There's something that i've heard from an other youtuber about horror : "the best horror films are the ones who mix horror with another strong emotion which really drives the movie". The thing for instance is paranoïa. Horror is secondary, it's driven by the paranoïa you feel. Here it's sadness. I think it's particulary clever to make such horror movies.
Yep, I think the UK film critic Mark Kermode once mentioned something similar. He said that some of the best horror films have an element of sadness or pathos to them. I think you're right that the best horror mixes horror with some other strong emotion. The Thing is paranoia, The Changeling is sadness, Hellraiser perhaps is lust or desire etc.
@@AccentedCinema Yeah, it's sooooo true. Parents really like blaming their children not to preserve things well, and they also assume that we have a bad motivation with no reason
I think the most important thing for parents to do is keep their emotions in check. To act out of emotion usually results in irrational and hurtful actions
The Eye, based on the Chinese folk legend with people who have "Yin Yang Eyes" basically they can see ghost in daytime. People with these type of eyes, they learned to ignore and never ever acknowledge that they see that Ghost, otherwise they will pestering him or her until they need to do an exorcism.
@@Ellzxcl Chinese Taoistic exorcism is a bit different, a Taoist Priest can drive out a haunted spirit in a house or ward off ghost and such in a place. Taoist priest basically the ones you see in those Jumping vampire movies, starring Lam Ching Ying, wearing yellow garb. They usually do Funeral Rites making sure that dead person spirit return to their body so they can rest in peace. When my paternal grandfather died in the 90's we had these Taoist Priest where he did funeral rites during my grandfathers funeral, like the burial of the coffin and then at the end calling back his spirit to his home. This is why whenever someone dies and we take their ashes or black and white photo, we must say "We are going home now". Southern China local folk religion believes that when humans dies, their spirit will be lost in the world, so this is why the Taoist priest will do a rites and say all the street names and all the way back to the home address. Well I only been to one Chinese funeral in my life, I didn't go to my paternal grandmother few years ago.
@@Ellzxcl Possession in Asian sense includes building haunting and simply attached to a person as well, not just hijack-your-body mainly seen in Western genre.
This probably also relates to the common folklore that if you hear someone faintly call your name out of nowhere, either in public or alone, never answer it or try to find out. Because if you show them that you can hear them, they will also be following you and try to talk to you or something.
@@RichterBelmont2235 This is even scarier if you think about it. Possession in asian culture, or having malignant spirits attached to you, often accompanies bad luck and other stuff. In this instance, there's really no way of knowing if you are possessed or not and if in the case that you are, you never know what kind of damage it is doing to your life, if you buy into this kind of stuff. Much akin to African voodoo, this creates a rather nasty paranoia surrounding asian hauntings and possessions.
Was brilliant to see these told thru the eyes and heart of someone who is Chinese who grew up with the better original Chinese films. Thank you for the knowledge and the insight into your thoughts and how these films fit into Chinese cinema.
I've always been interested in ghost stories, namely how each culture has a different take on ghost stories, reflecting the practices and values of each culture The Chinese variety of ghost story is one I'm pretty fascinated by
You will probably enjoy the ancient book called Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio “ 聊齋誌異”. It is like the Brothers Grimm of Chinese ghost stories, most with good ending and lessons to learn.
I think that one of the most interesting aspects in the cinema of every culture is what kind of scary stories they tell. For me, it's a way to reflex the concernings of the culture they are based on.
This film is so good not only because of the symbolisms, but how freakishly realistic it is. Firstly, when the meets ghosts, she actually doesn't think they are weird. She was blind her entire life, so dhe thinks initially that seeing ghosts were normal. The fact that only the audience suspects that what she see is actually a ghost but she thinks nothing of it makes us fear for her safety. Thats a genius move in this movie because even the ghosts are not really known. In other horror films, theres usually only 1 ghost. But in this film, you never know who actually is a ghost. All you can do is suspect that it is one until the reveal. The mc will slowly detect how unnaturally different these ghosts are compared to normal people and slowly realises the creepiness of her ability. Another really cool thing she deals with is her trying to adjust from being blind. She have these visions that is a mental representation of how her room felt likd when she was blind. Since both her sense of space and sense of sight is now very active, these two senses collide. There are many more plot twists in the movie that just continues to one up the movie as it goes on. As soon as it seems like the mc is getting used to it, another thing appears and make for a new experience. After some time, these ghosts definitely
I remember there is one part just at the beginning of the movie when she regains her sight and she doesn't suspect anything about the ghost, where she is more astonished to see an albino man for the first time than when she meet the report card boy or the old lady in the hospital
Thank you so much for delivering your insights on cinema (Especially, Asian Cinema.) It really helps when you provide the context/implications of asian culture has on the films it has produced. With regards to Asian Horror, I'm very fond of the movie Bangkok Haunted. Looking forward for more content!
I did enjoy "The Eye" quite much back then. Had a very nice atmosphere. And now that you've mentioned it, we need a "A Chinese Ghost Story" video from you! I god damn love this movie.
the setting of the mood in asia horror movies is what stands out most to me. take the Thai movie "shutter" ,very scary on first watch but if just watch the ending clip on youtube the effect is lesser. the whole movie sets up the mood very well for the final scare to work to maximum effect
I just want to say, I love your videos. Please keep making them. You deserve far more subscribers than you currently have, I know you'll keep accumulating them.
