6 Scariest Japanese Horror, Ranked by How Much They Traumatized Me

While the majority of the genre relies too much on jump scares (which are often pointless), Japanese horror crawls under your skin and stays there long after the movie is over.

So if you're tired of predictability, these 6 J-horrors have got you covered. Fair warning: these aren't ranked by their quality, but rather by how many nights of sleep they've stolen from me.

6. Kwaidan (1964): Art Takes Form of Japanese Folk Horror

Level of scary: moderate, but take all my money for its art direction.

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Kwaidan has 91% from critics and 89% from the audience.
• On IMDb, Kwaidan is rated 7.9/10.

Kwaidan is one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. I was so mesmerized by the imagery that it didn't really scare me that much. Yet it does have a creepy atmosphere that will frighten you.

If you have 3 hours to spare, this anthology offers four Japanese folklore stories. Pro tip: If you're too busy for such a commitment, you can always watch the stories separately, thus prolonging the fun.

Available on: Max, Criterion Channel, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Apple TV.

5. Ringu (1998): Have You Seen the Videotape?

Level of scary: gets scarier than your average horror, but not as quiet as its source material.

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Ringu has 98% from critics and 81% from the audience.
• On IMDb, Ringu is rated 7.2/10.

Before the US version of The Ring, there was Ringu. But I may have a rather controversial opinion on this one because I find the American version scarier (childhood trauma speaking, I guess).

The story follows a reporter investigating a cursed videotape that kills viewers seven days after watching it.

But if you really want to lose sleep, read the book. Koji Suzuki's original novel gave me more sleepless nights than all the adaptations combined.

Available on: Kanopy for free; Criterion Channel, Philo, Shudder, Screambox, AsianCrush, ARROW, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Apple TV.

4. Noroi: The Curse (2005): Found Footage That Fueled My Nightmares

Level of scary: unsettling, surrealistic and creepy.

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Noroi: The Curse has 74% from the audience.
• On IMDb, Noroi: The Curse is rated 6.8/10.

Noroi might be the most effective found-footage horror film out there. The story follows a paranormal investigator looking into strange occurrences, gradually uncovering a mystery involving a demon named Kagutaba.

The final scene haunts me to this day. It's realistic enough to make you want to crawl under a blanket and never come out.

Available on: Hoopla for free; Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Apple TV.

3. Audition (1999): The Slow-Burner That Can Kill

Level of scary: scared, traumatized, need a whole day of Studio Ghibli to recover.

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Audition has 83% from critics and 80% from the audience.
• On IMDb, Audition is rated 7.1/10.

Don't let anyone spoil this film for you. This is the kind of horror that can change a person. All I'm going to say is that it's the story of a widowed man looking for love. The rest you have to find out for yourself.

Available on: Kanopy for free; Criterion Channel, Philo, Shudder, Screambox, Fandango At Home, Apple TV.

2. Pulse (2001): The Internet Horror

Level of scary: gave me actual nightmares.

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Wine Country has 76% from critics and 60% from the audience.
• On IMDb, Wine Country is rated 6.5/10.

The film follows multiple characters as they discover that spirits are using the internet as a gateway into our world. But unlike today's digital horror, Pulse creates an atmosphere of isolation that feels suffocating.

It's a slow burner that builds to some of the most haunting imagery you've ever seen in horror.

Available on Hoopla, Plex and Fawesome for free; Amazon Prime Video, Fandango At Home, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, Apple TV.

1. Ju-on: The Grudge (2002): The Ultimate Nightmare Fuel of Japanese Horror

Level of scary: traumatizing in a way I did not anticipate, get me out of here.

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Ju-on: The Grudge has 80% from critics and 63% from the audience.
• On IMDb, Ju-on: The Grudge is rated 6.7/10.

The film tells us about a curse that spreads like a virus, born from a terrible act of violence, haunting and killing anyone who encounters it.

There's a reason why Ju-on is at the top of the list: it follows you home. The idea that nowhere is safe from the curse creates a sense of hopelessness that's hard to shake off.

This movie broke me. For days I had hard times closing my eyes without imagining that Kayako scene where she bends over the bed and looks right at you. If that's not the mark of effective horror, I don't know what is.

Available on Plex for free; Fandango At Home, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, Apple TV.