The Grudge (2004)

Director:

Takashi Shimizu

Writers (WGA):

Stephen Susco (screenplay)
Takashi Shimizu (film "Ju-On: The Grudge")

Release Date:

22 October 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

It never forgives. It never forgets.

Plot:

An American nurse living and working in Tokyo is exposed to a mysterious supernatural curse, one that locks a person in a powerful rage before claiming their life and spreading to another victim.

Plot Keywords:

Curse | American | Japan | Rage | Nurse

Awards:

3 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Karen
Jason Behr	...	Doug
William Mapother	...	Matthew
Clea DuVall	...	Jennifer
KaDee Strickland	...	Susan
Grace Zabriskie	...	Emma
Bill Pullman	...	Peter
Rosa Blasi	...	Maria
Ted Raimi	...	Alex
Ryo Ishibashi	...	Nakagawa
Yôko Maki	...	Yoko
Yuya Ozeki	...	Toshio
Takako Fuji	...	Kayako
Takashi Matsuyama	...	Takeo
Hiroshi Matsunaga	...	Igarashi
Hajime Okayama	...	Suzuki
Yoshiyuki Morishita	...	Guard
Kazuyuki Tsumura	...	Peter's Co-Worker
Taigi Kobayashi	...	Policeman
Junko Koizumi	...	Mother
Nana Koizumi	...	Daughter
Yôichi Okamura	...	Restaurant Manager (as Yoichi Okamura)
Eiji Ôki	...	Morgue Detective (as Eiji Oki)
Katsuhiro Oyama	...	Morgue Doctor

Directed by
Takashi Shimizu

Writing credits (WGA)
Stephen Susco		(screenplay)
Takashi Shimizu		(film "Ju-On: The Grudge")

Produced by
Doug Davison	....	executive producer
Joseph Drake	....	executive producer (as Joe Drake)
Satoshi Fukushima	....	line producer
Aubrey Henderson	....	co-producer
Takashige Ichise	....	producer (as Taka Ichise)
Nathan Kahane	....	executive producer
Michael Kirk	....	co-producer
Roy Lee	....	executive producer
Carsten H.W. Lorenz	....	executive producer (as Carsten Lorenz)
Ray Quinlan	....	line producer (as Raymond Quinlan)
Sam Raimi	....	producer
Shintaro Shimosawa	....	co-producer
Robert G. Tapert	....	producer (as Rob Tapert)

Original Music by
Christopher Young

Cinematography by
Hideo Yamamoto

Film Editing by
Jeff Betancourt

Casting by
Nancy Nayor		(as Nancy Nayor Battino)
Kelly Wagner

Production Design by
Iwao Saitô

Art Direction by
Kyôko Yauchi		(as Kyoko Yauchi)

Costume Design by
Shawn Holly Cookson
Miyuki Taniguchi

Makeup Department
Dianne Ensor	....	assistant makeup artist
Masaaki Fukuda	....	assistant special effects makeup
Akiko Kawano	....	assistant makeup artist
Veronica Lorenz	....	makeup artist: Sarah Michelle Gellar, U.S. reshoots
Yûichi Matsui	....	special makeup effects artist (as Yuichi Matsui)
Fumihiro Miyoshi	....	assistant special effects makeup
Sachie Munemura	....	makeup artist
Jane O'Kane	....	makeup artist
Miyuki Yamaguchi	....	assistant special effects makeup
Keiko Wedding	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Shannon Gaulding	....	executive in charge of production
Ed Licht	....	production supervisor
Jack Schuster	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Masanori Adachi	....	first assistant director
Hiroshi Chono	....	first assistant director: additional photography
Chikara Higami	....	second assistant director
Makoto Meguro	....	third assistant director: additional photography
Toyohiro Miyata	....	third assistant director
Jun Shiozaki	....	third assistant director
Takeo Sugawara	....	second assistant director: addditional photography
Amy Wilkins	....	second assistant director

Sound Department
Steven J. Berger	....	assistant sound
Gloria D'Alessandro	....	dialogue editor
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist
Michael J. Fox	....	adr mixer
Richard C. Franklin	....	sound effects editor (as Rick Franklin)
Marti D. Humphrey	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris M. Jacobson	....	sound re-recording mixer: director's cut
Ryan Juggler	....	adr editor
Ai-Ling Lee	....	sound effects editor
Howard London	....	adr mixer
Darrin Mann	....	foley mixer
Paul N.J. Ottosson	....	sound designer
Paul N.J. Ottosson	....	supervising sound editor
Carin Rogers	....	supervising adr editor
Carin Rogers	....	supervising dialogue editor
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
Sean Rowe	....	foley artist
Kelly Vandever	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Shûichi Kishiura	....	special effects supervisor
Yoshitaka Makigi	....	special effects assistant
Atsuko Murata	....	special effects assistant
Keiichi Nishioka	....	special effects assistant

