Back in 2004 the American public was once again exposed to a remake of a Japanese ghost story by the name of The Grudge.  This version starred Sarah Michelle Gellar and was a decent little flick which was mildly scary and perfectly appropriate for a mid to late teen slumber party.  A popcorn flick with a fairly linear narrative and while it was somewhat entertaining it wasn’t an overly challenging film.  When comparing it to the original it falls dramatically short though.  Ju On, as originally visualized in 2002, is a far more terrifying experience. I’m not one to always say the foreign version is better but in this case there is an undeniable truth to that statement.  The film is a subtle piece of horror perfection. 

Ju On is the story of a young social worker named Rika Nishina who is given the assignment to go and take care of a frail elderly woman in a house (seems like a townhouse) somewhere in Tokyo.  She arrives to find the woman soiled, disheveled and unresponsive.  After cleaning up her client and picking up the house she discovers a young boy hiding in the closet.  Who is this boy?  Where did he come from?  She also wonders where the family has gone who belongs to this old woman.  In a variety of flashback which play with our sense of reality we begin to learn the true nature of what has happened in this home.  As usual with Japanese horror the narrative does not unfold in a linear fashion but hopscotch’s through time.  Director Takashi Shimizu gives us a collection of experiences which become a chilling portrait of a story.

Takashi Shimizu has directed other films I have been equally impressed with such as the eerie Reincarnation as part of the After Dark festival.  When watching a Japanese horror film patience is definitely a virtue that is well rewarded.  In general, America is a culture of immediate gratification.  This is neither good or bad, its just who we are in a sense.  This shows in our film making most of the time.  Things build a little slower in JuOn than you’re average American horror movie.  There is a far more subtle element where you find yourself going “Did I just see that?”.  When somebody gets planted on a meat hook there isn’t much room for doubt.  Yet in this film there are many times where you see something in the background that lends a sense of eerie energy but its not obvious.  These elements play with your subconscious.  A great example is in the ending scene you can see the faint shape of a face in the black paint of the door. 

I thought the acting was very well done in this film.  It’s always a little different when you have a different language and culture.  Yet, I felt all the reactions and emotions of the cast was believable.  I applaud the fact you can get this movie with subtitles because you lose a lot in dubbing.  The production values were not high technology but were very effective.  The croaking sounds of the cursed apparitions, the haunting eyes of the little boy and the tense scenes are all effective.  There are moments that are comparable in American version although they are more obvious and sudden where as the Japanese version literally creeps up on you and leaves you with a approaching sense of dread versus a quick jump scare. 

If you have not seen the Japanese version of this film you must do so immediately.  It’s scary and wonderfully effective.  It’s not overly gruesome with only the opening scene being a little bloody.  So it’s a film you can enjoy getting your blood pumping but don’t have to traumatize yourself with extremely graphic violence.  JuOn is a film I could watch over and over and still get creeped out by.  It’s a brilliant film and deserves your time and attention.  I personally refuse to watch any of the American sequels until I’ve given the Japanese version their proper dues.  I feel the original would have had even more impact if I hadn’t seen the American version first. 

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older