Ju-on (2002)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Takashi Shimizu

Writer:

Takashi Shimizu (written by)

Release Date:

25 January 2003 (Japan)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

A mysterious and vengeful spirit marks and pursues anybody who dares enter the house in which it resides.

Plot Keywords:

Haunted House | Murder | Search | Walking | Suspicion

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Megumi Okina	...	Rika Nishina
Misaki Ito	...	Hitomi Tokunaga (as Misaki Itô)
Misa Uehara	...	Izumi Tôyama
Yui Ichikawa	...	Chiharu
Kanji Tsuda	...	Katsuya Tokunaga
Kayoko Shibata	...	Mariko
Yukako Kukuri	...	Miyuki
Shuri Matsuda	...	Kazumi Tokunaga
Yoji Tanaka	...	Yûji Tôyama (as Yôji Tanaka)
Yoshiyuki Morishita	...	Keibiin
Hideo Sakaki	...	Fukushi Sentâ Jimuin
Takashi Matsuyama	...	Takeo Saeki
Yuya Ozeki	...	Toshio
Takako Fuji	...	Kayako
Chikara Ishikura	...	Hirohashi

Also Known As:

The Grudge (UK) (DVD title) (USA)
Ju-on (USA) (DVD box title)
Ju-on 3 (Japan) (working title)
Ju-on: Gekijô-ban (Japan) (poster title)
Ju-on: The Grudge (International: English title) (informal title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some disturbing images.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS-Stereo

Certification:

Malaysia:18SG | Sweden:15 | Hong Kong:IIB | Japan:PG-12 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Finland:K-18 | Germany:16 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Nerima, Tokyo, Japan

Company:

Pioneer LDC

Goofs:

Continuity: When Rika's in the shower, she has a lot of shampoo in her hair. Yet right before Kayoko's hand appears, the shampoo vanishes.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Hirohashi: Thanks for the effort.

Movie Connections:

Follows Ju-on 2 (2000)

Soundtrack:

Kagi ga akanai

As a horror film it is pretty scary!

I have recently seen this film and as a scary movie it is very solid. The plot is sometimes confusing but the shocks are genuine and will have you hiding under your sofa several times. The horror element relies on shocks and make-up effects as opposed to loads of gore and CGI (however there is a smattering of this). Defenitely one of the best Asian horror films since 'The Eye' and would be difficult to keep its authenticity if remade in America. The music is atmospheric, reminiscent of the Resident Evil Games and adds to the tension running through the film. I am still unsure to why the boy, mother and father haunt/kill anyone entering the house.....wasn't really explained very well but leave your critical reasoning aside when watching it and enjoy the production for what it is a roller-coaster ride of jumps and scares.