A vengeful spirit marks and kills anybody
who enters the house in which it resides. HORROR
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Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)Written and Directed by Takashi Shimizu
Starring Megumi Okina, Misaki Itô, Misa Uehara, Yuya Ozeki, Takako Fuji Sequel to 2000's Ju-On: The Curse 2 |
J-horror has continuously impressed me, from the girl climbing out of the television in Ringu to the razor wire torture in Audition to the image of Kayako resting on Hitomi's chest beneath the blankets in Ju-On. This movie, I believe, is at least partially responsible for an insane global bloom in interest in Japanese horror movies, and the American remake's success only cemented the film's place in horror history. It's insanely scary, endlessly creepy, and a brilliant lesson in sheer horror.
We follow a number of characters whose lives are put into great danger after they set foot in a house where a very vengeful spirit resides. Anyone who enters the house is marked for death, regardless of intention. First we meet caretaker Rika (Okina), who is hired to take care of the house's current resident. Of course, she sees the ghost of Kayako (Fuji), and things are never the same again. Then, we see how the previous residents fared against Kayako, as well as several cops, a young lady, and ultimately a teenager in the near future. There's no stopping it, and everyone dies. Pretty bleak, but it definitely works. There are so many frightening moments in Ju-On, particularly the random appearances of Toshio (Ozeki), the ghost of a young boy. He just pops up in the background with no music stings, so you might not even see him every time. Yet somehow, you always know. This is a great film to start looking at J-horror, and remains one of the scariest movies to appeal to a global audience. |
By far, one of the creepiest Japanese horror films ever made. The film is full of moments that will absolutely terrify you. The story is told in six short segments featuring the various people who have been inside the house. The story is surprisingly well told with all the characters being connected in some way and each one offering more information about the curse. Final note, this film will scare you to ever put blankets on again. Definitely one of the better Japanese horror films.
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