Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Nanako Matsushima | ... | Reiko Asakawa | |
Miki Nakatani | ... | Mai Takano | |
Yûko Takeuchi | ... | Tomoko Ôishi | |
Hitomi Satô | ... | Masami | |
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Yôichi Numata | ... | Takashi Yamamura |
Yutaka Matsushige | ... | Yoshino | |
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Katsumi Muramatsu | ... | Kôichi Asakawa |
Rikiya Ôtaka | ... | Yôichi Asakawa | |
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Masako | ... | Shizuko Yamamura |
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Daisuke Ban | ... | Heihachirô Ikuma |
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Kanehiro Ri | ... | Komiya kameraman |
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Yûrei Yanagi | ... | AD Okazaki (as Yanagi Yûrei -yûjô shutsuen-) |
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Yôko Ôshima | ... | Reiko no oba |
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Kiriko Shimizu | ... | Yoshimi Ôishi |
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Makoto Kakeda | ... | Kanrinin |
Reiko Asakawa is researching into a 'Cursed Video' interviewing teenagers about it. When her niece Tomoko dies of 'sudden heart failure' with an unnaturally horrified expression on her face, Reiko investigates. She finds out that some of Tomoko's friends, who had been on a holiday with Tomoko the week before, had died on exactly the same night at the exact same time in the exact same way. Reiko goes to the cabin where the teens had stayed and finds an 'unlabeled' video tape. Reiko watched the tape to discover to her horror it is in fact the 'cursed videotape'. Ex-Husband Ryuji helps Reiko solve the mystery, Reiko makes him a copy for further investigation. Things become more tense when their son Yoichi watches the tape saying Tomoko had told him to. Their discovery takes them to a volcanic island where they discover that the video has a connection to a psychic who died 30 years ago, and her child Sadako... Written by Hana Jo Gilmour
I tried for some time to get a copy of this film having seen the American re-make. I was impressed with the re-make and found the plot fascinating. I have to say I was equally enthralled by the original, in fact in some elements found it to be superior. The key to this films appeal is the way the suspense, horror and unease is built with no gore or real action. It is just a slow relentless ramping up of suspense and the dark foreboding which is accentuated by the dark moody filming. I feel this is where this film scores over the re-make. The hollywood version comes across as slow and almost boring , in comparison. There is one key defining scene in both films (which I wont reveal of course)and , I have to say, this was done better in the new version. This is a great film but I think that comments like "best horror ever" are a bit over the top. Overall I would say, a great suspenseful example of sheer horror without the gore.