Great analysis! As someone who has the Yin-Yang Eyes, especially during childhood after several near death experiences, “The Eye” was one of the most accurate and insightful depictions of ghosts and lingering spirits that I’d watched, and remains my all-time favourite Asian horror film.
@@maggiejetson7904 My eyesight has deteriorated as I get older (I'm almost 50), and these days I could hardly see them anymore. But I could still feel their presence.
Another great video essay. It is a shame The Eye is not more widely acknowledged in the West as the great Asian horror film that it is. Personally I like The Eye 2 just as much. It's not as scary but has equally intriguing themes and a powerful lead performance from Shu Qi. The Pang brothers' Re-cycle is also amazing.
***spoilers*** . . . . . . . . the moment when you, as the viewer, realize that she's been seeing the donor's face in the mirror the whole time and not her own face, man that's SO creepy AF. it wasn't the typical ghost jump scare but just the fact that she's not able to see her own reflection really set this movie apart from other asian horror movies at the time.
Thank you for this. I never could quite put into words what made The Eye different from all the other horror movies that came out around that time. I'll need to rewatch some of the old classics now. I think I understand better why I liked the short, Good Hunting, from Love, Death, and Robots. Seems like it tried to capture this idea about the inhumanity and greed of man.
when i thought chinese horror i imediately thinking about chinese zombie/vampire movie. it so mainstream here in Indonesia at years 2000s. until everyone knowing vampire is chinese ghoat.
Those were not exactly horror. Those movies are more like comedy which is the reason why it was aired on Saturday noon back in late 90s early 00s and why it was so popular, it aired in weekend daylight.
I'm crying. This wasn't just a reflection of Chinese horror films but a reflection of our own personal demons and how to finally break free. Many years after watching this film I've wondered why innocent Mun had such an unfair ending, thank you for drawing the cycle out so beautifully.
yaaaay! I'm so glad you covered this movie! It's one of the few HK movies I really recommend to my foreign friends if they like horror :) Good stuff dude!
this gave me a new appreciation for modao zu shi, i found certain scenes confusing but after watching your video, it solidified for me how understanding their culture gave more in terms of just aesthetics and story telling Edit: Modao Zu Shi the novel, specifically there are a ton of scenes where they ‘relive the lives and deaths’ of various characters that give you the sense of tragedy but still holds hope for their future.
Fujoshi Fluff first off, wasn’t expecting to see a mdzs reference here, second off, what did you mean about reliving lives and deaths? As in the scenes where they did empathy? If so, how did it give hope for the future? Just curious here.
This is really interesting. I'm studying Buddhism for my religions class, and it's really interesting to see how Buddhist principles influence folklore and horror. This video really helped me understand some concepts I had a hard time getting, coming from a tradition of Mormonism.
So interesting!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It’s been a while since I’ve watched a horror movie, but I’ll have to make an exception for this. Well done!!
Thank you so much for explaining the philosophical concepts behind "The Eye". I've watched this movie a few years ago and really loved it - looks like I now have to watch it again. BTW: I believe it is always better to watch the originals than the Hollywood remakes which often lack what made the movie great in the first place. It is also a great chance to learn a little bit about the country and the culture the movie was made in.
The elevator scene in this film is probably one of the scariest filmed, right alongside the head spinning scene from The Exorcist, the coming through the TV screen scene from Ringu (and also The Ring) and the hiding under the tent scene from The Sixth Sense.
Hey! Just came across with your channel, great stuff. So far I've only watched your take on Chinese and Japanese Horror but I'm really looking forward to check the rest of your video essays. Keep the good work coming!
I watched this movie over a decade ago and I can still remember the last climatic scene because it was based on a real life event in Thailand (where I live), knowing this gives me the chill even to this day. But you were spot on when you said this movie isn’t the ghosts that were scary, it’s actually the depression from the aftermaths that hits the viewers’ mind and scares them the most! Well done!👍
I love your videos! I learn so much about movies from other countries! I never knew the eye with Jessica alba was a remake! I watched it all the time as a kid! Same with the English remake of one missed call!
8:22 'The Mirror' is a familiar story. In the early 2000's, a horror film in the Philippines called 'Feng Shui' came out. It's about a middle class woman acquiring a house talisman called a Ba Gua which is supposed to attract wealth and good fortune when you hang it on your front door. What ends up happening instead is that people who have looked into the Ba Gua or have seen their reflection on it would eventually die gruesome deaths, with elements of those deaths related to the Chinese zodiac sign of their birth year. The deaths are the result of rash decisions and long-simmering conflicts between characters -- nothing entirely supernatural, such that you get the sense that these people aren't the victims of some malevolent unidentifiable force, but were caught up in unfortunate circumstances highlighted by the curse of the Ba Gua. To add to this, every time someone who has looked into the Ba Gua dies, the owner receives some form of good fortune. The owner even tries to destroy the Ba Gua but fails, and it returns to her front door the next day. At the end of the film, there's no clue as to whether the curse has been lifted, only that the Ba Gua will have a new owner, and someone else's greed to feed off of.
I hope this will make you feel better: Ba Gua (the octagon with the mirror in the middle) is a "magic" reflector in feng shui. Once upon a time my neighbor from across the street hang a pair of sharp scissors with a red string (basically a kill curse toward some potential intruders) on his window and my parents were very upset about it. A feng shui master said if you don't want something you can use a Ba Gua mirror to reflect back anything good or bad (you cannot just take the good and reflect the bad) so my parents were ok with that, and a Ba Gua was on our mirror ever since. I feel sorry for anyone walking in between these 2 windows.
