So the Oscars were last night, and because I can’t stand watching them I saw the winner list this morning. There were only two things that stood out to me: a lot of awards were won by horror movies, which is cool, and “Golden” was the first K-Pop song to win Best Original Song.

I’ve been in to K-Pop for almost 15 years since my gateway drug Zico and Block B first yelled “BBC, Follow Me!”, so that was nice to hear. As for horror, I think people just love to go to the theatre for some creepy storytelling escape, instead of arty politics.

And thus, since Hollywood thinks it recently “discovered” both Korean entertainment and horror movies…they didn’t…I’ll share some cool Korean horror films for the real reason people enjoy movies…escape!

For found footage genre fans…

Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018)

Found footage movie are hit and miss as far as being truly scary, but Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum has some incredible jump scares and genuine freakiness. Like Blair Witch Project back in the day, the actors for the most part use their own names. This makes if feel pretty real. For those are only familiar with K-Drama on the periphery, the biggest name is Wi Ha-Joon of Squid Game fame, but everyone is a solid actor in this. Wi Ha-joon plays the director of a YouTube horror series who learned about two live streamers who disappeared filming the deserted Gonjiam Asylum (a real place, by the way). He and a group of pals decide to film it themselves to solve the mystery. What could possibly go wrong? Oh, so much. I won’t give away any more, but this is a perfect movie party night.

Now, for those Gen-X fans who love the bloody senseless slasher fun…

Project Wolf Hunting (2022)

Like many slashers, the “not for the squeamish” caveat comes attached here. This movie is a wall-to-wall good old disgusting blood bath in which you better not get attached to anyone. I mean it. The main premise alone is scary, as 47 very dangerous criminals are being taken from Philippines to Korea on a cargo ship. One of the worst is Park Jung-do. He’s played by one of most versatile talented actors and singers in KDramas who is currently all the male lead hottie in the rom-com Boyfriend on Demand. Here, he’s the worst, most unlikeable unhinged and ultraviolent killers you can think up…and he’s not even the big threat. It turns out there is something else happening on that cargo boat that makes these plain criminals’ seem tame.

The trailer alone here might even be a bit much for some, so if you can’t make it through you might want to avoid this one.

Finally, for some good occult myserties:

Exhuma (2024)

The Shaman is a common character in many K-Dramas, but in the movie Exhuma a well-respected shaman and her aide end up getting a little deeper into family haunted by an ancestral ghost than they would like.This one gets a little complicated, so you need to follow the story. Yet, it isn’t boring or dragging by any means. There are elements of the Japanese occupation era, ghostly possession, and other unearthly spirits. One of the standout actors in this is Choi Min-sik, who was the title role in the shocking mega hit Oldboy. Unlike the last two horrors I mentioned, however, this one actually ends on a happy note. Not something usually part of the horror genre. Also, if you are looking for a well-crafted original story, this one is it.

All three of these films are available on Amazon Prime, but you can find them on other services if you dig.

Have a safe Spring Break, everyone and enjoy some bloody fun from the land of Train To Busan.