“House” is a Japanese horror film
from 1977 centered around seven little girls who stay in an aunts haunted house
for a short vacation. Cute concept, absolutely insane execution. Crazy editing,
drastic changes in tone and kung Fu fighting, a real feast for the senses.
The nature of good and evil within this film are incredibly similar to
those of Japanese folk stories. Spirits in their culture are usually respected
instead of feared. They’re wiser and kind. The twist in this film is that the
grandmother was in fact a spirit the entire time. Seeing as she’s the kindest
and gives the girls friendly welcomes and advice throughout the entire film.
The demons however are a different story. They come in all shapes and sizes,
floating heads in wells, pianos and much much more. They mostly come through
one source, a giant cat painting that shoots blood out of it’s mouth. Japanese
culture manly focuses on demons and monsters as the bad guys in their fiction.
Evil spirits are usually put on this earth as punishment and when they bark,
they bite.
Americans aren’t as broad when it comes to our sense of the
supernatural. All ghosts are typically out to get you through urban legends,
horror movies and historical accounts. The worst thing a ghost can really do in
western culture is make itself visible and send shivers down your spine. Making
for the acceptance of a spirit such as the ones in Japan highly unlikely. Good and evil is typically through ignorance
of the main character. Why can’t the living ever accept the fact they were
wrong for barging in the ghost’s living space? Demons have the exact same
reputation though, still evil and still out to kill.
By the end of it all, the Japanese and English See horror in their own
lights. The east has a bigger respect for some unlike the west who run and hide
any chance they get. It’s incredibly interesting that what can be horror to
others could become fantasy through a different perspective and form of
beliefs. We can only hope people can accept both.
Interesting analysis overall, well-written. It could do with some more emotion put into it, though - it comes off as a bit too dry at times.
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