Episode 08: Horror of East Asia

This episode was recorded on August 26, 2023 and posted on October 7, 2023.

Content Warning: Light vulgarity.

Introduction

• Welcome to No Bodies Episode 8
• Introductions to your Ghosts Hosts with the Most - Lonely of Lonely Horror Club and Projectile Varmint aka Suzie of Horror Movie Weekly
• Introductions to our guest - Kelvin from @hk_movieaddict on Instagram
• Today's Topic: Horror of East Asia

Discussion of East Asian Horror

• History of horror in East Asia & our experiences with East Asian horror
• Representation gap of Asian cultures in film
• Why is extreme horror concentrated in East Asia?
• Defining themes of East Asian horror including extreme body horror, vengeance, American remakes, family dynamics, and folk religion. 
• Kelvin's favorite folklore & urban legends from Hong Kong - the Long Braid Lady, Yau Ma Tei Station, and the Speed Camera

Worst & Best Representations of East Asian Horror

Spoilers ahead!

Worst

• Sadako vs. Kayako (2016) - Suzie & Kelvin
• Re/Member (2022) - Lonely

Best

• House (1977) - Suzie
• The Imp (1981) - Kelvin
• Ringu (1998) - Kelvin
• Train to Busan (2016) - Lonely 
• The Medium (2021) - Lonely 

Suzie's Deep Cuts 

Includes films with under 5k ratings on IMDB. 

• Tomie (1998)
• Uzumaki (2000)
• Marebito (2004)
• Carved-Slit Mouth Woman (2007)
• White: The Melody of the Curse (2011)
• Eerie (2018)
• Detention (series) (2020)

Thank you to our guest! 

• Check out Kelvin on Instagram @hk_movieaddict!

Keep Up with Your Hosts

• Check out our instagram antics and drop a follow @nobodieshorrorpodcast. 
• Projectile Varmint - catch Suzie on Horror Movie Weekly with our dear friends Jay of the Dead, Mister Waston, and Channy Dreadful. Suzie also runs the HMW Instagram @ horrormovieweekly. 
• Lonely - read more from Lonely and keep up with her filmstagram chaos @lonelyhorrorclub on Instagram and www.lonelyhorrorclub.com. 
• Lonely's 10 Top Religious Horror Films on The Horror Countdown Podcast with Don Anelli

Original No Bodies Theme music by Jacob Pini. Need music? Find Jacob on Instagram at @jacob.pini for rates and tell him No Bodies sent you! 

Leave us a message at (617) 431-4322‬ and we just might answer you on the show!

Sources & Additional Reading

Asia Society. (2023). East Asia. https://asiasociety.org/countries-regions/east-asia#:~:text=East%20Asia%20includes%20China%2C%20Hong,territories%20can%20be%20found%20below

Malfanksin. (2021, March 21). Iceberg of Disturbing Movies (from top to bottom). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/list/ls088541907/

Naing, L. (2022, July 18). Asianization of Hollywood: From stereotypes to diversity. Spheres of Influence. https://spheresofinfluence.ca/asianization-of-hollywood-from-stereotypes-to-diversity/

Nickerson, C. (2023, February 8). Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions Theory & Examples. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/hofstedes-cultural-dimensions-theory.html#:~:text=Hofstede's%20Cultural%20Dimensions%20Theory%2C%20developed,vs.%20long%2Dterm%20orientation.

Poh, E. (2020, October 2). Lurking in the shadows of the Asian psyche - what makes Asian horror so terrifying?. Sinema.SG. https://www.sinema.sg/2020/10/02/how-asian-horror-scares/

Richards, J. (2019). Libguides: Portrayals of Asians in film and television: Get started. Get Started - Portrayals of Asians in Film and Television - LibGuides at Ithaca College. https://libguides.ithaca.edu/asianfilm

Townsend, K., Gilbert, S., Sims, D., & Cruz, L. (2021, November 11). You won't regret rewatching "The ring." The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/archive/2021/11/ring-modern-horror-classic/620620/

Zhang, C., Lu, Y., & Sheng, H. (2021, November 8). Exploring Chinese folk religion: Popularity, diffuseness, and diversities. https://doi.org/10.1177/2057150X2110426