Infection (Japan)

[Chopper]

took the plunge and rented this recent Japanese horror film about a hospital plagued by a virus that leaves gory results and ghosts. overall i was quite impressed, pretty fast paced movie with some good gore, good atmosphere, and a few real creepy scenes.

[nobody]

That sounds like an enjoyable premise... I might look into this one. But I've been burned by so many of these Japanese horror movies already that I'm really afraid to watch any more. They're usually so slow paced and boring- I can't even goof on them, I just fall asleep.

[Dunners]

Yes the pacing in Japanese horror is definitley a snails pace. However they're still quite unique.

[Shadowphile]

The Grudge is an excellent example of Japanese horror.

Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar in a very 'non-Buffy' role, it has a number of really good 'jump' scenes.  The ending is very interesting.  It's nice to know somethings are too big for the lone 'ghostbuster' to handle alone....

[Chopper]

i hear ya guys. i've been dissapointed by a lot of Japanese horror films also. while i love a lot of their 70's era samurai and karate flicks that were often very violent and dramatic i must say their brand of horror often doeasn't fly with me.

[Mr_Vindictive]

I like Japanese horror quite a bit, although most of the Japanese horror that I view is more in the action/horror genre - i.e. Versus.

As for The Grudge being a good horror film...well it all depends on which version.  The Sam Raimi produced remake of The Grudge with Gellar is complete crap.  Although it held the same director as the original, it failed at all points.  The original though, Ju-On, is fantastic and much better than the crap we got in the states.

Sure the pacing in Asian horror films is slow, but I think they are mainly entertaining for me due to the surreal nature of the films.  Here are some that I absolutely loved:

Happiness Of The Katakuris
Stacy: Attack Of The Schoolgirl Zombies
Wild Zero
Battle Royale
Versus
Ju-On
Ringu
Audition
Ichi The Killer

[Chopper]

i'll agree with you on Audition, saw that one in theatres and i remember this one scene where this old lady asked: "did she bite of his ___?"  classic.