(Image credit: Konami)
When diving into the psychology of fear, thinkers like Freud and Lacan have plenty to say. Freud links that fear to ideas of castration, while Lacan nervously asserts that “there is no such thing as Woman,” hinting at a complex entanglement with masculinity. In contrast, Ryukishi07—known for his work on the Silent Hill f script and the When They Cry series—has a more straightforward take: men are frightened, women are terrifying, and that’s beautifully dynamic.
“These are my personal opinions, so forgive me if my thoughts seem a bit off,” Ryukishi07 told GamesRadar+ when I posed the question, “What’s the significance of female characters in Japanese horror?” He offers a more direct viewpoint, suggesting that the horror genre often skews male, leading to a spectrum of emotions regarding women—from endearing to utterly terrifying. “I think women are frequently central to Japanese horror because their presence can evoke complex emotional narratives,” he explains.
Straightforward as it might seem, Ryukishi07’s own perspective is intriguingly multifaceted. Silent Hill f serves as a prime example—set in the rigid backdrop of 1960s Japan, it explores the chilling expectations of ideal femininity as palpable cosmic threats. The game features unsettling creatures like pregnant tumors that give birth to killer babies and a ghostly bride who leaves a fog of malaise in her wake, forcing the game’s protagonist, Hinako, into a brutal role of survival.
“For me, women are figures I both respect and fear, embodying an allure that’s both beautiful and intimidating,” Ryukishi07 shares. “To this day, I’ve written numerous horror stories, yet none would exist without the influence of women.” It seems storytelling hasn’t demystified these figures for him—in fact, he describes them as “lovely cosmic beings.” Ryukishi07 conveys a sense of reverence through his horror, noting, “None of us will truly comprehend the opposite sex. Claiming otherwise would be presumptuous. We need to respect and honor each other, recognizing that mutual misunderstanding is inevitable.”
In wrapping up our conversation, he states, “For me, crafting narratives with women at their core is the utmost tribute I can pay to them.” And with Silent Hill f, he knows players aren’t looking for a fairy tale ending; the game’s unsettling exploration of young womanhood has already captured my heart as the game of the year.