Top 10 Japanese Horror Films - Part 2

4. Flowers of Flesh and Blood

Director: Hideshi Hino
Year: 1985

Flowers of Flesh and Blood is the second instalment in the Guinea Pig slasher/body horror film series that ran from the 1980-90s. All of the Guinea Pig films were controversial in their own rights but none of them caused as much outrage as Flowers of Flesh and Blood.

The story revolves around a man dressed as a samurai kidnapping a woman, drugging her and then taking her home. Once at home he fastens her to a bed and begins to dismember her; slowly and graphically. VERY GRAPHICALLY. The film is almost 30 years old yet the realism is startling. It is so realistic that upon watching Flowers of Flesh and Blood actor Charlie Sheen thought he was watching a genuine snuff film. He proceeded by contacting the FBI who then went on to investigate the film-makers and actors. The case was dropped once the actress was found alive and well but as a result a 'making of' documentary has been added to every subsequent release so that the misunderstanding doesn't happen again.
It truly is a horrific film and one that has stood the test of time. The use of prosthetics and carefully placed camera shots are master class. Absolutely not for the faint heated, Flowers of Flesh and Blood continues to repulse viewers and inspire directors. It gave birth to the 'torture porn' genre yet nothing has surpassed it yet.

3. Imprint

Director: Takashi Miike
Year: 2006

Originally intended to be shown on cable television as part of the Masters of Horror series, director Takashi Miike, as he so often does, went just a little too far. The episode was to be premiered along with the rest of the series but the overtly graphic and disturbing content led to it being shelved. It wasn't until the release of the DVD that audiences understood why.
Set in the 1800's, an American journalist returns to Japan in hope of finding the prostitute he had fallen in love with, Komomo. During his search he learns of the grotesque torture that befell her after he left.
He arrives at her last known whereabouts, a small shadowy island, an island devoid of humanity and sanity

  "This island isn't in the human world; demons and whores are the only ones living here".

Few of the inhabitants wish to speak to the American but he soon encounters a deformed prostitute who claims she is friends with his beloved Komomo. She explains that she has passed away and later when he is drunk he begs her to tell the story of her demise. This is where the true horror begins.

Miike is a director who doesn't like to shy away from the camera. He will often lull his audience into a false sense of security but when he wants to repulse he is relentless. Imprint is no exception. The torture of Komomo is pure unadulterated savageness. Miike is masterful at making you fall in love and sympathise with characters before he brutalises them; making the scenes twice as hard to watch. It really is surprising what Miike has squeezed into 60 minutes. There is a deep love story, a tragic twist, an unpredictable ending and so much social context. I don't want to ruin too much or spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it but it's an impressive feat.

Imprint is a pure watch-between-your-fingers, cringe fest.