Ju-On: the Grudge (2003)

Also known as "The Grudge"
Overall Score: 7 out of 10

Starring: Okina Megumi, Ito Misaki, Misa Uehara, Ichikawa Yui, Kanji Tsuda, Kayoko Shibata, Kukuri Yukako, Risa Matsuda, Yoji Tanaka, Takashi Matsuyama, Takako Fuji, Chikara Ishikura, Daisuke Honda, Hirokazu Inoue, Akira Saito, Yuya Ozeki, Chikako Isomura, Tomomi Kobayashi, Aki Fujii, Risa Odagiri

Director: Takashi Shimizu

Running Time: 92 minutes

US MPAA rating: R
UK BBFC rating: 15
Horror

On DVD

On DVD

In 1998, director Hideo Nakata released Ringu, a chilling old-school horror story furnished with new technology - and ever since then, it has cast a long, dark shadow of influence and imitation. Within a year there was Nakata's own sequel, Ringu 2, and then a prequel, as well as remakes of the original from both Korea ('The Ring Virus') and Hollywood (The Ring) - and now Nakata himself has returned to direct an American version of his own sequel (the forthcoming 'The Ring 2'). Yet if Ringu has spread through the horror scene like a virus, there have also been some interesting mutations of its uncanny style - Nakata's own less sensational, more substantial Dark Water, as well as films like The Eye, 'The Phone', 'A Tale of Two Sisters' - and Takashi Shimizu's 'Ju-On' cycle.

'Ju-On' began its life in 2000 as two shot-to-video telemovies, whose spooky success earned Shimizu financial backing to revive them for the big screen in 2002, retaining the basic premise while radically rewriting the story and characters (and improving the horror effects out of sight). A sequel ('Ju-On: The Grudge 2') followed in 2003, and then the inevitable American re-make (The Grudge, currently in post-production). Shimizu is clearly travelling in Nakata's wake, even to the extent that Hiroshi Takahashi, the screenwriter of Ringu, is listed as a 'creative consultant' on 'Ju-On', and many of the film's features are familiar from Nakata's work - from the creepy little boy to the long-haired female ghost, from the terrified schoolgirls to a clairvoyant father and child, from the mirror that plays tricks to the use of telephones, televisions, videotapes and photographs as sources of fear, and from the haunting that results from a brutal murder to the deadly force that propagates itself like a virus.

Yet it is in its non-linear, highly episodic structure that 'Ju-On' differs from Ringu. At first the film appears to comprise an arbitrary set of variations on a theme, wherein unconnected characters are seen being undone, one after the other, by a curse that relentlessly pursues all who encounter it. Yet far from being merely a compendium of eerie, if slightly repetitive, supernatural set-pieces (although it certainly is that), the different scenes in 'Ju-On' are gradually seen to be linked, albeit linked in a manner that defies chronology, confounds identity and leaves sanity sobbing in the dark - and it is this deep-seated irrationality which will continue haunting the corridors, closets and attics of your mind long after you have recovered from the peculiar horror of a boy emitting the shrieking meow of a cat.

DVD Extras: (Update) Scene selection; choice of audio (Japanese DTS/Japanese Dolby digital 5.1/English dub); optional subtitles (English/SDH); full audio commentary by martial artist and Hong Kong cinema expert Bey Logan, showing his usual breathless enthusiasm for, and encyclopædic knowledge of, all things Asian, with insightful comments on the unconventional (for horror) lack of POV camerawork in the film and the way in which it achieves terror mostly through simple physical (rather than computer generated) effects - Logan is also at times very funny ("if the security guards get eaten by monsters, well, you know, that's what they get paid for", "any man who wears a jacket of that particular shade deserves whatever is coming to him", etc.).

There is also a Bey Logan biography (welcome, but a bit odd in the absence of any biographies of the actual director or cast of the film); and showreels of other releases from Hong Kong Legends ('A Chinese Ghost Story', 'Full Contact', 'Bullet in the Head', 'Wing Chun', 'Iron Monkey', 'Moon Warriors') and Premier Asia ('Ichi the Killer', 'Champion', 'Volcano High', 'Bang Rajan', 'Bichunmoo', 'The Warrior'). Extras: 6 out of 10

It's Got: An eerieness that transcends its individual episodes, an ensemble cast required by the high deathcount, a richness of incidental detail that all seems to add up to something just beyond grasp, several very unhappy families, and a mindbending conclusion.

It Needs: To be watched through your hands, peekaboo-style (apparently this will keep you safe)

Alternatives: Ringu, The Phone, A Tale of Two Sisters, 'Kairo', Dark Water, The Grudge

Summary: 'Ringu' redux, but with a haunting disregard for chronology or logic, and lots of cats. Overall Score: 7 out of 10

Review Date: 7th August 2004

External Links

Ju-On: the Grudge at the IMDB

Comments

46 Comments

Ju-On = Scary, but lacks a good story. Or a story for that matter.

