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Asia is at the cutting edge of horror cinema. Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea are all breaking the mould when it comes to the narrative and style of horror films. We only have to look at the popularity of Ringu, Ju on, Dark Water, The Eye. These films terrified Western audiences with their original story lines and fresh direction. All of them were given the Hollywood makeover but lost a lot of their power in translation.

For horror fans, the best place to be pleasantly surprised by horror films is from the continent of Asia. America seems to be stuck in slasher mode. It is a long time since I watched an American horror film and went “Wow”. They are at best – adequate.

This list is a celebration of some of the best Asian films that have been released for our viewing pleasure. Some of them are quite tame...

“A Millionaire on the Run” is another Korean caper flick that mixes comedy, drama, thrills and social commentary, directed by Kim Ik Ro, who previously worked as assistant director on horror “The Doll Master” and youth drama “Singles”. The film is notable for marking the big screen debut of Park Jin Young (or Jyp), one of the most popular figures of the Korean entertainment industry of the last couple of decades, a singer, dancer, producer and song writer who also owns his own company, Jyp Entertainment, which represents some of the country’s biggest pop names. Joining him as a man on the run is actress Min Hyo Rin (“Sunny”), with the award winning actor Jo Sung Ha (“Yellow Sea”) in the film’s villainous role. Park Jin Young plays Choi Young In, a downtrodden corporate middle manager type whose boss Han (Jo Sung Ha) uses him and his colleague Kim (Jo Jing Woong,...