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Saturday, December 06, 2003
Screamfest with Ju-on
By Jojie Alcantara
IN MY previously related issue on Asian horror flicks, I commented that we should credit the Japanese for coming out with real impressive chilling films with less of the blood, violence, sex and costly digital effects we are so used to.
The world, particularly Hollywood, is now sitting up and taking notice of unforgettable favorite series like The Ring and other less scary, but noteworthy films just the same (The Cure, The Eye, Kairo, Deep Waters, etc.). Even when we have not yet gotten over the spine-tingling effect Sadako has over us, another director came up with an equally hair-raising horror movie which is soon to sweep America.
In 2000, writer-director Takashi Shimizu was responsible for two "made for video" horror films, JU-ON and JU-ON II, which garnered a considerable following. In 2001, Shimizu decided a remake on the films for a theatrical release in 2002, resulting to JU-ON: THE GRUDGE. It opened in a single cinema, and garnered tremendous success, inevitably leading to comparisons with Hideo Nakata's RINGU (1998). The comparison prompted the quick-fire release of JU-ON: THE GRUDGE II (2003), which has been released recently in Japan, bringing the series up to four films in three years. It also looks like it's going to be the latest Japanese film to be bought up for an American remake (Sam Raimi is rumored to be involved).
As if that wasn't enough, two of the film's creative consultants are RING trilogy screenwriter Hiroshi Takahashi and the famous director Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Cure).
The movie opens with a text narrative: "JU-ON: a curse born of a grudge held by someone who dies in the grip of powerful anger. It gathers in the places frequented by that person in life, working its spell on those who come into contact with it and thus creating itself anew."
With such a creepy opening, you know somehow that something dreadful is about to happen. Soon, disturbing visual images in black and white introduces the history of a terrifyingly haunted house: a husband gone mentally deranged kills his family--a wife and son, including a black cat which plays a significant role throughout the film. This house becomes possessed by the disturbed spirits of the husband, wife and little boy. In years to come, all who enter the house find themselves haunted by inexplicable dread and materializing shadows, not to mention gray-colored spirits.
The film consists of six intertwining episodes, each named after the victims. The episodes, though not chronologically in sequence and are sometimes confusing as they jump back and forth in time, revolve around characters whose lives are intertwined in one way or another. The first and last episodes rest on the main character Rika Nishida who almost solves the frightening curse. Again, just like The Ring, it has its own creepy climax guaranteed to wring a scream out of you.
I had this horrorfest because for several days now, I am confined in my room with my nebulizer, since it is nearing Christmas and the pollens are at it again. My asthma gives me an excuse to lie back and watch films the whole day. But it didn't prepare me for the hoarse squeals I emitted when I watched Ju-on. I seriously wondered what the neighbors were thinking. The next day, I invited friends over and laughingly watched as they screamed their lungs out too.
Though not as dark as The Ring, Ju-on certainly has its own sinister, unforgettable scenes but apparently, the spirit world will never tire of Sadako-like specters. The only novelty is the constant appearance of that little child with the piercing stare named "Toshio". But honestly, I am more terrified of his dead mom who can turn up anywhere she wants... even in your bathroom, helping you shampoo your hair (shudder). Oh there's more, but I am not a spoiler.
In the same way that The Ring changed the way you view your television set afterwards, Ju-on will change your secure perception of HIDING UNDER A BLANKET. I swear, you will never feel safe from watching films like these again.
(more of the writer's articles in www.witerary.com; react to witty@info.com.ph)
(December 6, 2003 issue)
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