The episode of Wtf Happened to This Horror Movie? covering The Grudge (2004) was Written and Narrated by Adam Walton, Edited by Juan Jimenez, Produced by Andrew Hatfield and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.
If there was one thing the early noughties had in an abundance, especially within the horror genre, it was remakes. We were graced with reboots, or re-imaginings, whatever you want to call them, of the likes of Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead, The Hills Have Eyes, The Amityville Horror, House of Wax, Rob Zombie’s Halloween remake from 2007 and The Ring. However, despite the decent quality of those examples, well most of them, one thing that stands out in the film we’re focusing on today, The Grudge (watch it Here), is the fact that the original’s director, Takashi Shimizu, chose to also take on the remake. In 2002 the aforementioned The Ring,...
If there was one thing the early noughties had in an abundance, especially within the horror genre, it was remakes. We were graced with reboots, or re-imaginings, whatever you want to call them, of the likes of Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead, The Hills Have Eyes, The Amityville Horror, House of Wax, Rob Zombie’s Halloween remake from 2007 and The Ring. However, despite the decent quality of those examples, well most of them, one thing that stands out in the film we’re focusing on today, The Grudge (watch it Here), is the fact that the original’s director, Takashi Shimizu, chose to also take on the remake. In 2002 the aforementioned The Ring,...
- 10/18/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
J-Horror is among the most renowned internationally genres of Asian cinema, with the popularity of titles like “Ringu”, “Ju-on”, “Pulse” and so many others still echoing quite intensely. As such, it is quite interesting, even today, to shed a more thorough look to the roots, the motifs, and the reasons of success of these movies, also because some of the most central directors are still at large.
Check also this article Is J-Horror Coming Back? Six Movies that Suggest So
As such, I have to begin the review by stating that shooting this documentary seems like a colossal endeavor, both for arranging interviews with the likes of Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Takashi Shimizu, Teruyoshi Ishii, Joji Iida, Masayuki Ochiai, Shinya Tsukamoto, and Mari Asato, and for tracking down Rie Ino'o, who played Sadako in the first two films, and Takako Fuji, who played Kayako in a number of entries of “Ju-on”. Add...
Check also this article Is J-Horror Coming Back? Six Movies that Suggest So
As such, I have to begin the review by stating that shooting this documentary seems like a colossal endeavor, both for arranging interviews with the likes of Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Takashi Shimizu, Teruyoshi Ishii, Joji Iida, Masayuki Ochiai, Shinya Tsukamoto, and Mari Asato, and for tracking down Rie Ino'o, who played Sadako in the first two films, and Takako Fuji, who played Kayako in a number of entries of “Ju-on”. Add...
- 8/29/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
The Japanese horror boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s, spawned in large part by Hideo Nakata’s Ring, gets the spotlight in the upcoming documentary The J-Horror Virus.
Check out the trailer below, first shared by Fangoria earlier today.
From Sarah Appleton and Jasper Sharp, The J-Horror Virus is said to be a “feature-length documentary charting the origins, evolution and diffusion across the world of a distinctive brand of made-in-Japan supernatural chillers that seeped into the global consciousness at the turn of the millennium, films featuring vengeful ghosts manifesting themselves through contemporary technology again a backdrop of urban alienation and social decay.”
The synopsis continues, “From its origins in Teruyoshi Ishii’s 1988 fake documentary Psychic Vision: Jaganrei (1988) and Norio Tsuruta’s seminal Scary True Stories (1991/92) straight-to-video series, through such key titles as Hideo Nakata’s Ring (1998), Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Pulse (2001) and Takashi Shimizu’s Ju-On: The Grudge...
Check out the trailer below, first shared by Fangoria earlier today.
From Sarah Appleton and Jasper Sharp, The J-Horror Virus is said to be a “feature-length documentary charting the origins, evolution and diffusion across the world of a distinctive brand of made-in-Japan supernatural chillers that seeped into the global consciousness at the turn of the millennium, films featuring vengeful ghosts manifesting themselves through contemporary technology again a backdrop of urban alienation and social decay.”
