Creating A Good Source of Fear : The Asian Horror
It is pretty much a point of contention for any follower of the horror genre whenever we talk about structure and content. We can agree that horror as a genre is part of the terror generic genres. What makes it different from the others is the fundamental allocation of the source of fear.
One must admit that Asian horror as the primary genre in the market is about to reach its end cycle. Meaning, innovation will once more occur. To the point that some maverick filmmakers or digital movie makers will reinvent this genre once more using several twists in the contemporary world.
The question is… what is the prevailing source of fear? Well, defining the source of fear in asian horror in particular is essential. One may give a unitary premise that in horror, the source of fear is always physical in function but supernatural in form. The functionality, therefore, is rooted on the prevailing anxiety of the contemporary Asian society, in our case, southeast Asian society.
The global financial crisis, is a good example of the source of fear in terms of its functionality and how it affects the individual or the collective. The supernatural form of this functionality takes shape in terms of the prevailing myths or cultural references.
Attaching contemporary fears with supernatural forms are essential in making the source of fear engaging and emotionally substantial. Alienation from society due to outsourcing practices is a possible constructive projection of the supernatural form that deploys fear as the main source.
What makes Asian horrors from east Asia more engaging is the connection between the supernatural and modern fears as well as the pin-point emotional deployment. I had a student who is a natural in creating fear using contemporary ideas and situations. Her construction often reflect inner darkness that are unique but at the same time familiar to the collective. This I feel is a good combination.
By: MELCHOR DF. ESCARCHA