Japanese ‘erotic grotesque nonsense’, often abbreviated to ‘ero guro’ or ‘ero guro nansensu’, is a genre of art that extends to various mediums. Consequently, the genre exists as a broad statement to capture the art that puts its focus on eroticism, sexual corruption, and decadence. The art style is not unique to Japan, but is

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B-movies have become a staple in popular culture over the recent years, with cult classics from the 1970s and 1980s finally receiving the wider attention they rightly deserve. One such classic piece of media that has garnered attention is I Drink Your Blood.   I Drink Your Blood (1971) is an exploitation film directed by

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Konnichiwa! Ni Hao! Hola! Straight Outta Kanto here with a little director spotlight for you this week! Just like you guys I am a die-hard Asian horror fan and have spent the last decade scouring the internet in order to devour as much exotic spookiness as my poor jangling nerves could handle. Over the years

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The Magnetic Rose OVA

Isolation and vast emptiness are a very basic fear for humanity, the mind often creating horrors far greater than anything set in reality as paranoia takes hold of rational thought. It is through this that the idea of deep water or space can leave one feeling anxious and uncomfortable and the thought of exploring these

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Ume no Haru Gojūsantsugi" (梅初春五十三駅) by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. A shapeshifting cat. A kabuki that was performed in 1835

The Bakeneko (化け猫, “changed cat”) is a mischievous yōkai in Japanese culture that is one of the more commonly found ghosts in Japan. A Bakeneko is a common house cat that during their life transforms into a ghostly yōkai creature. It’s quite often believed in Japan that the older a cat becomes, the more spiritual

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Folklore-fate-grand-order

You may already be aware of the hit mobile game Fate/Grand Order, which has a really fun mix of anime, historical figures, folklore, waifus and even some sci-fi elements! Right now, the game is hosting one of its most anticipated events: Records of the Enma-tei’s Prosperity. A New Year’s event which heavily features many different

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Interview-with-artist-historian-matthew-meyer

Mathew Meyer’s is an American artist best known for his traditional Japanese style representations of Yokai, drawn with loving detail to the woodblock printing technique of ancient Japan. Mathew regularly posts his work to yokai.com where he has an extensive collection of art depicting many different varieties of folklore entities. Since moving to Japan, Mathew

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Chinese Ghost Story 2

When thinking about ghost movies, hardcore cinema buffs most definitely enumerate such classics as The Shining (1980), Poltergeist (1982), Ghostbusters (1984), or The Ring (1998). However, fans of Asian Cinema will also point to yet another popular movie series from Hong Kong; that is, an inconspicuously titled A Chinese Ghost Story. Devised by such acclaimed

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Underwater-Kristin-Stewart

The “Alien” movies are some of my favorite creature features to watch. The originalAlien has been so influential as a unique blend of sci-fi and horror that genre outings look to its structure as a template to this very day. That said, I think two of the most underrated ones from the modern day are Life

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Haxan Witchcraft throughout ages

Perhaps you’re looking for something different in a horror film, tired of jump scares and remakes. Perhaps you’re passionate about obscure cinema, reveling in the discovery of something unexpected. Or perhaps you enjoy a bit of history sprinkled in your movies, learning about culture or folklore while being entertained. My choice for today can fill

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