Visual Effects by
Akemi Abe	....	main titles
Jonathan Block	....	title animation
Francisco Chaigneau	....	digital effects artist
Toyokazu Hashimoto	....	3D artist: Big X
Andrew Heimbold	....	animator: Reality Check Studios
Steven Heimbold	....	animator: Reality Check Studios
Nobuya Ishida	....	2D artist: Big X
Kory Jones	....	visual effects supervisor: Reality Check Studios
Aaron Kaminar	....	lead animator: Reality Check Studios
Danny Martinez	....	visual effects producer: Reality Check Studios
Hajime Matsumoto	....	digital visual effects supervisor: Big X
Josh Novak	....	lead compositor: main title sequence
Shigenori Ohno	....	3D artist: Big X
Masaki Sasae	....	2D artist: Big X
Nobuaki Sugiki	....	assistant digital visual effects supervisor: Big X
Yoshiko Takekuma	....	3D artist: Big X
Takeshi Yamaguchi	....	compositor
One Danny Yoon	....	digital compositor
Naoyasu Yutaka	....	assistant digital visual effects supervisor: Big X
Tomoya Ôhata	....	2D artist: Big X (as Tomoya Ohhata)

Stunts
Jennifer M. Barr	....	stunt stand-in
Shunsuke Gondo	....	stunt double
Kaori Ichijô	....	stunt double
Hideo Saito	....	stunt coordinator
Nobu Sakashita	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Lukas Ettlin	....	additional cinematographer
Noriyuki Mizuguchi	....	director of photography: additional photography
Takashi Seida	....	still photographer

Casting Department
David Bernad	....	casting assistant
Jennifer Rudolph	....	casting: New York

Editorial Department
Joe Fineman	....	post-production consultant
Yoshie Ishiguro	....	first assistant editor
Mato	....	color timer
Kevin Soares	....	second assistant editor
Anthony Motta	....	telecine assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Max Blomgren	....	synthesizer programmer
Robert Fernandez	....	recording engineer
Robert Fernandez	....	scoring mixer
Simon James	....	music contractor
Tiff Jimber	....	vocalist
Tiff Jimber	....	voice
Sean McMahon	....	orchestrator
Thomas Milano	....	music editor
Sujin Nam	....	orchestrator
Sujin Nam	....	score coordinator
Jonathan Price	....	synthesizer programmer
Robert Puff	....	music preparation
David G. Russell	....	synthesizer programmer (as David Russell)
Aldo Shllaku	....	assistant to composer
Martin St. Pierre	....	orchestrator
Martin St. Pierre	....	score coordinator (as Martin St.Pierre)
Brian Valentino	....	assistant recording engineer
Gordon Wimpress	....	score coordinator
Selena Arizanovic	....	music assistant (uncredited)
Scott Glasgow	....	score coordinator (uncredited)
Sean McMahon	....	score coordinator (uncredited)
Flavio Motalla	....	score producer (uncredited)
Melissa Orquiza	....	music preparation (uncredited)
Michael Pelavin	....	score coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Akemi Abe	....	end titles
Tobin Adams	....	production coordinator
Jennifer M. Barr	....	stand-in: Sara Michelle Geller
Sue Binder	....	assistant: Mr. Tapert
Max Blomgren	....	synthesizer programmer
Jennifer Y. Craig	....	production assistant
Miyuki Dawson	....	assistant: Mr. Shimizu
Tom Fish	....	body double: Jason Behr
Jessica Franks	....	production assistant: re-shoots
Joey Cruz Manalang	....	cast liaison
Rob McEntegart	....	executive vice president, business affairs: Mandate Pictures
Matthew Milam	....	assistant: Mr. Kahane
Tomoko Miyachi	....	production coordinator
Harue Miyake	....	assistant: Mr. Fukushima
Maureen Mottram	....	production accountant
Sean Muramatsu	....	dialogue coach
Atsushi Naito	....	legal service
Kazumi Nakamura	....	adr voice
Natsuko Nezu	....	production accountant
David Pollison	....	office assistant: Renaissance Pictures
Jonathan Price	....	synthesizer programmer
Patricia Rivera	....	assistant: Mr. Drake
Miyuki Sakaitani	....	production coordinator: Japan
Akiko Shima	....	adr voice
Kazuko Shingyoku	....	production coordinator: Japan
Kazuko Shingyoku	....	script supervisor: additional photography
Hiroko Stanhope	....	assistant: Taka Ichise
Cid Swank	....	unit publicist
Hiroki Taniguchi	....	production assistant
Kathleen Thomas	....	script supervisor
Dina Valenzuela	....	production accountant
Irene Yeung	....	assistant: Mr. Lee and Mr. Davison
J.R. Young	....	assistant: Mr. Raimi