The synopsis continues, “From its origins in Teruyoshi Ishii’s 1988 fake documentary Psychic Vision: Jaganrei (1988) and Norio Tsuruta’s seminal Scary True Stories (1991/92) straight-to-video series, through such key titles as Hideo Nakata’s Ring (1998), Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Pulse (2001) and Takashi Shimizu’s Ju-On: The Grudge...
- 6/20/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Announced by Arrow Video this morning, Ju-On: The Grudge Collection is due out this December, featuring a brand new 4K restoration of Japanese classic Ju-On: The Grudge.
This one is a UK Release, headed our way on December 19, 2022.
“Ju-On”: the name given to a deadly curse spawned when someone dies in the grip of a violent rage. All who come into contact with it are doomed… Collected together for the first time, writer-director Takashi Shimizu’s Ju-On: The Grudge series represents the flesh-crawling pinnacle of Japanese chillers that swept the globe at the turn of the millennium.
The films introduce the anonymous family house in the suburbs of Tokyo where an unspeakable evil lingers alongside its residents, the ghastly mother-son pairing of Kayoko and Toshio Saeki. Shimizu’s disconcerting approach to plotting, unnerving eye for the uncanny details in the dark corners of the frame and an innate talent...
This one is a UK Release, headed our way on December 19, 2022.
“Ju-On”: the name given to a deadly curse spawned when someone dies in the grip of a violent rage. All who come into contact with it are doomed… Collected together for the first time, writer-director Takashi Shimizu’s Ju-On: The Grudge series represents the flesh-crawling pinnacle of Japanese chillers that swept the globe at the turn of the millennium.
The films introduce the anonymous family house in the suburbs of Tokyo where an unspeakable evil lingers alongside its residents, the ghastly mother-son pairing of Kayoko and Toshio Saeki. Shimizu’s disconcerting approach to plotting, unnerving eye for the uncanny details in the dark corners of the frame and an innate talent...
- 9/30/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Hollywood and the West in general have been remaking some of the greatest Asian movies since the 60s, picking the most commercially successful and the most adaptable productions to bring to both American and worldwide audiences. A number of them were of equal or at least similar quality, with John Sturges’s “The Magnificent Seven” (based on “Seven Samurai”) and Sergio Leone’s “A Fistful of Dollars” (based on Yojimbo”) being some of the most prominent samples. At the same time, however, and particularly after the 90s, the quality of remakes decreased significantly, resulting in a series of remakes that can only be described as truly awful, even though, on occasion, they were directed by the same filmmakers who shot the originals. Here, we have included 15 of the worst ones, in random order.
1. Ju-On: The Grudge Remake: The Grudge
Takashi Shimizu, who was also the screenwriter, puts the events in a non-chronological order,...
1. Ju-On: The Grudge Remake: The Grudge
Takashi Shimizu, who was also the screenwriter, puts the events in a non-chronological order,...
- 3/7/2022
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
A young toy collector named Ken happens upon a rare figure. Unknown to him, the figure is in fact an alien creature with designs on Ken’s fate. Directed by Norman England. Written by Norman England and Jiro Kaneko. Starring Yukijiro Hotaru, Takako Fuji, Tomoo Haraguchi ( Death Kappa, Gamera …
The post “The iDol” – Obscure Japanese Film Comes To North American Home Media!! appeared first on Hnn | Horrornews.net.
The post “The iDol” – Obscure Japanese Film Comes To North American Home Media!! appeared first on Hnn | Horrornews.net.
- 8/13/2020
- by Adrian Halen
- Horror News
In the midst of the J-horror craze of the early 2000s ignited by Hideo Nakata’s “Ringu” (1998) director Takashi Shimizu created another entry within his home country’s specific brand of horror with “Ju-On: The Grudge”. While many viewers regard this film as the first in the franchise, it is actually the third film in the series with the first two films being released for home video only. In the aftermath the film would receive the inevitable Hollywood treatment with Shimizu directing also the American version and start a franchise, which, including the recently released “The Grudge” by Nicolas Pesce consists of 13 movies along with video games, manga adaptations and movie novelizations.