Personally, I thought Ju-On was just mindless scares and screams, creepy looking dead people and random people dying. It doesn't take much to impress me, so I thought this movie is worth checking out. But I must warn you, there really is no story. So, try not to hurt yourself too much by pondering on why the people died. They just died, but in a very scary manner.

Great to watch by yourself at midnight.

Comment by:- lostcat | | 23 August 2004 | ip: logged

I totally think that Ju-on the movie was totally scary! i totally enjoyed it gave me the chills!!! Since their is a new Ju-onis coming out in theatres the american version, i cannot wait to go see it, starting sarah michelle gellar! this movie is worth checking out, and scares u!

Comment by:- thischick | | 25 August 2004 | ip: logged

this movie was really scary.

Comment by:- ayu | | 01 September 2004 | ip: logged

I AM VERY SCARED OF THE DEAD MUMMIES THEY ARE THA FREAKNESS I DIED WATCHIN IT ......... DEAD!

Comment by:- ghfth | www.idiot.com | 02 October 2004 | ip: logged

if anybody is interested in a getting a free flatscreen TV, or LCD monitor, signup now! complete 1 free offer, and enroll 6 others to do the same, and your flatscreen will be shipped to you. this offer is legit there was a CNN and wired news article on it, and the FBI says it's ok.

Comment by:- super | www.98.to/freelcd | 12 October 2004 | ip: logged

scary and freaky at the same time. once you see it you'll never be able to fall asleep again.........MEOWWWWWWWWW

Comment by:- Ju-On | | 16 October 2004 | ip: logged

I've seen all four parts of the Japanese version of Juon "The Grudge". That movie was even better than The Ring or The Eye. One word of advice to anyone, even if you love scary movies, "Don't watch it by yourself!" 'Cause I'll bet you'll regret it! ^_^

Comment by:- Jynxie | www.asianavenue.com/members/Jy... | 19 October 2004 | ip: logged

THIS MOVIE SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME. I've seen the TV movie of it too, the TV movie version of it had a more coherant storyline, and the yellow track suit girl (Chigsa I think :S) off of battle royale and kill bill 2 (no not UMA, crazed school girl go-go.).

Comment by:- WOW | | 22 October 2004 | ip: logged

Hmmm...Ju-On...not much of a movie that really grabs your attention because the story is limited only to scare the sh**t out of you and it recycles a lot of other materials from other horror movies for example a character investigating a noise that came from up stairs, spotting a person in the house who isn't suppose to be there, and just sitting there while the ghost SLOWLY and I say again SLOWLY craws toward the character(how lame is that)...anywase the movie did have some moments where after watching the movie your mind can play tricks on you and you're afriad to look under your sheets...hahaha...don't mean to scare anybody...but yea not much of a good movie unless you just there for the scare...

Comment by:- sOmE_doOd | | 22 October 2004 | ip: logged

good movie.. i freaked out..just as usual..the endings are not so good.

Comment by:- bloodshed is fate | http:://www.xanga.com/xfreakxm... | 22 October 2004 | ip: logged

excellent...go cat boy!

Comment by:- KARMAKAT13 | | 23 October 2004 | ip: logged

The american version of the ring and the grudge sucked. The grudge had no plot and the acting sucked.

Comment by:- wowthatblew | | 23 October 2004 | ip: logged

i just saw the movie about 10 minutes ago, and this movie is nothing but a piece of ****, theres no story, random ppl die for no reason of whatsoever. id prolly rate it a 2 of 5 but if u wana see some scary faces then maby this is your movie :)

Comment by:- Anonymous | | 23 October 2004 | ip: logged

The Best Terror Flick from Japan so far, done with a touch of humour,unstructured story line, and gread speacial effects. I expect a series of these movies populating US screens for some time.

Comment by:- L Wathers | | 24 October 2004 | ip: logged

This movie would have been so much better had it went in ORDER.... plus a boy meowing like a cat is not very scary.... everyone in the theater was laughing. The ending is horrible i could make up a better one. Plus how can u make a good scary movie thats only 1hr and a half long sheesh...

Comment by:- Anonymous | | 25 October 2004 | ip: logged

I thought the american film The Grudge was the scariest film I've ever seen with the chills coming every few minutes from beginning to end. I highly recommend it.

Comment by:- red | | 25 October 2004 | ip: logged

Scaries movie I have ever seen. I dont know why people are complaining about no story line when they explain the story very clearly towards the end of the movie. Dont listnen to the mindless people who need to have big complicated lord of the rings story to enjoy the movie. If you wanna see a movie that will give you trouble sleeping for a week this is the one :)

Comment by:- Barry | | 26 October 2004 | ip: logged

My favorite part was the reflection in the window on the bus. That REALLY got me. It was SOOO unexpected! Other than that...yeah...I'll drop my insecurities...That **** scared me.