I'm devouring your videos! Your narration and words are very soothing and it's so inspiring :) this video was wonderful and very enlightening and educational towards Chinese culture and Buddhism. I'm very interested in seeing this movie since I only knew and saw the american one. Good job! Your videos are incredible! On a side note, this also reminded me a bit of Saramago's book "Blindness", for some reason the original message of the book on how we are all blind to the world kept coming to my mind while you talked about the ending (not that the ending resonates with that message, it just reminded me of that!)
As a Chinese speaker, I feel the need to point out how the idiom 见鬼 can also mean experiencing something outrageous or unbelievable/mysterious. It's often used as an exclamation of surprise or anger. I couldn't help but laugh when it turned out to be the title of the film. I imagined the lead seeing a ghost and scream 见鬼了! while clutching her heart like an outraged grandma
Thank you. As a horror fan who likes culture as well, this was extremely interesting to watch! Btw i grew up around that time too Cheers And greetings from Greece! :)
Great video man thanks. I saw The Eye when it first came out here in the UK. I found it really scary but there was more to the film than just scares. You've elucidated what that "more" is very well.
I am 29 years old and still scared of being alone in elevators because of this movie. You know, THAT scene. Also this movie spares no time for horror since you can actually see the 'ghosts' as soon as the movie begins. Such a great movie. The sequel, The Eye 10, is so underrated. While it's not as scary as the original, it tells about 10 ways to call/see ghosts which in some Asian culture is still believed or practiced.
The Eye 10 is that one unique ghost horror film where they can blend genuine horror and comedy perfectly. Well, at least for me. That is why I regarded The Eye 10 as the best ghost horror film and yet to find any other film replacing it.
***spoilers*** I like this film too and saw it at an arthouse theater in Boston when it came out. I do think that other than the j-horror influences, this film owes a ton to the Sixth Sense, including the whole gag of being stuck in traffic and then seeing the dead walking past you, along with many of the other jump scares. The Sixth Sense was also probably the most popular movie from that era that relies on the depression of seeing death as its main source of horror.
Brother you are repping us Chinese Westerns very well. Keep up the great work!!. We need more content that promotes cultural understanding. You are doing gods work 🙏🙏👍👍👍🌏🇨🇳♥️♥️
listen, i never watch movies just because, but the way you explain the movies in your videos, makes me wanting more i feel like im getting peer pressured to be cultured and taste
I remember I rented this movie, but I'm not sure why... I'm not a big horror fan in movies, I like survival horror games better. But this film, I still remember. I liked it, so much. I was actually pissed to see they made an american remake, because it's just trying to copy the essence of this movie (and I'm sure it didn't, I refuse to see this remake) I would love to rewatch it, but I never found a copy of it anywhere. Not in physical stores at least. I'll probably need to purchase it online, like all great underrated movies.
Angelica Lee THE EYE!!! omg i love many of the films she starrs in, Koma, Re-Cycle, Missing, 20 30 40 I love Koma and Re-cycle especially... I love the Eye too
Eastern film values emotion, idea, concept. Western film values production, tangibility, visual. One film doing well in one region isn't guarantee to do the same in others. Sometimes, cultural level must be enough to understand a good film as well.
LOL, I'm a Chinese student in US here, and I read the original Chinese webnovel, what a coincidence I came across this novel here in comment section on YT.
the idea of being able to see dead people is horrific. i love every type of horror like western horror or other different types of horror, but asian horror has special place in my heart
American horror: awesome and entertaining European horror: thought provoking and beautiful Australian horror: unique and gritty Chinese horror: atmospheric and emotional Japanese/korean: fucking terrifying
Thumbs up for taking scenes from Mr vampire. An outstanding movie that mixes traditional belief/slap stick comedy / exorcism abilities. One of my favorite movie though it's more than 30 years old.
@@aymodaslacker8852 I, a millenial, was so disturbed by a couple of eps of courage, but my friend's zoomer sisters who sat next to me was like *shrugs*. can't tell if it was an age thing or a generational thing
Until today, I thought The Eye was Japanese horror movie. Anyway, it's one of my favourite horror movies. I loved how the Death was pictured in the film. It wasn't really scary, it was quite passive, shadowy figure which was guiding souls of dying people. It was nice to now philosophy behind the film! American remake though.... They ruined everything what I loved in the original film. The Death was a monster which was chasing and scaring main character.
The concept of humanity being the real monsters is similar Guillermo Del Toro's work. His films also feature humans as the real monsters, symbolically and metaphorically showcased as disfigured individuals both inside and outside. I for sure feel like watching this one and The Mirror.
Of all the Asian horror movies you've mentioned, and I've seen most of them, The Eye is my favorite. It's a fantastic tragedy and very sorrowful, but with a hopeful ending that the main character goes on to lead a more or less happy life. The "reapers" I call them Guides, are there to assist souls to the afterlife, a very comforting way of visualizing the process of dying. A most original, and well made movie.
I think we all agree that sometimes we need a refresh in the movies. Asian horror movies teaches us how they see the world instead of just putting "the end of the world" or raw scenes with blood and that kind of stuff.
