Movie Reviews

‘The J-Horror Virus’ review: Engaging look at one of the most important periods in horror

An important part of horror history.

October 14, 2023

The J-Horror Virus is a documentary screening at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival that examines the beginnings and evolution of one of the most influential sub-genres in horror. There are the expected interviews and movie clips, but this film offers more. All at a crisp run time of just over an hour and a half.

Documentaries about film tend to be long. This is especially true of the ones about horror. It is almost disappointing to see that The J-Horror Virus is about the same time as a typical scary movie. It quickly becomes clear this will not be an issue. Filmmakers Sarah Appleton and Jasper Sharp are hyper focused on their coverage. Instead of a comprehensive look at everything, the documentary takes a deep dive into specific topics. Unlike similar documentaries, it never feels like too much time is being spent on one subject at the expense of another.

Naturally, The J-Horror Virus touches on major hits like Ringu and it only makes sense to look back at historical influences. But what really makes the film stand out is its willingness to give so much time to smaller films that few have heard of. These moments demonstrate the richness of the J-Horror.

Technology has long been a part of horror and has been seen even more in recent years. The J-Horror Virus chronicles how the movies were an early adapter in using new tech as its subject. Clips highlight how they went from cursed video tapes to high speed Internet.

The J-Horror Virus is an engaging documentary that looks at an important time in horror history. Instead of trying to do a deep dive into everything, it succeeds by focusing on the most important parts of the genre. A must watch for J-Horror fans.