Date Of Release: October 2002
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Producer: Takashige Ichise, Kunio Kawakami, Yoshinoro Kumazawa, Hiroki Numata
Starring: Megumi Okina, Misaki Ito, Misa Uehara, Takashi Matsuyama, Yuya Ozeki, Takako Fuji
Running Time: 92 minutes
Distributor: Lionsgate Entertainment (for the DVD release)
Review
For those of you poor fools who are accustomed to the "glamorous" American versions, I hate to break it to you but, this film was the original and quite frankly, like most originals, the best. The film itself was actually the third entry in the Ju-on series (with the previous 2 going straight to video). Despite what people believe, it is not a remake of the previous 2 but more of a sequel.
The summary of the film is actually quite simple. It is based upon a popular Japanese legend that states that, when a person is killed out of a malicious rage in a close vicinity (such as their home) then the rage will lurk within that place and create a curse, consuming all those who come into contact with either the spirit or the dwelling. The film, like the directors previous series, are all divided into 6 little segments that are all interconnected somehow. The film works its way through the stories of those living in the house and the care workers, and eventually how the house gained this curse.
The film, unlike its American counterpart, does not need to rely on any scare tactics or gore. Instead, the build up of suspense, that is characteristic in many Asian horrors, is what the film is really known for. That and the fact that the spirit has a very distinctive sound and movement (if you have seen the film then you will know what I am referring to!), that really gets the spine tingling. If you are sitting there and saying to yourself, "That wasn't all that scary" then you are but a liar. You telling me that you never checked your staircase every time you walked past??......Thought not....
In a generation where we are so used to blood and gore, this film is for those with a required taste for smart horror. I may be biased as I adore Asian horror, but I would seriously advise you to check this out before you see the remake. I dare say that this film almost feels realistic, almost as though you have just sat and listened to an actual experience. This is one of the first films to really make Japanese horror stand out and it is still one of the best.
Rating: 10/10 - Don't hold a grudge against me if you don't like it....