Comment by:- Calvin | | 27 October 2004 | ip: logged

...yeah, and you just spoiled it.
Thanks a lot.

Comment by:- Anonymous | | 27 October 2004 | ip: logged

That movie was a very scary movie counting that girls jaw drooping in the movie kitty boy was the coolest whenever he won i cheered the ending was kinda freaky i like the under cover part it was the coolest part in the thethere i was yelling oh god oh god and my other freind was digging here head in here seat and my other freind was just sitting there it was funny with the cell phone part with ahaahhaaahhhAAAAHHHH! bout it was so unexpected with the bus window i find this movie very guilty of scary little people

Comment by:- spaydoggy911 | | 30 October 2004 | ip: logged

the plot is about family that the wife cheats on the husband he killes the cat dont know why the boy and the woman and hangs himself any body that goes in the house dies by the curse the random people were the people that new about the grudge thing i like the writhers derictors and producer they made other scary classics

Comment by:- spaydoggy 911 | | 30 October 2004 | ip: logged

P.S. I did'nt like the movie that much but it is kinda fun if you like bad dreams. Wait ahaahhahhhaaahhhahahahaAHHHAAHH ah oh.

Comment by:- spaydoggy911 | | 30 October 2004 | ip: logged

I am forever scarred by how scary this movie was, though it was a bit depressing...Go see it if you love horror flicks..it'll scare the crap out of you!!

Comment by:- Squiggy | | 30 October 2004 | ip: logged

omg....ive never been so scared! i screamed like a LITTLE GIRL!

Comment by:- atlgrassfiary | | 31 October 2004 | ip: logged

I've only seen the American version of the Grudge. I was thoroughly scared and creeped out but not overly impressed with the story. It was there, but very weakly portrayed.

I'll give this version a watch to compare.

Comment by:- Brooke | | 01 November 2004 | ip: logged

WOW this was the scariest movie i have ever SEEN

Comment by:- ME | www.TheGrudge.piczo.com... | 04 November 2004 | ip: logged

this movie was like a happy child who is on drugs and peed all over herself while calling the cab and ordering a pizza. was it scary? i dunno. i havnt seen it yet. i kno that the american version sucked. that one was like a fatass child who puked all over his mother while calling for a tow truck to drag his fat ass all the way wee home. bitches

Comment by:- BURN_PEOPLE | callthemailman.com | 04 November 2004 | ip: logged

ive seen the japanese version... there is a story line if you look closely enough... the twisted part is that instead of the dad being the one who died in rage it was the mom... she was the grudge... that's what the story unfolds too... every character is connected... you just have to watch the next part to fully understand why that person died in the previous one...

Comment by:- Anonymous | | 05 November 2004 | ip: logged

after seeing the japanese version i still am curious as how the little boy died... no mention of it anywhere... its creepy and scary... but how did the boy died!?!?! that boy seem to go everywhere his mom went.. so how he died!?!

Comment by:- Anonymous | | 05 November 2004 | ip: logged

i dont give a Sh!t the movie was bad a$$
The japan version is awesome! And the one that hit texas (the grudge) its also pretty
scary! number one hit!!!!

Comment by:- john_playa@hotmail.com | | 05 November 2004 | ip: logged

I watched this movie with my girlfriend and her nephew and niece, it scared the absoulte SH*T out of me. It starts by getting u on the edge of ur seat then holds u there throughout the entire movie pausing only to horrify u further! I usually laugh at horror movies but this movie was deeply disturbing, fantastic. Did I mention the outstanding screenplay and sinister music! total quality.

Comment by:- jarvo uk | | 10 November 2004 | ip: logged

O I have to tell u only machio teenagers trying to impress and people with no taste or understanding of how brilliant screenplay and atmosphere is in this film will hate it/slag it off. Snobbish critics might also try and belittle it, ignore them and see it, but not alone!!! :)

Comment by:- jarvo uk | | 10 November 2004 | ip: logged

yea it had jumpy parts but to be honest it wasnt that great of a movie... the point of the whole thing was so hard to figure out but i think u should see it!! u will be acsred u wont want to sleep with sheets that night ;-)

Comment by:- xodianieox | | 14 November 2004 | ip: logged

Yes, I admit that I didn't sleep the night I saw this movie at Sydney Australia.

Comment by:- Anonymous | | 20 November 2004 | ip: logged

i watched the american version of the grudge. i found the storyline dumb. i hated the ending. but i found the ghosts in the movie very frightening. i didnt want to sleep with my blankie that night. it was good but i expect the japanese version to be better.. waaaay better.

Comment by:- Jihae | | 21 December 2004 | ip: logged

WHAT THE ****!!!! i almost craped in my pants.....its probably cuz how i get easliy scurrred any wayz itz better den the american version but i was confused thru the whole shyt............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................its still good jejej

Comment by:- luci lu | www.dotcom.com | 21 December 2004 | ip: logged

.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Comment by:- Anonymous | | 21 December 2004 | ip: logged