Really fascinating film, thank you for enlightening me and others to it! However, as a Westerner with a little knowledge of Chinese culture and philosophy, while I definitely understand that the movie is considered horror in a Chinese context, I feel it has received the average scores that it has internationally because it doesn't approach it's plot in a sense that would be considered horror in a western sense (I argue as someone with next to no knowledge on movie genres, meaning I could very well be wrong). Actually, I feel it's a shame it is being marketed as a horror movie in Chinese cinema itself, because that likely scares off many people from watching it, which is a damned shame, because I see so many important messages and beautiful reflections shown throughout the movie that many mainland Chinese could benefit greatly from taking to heart (I say as a person having lived in mainland China with big respect and appreciation for Chinese people in the country)!
Great video! I remember watching this movie in the theater in HK. It's a movie with flaws, but it was certainly a memorable experience that had unique chills.
Thanks for the essay with lots of information, definitions from culturel belief and subtle meanings about the scenes.. Cause philosophy of this film which you make, help my philosophy.. Some are like me needs help for finding their way.. Cause everybody's way is not mine and i cant get out of the way, Because of the madness of the traffıc and i get faster and faster for passing all of them to reach an empty road like Route 66.. But i came to a hard bend and nowadays im going to down of the hill with crawling.. My pain is rising but now i understand.. When it raise of the top, i will get to the bottom.. in nature, into soil.. Then i will get to peace.. Then my life will start again.. I have to get up with my all injuries and try to find my home in the deep forest on my foot.. on my own..
I loved The Eye. The American version gets lost in its own story, which is sad since it follows the original’s storyline fairly closely. The sequel was even better, and I felt the plot was really unique.
I've been trying to google this to no luck, maybe you've seen this movie, its a HK comedy horror set in then modern 1980s Hong Kong about a guy being haunted by a ghost, there was a chase scene using a paper ghost car and a thing about summoning lightning to destroy the ghost, can't seem to find it, would you know the name of the movie?
I haven’t watched my copy of this one (original The Eye) in years. Awesome cinema. I don’t know what was up with The Eye 10 (called The Eye 3 in US). Really bizarre follow-up.
I mean if someone said it doesnt hold up to the original Eye they'd be right. I think The Eye 10 works well as a horror-comedy tho, it had some genuinely funny moments
The Eye is one of my favourite horror film of all time. The 1st time I watched it it was during Ghost Month (the month when Gate of Hell is opened and ghosts are allowed to hangs around earth), I turned off all the light and it was midnight, and I was all alone in my house during that. I overestimated my braveness.
Big fan of your channel my man! Plz keep up the great and very informative content, we appreciate you and your work! Question, as you have depicted in this and the previous video; Hong Kong-China puts out Horror . But, does the Communist Mainland also put out Horror? And if so I imagine the films would be vastly different! Possibly you could make a short video on the Communist Mainlands take on the genre, if they have a take that is. Thanks~JT
*This topic reminds me*
of the Webtoon _"Ghost Tellers"_ wherein Ghosts are telling Ghost stories to each other about the inhumanity of humanity
Underrated Webtoon
Seems pretty cool, do you have link to your webtoon?
@@Xerxezkov, you can read it for free.
Just download the App _"Webtoon"_ from Google Play Store and use the App to search for it.
Guess what I'm gonna go read? 8D
Hey cousin
There's something that i've heard from an other youtuber about horror : "the best horror films are the ones who mix horror with another strong emotion which really drives the movie". The thing for instance is paranoïa. Horror is secondary, it's driven by the paranoïa you feel.
Here it's sadness. I think it's particulary clever to make such horror movies.
This movie is both paranoïa and sad, touching also scary, the end was surprise too
"horror" is a generic genre and word that houses more precise notions such as dread, terror but most people can't really get the nuances
@Judge Dredd I never considered his litterature "horror" per se but more fantastic litterature like Allan Poe and Maupassant
Yep, I think the UK film critic Mark Kermode once mentioned something similar. He said that some of the best horror films have an element of sadness or pathos to them. I think you're right that the best horror mixes horror with some other strong emotion. The Thing is paranoia, The Changeling is sadness, Hellraiser perhaps is lust or desire etc.
Train of busan
I still feel bad for that report card kid, he really lost his report card but his parent didn't believe him.
It's something a lot of us Asian kids can relate.
@@AccentedCinema Nowadays, online report cards are a bit difficult to 'lose'.
@@AccentedCinema Yeah, it's sooooo true. Parents really like blaming their children not to preserve things well, and they also assume that we have a bad motivation with no reason
I think the most important thing for parents to do is keep their emotions in check. To act out of emotion usually results in irrational and hurtful actions
@@davidma8747 because they did exactly the same when they were younger
The Eye, based on the Chinese folk legend with people who have "Yin Yang Eyes" basically they can see ghost in daytime. People with these type of eyes, they learned to ignore and never ever acknowledge that they see that Ghost, otherwise they will pestering him or her until they need to do an exorcism.
I thought Exorcism is for those who are possessed by ghost?
@@Ellzxcl Chinese Taoistic exorcism is a bit different, a Taoist Priest can drive out a haunted spirit in a house or ward off ghost and such in a place. Taoist priest basically the ones you see in those Jumping vampire movies, starring Lam Ching Ying, wearing yellow garb. They usually do Funeral Rites making sure that dead person spirit return to their body so they can rest in peace. When my paternal grandfather died in the 90's we had these Taoist Priest where he did funeral rites during my grandfathers funeral, like the burial of the coffin and then at the end calling back his spirit to his home. This is why whenever someone dies and we take their ashes or black and white photo, we must say "We are going home now". Southern China local folk religion believes that when humans dies, their spirit will be lost in the world, so this is why the Taoist priest will do a rites and say all the street names and all the way back to the home address. Well I only been to one Chinese funeral in my life, I didn't go to my paternal grandmother few years ago.
