Unimpressed by years of the typical illusory “horror” flicks, I picked this one up with relative optimism, and I wasn’t quite disappointed.
The original version of The Grudge, Ju-on highlights the simple, but spellbinding skill of Japanese horror cinema.
“A grimy, gruesome production that adeptly highlights one of the best conceptions of the genre of horror.”
The Rundown
Behind the name: 呪怨 Juon, literal translation—the curse, grudge
Country: Japan, 2003
Genre: Horror
Distributed by: Pioneer LDC
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Cast: Megumi Okina (as Rika Nishina), Misaki Ito (as Hitomi Tokunaga), Misa Uehara (as Izumi Toyama), Yui Ichikawa (as Chiharu), Takako Fuji (as Kayako, the onryo), Yuya Ozeki (as Toshio), Takashi Matsuyama (as Kayako's evil husband), Takeo Kanji Tsuda (as Katsuya)
Compare to: The Ring
Hate it or Love it? Love it
Synopsis in a Sentence: A series of people experience horrifying and mysterious deaths after encountering a vengeful spirit that bears a grudge based on an ancient Japanese curse, which marks Ju-on.
What we now know as “The Grudge” was originally made for Japanese TV audiences alone. Director, Takashi Shimizu created a series of horror films known as “The Ju-on Projects,” which were simple direct-to-video film releases produced on a slim budget with even slimmer expectations for success. But within a year, Ju-on produced international acclaim, numerous sequels, and a U.S. re-make.
On Writing: The Plot
True fans of horror will know that the genre is often over fantasized, highlighting exceedingly implausible storylines. The problem with horror is that, in an effort to horrify its audience, the genre spits out unbelievable ideas that loses its audience before they can even become stupefied by fear. Although Ju-on initiates its storyline with the typical “horror” plot (the haunted house) it defies traditional methods of horror by tying together a series of protagonists and antagonists who undergo (relatively) plausibly horrific experiences. A singular character is not employed as protagonist here, rather we experience the torment of various characters based on this classical storyline. Through this, Ju-on utilizes minimal attachments to its human characters to incite fear to its viewers in a rather effective way.
(4/5)
On Acting: The Cast
Fear, I believe is one of the hardest emotions to invoke on-screen, when one is not truly horrified. The characters in Ju-on adeptly incite paralyzing, horrendous, crippling fear onto its viewers with little melodrama, all thanks to their actors:
Megumi Okina, who playes Rika Nishina, highlighted a relatable character—the struggling student/social worker who encounters the Ju-on at Work. Her character may be the most likely character that may be credited as the heroine of the film.
Misa Uehara, who plays Izumi Toyama, skillfully portrays the timid schoolgirl pressured into trouble by her peers.
The performances of Takako Fuji, who plays “the evil spirit” Kayako, the onryo, and that of Yuya Ozeki, who plays Toshio, “the boy with the curse” highlight the unique art of horror in Ju-on.
Put together, the cast reflects the minimalistic human attachment to the characters of Ju-on that still reflects and inflicts the true skill in the depiction of horror.
(4/5)
On Production: Creativity
Minimalism. Fear. Horror flows with little show of blood involved.
Director, Takashi Shimizu adeptly employs the emotive power of minimalism in his production of Ju-on to multiply the effects of horror in this production. Some attribute the minimalistic production to the low budget for the production, but a skill is a skill, and Shimizu’s skill is evident throughout the production of Ju-on. With slight dialogue, it’s less talk, more action, yet the dialogue is not overly minimal, and the production not overly active. Shimizu balances a blend of both to produce the perfect portrayal of horror available, and adeptly does so through Asian cinematics. He chooses to show the villain of the story, a decision most producers of horror fear to do, so as to employ the mystery of an unknown evil and play on the suspense of such a character. However, Ju-on does not lose its effectiveness by employing such tactics, re-enforcing the skill of the production of the film.
Of noteworthy mention is the accomplishment of the sound production in this film. The sound design was artfully, artfully done and may even be single-handedly credited for the apt relay of fear in the film.
(4/5)
On Resolution: The Conclusion
As Ju-on was developed as part of The Ju-on Projects, the film is not resolved independently, but though the sequel to the film holds the final resolution, the soryline to Ju-on stands well on its own. However, after the first instalment of the film, one might ask, so what was the point? The good news/bad news is that we’ll have to wait until we see the ne next film. Depending on where you stand, Ju-on gets resolves with a reasonable ending to an equally reasonable horror.
In the end, the original version of The Grudge, Ju-on highlights the simple, but spellbinding skill of Japanese horror cinema.
(3.5/5)
The Verdict: Fear is in the mind of the bearer. Ju-on either instils that fear, or comes really, really close.
Overall Score = 15.5/20
Experience the horror for yourself,
Get Ju-on [http://www.amazon.com/Ju-Grudge-Megumi-Okina/dp/B00005JNJR/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1278132273&sr=8-1]
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