Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)


Although made popular in the U.S. after a 2004 remake starring Sarah Michelle Geller, Ju-On: The Grudge was the third movie in a series that began in 2000 with two movies, Ju-On: The Curse and Ju-On: The Curse 2.  The latter got a limited theatrical release and, because the earlier low-budget films were successful, The Grudge received a wide release and eventually caught the eye of Sam Raimi.  It was this movie and Ringu which led to a sudden popularity of Asian horror films and a spate of American remakes. 

Social worker Rika (Megumi Okina) is sent to check up on an older lady named Sachie (Chikako Isomura) who is under the care of her daughter Kazumi (Shuri Matsuda) and son-in-law Katsuya (Kanji Tsuda).  While cleaning the home Rika opens a taped-up closet to find a black cat and a young boy named Toshio (Yuya Ozeki).  Curious, she tries to find out more, but faints from fright when she sees Sachie being attacked by a ghost.

The ghost turns out to be Kayako (Takako Fuji), a woman who was murdered by her jealous husband, who also killed the cat and Toshio.  Their spirits haunt the house where the murder occurred, and their continued rage leads them to attach themselves to and destroy those who enter the home.  Throughout we find out what happened to Kazumi and Katsuya, to Kazumi's sister Hitomi (Misaki Itô) and even the detectives looking into the case from various points over a multi-year period. 

Ju-On: The Grudge is episodic in nature and does not have a central plot beyond the fact that there is a haunted house with malicious ghosts.  If there is one thing that can be said negative about the movie is that the formula becomes repetitive.  Unlike most movies of its type, like Ringu, there is no major attempt to stop the hauntings despite the fact that the ghosts manifest physically and do obvious harm, with the effects even being caught on video.  

What breaks things up is some ingenious, and sometimes painful, use of sound.  Kayako's clicking groan is the most recognizable, but there are high frequency noises that warn when things are about to happen as well.  It is the sound design that is often the most unnerving part of the movie, although the makeup on Takako Fuji is well done, as well as her doing the strange contortions herself.  The practical matting, though a bit primitive, works as a unique way of presenting the ghosts. 

Despite the lack of a real plot the movie still works.  It doesn't overstay its welcome or get complicated like a lot of Japanese horror and it does keep the audience wondering what will happen next.  It was also popular enough to spawn a number of sequels and reboots, and the remake was one of the biggest hits of 2004.  It's too bad most of what came after devolved into repetitive silliness. 

Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)
Time: 92 minutes
Starring: Megumi Okina, Misaki Itô, Misa Uehara, Takako Fuji
Director: Takashi Shimizu

 

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