movie Blood Feast—delivers on its title, as two brothers (accompanied by their uncle's brain in a jar) use a "vegetarian" restaurant as a front for their true ambition: reviving the ancient Egyptian goddess "Sheetar" with body parts harvested from unwary patrons. An inexplicable subplot involving a pro wrestler named "Jimmy Hitler" is a pretty strong clue that this leans more to the "comedy" side of the comedy-horror equation, and fans of Z-movie fare like Story of Ricky and early Peter Jackson will find their hunger for over-the-top gore more than satisfied. -Josh Martin, Film Programmer & Special Programs
BURNING (2018)
Dir. Lee Chang-dong | Watch it on Mubi
Image from Vogue & Well Go USA
Horror isn’t my thing, I get scared way too easily. I watched Hereditary, and slept with a night light for two years (I am not joking). However, that being said, I love a good thriller and Burning is a thriller that keeps on giving. Based on the short story by Haruki Murakami, Burning follows a delivery man named Jong-su (Yoo Ah -in), who runs into his childhood friend, Hae-mi (Jeon Jong - seo). The pair meet Ben (Steven Yeun) and Jong-su is instantly suspicious of him and begins to believe Hae-mi is in danger. I’m telling you now, you will be uneasy the entire time. - Neha Aziz, Community Programs Director & Film Programmer
CURE (1997)
Dir: Kiyoshi Kurosawa | Watch on Criterion Channel
Image from Asian Movie Pulse
This is a good film for those who prefer the more psychological/mystery side of horror. A fun fact is that Bong Joon-Ho, director of "Parasite", said that Cure was influential to his career. - Joshua Lattao, Screener & Development Assistant
JENNIFER’S BODY (2009)
Dir: Karyn Kusama | Watch it on Amazon Prime, Roku Premium, Paramount+, Philo, Sling TV
Image from IMDB
Jennifer's Body was the most unfairly maligned horror film for quite some time, yet with time a large group of people finally saw the light and realized that Karyn Kusama's snarky teen horror film is a perfect time capsule that embodies the 2000s emo/alt subculture. Kusama's punchy direction makes for a wild, sexy thrill ride, and Kusama has Megan Fox deliver every single bit of Diablo Cody's dialogue with relish. It's a horror movie made by women, for women. Bonus: if Jennifer's Body hits all the right notes for you, I highly recommend seeking out her other film, The Invitation as well. - Jenny Nulf, Programming Director
Memories of Murder (2005)
Dir: Bong Joon Ho | Watch it on Hulu
Image from Criterion Collection
Once again, I love a good thriller, and Bong Joon Ho’s Memories of Muder is just the film to keep you on the edge of your seat. Set in a small town in Korea, two detectives (Song Kang - ho, Kim Sang - keung) are on the hunt for a serial killer who has been terrorizing women. Reminiscent of David Fincher’s Zodiac, though Memories came out a few years before (I saw Zodiac first), but the tone, direction, and genius execution are match for match.- Neha Aziz, Director of Community Programs & Film Programmer
THE QUEEN OF BLACK MAGIC (2020)
Dir: Kimo Stamboel | Watch it on Shudder, Amazon Prime, Sling TV
Image from Screen Daily
Kimo Stamboel has been a staple to the Indonesian film community for quite some time, with gruesome films like Macabre and Headshot. Although it might be a little bold to say, The Queen of Black Magic is some of Stamboel's best work – a remake that understands its origins, but also celebrates the films that Stamboel admires and adores. Traces of Sam Raimi run through the veins of The Queen of Black Magic, with pitch-perfect jump scares and gallons of goopy gore, this Shudder OG is a gore-hound's Halloween dream. - Jenny Nulf, Programming Director
TEINE SĀ - THE ANCIENT ONES
Dir: Various Moana writers & directors | Anthology | Watch it on The Coconet.tv (Free)
Image from The Coconet TV
Feminist and vengeful spirit goddesses from Pacific Island folklore is the focus of this anthology of 5 short films. Set in the present and all loosely connected with actor Frankie Adams in an array of different roles in each, the anthology seeks to touch upon the injustices women of Pacific Islander descent continue to face. The creative punishments from the goddesses will keep you on the edge about what fresh hell will be doled out to the perpetrators. - Hanna Huang, Executive Director
TUMBBAD (2018)
Dir: Rahi Anil Barve & Adesh Prasad | Watch it on Amazon Prime
Image from Indian Express
The people are all kind of terrible in Tumbbad, which makes rooting against them all the more fun when the monsters unleash. So many classic horror tales are meant as warnings to those who seek sinful pleasures, and Vinayak's greed-induced quest is a patient one, well worth the build up. It's a monster mash for the ages.- Jenny Nulf, Programming Director