@@Ellzxcl Possession in Asian sense includes building haunting and simply attached to a person as well, not just hijack-your-body mainly seen in Western genre.
This probably also relates to the common folklore that if you hear someone faintly call your name out of nowhere, either in public or alone, never answer it or try to find out. Because if you show them that you can hear them, they will also be following you and try to talk to you or something.
@@RichterBelmont2235 This is even scarier if you think about it. Possession in asian culture, or having malignant spirits attached to you, often accompanies bad luck and other stuff. In this instance, there's really no way of knowing if you are possessed or not and if in the case that you are, you never know what kind of damage it is doing to your life, if you buy into this kind of stuff. Much akin to African voodoo, this creates a rather nasty paranoia surrounding asian hauntings and possessions.
"...the depression of seeing death." That line really spoke to me. Outstanding job, I really enjoyed your perspective
Was brilliant to see these told thru the eyes and heart of someone who is Chinese who grew up with the better original Chinese films. Thank you for the knowledge and the insight into your thoughts and how these films fit into Chinese cinema.
When he brought up the white serpent scene...
Me:FINALLY someone knows about that monk
RIGHT
Ugh I feel so sad for the snake and her husband
Wait, that’s how the movie ends? That’s seriously fucked.
@@Prince_Luci That's how most of the versions of the legend end. The priest successfully seals away the spirit.
大威天龙
I've always been interested in ghost stories, namely how each culture has a different take on ghost stories, reflecting the practices and values of each culture
The Chinese variety of ghost story is one I'm pretty fascinated by
You will probably enjoy the ancient book called Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio “ 聊齋誌異”. It is like the Brothers Grimm of Chinese ghost stories, most with good ending and lessons to learn.
I think that one of the most interesting aspects in the cinema of every culture is what kind of scary stories they tell.
For me, it's a way to reflex the concernings of the culture they are based on.
Actually the Mother and baby ghost are not trying to talk. They are licking the food. Which according myth, that’s how they feed.
In the movie, the mother is trying to call out to her grieving husband
Well, they're doing both things XDDDD
This film is so good not only because of the symbolisms, but how freakishly realistic it is.
Firstly, when the meets ghosts, she actually doesn't think they are weird. She was blind her entire life, so dhe thinks initially that seeing ghosts were normal. The fact that only the audience suspects that what she see is actually a ghost but she thinks nothing of it makes us fear for her safety.
Thats a genius move in this movie because even the ghosts are not really known. In other horror films, theres usually only 1 ghost. But in this film, you never know who actually is a ghost. All you can do is suspect that it is one until the reveal.
The mc will slowly detect how unnaturally different these ghosts are compared to normal people and slowly realises the creepiness of her ability.
Another really cool thing she deals with is her trying to adjust from being blind. She have these visions that is a mental representation of how her room felt likd when she was blind. Since both her sense of space and sense of sight is now very active, these two senses collide.
There are many more plot twists in the movie that just continues to one up the movie as it goes on. As soon as it seems like the mc is getting used to it, another thing appears and make for a new experience.
After some time, these ghosts definitely
I remember there is one part just at the beginning of the movie when she regains her sight and she doesn't suspect anything about the ghost, where she is more astonished to see an albino man for the first time than when she meet the report card boy or the old lady in the hospital
Thank you so much for delivering your insights on cinema (Especially, Asian Cinema.) It really helps when you provide the context/implications of asian culture has on the films it has produced. With regards to Asian Horror, I'm very fond of the movie Bangkok Haunted. Looking forward for more content!
I did enjoy "The Eye" quite much back then. Had a very nice atmosphere.
And now that you've mentioned it, we need a "A Chinese Ghost Story" video from you! I god damn love this movie.
the setting of the mood in asia horror movies is what stands out most to me. take the Thai movie "shutter" ,very scary on first watch but if just watch the ending clip on youtube the effect is lesser. the whole movie sets up the mood very well for the final scare to work to maximum effect
I just want to say, I love your videos. Please keep making them. You deserve far more subscribers than you currently have, I know you'll keep accumulating them.
I could listen to you talk about anything for hours.
Great analysis! As someone who has the Yin-Yang Eyes, especially during childhood after several near death experiences, “The Eye” was one of the most accurate and insightful depictions of ghosts and lingering spirits that I’d watched, and remains my all-time favourite Asian horror film.
Do you still see ghosts these days? or you grow out of it?
@@maggiejetson7904 My eyesight has deteriorated as I get older (I'm almost 50), and these days I could hardly see them anymore. But I could still feel their presence.
8:40 Jack Neo! Since we are talking about Chinese Ghost Stories check out his 吓到笑 (Where Got Ghost?)
lol
Another great video essay. It is a shame The Eye is not more widely acknowledged in the West as the great Asian horror film that it is. Personally I like The Eye 2 just as much. It's not as scary but has equally intriguing themes and a powerful lead performance from Shu Qi. The Pang brothers' Re-cycle is also amazing.
***spoilers***
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the moment when you, as the viewer, realize that she's been seeing the donor's face in the mirror the whole time and not her own face, man that's SO creepy AF. it wasn't the typical ghost jump scare but just the fact that she's not able to see her own reflection really set this movie apart from other asian horror movies at the time.
Thank you for this. I never could quite put into words what made The Eye different from all the other horror movies that came out around that time. I'll need to rewatch some of the old classics now. I think I understand better why I liked the short, Good Hunting, from Love, Death, and Robots. Seems like it tried to capture this idea about the inhumanity and greed of man.