Thanks
Brendan Garst	....	special thanks
Nathan L. Smith	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures (presents)
• Ghost House Pictures (production)
• Fellah Pictures (uncredited)
• Senator International (uncredited)
• Vertigo Entertainment (uncredited)

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2004) (USA) (all media)
• Senator International (2004) (non-USA) (all media) (sales)
• International Film Distribution Consultants (2004) (Non-USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• AQS (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Bioscop (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Nordisk Film Distributors (2005) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Golden Village (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Herald Film Company (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Independent Films (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• LNK Audiovisuais (2005) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Nu Metro Productions (200?) (South Africa) (theatrical)
• Panasia Films (2004) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Pioneer Films (2004) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Sam Film (2004) (Iceland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Ireland) (theatrical)
• Village Roadshow Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (theatrical)
• 01 Distribuzione (2004) (Italy) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar Italia (2004) (Italy) (all media)
• DeA Planeta Home Entertainment (2004) (Spain) (all media)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2005) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Europa Filmes (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Europa Filmes (2005) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Excesso Entertainment (2013) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (double feature with "The Grudge 2")
• Excesso Entertainment (2013) (Netherlands) (DVD) (double feature with "The Grudge 2")
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Highlight Film (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Hollydan Works (2005) (Yugoslavia) (DVD)
• Medyavizyon (2004) (Turkey) (all media)
• Nordisk Film (2005) (Finland) (DVD) (VHS)
• Nordisk Film (2005) (Sweden) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Canada) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Tien (2007) (Netherlands) (TV)

Special Effects

• Big X (digital visual effects)
• Reality Check Studios (additional visual effects)
• Pacific Title (opticals)
• Big X
• Reality Check Studios

Other Companies

• Bastyr University Chapel  music recorded at
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• JR Media Services  negative cutting
• Monkeyland Audio  re-recording mixing
• NAC Image Technology  camera equipment supplied by
• Nihon Shomei Co.  lighting equipment supplied by
• Northwest Sinfonia  music performed by
• OS Productions  thanks
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Picture Mill, The  main and end titles designed by (as The Picture Mill)
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Robert Puff Music  music preparation
• Sony Pictures Studios  adr recorded at
• Toho Studios  thanks
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack published by

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, disturbing images/terror/violence, and some sensuality

Runtime:

92 min | South Korea:97 min (uncut version) | Japan:98 min

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Czech Republic:15 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Ireland:15PG (original rating) | Ireland:15 (video rating) | Italy:T | Norway:15 | Philippines:R-13 | Poland:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | UK:15 | USA:Unrated (DVD rating) | Netherlands:16 | Malaysia:18SG | Iceland:16 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40750) | Sweden:15 | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:R16 | Japan:PG-12

Filming Locations:

Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan

Company:

Columbia Pictures

Trivia:

According to the DVD Commentaries and Featurettes, the house in The Grudge (2004) was built completely on a sound stage. It was based almost entirely on the house in Ju-on: The Grudge (2002). It was built like a normal house, the 'house set' had two floors so that cuts did not have to be made when a character was walking upstairs. However, the attic was built separately from the house to allow for more room when filming.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): At the cemetery, Karen tells her boyfriend that burning incense is a Buddhist ritual, and that the smoke carries their prayers to the spirits of the departed. Buddhism doesn't acknowledge everlasting spirits. It is actually a Shinto ritual.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Maria:Good morning. Peter? Are you OK? You're up early today.

Movie Connections:

References Ring 2 (1999)

Loses something

This movie definitely loses something in the translation. Unlike "The Ring" which equaled and even improved on the original story in some ways, this one just meanders along in an uninspired fashion.

The original Japanese film, "Ju-on", was pretty incoherent, mostly just a series of set pieces and great chills. The American version, directed by the same filmmaker, has done nothing towards clarifying the muddled story and, aside from the great opening sequences, is just a straight-forward recreation of the same suspenseful sequences that somehow don't play as well. I'd suggest renting the original instead.

5 out of 10.