However, if we go back to the origin of the franchise, which in this case is the first movie to be released in cinemas, we have to consider the status of “Ju-On” as J-horror as...
However, if we go back to the origin of the franchise, which in this case is the first movie to be released in cinemas, we have to consider the status of “Ju-On” as J-horror as...
- 1/6/2020
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Wanna know how some of your favorite sounds, action sequences, or visual effects were created? Daily Dead got a chance to do a Q&A with the VFX Legion team who worked on The Purge: Anarchy, Hardcore Henry, Ouija, and more. Also in today’s Horror Highlights: a Sharkansas Women’s Prison Massacre Blu-ray clip and trailer as well as three promo videos for Sadako vs Kayako.
Daily Dead Q&A with the VFX Legion Team, Breakdown Reel and Images:
Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for us. Can you give our readers an idea of what the VFX Legion team does to improve the look of a film and enhance the cinematic experience for viewers?
There are a lot of things that make up a movie. There’s sound, acting, locations, lighting, editing, and often times, visual effects. There are a ton of aspects to visual effects.
Daily Dead Q&A with the VFX Legion Team, Breakdown Reel and Images:
Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for us. Can you give our readers an idea of what the VFX Legion team does to improve the look of a film and enhance the cinematic experience for viewers?
There are a lot of things that make up a movie. There’s sound, acting, locations, lighting, editing, and often times, visual effects. There are a ton of aspects to visual effects.
- 4/29/2016
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Familiar and frightening faces from two of Japan’s biggest horror franchises, Ringu (aka The Ring) and Ju-On (aka The Grudge), haunt humans who get caught in their cursed crossfire in the new trailer for Sadako vs Kayako.
Like something plucked from a horror fan’s daydream, Sadako vs Kayako will feature a showdown between the supernatural antagonists from the Ringu and Ju-On franchises. Horror fans living in Japan won’t have to wait long to lay eyes on Sadako vs Kayako, as the film is scheduled for a June 18th release. There’s no word yet on when it will debut elsewhere in the world. In the meantime, Paramount will release Rings in the Us on October 28th.
Sadako vs Kayako is directed by Kôji Shiraishi and stars Mizuki Yamamoto, Tina Tamashiro, Aimi Satsukawa, Misato Tanaka, Masahiro Kômoto, and Masanobu Andô, with Takako Fuji reprising her role as the...
Like something plucked from a horror fan’s daydream, Sadako vs Kayako will feature a showdown between the supernatural antagonists from the Ringu and Ju-On franchises. Horror fans living in Japan won’t have to wait long to lay eyes on Sadako vs Kayako, as the film is scheduled for a June 18th release. There’s no word yet on when it will debut elsewhere in the world. In the meantime, Paramount will release Rings in the Us on October 28th.
Sadako vs Kayako is directed by Kôji Shiraishi and stars Mizuki Yamamoto, Tina Tamashiro, Aimi Satsukawa, Misato Tanaka, Masahiro Kômoto, and Masanobu Andô, with Takako Fuji reprising her role as the...
- 4/22/2016
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
The horror of a truly terrifying sound-effect is contextual: a brilliantly-executed effect can be killed by poor placement, whereas the most mundane noise can send shivers up the spine with the right counterpoint...
10: Jurassic Park III (2001) - It's for you
Phone calls can come at the most inconvenient moments, but they're rarely quite as unwelcome as in this scene from Joe Johnston's sequel to the 1993 Spielberg classic. The true terror of this moment is similar to that of The Innocents, in that the ring-tone reveals something awful that has been looking at you for a long time, and wondering what its next course of action should be. It's the sheer mundanity of the sound that succeeds in doubling the shock value, as we realise that the Spinosaurus is having his lunch repeat on him in the most disturbing way...
9: The Entity (1982) - Welcome home
Sidney J. Furie...