This is one of my fav horror movie. They littered ghosts throughout the movie. There is one on the subway, a reflection in the window.
The Eye also has a bollywood adaptation called 'Naina'.
Because of course there is 😂
@@ShadowWarrior9001 Believe me man, that adaptation is very good. I was completely spooked when I first watched.
@@14debanjan oh okay, how does it compare to the original?
Alita Skywalker oof
But was there a musical in the middle of it?
You’re slowly becoming my favourite UA-camr.
when i thought chinese horror i imediately thinking about chinese zombie/vampire movie. it so mainstream here in Indonesia at years 2000s. until everyone knowing vampire is chinese ghoat.
Jianshi films like Mr. Vampire
I think "The Eye" quite popular in Indonesia at 2000s.
@@mehdiirfani1 but still can't be compared to shaolin popeye vs vampire.
Those were not exactly horror. Those movies are more like comedy which is the reason why it was aired on Saturday noon back in late 90s early 00s and why it was so popular, it aired in weekend daylight.
@@brosplit maybe the most of it. but i watch 1 i forgot the title but it more like horror drama to me than comedy
Great to see you again, love your videos!
I'm crying. This wasn't just a reflection of Chinese horror films but a reflection of our own personal demons and how to finally break free. Many years after watching this film I've wondered why innocent Mun had such an unfair ending, thank you for drawing the cycle out so beautifully.
yaaaay! I'm so glad you covered this movie! It's one of the few HK movies I really recommend to my foreign friends if they like horror :)
Good stuff dude!
this gave me a new appreciation for modao zu shi, i found certain scenes confusing but after watching your video, it solidified for me how understanding their culture gave more in terms of just aesthetics and story telling
Edit: Modao Zu Shi the novel, specifically there are a ton of scenes where they ‘relive the lives and deaths’ of various characters that give you the sense of tragedy but still holds hope for their future.
Fujoshi Fluff first off, wasn’t expecting to see a mdzs reference here, second off, what did you mean about reliving lives and deaths? As in the scenes where they did empathy? If so, how did it give hope for the future? Just curious here.
This is really interesting. I'm studying Buddhism for my religions class, and it's really interesting to see how Buddhist principles influence folklore and horror. This video really helped me understand some concepts I had a hard time getting, coming from a tradition of Mormonism.
*DAM BOI* i almost shat myself watching this essay
good work on the editing, music and narration
i love the style of your videos because the red letters against the grey background contrasts so well
Yang, your content is incredible! It’s so well thought out and presented! I love your vids!
So interesting!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It’s been a while since I’ve watched a horror movie, but I’ll have to make an exception for this. Well done!!
U'll need a blanket at first and tissue at the end
Thank you so much for explaining the philosophical concepts behind "The Eye". I've watched this movie a few years ago and really loved it - looks like I now have to watch it again.
BTW: I believe it is always better to watch the originals than the Hollywood remakes which often lack what made the movie great in the first place. It is also a great chance to learn a little bit about the country and the culture the movie was made in.
The elevator scene in this film is probably one of the scariest filmed, right alongside the head spinning scene from The Exorcist, the coming through the TV screen scene from Ringu (and also The Ring) and the hiding under the tent scene from The Sixth Sense.
James Tamietti Heard. I kept away from elevators for weeks after seing the film for the first time.
Hey! Just came across with your channel, great stuff. So far I've only watched your take on Chinese and Japanese Horror but I'm really looking forward to check the rest of your video essays. Keep the good work coming!
I watched this movie over a decade ago and I can still remember the last climatic scene because it was based on a real life event in Thailand (where I live), knowing this gives me the chill even to this day. But you were spot on when you said this movie isn’t the ghosts that were scary, it’s actually the depression from the aftermaths that hits the viewers’ mind and scares them the most! Well done!👍
I love your videos! I learn so much about movies from other countries! I never knew the eye with Jessica alba was a remake! I watched it all the time as a kid! Same with the English remake of one missed call!
8:22 'The Mirror' is a familiar story. In the early 2000's, a horror film in the Philippines called 'Feng Shui' came out. It's about a middle class woman acquiring a house talisman called a Ba Gua which is supposed to attract wealth and good fortune when you hang it on your front door. What ends up happening instead is that people who have looked into the Ba Gua or have seen their reflection on it would eventually die gruesome deaths, with elements of those deaths related to the Chinese zodiac sign of their birth year. The deaths are the result of rash decisions and long-simmering conflicts between characters -- nothing entirely supernatural, such that you get the sense that these people aren't the victims of some malevolent unidentifiable force, but were caught up in unfortunate circumstances highlighted by the curse of the Ba Gua. To add to this, every time someone who has looked into the Ba Gua dies, the owner receives some form of good fortune. The owner even tries to destroy the Ba Gua but fails, and it returns to her front door the next day. At the end of the film, there's no clue as to whether the curse has been lifted, only that the Ba Gua will have a new owner, and someone else's greed to feed off of.
I hope this will make you feel better: Ba Gua (the octagon with the mirror in the middle) is a "magic" reflector in feng shui. Once upon a time my neighbor from across the street hang a pair of sharp scissors with a red string (basically a kill curse toward some potential intruders) on his window and my parents were very upset about it. A feng shui master said if you don't want something you can use a Ba Gua mirror to reflect back anything good or bad (you cannot just take the good and reflect the bad) so my parents were ok with that, and a Ba Gua was on our mirror ever since. I feel sorry for anyone walking in between these 2 windows.
