Asia Extreme describes the sometimes violent, sometimes gory, sometimes scary, and usually plain weird film output that has emerged from the likes of Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and Thailand since the 1980s. It encompasses horror films, extremely violent gangster and crime films, sleazy exploitation films and more.

The purpose of this guide is to provide a sample of the great flicks that can be found at CG. For folks who are relatively new to the genre this may help you to check out some good stuff. Even seasoned vets may find something new.

Keep in mind that the guide does not include films unsafe for CG, so some of the most famous examples of a category may not be listed. It's also a work in progress1).

Creepy ghost girls with long, straight black hair are not simply an asian horror cliche, it's actually a real part of the culture. The influence of buddhism and shintoism means ghosts are a real part of life. These are some creepy chillers that have thankfully not (yet!) been remade by Hollywood.

• Marebito: Creepy Lovecraftian tale about a photographer looking to experience the essence of terror, from the director of Ju-On The Grudge. Like much J-Horror, the storytelling is abstract and fractured, like a nightmare. Torrent

• Uzumaki: A schoolgirl discovers some weird things about her town. Why is everyone becoming obsessed by the shape of a spiral? Based on a manga comic strip, it plays out as a series of individual vignettes, in turns frightening, funny, and plain strange. Torrent

Let there be blood… Asian blood! Gory horror started to emerge in Asia in the 1980s, primarily inspired by the Italian gore tradition.

• Evil Dead Trap: If, like many others, you were horribly disappointed by Dario Argento's conclusion to the Three Mothers trilogy, this is the film you should consider the “real” sequel to Suspiria and Inferno. Fantastic look, mood, pacing, and gore. Followed by 2 unconnected sequels from the same director Torrent

• Junk: When Japan does zombies, it does it in style! Some criminals hole up in an abandoned military base. Little do they know it was previously used for strange bio-experiments… A better film version of Resident Evil than the official one! Part of an asian zombie trend that include Bio-Zombie from Hong Kong, Sars Wars from Thailand, and several more from Japan. Torrent

Takashi Miike is the number one director of Asia Extreme - his name is synonymous with the genre. His speciality is taking yakuza flicks and amping them up to insane, surreal levels.

• Dead or Alive: A 'rock-n-roll' yakuza flick that starts off with a guy getting shot and having noodles spill out of the hole in his stomach? DOA works as a straight yakuza-versus-cop thriller, and as an over-the-top parody of those types of films. One of the zaniest endings imaginable. NOT AVAILABLE ON CG!

• Fudoh: The one that started it all for Miike. Defined his style: extreme gangster violence with outlandish action and outrageus imagery. Torrent

This is the equivalent of an X-Rating in Hong Kong. It's promise of sleazy exploitation naturally made it very popular in the early 90s, and producers began creating tailor-made Cat 3 productions.

• The Untold Story: Widely considered the best Cat-3 title of all time! The true tale of a Sweeney Todd-style cannibal, lead actor Anthony Wong won a Hong Kong Oscar for his portrayal of a maniac. Believe it or not, this is the same guy who played the lovable dad in Initial D! Torrent

• Run and Kill: Intensely brutal mixture of triads, murder, torture, the kitchen sink… Stars Simon Yam, who has become synonymous with these types of movies. Torrent

Snuff films are movies that, it is generally assumed, depict actual violence and/or death to humans as part of the entertainment, i.e. real people are killed or abused for your pleasure. Note: there is no evidence that anybody, anywhere has made this type of film! Nonetheless, Asia is notorious for creating films that push dangerously close to those boundaries.

• Guinea Pig: The mosty notorious supposed snuff films in the world. Idiot Charlie Sheen reckoned they were the real thing and campaigned to get these films outlawed! You'll see why when you watch: absolutely authentic looking torture of a female, with little or no story. 5 sequels followed, some with actual plots. Torrent

• Red Room: Not to be confused with the flash animation that drove schoolgirl Nevada-tan to kill her classmate with a Stanley Knife, this film purports to be a game show in which the contestants strive to commit nastier and nastier acts on each other to win a cash prize! Torrent

These are just some of the websites you may want to check out for further reviews and information about asia extreme films. Most of them also have information on other types of cinema as well.

• http://www.mandiapple.com/snowblood/index.html
• http://www.eatmybrains.com/showtopten.php?id=10
• http://www.greencine.com/static/primers/asianhorror2.jsp

This guide was written by slimey based on lurple's guide to martial arts films.