10: Jurassic Park III (2001) - It's for you
Phone calls can come at the most inconvenient moments, but they're rarely quite as unwelcome as in this scene from Joe Johnston's sequel to the 1993 Spielberg classic. The true terror of this moment is similar to that of The Innocents, in that the ring-tone reveals something awful that has been looking at you for a long time, and wondering what its next course of action should be. It's the sheer mundanity of the sound that succeeds in doubling the shock value, as we realise that the Spinosaurus is having his lunch repeat on him in the most disturbing way...
9: The Entity (1982) - Welcome home
Sidney J. Furie...
- 1/4/2011
- Shadowlocked
Despicable Me is coming out next week (Friday, 15th October to be exact) and while I was watching the trailer for the movie again recently, I got hooked on the ‘does this count as annoying’ bit of the trailer by character Agnes (voiced by Elsie Fisher) and it made me laugh so much! It got me thinking that maybe we could do a feature on the cutest and creepiest kids in movies.
Since Despicable Me is an animated film, I’ve gone down the line of animated for the cuties and live action for the creepies! Have a little look down the list and then feel free to let me know who I’ve missed in the comments section below.
Cute Animated Kids
———————————–
Does this count as annoying?!
Agnes (Despicable Me)
Lets start with Agnes since she’s the inspiration for the post. She’s cute and you just want to squidge her!
Since Despicable Me is an animated film, I’ve gone down the line of animated for the cuties and live action for the creepies! Have a little look down the list and then feel free to let me know who I’ve missed in the comments section below.
Cute Animated Kids
———————————–
Does this count as annoying?!
Agnes (Despicable Me)
Lets start with Agnes since she’s the inspiration for the post. She’s cute and you just want to squidge her!
- 10/13/2010
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
It's time for another installment of Fangoria Musick's Lists Of Doom - the column where we track down some of your favorite (or soon-to-be favorite) bands to get their thoughts on on the world of horror.
For number 15, we caught up with Mika Andre, bassist of the French band, Eryn Non Dae, whose Stateside debut Hydra Lernaia will arrive in-stores on June 23rd via Metal Blade Records. Mika's List of Doom is a bit different than what we usually see, with a strong lean toward Asian Horror.
Mika, the stage is yours...
I’m really into Asian horror movies because of their very calm and restrained atmosphere. Even if it’s a bit overrated now, there’s something very unique Ring had brought at the beginning; a kind of deep esthetic beauty in the horror.
Shutter
(Thai version, by Parkpoom Wongpoom and Banjong Pisanthanakun)
Another Asian ghost style movie but...
For number 15, we caught up with Mika Andre, bassist of the French band, Eryn Non Dae, whose Stateside debut Hydra Lernaia will arrive in-stores on June 23rd via Metal Blade Records. Mika's List of Doom is a bit different than what we usually see, with a strong lean toward Asian Horror.
Mika, the stage is yours...
I’m really into Asian horror movies because of their very calm and restrained atmosphere. Even if it’s a bit overrated now, there’s something very unique Ring had brought at the beginning; a kind of deep esthetic beauty in the horror.
Shutter
(Thai version, by Parkpoom Wongpoom and Banjong Pisanthanakun)
Another Asian ghost style movie but...
- 6/13/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (James Zahn)
- Fangoria
A good look at the Blu-ray artwork for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's The Grudge crept online today, and we have a look at it as well as a listing of the disc's special features for you. Excited yet?
The Blu-ray will hit store shelves on May 12th, and special features are set to include:
• Commentary with Sam Raimi, Ted Raimi, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and more
• Commentary with director Takashi Shimizu, producer Taka Ichise, and actress Takako Fuji
• Deleted scenes with optional commentary
• Myth of the Ju-On
• Under the Skin Featurette - A Medical Explanation of Fear Response in Film
• Sights and Sounds: The Storyboard Art of Takashi Shimizu
• Production Designer's Notebook: The Sketches of Iwao Saito
• Ju-On Short Film: 4444444444
• Ju-On Short Film: In a Corner
Check out the artwork courtesy of DVD Active and pre-order yourself a copy below.
