Ju-on: The Grudge (2003)

"Ju-on: the Grudge"

A pretty volunteer social worker, Rika (Megumi Okini),

is sent on her own to a job that really requires

someone with more experience. She arrives at her

assignment, a pleasant-looking house, only to find an

uncommunicative old woman who appears to be possessed.

She begins cleaning the slovenly household until she

hears a noise upstairs. When she investigates, Rika

finds a spooky looking young boy hiding in the closet.

What she doesn't know, yet, that the house is the

center of evil in "Ju-on: The Grudge."

Writer/Director Takashi Shimizu has garnered quite a

following in Japan with his "Ju-on" horror movie

franchise, starting with "Ju-on: the Curse" in 2000.

The auteur is currently in post-production with an

American remake of his third installment, "Ju-on: the

Grudge." It is going to be interesting to see if

Shimizu can maintain the creep factor that he has

delivered in this interesting, whirlwind of a horror

movie.

The main character in "Ju-on: the Grudge" is the

humble house that Rika is sent to at the beginning.

There is something rotten in the white-collar

neighborhood habitat that manifests itself as the

film's timeline shifts and we see a young, recently

married couple moving into their new home. What we

soon learn is there is a palpable evil lurking there

and everyone who enters brings a bit of the darkness

out with them. Soon, the evil is invading places

beyond the house and the death toll mounts.

I was often confused with "Ju-on" as Shimizu jumps

around on the timeline, presenting a character and

then, later, shifting to an earlier moment in that

person's life. If you pay attention, things will make

sense but this is not important to the horror story's

fabric. Infused throughout the film are startling

images, like the frightening visage of the little boy

whose phantasmagoric aura appears repeatedly, that

haunt the living. There is much about "Ju-on: the

Grudge," to creep out the fans of horror flicks,

particularly Japanese horror, but not much audience

appeal beyond. I wonder if the director's American

debut will have the same curiosity afforded to "The

Ring," adapted from the Japanese "Ringu."

"Ju-on's" non-linear storytelling style requires your

attention but the constant creepiness is maintained

right to the end. It does what a horror movie is

supposed to do – scare you! I give it a B.

For more Reeling reviews visit www.reelingreviews.com

robin@reelingreviews.com

laura@reelingreviews.com

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