In horror films, spirits and ghosts are popular creatures used in hauntings and spook fests. Sometimes though, the incarnations featured in the US don’t come across unique or creepy. With that, every now and then international influence helps rejuvenate an industry. Movies are no different when it comes to the US as well. Which is why this film was made, when Sam Raimi saw the original movie released in Japan under the title Ju-On (2002). Usually when a story is adapted into a foreign market, there is a loss in translation due to cultural differences. That doesn’t seem to be the case here though, as this Americanized version of the film seems to be handled with just as much care.
Directed by Takashi Shimizu who also directed the original Japanese film, the story is about transfer student Doug (Jason Behr) and his girlfriend Karen (Sarah Michelle Gellar) who moved to Japan to receive caretaker credit. When an assigned caretaker doesn’t report into work for a specific residence, Karen fills in only to discover something isn’t right about the location of the house. Adapted by Stephen Susco in his first theatrical writing credit, the story is clearly disturbing in way that’ll keep its viewer watching with intrigue. The person who lives at the house is Emma (Grace Zabriskie), the mother of Matthew (William Mapother), Susan (KaDee Strickland) and mother in law to Matthew’s wife Jennifer (Clea DuVall). When Karen reveals to local police detective Nakagawa (Ryo Ishibashi) that she saw a creepy child named Toshio (Yuya Ozeki) is when the plot thickens.
Most of the characters depicted in this story are an interesting bunch. Sarah Michelle Gellar best known for her roles in Cruel Intentions (1999), Scooby-Doo (2002) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV Show, plays a likable lead even though she’s not totally the main focus. The reason for this is the slightly disjointed execution from director Shimizu. In order to explain why this residence has a lingering spirit, the movie takes its audience through a series of different flashbacks at different times. They are not hard to follow, but the moments at which they begin and end feels like they’re in the wrong place. Or at the very least could been shown at a different time in the story. Runner up to Gellar’s performance was Ishibashi’s role as detective Nakagawa. Rounding out the cast, the movie also has appearances from Bill Pullman, Rosa Blasi, Ted Raimi, Yôko Maki, and Takako Fuji.
What also makes the story to this horror film entertaining is the inclusion of Japanese mythology. Based loosely on the belief on how it occurs, the title of the film appropriately lends to the nature of the disgruntled antagonist. Perhaps the only other component to the film that won’t please in particular the gore hounds is the level of violence. It’s not much, but considering it’s a PG-13 rated film, that’s rare. Plus, the original Japanese version didn’t have any. Besides, ghostly apparition films are more psychological than they are gory. The effects are also very well put together despite its budget and year that it was made. Very little of it is CGI and the parts that actually show the spirit, look like stop-motion but are indeed the talent of the actor, which is very impressive to say the least.
Camerawork was also skillfully shot for this picture. Hideo Yamamoto served as the cinematographer. Yamamoto also worked on the original One Missed Call (2003), another popular Japanese horror film and a year later would do the same for Tetsujin 28 (2005). As for music, the score was composed by famed gothic composer Christopher Young. Although part of the sound heavily relies on dark brooding soundscapes, Young did compose two main themes which in their own right are memorable for the franchise. Considering Young also composed other great works like Hellraiser (1987) and Species (1995), it’s nice that director Shimizu chose him to provide the music for this film. Thankfully an album exists and has just the right amount of creep factor to it to entertain.
The way the story is told can feel out of place and gore may seem light to those who want it, but that’s not much compared to the entire experience. The plot which includes some Japanese culture is captivating, the visuals are good and the music is entertaining for the genre.
Points Earned --> 7:10
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