Directed By: Takashi Shimizu
Written By: Stephen Susco
Based on the film JU-ON: THE GRUDGE by: Takashi Shimizu
Cinematography By: Katsumi Yanagijima
Editor: Jeff Betancourt
Cast: Amber Tamblyn, Arielle Kebbel, Jennifer Beals, Christopher Cousins, Teresa Palmer, Sarah Roemer, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Takako Fuji, Edison Chen, Misako Uno
In Pasadena, Mrs. Davis sends her daughter Aubrey Davis to Tokyo to bring her sister Karen Davis, who is interned in a hospital after surviving a fire, back to the USA. After their meeting, Karen dies and Aubrey decides to investigate what happened to her and gets herself trapped in the same situation, being chased by the ghost of the house. Meanwhile in Tokyo, the three high school mates Allison, Vanessa and Miyuki visit the famous haunted house and are also chased by the ghost. In Chicago, Trish moves to the apartment of her boyfriend Bill, who lives with his children, the teenager Lacey and boy Jake. On the next door, weird things happen with their neighbor.
Sony Pictures greenlit this sequel just three days after THE GRUDGE was released. Tht was how successful the first film was.
Director Takashi Shimizu went to Los Angeles to meet with producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi in a small office at Columbia Pictures. The purpose was to develop a story outline for the sequel's first draft, which also involved employees from Tapert and Raimi's production company Ghost House Pictures, producer Taka Ichise, and writer Stephen Susco. According to Tapert, the session was roughly seven or eight hours of people suggesting ideas for the story.
I have never watched any of the movies in the series nor any of THE RINGS movies or the foreign originals. Nor the American versions but know enough about them, their visuals and stories.To be somewhat up to date on them.
Deciding to Watch this on a whim as I really didn't desire to watch it and yet again watching another movie series. Not in the proper order. To this day I still have not seen the first film in this series. So please remember that as you read this
The film exemplifies What i tend not to like in ghost stories. As the films can deal with suspense but unless a mystery the pay off is usually weak. As it goes for scares that tend to feel useless. You Never quite are sure how the victims are killed by ghosts. As the ghosts seem more there to scare than kill. Maybe the scaring is part of the kill as if you can survive the shock they have probably left you to a have a grisly accident. Making it seem more like death itself was after them and they are cursed which this film seems to hand it's hat on.
The film Tries to make itself into a puzzle and by the end WANTS you to be shocked at how clever they are. Though it comes off dumb and easy. It is simply an editing device. That even if the film was sequenced regularly would have had the same impact. As here the filmmakers treat it like it's THE SIXTH SENSE at how they see their twist.
This film is Ok, for a starter HORROR film which is what would save it as this is More a film for novices to the genre or more mainstream cinematic fans. It's a film for kids and teens who might be fans of the genre. As it feels adult but really isn't.
As all the basics are here and so basic it is predictable. Everything is by the book. Anything that might have helped the film is absent like maybe some creative kills or violence. Even that looks so clean and non Descriptive. There is really no blood or suffering at least physically and really no characters. As all the actors play more a type than actual characters who we could care about. So that they are disposable and once dispatched we barely care or are left wondering who.
I can deal with a horror film being cruel but this feels like there is no real reason. Almost laughable but you can tell it is trying somewhat. Which makes it more frustrating when it fails. Which is through most of the film. Especially as most of the victims are female. As the film is filled with young female characters and they end up being nothing but victims and types. Schoolgirls that seem there more for some strange fetish of advertising meant for a male audience.
It's competently filmed but barely offers anything to really invest in even entertainment. You might Find yourself bored halfway through the film more than any other feeling. Other than maybe anger.
The first film omitted the subplot involving the three schoolgirls which was present in the original JU-ON: The Grudge. The subplot was resurrected for this film.
The film also left me wondering was it the grudge that made Jennifer Beals husband as abusive or was that him naturally letting his true colors show. As again you don't exactly feel bad with his punishment.
A rare feat for a horror franchise, Takashi Shimizu had directed every single film in the series including the Japanese originals until he was replaced in THE GRUDGE 3 by Toby Wilkins, he did however remain as producer.
The child who appears with the cat sounds I can see that working once or twice. It then Becomes annoying and too much almost laughable more than anything. it I feels like that is the films mascot or calling card. As I can understand it being there as a call back to the first film, but here cuts the tension by making the audience laugh more Than anything.
Though does offer the first time I have seen a girl urinate on herself with no clothes on except obscured by a well placed towel. Which sadly is one of the only things I remember from the film.
The film might come off as creepy but not for the reasons it wants itself to. One can't tell if it feels more like a straight to demand film because of the age of the film. With it's cliches doesn't seem strong enough to make it to a theater? Or is it really just the quality of the film?
Grade: F
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