- Uncle Creepy
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
The Blu-ray will hit store shelves on May 12th, and special features are set to include:
• Commentary with Sam Raimi, Ted Raimi, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and more
• Commentary with director Takashi Shimizu, producer Taka Ichise, and actress Takako Fuji
• Deleted scenes with optional commentary
• Myth of the Ju-On
• Under the Skin Featurette - A Medical Explanation of Fear Response in Film
• Sights and Sounds: The Storyboard Art of Takashi Shimizu
• Production Designer's Notebook: The Sketches of Iwao Saito
• Ju-On Short Film: 4444444444
• Ju-On Short Film: In a Corner
Check out the artwork courtesy of DVD Active and pre-order yourself a copy below.
- Uncle Creepy
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
- 3/24/2009
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Takashi Shimizu's The Grudge , the 2004 American redo of Ju-On , is coming to Blu-Ray via Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on March 24th. The special features reflect a combination of Sony's previous two Grudge releases: . Commentary with Sam Raimi, Ted Raimi, Sarah Michelle Gellar & More . Commentary with Director Takashi Shimizu, Producer Taka Ichise and Actress Takako Fuji . Deleted Scenes with optional commentary . Myth of the Ju-On . Under the Skin Featurette - A Medical Explanation of Fear Response In Film . Sights and Sounds: The Storyboard Art of Takashi Shimizu . Production Designer's Notebook: The Sketches of Iwao Saito . Ju-on Short Film: 4444444444 . Ju-on Short Film: In a Corner Also on March 24th, Sony will debut The Grudge 3 . You can find art in...
- 1/12/2009
- shocktillyoudrop.com
The last time we saw Sarah Michelle Gellar's Karen Davis, the spooked American exchange student was being hospitalized after trying to burn down the Tokyo house believed to be the source of a horrible curse.
It turned out that "The Grudge", filmmaker Takashi Shimizu's English-language remake of his acclaimed "Ju-On", was anything but cursed at the boxoffice, scaring up $110 million domestically, ushering in the Friday the 13th arrival of "The Grudge 2".
While Gellar's character returns for just a brief portion of the ride, even less of the original's creepy atmosphere makes the trip intact, leaving at lot of boring exposition and empty suspense in its wake.
It would have been nice if Shimizu, who stayed on as director for what would be his sixth "Grudge" match (counting two Japanese video versions), had tried just a little harder to do something different this time out, but things get awfully repetitive here.
The latest batch of victims who find themselves in the vengeful grip of the ghostly, wide-eyed Kayako (Takako Fuji) include Karen's sister Aubrey ("Joan of Arcadia's" Amber Tamblyn), who, at the urging of her sickly mother (Joanna Cassidy), travels to Japan with the intention of bringing Karen Back to their Pasadena home.
Before her arrival, over at an international school in Tokyo, the eager-to-fit-in Allison (Arielle Kebbel) accepts a dare by venturing into the closet of that charred house, located beneath Kayako's attic retreat, with predictably horrifying results.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, Jennifer Beals moves in with her widowed fiance and his two children, and, if figuring out the stepmother thing isn't challenging enough, she and the kids must also contend with increasingly strange goings-on in their apartment building.
Needless to say, it would appear Kayako has been getting around lately.
Although the original American version, which also was filmed in Japan, was no great shakes in the story department, either, its unique, dread-dripping ambiance went quite a long way in distracting from all the nonsensical plotting.
But by now, that visual novelty has worn off and Shimizu's direction and Stephen Susco's script are content to simply trot out old fright eyes whenever the anemic proceedings threaten to grind to a stagnant halt.
Aside from a couple of passably inventive effects sequences, including one set in a photographic dark room, this particular "Grudge" proves too pointless to bear.
