Ju-On
The second film I saw this evening was Ju-On (The Grudge) which has to count as one of the most mind-numbingly terrifying cinematic experiences I�ve endured in a long time.
The film revolves around a haunted house and the repercussions of a violent death which we see in the opening sequence.
Rika, a care centre volunteer visits the home of one of the outpatients to check on her condition. Here she finds the house is a mess and the old is woman practically comatose. While cleaning the place up, she hears a noise upstairs and, on investigation, finds a boy in a wardrobe that has been tapes shut. Releasing the boy starts a chain of events, passing the Ju-On curse to everyone who comes into contact with the house.
The rest of the story is told as a series of non-linear, self-contained yet interconnected vignettes each of which expands the story and deepens the horror.
And with no relief, the tension is continually ratcheted up keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout. If only all horror films were half as good as this one.
And after watching Ju-On, I had to go home and walk the dog, through the woods, in the dark.
Saturday 12 Apr 2003 | Paul Pritchard | Horror, Quick Takes
