8 horror live-action flicks and series to binge this Halloween weekend 2021

It's a Halloween weekend, and what better way to spend it than savoring the horror genre?

As a brief escape from the real horror we're experiencing at the present due to the pandemic, we've compiled some horror and suspense live-action titles based on manga, anime, and webtoons (at least they're fiction) into a list - and where to watch them.

(Please check the availability of movies and series in your region/country.)

1. Hell Girl (2019)

A mysterious entity called "Enma Ai" helps people exact revenge against their tormentors via the Hell Correspondence, but pulling the red thread to do it is certainly not without a price.

Hell Girl live-action movie is based on the anime of the same name conceptualized by Watanabe Hiroshi. Starring Tamashiro Tina, Mori Nana, Hashimoto Manami, and Maro Akaji among others, Hell Girl teaches us that whatever we choose to do in life has good and bad consequences, so we should always think twice before making decisions.

Watch it on: Netflix PH

2. HOMUNCULUS (2021)

A 34-year-old homeless man gets invited to participate in a medical experiment that involves trepanation, the drilling of a hole into the skull, in exchange for a large sum of money. His sixth sense awakens as a result, and bizarre things keep happening around him. Ayano Go plays the role of Nakoshi Susumu, the protagonist of Homunculus, adapted from Yamamoto Hideo's manga. In this movie, it's emphasized that walls are built to protect something, and in search of the truth, destroying them will cause enormous pain.

Watch it on: Netflix PH

3. Tokyo Mystery Sake (2021)

Sugino Yosuke, an actor who dislikes horror films, is cheered on by manga creator Seino Toru when he visits his radio show to discuss his latest manga, Tokyo Mystery Sake. The artist consumes sake in sites where terrifying things have taken place according to the people he interviewed. Sugino does the same in preparation for his future horror film, and he sees the horror genre in a whole new light. Tokyo Mystery Sake is based on the manga artist's real-life experiences, and the cast members of this six-episode series act as themselves.

Watch it on: Netflix PH

4. Kingdom (2019)

Tales about the king falling fatally sick spread throughout the Joseon kingdom and remain a mystery to the public, but the Crown Prince soon discovers that it is not a simple illness but a terrible plague that kills the living and also brings the dead back to life. Kingdom was adapted from the webtoon The Kingdom of the Gods conceptualized by Kim Eun-hee, written by Youn-In wan, and illustrated by Yang Kyung-il in 2014. Kingdom is Netflix's first originally produced Korean-language series. It has two seasons with six episodes each, one special episode, and a third season underway.

Watch it on: Netflix PH

5. Strangers from Hell (2019)

A crime fiction writer experiences a series of unfortunate events in one day while moving to Seoul, but perhaps the biggest setback may be checking in at a shabby apartment with highly suspicious neighbors in it. Strangers from Hell has 10 episodes and stars Im Si-wan, Lee Dong-wook, Lee Jung-eun, Lee Hyun-wook, and more. It is based on the webtoon of the same name written and illustrated by Kim Yong-ki in 2018. A dark and disturbing live-action series, Strangers from Hell will challenge how much you know or don't know about your neighbors.

Watch it on: Netflix PH

6. Sweet Home (2020)

Sweet Home follows Cha Hyun-su, a high school student who lives in self-isolation as a result of his tragic past. He moves into a modest flat in a run-down building, during which time humans from all over the world inexplicably transform into monsters. Adapted from Kim Carnby and Hwang Young-chan's webtoon published in 2017, Sweet Home is a combination of genres that mesh well together: horror, drama, action, and mystery. This is Song Kang's first series where he plays as the main lead, and viewers are patiently waiting for Season 2.

Watch it on: Netflix PH

7. Uzumaki (2000)

Uzumaki (English title: Spiral) tells the story of residents in the small town of Kurouzu-cho suddenly growing obsessed with anything spiral-shaped. This mystery soon spirals (pun intended) into horrible and unusual deaths. Dubbed as the king of horror manga, Ito Junji created Uzumaki in 1998 with three volumes published by Shogakukan. As they say, you can never go wrong with Ito Junji if you want a genuine read about body horror, which is why expectations for this live-action movie had been so high. People who are not familiar with the manga find it good, but some of those who do say otherwise. Only one way to find out!

Watch it on: Prime Video

8. 0.0MHz (2019)

The 0.0 MHz is a club that dives into the world of the supernatural. Haunted by ghosts themselves and wanting to find an escape from their situation, they explore a haunted house to prove the existence of frequencies that attract ghosts. Instead, they come face to face with a terrifying, evil spirit. The live-action movie 0.0 MHz is based on Jang Jak's webcomic of the same name first published in 2012. The cast members include Jung Eun-ji, Lee Sung-yeol, Choi and Yoon-young among others.

Watch it on: Netflix TH, Shudder US

These live-action titles have been carefully handpicked for the readers to experience not just the horror genre but also other related elements. So let's stay home, stay safe, and enjoy watching!