High Five Southeast Asian Horror Movies To Binge On Netflix

by Arns Santiago, Story Surfer
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The spookiest time of the year is upon us. With Halloween just around the corner, how are you planning on celebrating this spooky occasion? A horror movie marathon sure sounds promising, but rather than watching Western horror films and franchises, why not have a movie marathon closer to home? Log on to your Netflix accounts and check out these spine-tingling Southeast Asian flicks streaming on the platform.

“Mallari” (Philippines)

"Mallari" Still from Netflix

This mind-bending thriller tells the story of 3 generations of the Mallari family: Juan Severino, a serial killer priest from 1812, Johnrey, a documentarist from 1948, and Jonathan, a doctor from 2023. Though each character lives in a different time period, their stories become connected through a dark family secret that entwines their lives.

Mallari stars Piolo Pascual, who takes on the three lead roles of the film and gives a commendable and distinct performance for each character. The film is full of mind boggling twists and turns, interesting plot points, and unique concepts that are not in your usual horror movie. There’s a little bit of everything from the supernatural, to monsters and gory murders. Aside from being rich in Filipino folklore, it’s also notable to mention that the film was inspired by the true story of the first documented Filipino serial killer, Juan Severino Mallari. 

Between the ensemble cast and unique concept, this intricate horror film is one worth checking out.

“The Whole Truth” (Thailand)

"The Whole Truth" Still from Netflix

Two teenagers are forced to live with their estranged grandparents after their mother falls into a coma following an accident. In their new home, they stumble upon a mysterious hole in the wall that reveals horrifying images concealing a sinister truth about their family’s past.

At first watch, you might think The Whole Truth takes its cues from The Visit by M. Night Shyamalan, but this film is its own terrifying and an eye opening thriller that will spook you to your core.

This film embodies deception all throughout its narrative—it’s hard to predict what will happen next. You won’t know who to trust or whether what’s happening is real or an illusion. Combine it with terrifying visuals and horrific revelations, and you get a movie that will leave your jaw wide open.

“The Maid” (Singapore)

"The Maid" Still from Netflix

A young Filipina is hired to become the maid of a family in Singapore. What was initially a promising career with kind employers eventually became a living nightmare as she is haunted by her predecessor.

The Maid is set during the seventh month of the year, which in East Asian tradition is the time of year where the gates of the underworld are open and spirits of the dead are free to roam around the earth. This concept plays a significant role in the film’s plot as well as its twist, which you definitely won’t see coming.

The film’s story is surrounded in mystery that will all lead to all sorts of horrific revelations and spine tingling encounters. It doesn’t fall short on scares and heart stopping moments that are perfect to watch this Halloween season. Best grab a snack and witness it yourself.

“The 3rd Eye” (Indonesia)

"The 3rd Eye" Still from Netflix

Whether your third eye is open or not, you will witness pure horror in this movie.

The story follows Abel and her younger sister Alia as they face the malevolent forces haunting their childhood home. In order to understand her younger sister’s struggle, Abel has her third eye opened only to be haunted by the very entities that have been tormenting her sister since childhood.

One of the film’s greatest strengths is the impressive and genuinely scary jumpscares. They are strategically placed to frighten you all throughout the film. It also has a promising story and detailed dialogue, so pay close attention as this film is a rollercoaster ride that you don’t want to miss.

The 3rd Eye is gory, scary, and simply worth watching. And the story continues in The Third Eye 2, which is also available on Netflix with the story picking up directly after the first film.

“Claws” (Vietnam)

"Claws" Still from Netflix

Sometimes the best horror comes from the most straightforward premise. Claws follows a group of friends as they embark on a camping trip in the forest. Things take a turn for the worse when they encounter a wild bear, forcing them to fight for their lives.

Vietnam is more known for supernatural horror, so a creature feature is unexpected, but not unwelcome. The film makes use of special effects combined with lighting and production design techniques that turn a believable computer generated bear into a monster to fear for your life. While the possibility of running into a bear on a camping trip is slim, the horror is when you think about the unknown wild that extends just beyond the tree line. 

Southeast Asia is rich in diverse cultures, just as it is rich in a vast range of terrifying films. You won’t run out of movies to choose from, no matter what flavor of terror you’re in the mood for. So, this Halloween season, scroll through your Netflix account and check out these Southeast Asian horror movies.

Do you have a SEA horror flick to recommend? Let us know in the comments!

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