Sadako vs. Kayako (2016)

The vengeful spirits of the Ring and Grudge series face off.

Director:

Kôji Shiraishi

Writers:

Takashi Shimizu (characters), Kôji Suzuki (characters)

Stars:

Mizuki Yamamoto, Tina Tamashiro, Aimi Satsukawa

Cast

Credited cast:
Mizuki Yamamoto	...	Yuri Kurahashi
Tina Tamashiro	...	Suzuka Takagi
Aimi Satsukawa	...	Natsumi Ueno
Misato Tanaka	...	Ayako Takagi
Masahiro Kômoto	...	Shin'ichi Morishige
Masanobu Andô	...	Spiritual Medium Kyozo
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ichiruko Dômen	...	Horyuu
Runa Endo	...	Kayako Saeki
Maiko Kikuchi	...	Tamao
Masayoshi Matsushima	...	Sukeru Takagi
Elly Nanami	...	Sadako Yamamura
Rintaro Shibamoto	...	Toshio Saeki

Storyline

The vengeful spirits of the Ring and Grudge series face off.

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Plot Keywords:

shared universe | movie reality crossover | videotape | vhs | vhs player | 

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

18 June 2016 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Sadako v Kayako

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$9,256,114

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kadokawa, NBCUniversal Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos Dolby Surround 7.1

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite a rumour about Takako Fuji reprising her role as Kayako in this crossover, the actress stated several times on Twitter that she was not playing this representation of the character. Masaki Saisho, who played Kayako in Ju-on : Beginning of the End (2014) and Ju-on : The Final Curse (2015), is not appearing in the film either, making Rina Endo the fifth actress to play Kayako (counting Aiko Horiuchi who starred in The Grudge 3 (2009) and Kyoka Takizawa who played a younger Kayako in The Grudge 2 (2006)).

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Goofs

When Yuri is taking a shower (around the 58:16 mark), her hair is all soapy with shampoo and is on the top of her head; the very next moment it appears all rinsed, down around her shoulders and only damp, not sopping wet.

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Crazy Credits

At the very end of the credits, an updated version of Sadako's videotape is shown.

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Connections

Follows Ringu (1998)

User Reviews

Fans of Japanese horror will like it

Not bad at all. Fans of Japanese horror should be satisfied. To say the truth, I didn't expect anything good. The latest movies about Kayako were so-so, and the latest movies about Sadako were even worse. I thought the Japanese had lost their fantasy, the theme had been completely explored. And here is this promise – Sadako vs Kayako. Must be a silly trash. I was pleasantly surprised. The Japanese produced a serious well-built film. Of course, I don't mean that it's like the original "Ringu". From the point of view of the style it's more like "The Grudge" franchise – a horror with frequent scary scenes. Apart from it, as it often happens in Japanese films, there are some interesting original ideas, the main heroines are cute (I mean the girls that get cursed, not the onryos (this type of Japanese ghosts)). The fight between Kayako and Sadako is also good. Only it's too short. Minuses. First of all, there are "minuses" – I mean things that narrow-minded people dislike in Japanese movies. It has one static atmosphere, perhaps slowly or evenly paced. I so understand that some people find it boring, as other Japanese films are often criticised for it. Also some moments can seem strange to a western viewer. So I think that those who don't typically like Japanese horror movies, would not like this one. If to add some objective criticism, there is little new in the film. It doesn't repeat one to one moments from the previous films, and yet the onryos do the same familiar tricks. I wonder if there will be a sequel. The film has an unexpected ending, which may lead to new and interesting beginning.