Fright fests and nail-biters cross the Pacific

Cinematic remakes, like twins, can either be identical or bear so faint a resemblance as to appear unrelated, but there's no denying their shared genetic blueprint. In the past decade, Hollywood has been particularly inspired by thrillers and horror films originating in Asia - think of hits like "The Ring," "The Grudge," and Martin Scorcese's "The Departed, " which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2006. The B-movie genres of suspense and horror provide A-level material for cross-cultural interpretations, since fear is probably the most universal of emotions. Comedy, drama and romance are fairly subjective, but criminals and ghosts are unmistakable. Here, we take at a look at the crooks and spooks that have captured the imaginations of audiences the world over.