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Well I'm willing to bet maybe a few members of our community have seen this film, because we have a pretty cultured group. But I guess it's all new to me, as I only recently became exposed to this particular legend. The circles in this country who do know about this film are small, because I hang out on A LOT of Movie Message Boards, and NO ONE has ever mentioned this film, except on aintitcoolnews.com.....
I have been a horror fan for 27 of my ?? years....I was brought up on the all-time greats, things like The Exorcist, Halloween, The Shining, Alien, Night Of The Living Dead, Suspiria.....Truly frigtening films that stood the test of time....I have also been really impressed with more modern films like The Ring (Ringu), Mothman Prophecies, The Entity, The Thing, etc.
But absolutely nothing in all my experience as a horror fan could have prepared me for a 153 minute Japanese TV Movie called Ju-on (Which is translated to "Curse" or "The Grudge" I believe).
The film was made by Shimizu Takashi, a Japanese Director and the film is obviously a Japanese film.
The plot is mainly centered on a house, and the different happenings to the different residents who have lived there. I don't want to go into too much detail here, because I want people to go and research this for themselves and get their own feel of the film, but I found a pretty good synopsis of the plot here.....
www.mandiapple.com/snowblood/juontv.htm
I really must preface this by saying I do NOT scare easily. I've seen nearly every major (and a lot of minor) horror movie known to man over the past 27 years, and I have pretty much seen it all. I've seen the best and the worst, and everything in between.
But nothing, I mean NOTHING has ever creeped me out, disturbed, and just plain scared me like this film did. NOTHING.
For many, many years I hailed The Exorcist, Halloween, and many of the classics we all grew up with as true barometers of fright.
After seeing Ju-On, I realize they were nothing more than light comedy.
If you are interested in checking it out, you can buy a copy on ebay, or you could hope by some miracle that you can find a copy to rent at your local video store.....Chances are it would have to be one that carries imports like this....If you asked at any of the evil Corporate Chains they would probably look at you like you were crazy.....
If by some small chance there are any of you who have already seen already seen this, this post is nothing more than preaching to a well-informed choir. But for those who haven't I urge you to pick up a copy of this and watch it.
You will be unsettled, creeped out, and if you are brave enough to make the mistake of watching this ALONE with the lights out like I did, you will never be the same.
I remember the big fuss we all had over The Ring last year (And rightfully so), but this thing makes The Ring seem like a Three's Company re-run.
It should also be noted that Shimizu Takashi has remade Ju-On 1 and 2 into theatrical releases.....Unfortunately we cannot see these in the states yet because they are not available on DVD with subtitled versions yet. If you'd like to get a taste of what you are in for with these films, you can view the trailers here.....
www.aintitcoolnews.com/display.cgi?id=15516
www.cine-tre.com/ju-on/trailor_l.html
WARNING: These trailers are VERY disturbing, and if you scare easily you might want to pass on them, because they WILL scare you right out of your skin. I showed the Ju-On 2 Trailer to my best friend earlier today. He was in the military, and he is the farthest thing from a fraidy cat, and when he saw the Ju-On 2 Trailer, he left the room an absolutely REFUSED to return and watch the first one. And this was 3 O'clock in the afternoon.
You Were Warned..... :)
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