It turned out that "The Grudge", filmmaker Takashi Shimizu's English-language remake of his acclaimed "Ju-On", was anything but cursed at the boxoffice, scaring up $110 million domestically, ushering in the Friday the 13th arrival of "The Grudge 2".
While Gellar's character returns for just a brief portion of the ride, even less of the original's creepy atmosphere makes the trip intact, leaving at lot of boring exposition and empty suspense in its wake.
It would have been nice if Shimizu, who stayed on as director for what would be his sixth "Grudge" match (counting two Japanese video versions), had tried just a little harder to do something different this time out, but things get awfully repetitive here.
The latest batch of victims who find themselves in the vengeful grip of the ghostly, wide-eyed Kayako (Takako Fuji) include Karen's sister Aubrey ("Joan of Arcadia's" Amber Tamblyn), who, at the urging of her sickly mother (Joanna Cassidy), travels to Japan with the intention of bringing Karen Back to their Pasadena home.
Before her arrival, over at an international school in Tokyo, the eager-to-fit-in Allison (Arielle Kebbel) accepts a dare by venturing into the closet of that charred house, located beneath Kayako's attic retreat, with predictably horrifying results.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, Jennifer Beals moves in with her widowed fiance and his two children, and, if figuring out the stepmother thing isn't challenging enough, she and the kids must also contend with increasingly strange goings-on in their apartment building.
Needless to say, it would appear Kayako has been getting around lately.
Although the original American version, which also was filmed in Japan, was no great shakes in the story department, either, its unique, dread-dripping ambiance went quite a long way in distracting from all the nonsensical plotting.
But by now, that visual novelty has worn off and Shimizu's direction and Stephen Susco's script are content to simply trot out old fright eyes whenever the anemic proceedings threaten to grind to a stagnant halt.
Aside from a couple of passably inventive effects sequences, including one set in a photographic dark room, this particular "Grudge" proves too pointless to bear.
- 10/17/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Opens
Friday, Oct. 13
The last time we saw Sarah Michelle Gellar's Karen Davis, the spooked American exchange student was being hospitalized after trying to burn down the Tokyo house believed to be the source of a horrible curse.
It turned out that The Grudge, filmmaker Takashi Shimizu's English-language remake of his acclaimed Ju-On, was anything but cursed at the boxoffice, scaring up $110 million domestically, ushering in the Friday the 13th arrival of The Grudge 2.
While Gellar's character returns for just a brief portion of the ride, even less of the original's creepy atmosphere makes the trip intact, leaving at lot of boring exposition and empty suspense in its wake.
It would have been nice if Shimizu, who stayed on as director for what would be his sixth Grudge match (counting two Japanese video versions), had tried just a little harder to do something different this time out, but things get awfully repetitive here.
The latest batch of victims who find themselves in the vengeful grip of the ghostly, wide-eyed Kayako (Takako Fuji) include Karen's sister Aubrey (Joan of Arcadia's Amber Tamblyn), who, at the urging of her sickly mother (Joanna Cassidy), travels to Japan with the intention of bringing Karen Back to their Pasadena home.
Before her arrival, over at an international school in Tokyo, the eager-to-fit-in Allison (Arielle Kebbel) accepts a dare by venturing into the closet of that charred house, located beneath Kayako's attic retreat, with predictably horrifying results.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, Jennifer Beals moves in with her widowed fiance and his two children, and, if figuring out the stepmother thing isn't challenging enough, she and the kids must also contend with increasingly strange goings-on in their apartment building.
Needless to say, it would appear Kayako has been getting around lately.
Although the original American version, which also was filmed in Japan, was no great shakes in the story department, either, its unique, dread-dripping ambiance went quite a long way in distracting from all the nonsensical plotting.
But by now, that visual novelty has worn off and Shimizu's direction and Stephen Susco's script are content to simply trot out old fright eyes whenever the anemic proceedings threaten to grind to a stagnant halt.
Aside from a couple of passably inventive effects sequences, including one set in a photographic dark room, this particular Grudge proves too pointless to bear.
