Taiwanese Horror movies have created a space for themselves in today’s world as some of the most unique, engrossing and horrifying stories to be added to the genre. The way they tell these horrifying stories, lores and myths and mix them together with their unique culture before finally packaging all of this with some great locations and cinematography – you have a recipe for a horror Movie that will stay with you long after you’ve done watching them.

Long story short – we love watching Taiwanese horror movies. They almost always hit the right nerve and horrify you with their supernatural twists or realistic portrayals of horrifying life circumstances… or just plain horrifying gore. Yeah, that works too!

5 Terrifying Taiwanese Horror Movies to Keep You Up at Night

Detention (2019)

Set in 1962 in Taiwan, a group of students involved in an illegal book club during the White Terror period are subjected to horrible consequences when their identities are leaked. However, when their teacher vanishes one day, their search for him takes them on a supernatural journey.

There is something about Detention that leaves you feeling very hopeless, uncomfortable and shocked. It’s a horror film like no other because it represents the reality of a time in Taiwan when person freedom wasn’t so easily attainable, and people were banned from reading certain books and materials by the government during Taiwan’s White Terror period. It is a very sad and interesting movie that leaves you scarred just from the fact that this might just have happened at some point to someone in Taiwan. The political scenario shown in the movie, mixed with the supernatural angle, makes this movie a must-watch for fans who enjoy something more than a typical horror flick.

The 2019 supernatural-psychological horror thriller is directed by John Hsu, written by Hsu, Fu Kai-ling and Chien Shi-keng, and stars Gingle Wang, Fu Meng-po, Tseng Ching-hua, Cecilia Choi, Chu Hung-chang and others. The movie is based on the video game of the same name by Red Candle Games.

Incantation (2022)

Incantation follows Li Ronan, a mother who tries to protect her daughter from the demons of her past. However, as the movie progresses, viewers come face to face with a truly horrible tale and the realisation that a desperate mother can go to any lengths to protect her daughter from harm.

Netflix’s 2022 release was an internet sensation right from the moment it hit the screens. The found-footage supernatural horror film has a suffocating atmosphere that will keep you engaged from the moment it starts, and the fact that we jump from present to past just adds to the atmospheric tension.

We are shown something bad happening in the present, the protagonist’s anxiety and fear as something goes bump in the night, and we know that there is more to this story than meets the eye. Thus, when we slowly see her past coming back to haunt her present, our fears are exponentially increased. On top of that, the surprising twist in the end just lives in my mind rent-free.

Plus, if you’re like me and you suffer from Trypophobia, this is going to be a difficult one to sit through.

This Taiwanese horror flick is directed by Kevin Ko, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Chang Che-wei. It stars Tsai Hsuan-yen, Huang Sin-ting, Kao Ying-hsuan, Sean Lin and others and has a runtime of 111 minutes.

The Sadness (2021)

I think there are not a lot of movies that have scarred viewers and have been the topic of feverish discussions than 2021’s The Sadness. This body horror film is not for the faint-hearted and, at times, is not even for those of us who have become immune to the insanity that we subject ourselves to watching on-screen!

Following a viral outbreak that mutates and makes people act on their aggression, the movie is equal parts anxiety-inducing as it is a reminder of how bad things can be if the wrong virus ever decides to make an appearance in society. There’s not much to be said about this movie other than the fact that it consists of some of the most brutal scenes of torture and violence I have seen on screen and tells a sordid tale of how underprepared we are if something like this ever becomes a reality.

The horror film is written and directed by Rob Jabbaz and stars Berant Zhu, Regina, Tzu-Chiang Wang and others and has a runtime of 99 minutes.

Soul (2013)

The movie follows a chef who, while working one night, collapses at his workplace. When doctors are unable to find the reason for his sudden illness, they send him off to his hometown in the care of his father. However, as odder and odder occurrings take place, the chef’s father discovers a shocking twist that only he might be able to help his son with.

Soul is an oddball of a movie – it’s a psychological drama but with a supernatural twist. The atmosphere of the movie is grim and tense, and the truth of everything odd happening in it will leave you feeling shocked and uncomfortable. Shot in an isolated setting which is extremely brooding and dreamy, the movie sets the correct tone and atmosphere for the subject matter in question. There is some violence which is also quite tense and oddly uncomfortable and is probably the complete opposite of The Sadness.

The horror film is written and directed by Chung Mong-hong and stars Joseph Chang and Jimmy Wang in lead roles and has a runtime of 111 minutes.

Double Vision (2002)

Double Vision follows a priest and an FBI agent who try to figure out the cause of a string of odd deaths. Although they at first think that this might be the work of a serial killer, they soon realise that there are supernatural influences here beyond what they could’ve imagined.

This one is quite old but definitely an interesting watch. The film will remind you of SEVEN, which also plays in a similar vein. However, there’s something more depressing about the movie that will stick with you after it’s done. There are surreal touches in the film that goes well with the theme, and some of the set pieces are appropriately gruesome to give you chills. It’s a unique watch for anyone who likes serial killer thrillers with a twist of supernatural to keep things outer-worldly! Plus – it has two endings, so that’s always a win!

Double Vision is directed by Chen Kuo-fu, written by Chen Kuo-fu and Su Chao-pin, and stars Tony Leung Ka-fai, David Morse, Rene Liu and others. The movie has a runtime of 113 minutes.

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