#ju-onseries

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Ju-on: The Beginning of the End [2014]. Japan. 91 minutes. Directed by Masayuki Ochiai.

This tenth entry into the Ju-on series is a reboot of the original story, giving viewers a first glimpse of the story from a new angle, with Toshio Saeki given center stage rather than his mother Kayako. All in all this movie has everything that a good reboot should have. Meaning that there should be enough material from the original story to resemble it in every way and yet enough things different to give your new story a more unique vision, and of course, it must be scary AF. This film delivers on all counts, and really I think would do Shimizu Takashi proud. So if you’re looking for a good J-horror movie to wash away the taste of The Grudge sequels, this is the movie for you. 

Inventive: 5/5 Quality: 4/5 Creepy Factor: 5/5 Scariness: 4/5

Apparently there is an eleventh title (Juon: The Final Curse [2015]) which came out this year but as of yet I have not found a good copy to watch with english subtitles. Maybe next year I’ll have better luck. Anyway its a good way to cap off the Ju-on series. Next up I will be watching Dario Argento’s “Three Mothers” trilogy.

[doitgordon-blog]

Ju-on: White Ghost / Black Ghost [2009]. Japan. 121 minutes. Written & directed by Ryuta Miyake (White) and Mari Asato (Black).

This double-feature is a 10-year-anniversary special devoted to the Ju-on series whose personality is wholly original and yet utterly empassioned for its inspired story. I personally found White Ghost to be a more chilling story than Black Ghost, and yet both do a great job of describing to the viewer how the Ju-on series greatly touched audiences and manage to accomplish being both violently disturbing and sickeningly dangerous, maybe even moreso than the original story. 

Inventive: 3/5 Quality: 4/5 Creepy Factor: 4/5 Scariness: 3/5

[doitgordon-blog]

The Grudge 3 [2009]. Japan & United States. 90 minutes. Directed by Toby Wilkins.

The latest in the American Grudge films has one of the dullest stories ever. Which is odd because the ending actually sells pretty well. Honestly its the whole notion of uprooting a Japanese horror classic and replanting it in Chicago which makes this story fail to really scare at all. It all feels too out of place. It would have been better if The Grudge series had done like The Ring did and translated the original story into something similar enough in an American setting. I dunno. The ending is nice, but really the whole film disappoints despite employing Shawnee Smith (of SAW fame) and Marina Sirtis (Counselor Troy from ST:TNG). All that being said, the little girl with the lung issues is absolutely adorable and a great actress and did not deserve to be stuck in this stinker of a film.

Inventive: 3/5 Quality: 3/5 Creepy Factor: 1/5 Scariness: 1/5

[doitgordon-blog]

The Grudge 2 [2006]. Japan & United States. 102 minutes. Directed by Shimizu Takashi.

So, where the first Grudge film had the fresh look of the Saekis and the disturbing original first story to fall back on, this film occurs completely outside the original storyline, and so therefore must rely upon tedious sex appeal and idiotic dialogue to keep audiences interested. There are very few moments in this film that ever feel remotely scary, which is disappointing because this film stars Amber Tamblyn, who can be remembered forever as the girl who dies first in The Ring. Unfortunately her character is incredibly boring, as are most of the characters in this film. I’d have to say the principal’s office scene is the lone redeeming moment in this film, so if you can, please just skip right past this turd. Despite Shimizu Takashi’s excellent direction, the acting and the writing is far too aggravating for any real enjoyment.

Inventive: 1/5 Quality: 3/5 Creepy Factor: 2/5 Scariness: 1/5

[doitgordon-blog]

The Grudge [2004]. Japan & United States. 92 minutes. Directed by Shimizu Takashi.

Quickly following the success of Gore Verbinski’s The Ring [2002], American film studios saw a new cash cow for cheaply made horror films. Unfortunately the majority of them did not do that well at all, except for this film. While scripted by an American, The Grudge was directed by the same man who had created the Ju-on series, and so it bears much of the same anachronistic, eerily ominous personality of its predecessors, and therefore can be considered a pretty creepy film, although it must be said that something is lost in the translation. While we get more clarification about the events that led to the Saekis’ downfall, the film fails to really do more than surprise than to scare. Still it was a hell of a lot better than the Americans’ sequels.

Inventive: 2/5 Quality: 4/5 Creepy Factor: 4/5 Scariness: 2/5

[doitgordon-blog]

Ju-on: The Grudge 2 [2003]. Japan. 95 minutes. Written & directed by Shimizu Takashi.

The second of the cinematic Ju-on films, and the last of the 4 films written & directed by Shimizu Takashi. This one takes the whole story to an even creepier level with what can only be described as grudge-like foreshadowing, not to mention an eerie reincarnation story that will give you chills. A fitting end to Shimizu Takashi’s reign as creator of the Ju-on series, as it leaves you feeling even less safe than any of the previous films had. Unfortunately from here on out the quality of future Ju-on films deteriorates, with few exceptions.

Inventive: 3/5 Quality: 3/5 Creepy Factor: 5/5 Scariness: 3/5

[doitgordon-blog]

Ju-on: The Grudge [2002]. Japan. 92 minutes. Written & directed by Shimizu Takashi.

First cinematic Ju-on film (and so often mistaken for the “original” of the series). Despite all that, this is the film that stands as the definitive story that all other adaptations base their material off of, the “canonical” story if you will. Indeed one of the creepiest films you will ever sit through, and has some scenes that will forever haunt me as well. If you want the ultimate in cinematic representations of the Ju-on series, start here for sure.

Inventive: 3/5 Quality: 4/5 Creepy Factor: 5/5 Scariness: 3/5

[doitgordon-blog]

Ju-on: The Curse 2 [2000]. Japan. 76 minutes. Written & directed by Shimizu Takashi.

Low-budget “V-Cinema” title, same as its predecessor, Ju-on: The Curse [1999], and yet manages to be pretty damn eerie in that respect. 

Inventive: 3/5 Quality: 2/5 Creepy Factor: 3/5 Scariness: 2/5