THE GRUDGE 2
Columbia Pictures
Sam Raimi and Columbia Pictures present a Ghost House Pictures production
Credits:
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Screenwriter: Stephen Susco
Based on Ju-On: The Grudge, written and directed by Takashi Shimizu
Producers: Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, Taka Ichise
Executive producers: Joe Drake, Nathan Kahane, Roy Lee, Doug Davison
Director of photography: Katsumi Yanagijima
Production designer: Iwao Saito
Editor: Jeff Betancourt
Costume designer: Kristin M. Burke
Music: Christopher Young
Visual effects supervisor: Hajime Matsumoto
Cast:
Aubrey Davis: Amber Tamblyn
Allison: Arielle Kebbel
Trish: Jennifer Beals
Eason: Edison Chen
Lacey: Sarah Roemer
Karen Davis: Sarah Michelle Gellar
Mrs. Davis: Joanna Cassidy
Kayako: Takako Fuji
Running time -- 87 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
Friday, Oct. 13
The last time we saw Sarah Michelle Gellar's Karen Davis, the spooked American exchange student was being hospitalized after trying to burn down the Tokyo house believed to be the source of a horrible curse.
It turned out that The Grudge, filmmaker Takashi Shimizu's English-language remake of his acclaimed Ju-On, was anything but cursed at the boxoffice, scaring up $110 million domestically, ushering in the Friday the 13th arrival of The Grudge 2.
While Gellar's character returns for just a brief portion of the ride, even less of the original's creepy atmosphere makes the trip intact, leaving at lot of boring exposition and empty suspense in its wake.
It would have been nice if Shimizu, who stayed on as director for what would be his sixth Grudge match (counting two Japanese video versions), had tried just a little harder to do something different this time out, but things get awfully repetitive here.
The latest batch of victims who find themselves in the vengeful grip of the ghostly, wide-eyed Kayako (Takako Fuji) include Karen's sister Aubrey (Joan of Arcadia's Amber Tamblyn), who, at the urging of her sickly mother (Joanna Cassidy), travels to Japan with the intention of bringing Karen Back to their Pasadena home.
Before her arrival, over at an international school in Tokyo, the eager-to-fit-in Allison (Arielle Kebbel) accepts a dare by venturing into the closet of that charred house, located beneath Kayako's attic retreat, with predictably horrifying results.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, Jennifer Beals moves in with her widowed fiance and his two children, and, if figuring out the stepmother thing isn't challenging enough, she and the kids must also contend with increasingly strange goings-on in their apartment building.
Needless to say, it would appear Kayako has been getting around lately.
Although the original American version, which also was filmed in Japan, was no great shakes in the story department, either, its unique, dread-dripping ambiance went quite a long way in distracting from all the nonsensical plotting.
But by now, that visual novelty has worn off and Shimizu's direction and Stephen Susco's script are content to simply trot out old fright eyes whenever the anemic proceedings threaten to grind to a stagnant halt.
Aside from a couple of passably inventive effects sequences, including one set in a photographic dark room, this particular Grudge proves too pointless to bear.
THE GRUDGE 2
Columbia Pictures
Sam Raimi and Columbia Pictures present a Ghost House Pictures production
Credits:
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Screenwriter: Stephen Susco
Based on Ju-On: The Grudge, written and directed by Takashi Shimizu
Producers: Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, Taka Ichise
Executive producers: Joe Drake, Nathan Kahane, Roy Lee, Doug Davison
Director of photography: Katsumi Yanagijima
Production designer: Iwao Saito
Editor: Jeff Betancourt
Costume designer: Kristin M. Burke
Music: Christopher Young
Visual effects supervisor: Hajime Matsumoto
Cast:
Aubrey Davis: Amber Tamblyn
Allison: Arielle Kebbel
Trish: Jennifer Beals
Eason: Edison Chen
Lacey: Sarah Roemer
Karen Davis: Sarah Michelle Gellar
Mrs. Davis: Joanna Cassidy
Kayako: Takako Fuji
Running time -- 87 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
- 10/16/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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