I'm devouring your videos! Your narration and words are very soothing and it's so inspiring :) this video was wonderful and very enlightening and educational towards Chinese culture and Buddhism. I'm very interested in seeing this movie since I only knew and saw the american one. Good job! Your videos are incredible!
On a side note, this also reminded me a bit of Saramago's book "Blindness", for some reason the original message of the book on how we are all blind to the world kept coming to my mind while you talked about the ending (not that the ending resonates with that message, it just reminded me of that!)
As a Chinese speaker, I feel the need to point out how the idiom 见鬼 can also mean experiencing something outrageous or unbelievable/mysterious. It's often used as an exclamation of surprise or anger. I couldn't help but laugh when it turned out to be the title of the film. I imagined the lead seeing a ghost and scream 见鬼了! while clutching her heart like an outraged grandma
Thank you. As a horror fan who likes culture as well, this was extremely interesting to watch! Btw i grew up around that time too
Cheers
And greetings from Greece! :)
Great video man thanks. I saw The Eye when it first came out here in the UK. I found it really scary but there was more to the film than just scares. You've elucidated what that "more" is very well.
I am 29 years old and still scared of being alone in elevators because of this movie. You know, THAT scene. Also this movie spares no time for horror since you can actually see the 'ghosts' as soon as the movie begins. Such a great movie. The sequel, The Eye 10, is so underrated. While it's not as scary as the original, it tells about 10 ways to call/see ghosts which in some Asian culture is still believed or practiced.
The Eye 10 is that one unique ghost horror film where they can blend genuine horror and comedy perfectly. Well, at least for me. That is why I regarded The Eye 10 as the best ghost horror film and yet to find any other film replacing it.
***spoilers***
I like this film too and saw it at an arthouse theater in Boston when it came out. I do think that other than the j-horror influences, this film owes a ton to the Sixth Sense, including the whole gag of being stuck in traffic and then seeing the dead walking past you, along with many of the other jump scares. The Sixth Sense was also probably the most popular movie from that era that relies on the depression of seeing death as its main source of horror.
Brother you are repping us Chinese Westerns very well. Keep up the great work!!. We need more content that promotes cultural understanding. You are doing gods work 🙏🙏👍👍👍🌏🇨🇳♥️♥️
Very nice! Keep going!
I love your videos because I learn not only about cinema but culture as well.
listen, i never watch movies just because, but the way you explain the movies in your videos, makes me wanting more
i feel like im getting peer pressured to be cultured and taste
I remember I rented this movie, but I'm not sure why... I'm not a big horror fan in movies, I like survival horror games better. But this film, I still remember. I liked it, so much. I was actually pissed to see they made an american remake, because it's just trying to copy the essence of this movie (and I'm sure it didn't, I refuse to see this remake)
I would love to rewatch it, but I never found a copy of it anywhere. Not in physical stores at least. I'll probably need to purchase it online, like all great underrated movies.
I often have felt that the most successful ghost stories evoke not horror, but a sadness. A certain kind of melancholy, for example in M.R. James.
Angelica Lee THE EYE!!! omg i love many of the films she starrs in, Koma, Re-Cycle, Missing, 20 30 40
I love Koma and Re-cycle especially... I love the Eye too
They were just talking about this on Total Reboot podcast. The topic was the Ring
Really great video!! Thank you for telling Chinese stories!
Eastern film values emotion, idea, concept.
Western film values production, tangibility, visual.
One film doing well in one region isn't guarantee to do the same in others. Sometimes, cultural level must be enough to understand a good film as well.
Talking about ghost story , the webnovel my house of horror is really great with its balance make the story really great to read .
LOL, I'm a Chinese student in US here, and I read the original Chinese webnovel, what a coincidence I came across this novel here in comment section on YT.
the idea of being able to see dead people is horrific. i love every type of horror like western horror or other different types of horror, but asian horror has special place in my heart
American horror: awesome and entertaining
European horror: thought provoking and beautiful
Australian horror: unique and gritty
Chinese horror: atmospheric and emotional
Japanese/korean: fucking terrifying
Love your channel one of my favorites
I love this movie, it deserves more recognition for its different take in the horror genre. I think the 6th sense is similar in concept as well.
Name of the melody that starts at 0:45
Thumbs up for taking scenes from Mr vampire. An outstanding movie that mixes traditional belief/slap stick comedy / exorcism abilities. One of my favorite movie though it's more than 30 years old.
"A very scary and disturbing childhood."
Brooo you ever watch Courage the Cowardly Dog, man?
Funny thing is I was never scared of it, like never. Then I grew up and realized just how weird I am because it really is disturbing
😬 Coward, sure, was out of the box
@@aymodaslacker8852 I, a millenial, was so disturbed by a couple of eps of courage, but my friend's zoomer sisters who sat next to me was like *shrugs*. can't tell if it was an age thing or a generational thing
I did not saw it as wierd when I was a kid
The amae ting with flapjack and boi it's fucked up
wow. i thought the eye was korean for some reason. weird thing to believe incorrectly for so long.
The blind girl actor is a Malaysian Chinese, Li Xin Jie
@@emhgarlyyeung TIL, never knew that.
@@emhgarlyyeung she's from Malaysia? I thought she's from Singapore.
While they were speaking chinese?
I still remember watching this movie.
Welcome back!
