Ju-on: The Grudge

Name: Ju-on: The Grudge
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Released: July 23, 2004
Duration: 92 min
Rating: 48
Cast: Megumi Okina, Misa Uehara, Misaki Ito

2004

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 51 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 51 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Lions Gate Films | Release Date: July 23, 2004 | R

Starring: Megumi Okina, Misa Uehara, Misaki Ito

Summary: Director/screenwriter Shimizu Takashi spins the tale of a family that is brutally killed in their own home, leaving behind an evil spirit burning with hatred. When an unknowing homecare worker enters the house, the spirit is awakened and a terrifying chain of events begins, passing through all those who set foot within its walls. (LionsDirector/screenwriter Shimizu Takashi spins the tale of a family that is brutally killed in their own home, leaving behind an evil spirit burning with hatred. When an unknowing homecare worker enters the house, the spirit is awakened and a terrifying chain of events begins, passing through all those who set foot within its walls. (Lions Gate Films)… Expand

Director: Takashi Shimizu

Genre(s): Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 92 min

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Critic Reviews

Marc Savlov

Shimuzu sees darkened staircases and hears the rustle of dead autumn leaves and reacts as if from the devil’s own haiku. And his dread is catching. Read full review

Sean Axmaker

For all of its weakness, Ju-On: The Grudge is creepy and unnerving, qualities in short supply in gore-filled American horror films. Read full review

Wesley Morris

Gets on your nerves. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Divided into chapters, the film jumps around in time, which means that we get to observe Shimizu's utter failure to develop his characters from endless narrative angles. Read full review

Derek Elley

A haunted-house one-trick pony. Read full review

Dave Kehr

Because there is a new hero to identify with every 10 minutes, the viewer isn't drawn into a sustained suspense, but is merely subjected to a series of more or less foreseeable shocks. Read full review

Jonathan Curiel

Bluntly speaking, Ju-On is anything but frightening. Ridiculous. Unbelievable. Unintentionally funny. It might as well be a parody of a horror film. Read full review

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User Reviews

tubeyou

Aug 29, 2020

True masterpiece and my personal favorite. There is something very unique about the way this movie makes you scared. A lot of people say that the story is bad , the characters are bad... But for this movie the story is completely irrelevant , it only serves as a decoration. One thing thisTrue masterpiece and my personal favorite. There is something very unique about the way this movie makes you scared. A lot of people say that the story is bad , the characters are bad... But for this movie the story is completely irrelevant , it only serves as a decoration. One thing this movie is good at is scaring the **** out of you... I have watched it probably at least 20 times and it works everytime. Never gets old.… Expand

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JohnE.

Oct 9, 2006

Totally unlike any normal horror film, this will stay with you long after you have watched it. Some very creepy images along with creepy minimal music. A must for any genuine horror fan.

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AndieV.

Jul 2, 2007

this movie scared the shit out of me! for those people who said it was boring: "do you see dead corpses everyday and is use to it or something?" anyways, i had night mares for 2 weeks after seeing this.

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ThomasJ

Feb 13, 2011

Ju-On, during a first viewing, can seem a bit puzzling as to what is precisely going on. However, persevere with this chilling film. Though I personally find Ringu (The Ring) to be an overall better movie, this film keeps the spine-chill factor at a constant high, in comparison to The Ring'sJu-On, during a first viewing, can seem a bit puzzling as to what is precisely going on. However, persevere with this chilling film. Though I personally find Ringu (The Ring) to be an overall better movie, this film keeps the spine-chill factor at a constant high, in comparison to The Ring's ebb and flow. Even some of the scenes which occur in broad daylight (particular the balcony and the new home owner) ooze creepiness. Yes, it's true, the acting can be a bit shoddy, but any lingering doubts on acting methods will soon dissipate when the scares arrive and you can be sure they'll be coming thick and fast. Considering the low-budget nature of the film - for the most part, make-up is about as advanced as it gets - I was amazed at the terrifying nature of the film. This is genuine horror. No sharp gloves or chainsaws here, just a brilliant array of scenes that encourages your mind to interpret, and largely generate, the scares.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLau

Sep 27, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Some of the ideas from the TV film made into a feature as more people get killed for going into the cursed house or being related to somebody who went in.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Ven-Wede

Feb 7, 2012

To a Japanese audience, Ju-on may very well be regarded as a generic horror film. But, show it to people that are unaccustomed to and uneducated on the vast cultural differences of its home country, and you will instantly be able to affect them in a way that you couldn't within your ownTo a Japanese audience, Ju-on may very well be regarded as a generic horror film. But, show it to people that are unaccustomed to and uneducated on the vast cultural differences of its home country, and you will instantly be able to affect them in a way that you couldn't within your own borders. The movie's very 'foreignness' is one of its biggest assets, aiding Westerners in feeling as if they are witnessing horrifying events, rather than being the subject of them. The plot is probably unnecessarily convoluted for what the story is, but all of the cryptic symbolism and subtle spiritual questioning inject the film with a purpose beyond the initial aim of scaring. Sound effects, editing, camera placement and direction are all at a superb level, adding up to something that an English-language remake could never have translated fully.… Expand

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horcrux2007

Jun 9, 2015

The last time I watched this movie was 2 years ago on a car ride home from vacation, so I really don't remember anything from this other than maybe one scene. Ju-on is told in a non-linear narrative, and it centers on a cursed house caused by the murder of a woman, Kayako, and her son by theThe last time I watched this movie was 2 years ago on a car ride home from vacation, so I really don't remember anything from this other than maybe one scene. Ju-on is told in a non-linear narrative, and it centers on a cursed house caused by the murder of a woman, Kayako, and her son by the husband. Whoever enters the house is doomed to suffer the same way that Kayako suffered. The film is told over the course of a few years in six separate segments, each involving a different character. Much like an anthology film, Ju-on is rather uneven, but it is much more consistent than most movies told in this format. Much of the scares in the film come from quick, subtle images rather than in-your-face jump scares like the remake. It also has a dark and even depressing atmosphere that makes practically anything in Ju-on scary, from dark hallways to shadows of ghosts. This also does a great job at making the haunted house feel extremely tight and isolated from the rest of the world; even though it's in the middle of a neighborhood, it feels miles away from civilization. If I have anything bad to say about this movie, it's that there are some stretches of time that feel underwhelming and even a little dull. Those moments are few and far between, however. If you're a fan of more subtle horror, you should really enjoy Ju-on.… Expand

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