| Product: |
Ju-On - The Grudge (DVD) |
| Date: |
23/03/05 (514 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Scary
Disadvantages: Confusing
love scaring myself silly at horror films, and I was dying to see The Grudge - it seemed terrifying! A few of my friends went to see it while I was working, and they told me stories of how people got up and walked out of the cinema halfway through, how they were petrified to the point of tears and how they couldn't sleep that night!
Well, I have seen it twice now (with different people), and although it doesn't live up to the hype at all and I was slightly disappointed, it's not bad and I'd watch it again!
THE STORYLINE
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The plot is based on the Japanese myth that if somebody dies in the grip of a powerful rage, a curse will linger in the place where they died, and anybody who enters that place will be 'consumed by it's fury'. Emma, an elderly American woman living in Japan, lives with her son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Jennifer, in such a house. One day, when Emma's carer Yoko is alone in the house with Emma, she hears strange noises coming from the attic, she goes up to investigate, and becomes the latest victim of the curse.
This is where the film begins.
The next day, when Yoko doesn't turn up for work, the company she works for send a supply carer, Karen, to look after Emma. Karen soon discovers that the house was once inhabited by a family who were brutually murdered by the father, after he discovered that his wife, Kayako, was stalking her college professor.
She realises that anybody who enters the house will be murdered by the vengeful Kayako, with Toshio, her son, acting as a warning sign that his mum is going to strike. It could be weeks, months or even years, but Kayako will eventually claim her victim, such as in the case of Yoko, and later on, Matthew and Jennifer. Karen is desperate to find a way to stop the curse but will she find one before Kayako gets to her?
THE CAST
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Sarah Michelle Gellar - Karen Davis
Jason Behr - Doug
William Mapother - Matthew Williams
Clea DuVall - Jennifer Williams
KaDee Strickland - Susan Williams
Grace Zabriskie - Emma Williams
I don't have much to say about the cast at all... all they had to do was look confused, do something stupid like walk into a pitch-black room alone when they know the house is cursed, then scream and die. You do not get to know the characters at all, so you don't care about what happens to them - a definite weakness there.
I will say that Kadee Strickland who plays Susan was great though. She was only on for about 10 minutes, but those 10 minutes were scarier than the whole film put together! She was really believable and I could honestly feel her terror!
MY THOUGHTS
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I have seen this film twice now, and the second time was scarier, mainly because I understood the plot a lot more! Yes I knew what was going to happen, but the little details I had missed out on the first time become more noticeable, and I was genuinely much more frightened, although it still doesn't compare to say, The Ring!
I have read reviews where The Grudge has been described as the scariest film of all time, but I don't think it is. Don't get me wrong though, there were quite a few jumpy scenes which leave you feeling unnerved, and there are one or two disturbing parts which really, honestly left me wanting to walk out of the cinema, even after I watched them for the second time! The film could definitely do with more of these scenes! The problem is, sometimes when something scary or weird is about to happen, the camera angle switches and the creepy music comes on, so it's really obvious when it is coming! Also, once the film has finished, all your fears vanish, and you pretty much forget about it. It doesn't linger in your mind like The Ring does!
The lack of storyline and explanation for the events are what really let the film down - the plot is basically: scary Japanese lady kills people who enter the house, ditzy blonde American comes and tries to defeat scary Japanese lady. Yes, the previous events that occurred in the house are explained, but vaguely, confusing, non-chronological manner, and you really do have to concentrate to every single little thing to understand parts of the storyline.
A few scenes are just silly, though, such as the opening scene where a man flops off his balcony and lands spread-eagled, face down, legs akimbo, on the ground. I couldn't help laughing which ruined the tension somewhat! However, I must admit it makes for a good first scene as it makes you think 'why the hell did that happen?'
The sound effects are really good - they weren't necessary but they give a lot to the film. Kayako makes this horrible, hollow, dead sound from the back of her throat which is just horrid, and really adds to the tension and atmosphere. I have heard some people describe it as a very long, drawn-out burp (!) but I hated the sound of it, I just wanted to stick my fingers in my ears whenever it came on!
The Grudge has been criticised for copying The Ring, mainly between the similarity between Samara/Sadako and Kayako, but the long haired female ghost seeking revenge is actually a Japanese legend, so The Grudge isn't really copying The Ring at all! I have seen both films and I will say that The Ring is better. The Ring plays on your mind psychologically and the build up is much tenser and atmospheric, whereas The Grudge goes straight into jump-out-and-scare mode!
I am quite surprised at how people have described it as terrifying, petrifying, heart attack-inducing, etc, because it isn't as bad as The Ring, no way. It does have it's fair share of scares, and I do admit, some are original and do play on your mind slightly - but I don't see how anybody could find it so scary that they couldn't watch it any longer and walked out of the cinema!
It does keep your interest throughout and it is entertaining, but The Grudge can't really be described as a film - it's basically a bunch of scary scenes and jumpy moments strung together on a very thin storyline - it relies far too much on unexpected shocks to scare the viewers than the actual plot of the film. The film itself is short, only about an hour and a half - given another half hour to expand on the storyline and give a bit more depth to the characters, I think The Grudge could have been an excellent film. As it stands, it isn't!
I am quite interested in seeing the original Japanese version, called Ju-On, but as it is directed by the same person (the Japanese characters are played by the same people, in fact!), I don't really expect it to be much better!
SCARIEST SCENE...
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There is a scene where Susan is leaving work, going down a stairwell, and feels really scared, thinking she is being followed. Her mobile phone rings, and the Caller ID tells her it is her brother, Matthew, but when she answers, all it is is Kayako's dead croak. Feeling really freaked out, she finds the security guard to ask for his help. As he goes off to have a look, she watches the CCTV cameras... at first everything seems fine but the screen starts flickering and blurring, and Kayako slowly appears out of nowhere, and walks down the corridor in slow motion and comes right up close to the cameras, showing her evil eyes. This doesn't sound particularly scary but is extremely effective and it's terrifying!
CONCLUSION
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The Grudge is worth a watch, definitely - just don't expect any logic or reason from the storyline!
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katygriff - 19.07.05 I loved this film especially as my fave actor Jason Behr stars in it. He alone was worth sitting through it. Good review.
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