Until today, I thought The Eye was Japanese horror movie. Anyway, it's one of my favourite horror movies. I loved how the Death was pictured in the film. It wasn't really scary, it was quite passive, shadowy figure which was guiding souls of dying people. It was nice to now philosophy behind the film!
American remake though.... They ruined everything what I loved in the original film. The Death was a monster which was chasing and scaring main character.
The concept of humanity being the real monsters is similar Guillermo Del Toro's work. His films also feature humans as the real monsters, symbolically and metaphorically showcased as disfigured individuals both inside and outside. I for sure feel like watching this one and The Mirror.
Of all the Asian horror movies you've mentioned, and I've seen most of them, The Eye is my favorite. It's a fantastic tragedy and very sorrowful, but with a hopeful ending that the main character goes on to lead a more or less happy life. The "reapers" I call them Guides, are there to assist souls to the afterlife, a very comforting way of visualizing the process of dying. A most original, and well made movie.
Owo you use mr Vampire!! Jianshi the suck blood is terrified one. 3:50 is most Chinese looking horror I ever see. With blood.
I think we all agree that sometimes we need a refresh in the movies. Asian horror movies teaches us how they see the world instead of just putting "the end of the world" or raw scenes with blood and that kind of stuff.
Really fascinating film, thank you for enlightening me and others to it! However, as a Westerner with a little knowledge of Chinese culture and philosophy, while I definitely understand that the movie is considered horror in a Chinese context, I feel it has received the average scores that it has internationally because it doesn't approach it's plot in a sense that would be considered horror in a western sense (I argue as someone with next to no knowledge on movie genres, meaning I could very well be wrong).
Actually, I feel it's a shame it is being marketed as a horror movie in Chinese cinema itself, because that likely scares off many people from watching it, which is a damned shame, because I see so many important messages and beautiful reflections shown throughout the movie that many mainland Chinese could benefit greatly from taking to heart (I say as a person having lived in mainland China with big respect and appreciation for Chinese people in the country)!
"They were my childhood. A very scary and disturbing childhood."
I like you already!
The Eye was my favorite from childhood!!
Time for a rewatch of the trilogy...
Please keep making these videos no you keep introducing me to good movies!
Excellent overview and insights. Exactly what I needed for my current writing project on Asian Horror. Thank you!
Great video! I remember watching this movie in the theater in HK. It's a movie with flaws, but it was certainly a memorable experience that had unique chills.
Is it 1am? Yes.
Am I still gonna watch this? Yes.
Thanks for the essay with lots of information, definitions from culturel belief and subtle meanings about the scenes.. Cause philosophy of this film which you make, help my philosophy.. Some are like me needs help for finding their way.. Cause everybody's way is not mine and i cant get out of the way, Because of the madness of the traffıc and i get faster and faster for passing all of them to reach an empty road like Route 66.. But i came to a hard bend and nowadays im going to down of the hill with crawling.. My pain is rising but now i understand.. When it raise of the top, i will get to the bottom.. in nature, into soil.. Then i will get to peace.. Then my life will start again.. I have to get up with my all injuries and try to find my home in the deep forest on my foot.. on my own..
Great work. You said in another video that you whould talk about k-horror, i hope i dont have to wait until next halloween to be able to see that...
What movie is that at 5:37??
Legend says the kid's still looking for his report card
Dude. We have the same childhood 😂
I liked the Eye 3, the one with Thai based horror and superstition :D
growing up watching chinese horror movies, i've always not realise the difference between chinese horror and j-horror, thanks for making these videos.
I loved The Eye. The American version gets lost in its own story, which is sad since it follows the original’s storyline fairly closely. The sequel was even better, and I felt the plot was really unique.
I've been trying to google this to no luck, maybe you've seen this movie, its a HK comedy horror set in then modern 1980s Hong Kong about a guy being haunted by a ghost, there was a chase scene using a paper ghost car and a thing about summoning lightning to destroy the ghost, can't seem to find it, would you know the name of the movie?
the first time i saw this movie .. and seeing her losing her eyesight i told myself "better for her to be blind rather than be tormented that way"
I haven’t watched my copy of this one (original The Eye) in years. Awesome cinema. I don’t know what was up with The Eye 10 (called The Eye 3 in US). Really bizarre follow-up.
It was directed by the same duo. I assumed they did it under studio pressure and wanted to really go into a different direction.
I mean if someone said it doesnt hold up to the original Eye they'd be right. I think The Eye 10 works well as a horror-comedy tho, it had some genuinely funny moments
Always awesome video essays! The rottentomatoes brief review is just heartbreaking. How much of of mainstream is driven by western culture..
The Eye is one of my favourite horror film of all time.
The 1st time I watched it it was during Ghost Month (the month when Gate of Hell is opened and ghosts are allowed to hangs around earth), I turned off all the light and it was midnight, and I was all alone in my house during that. I overestimated my braveness.
Your videos are fantastic! Sub'd!
You have video essays for Filipino films?
OH YES PLEASE
Thank you for bringing up the childhood of mine.
What's the film between 4:02 - 4:06?
Love your content! Just wanna know what the ending music is, though?
Big fan of your channel my man! Plz keep up the great and very informative content, we appreciate you and your work! Question, as you have depicted in this and the previous video; Hong Kong-China puts out Horror . But, does the Communist Mainland also put out Horror? And if so I imagine the films would be vastly different! Possibly you could make a short video on the Communist Mainlands take on the genre, if they have a take that is.
Thanks~JT
Amazing vid man 😁
really nice video