Spooktober! Series Overview: The Story of Ju-On/The Grudge, Its' Rise And Fall

(If you see her, it's too late!)

So, as you may have noticed before, I have only been doing icons from before the 2000's so far, so today I decided it was necessary to make an article about a more recent icon. Today's article is about a film series from Japan called Ju-On (The Grudge here in the states), and its sometimes rocky history as one of Japan's most popular horror film franchises. Indeed, I would say Ju-On is on par with the popularity of other giants like Jason or Freddy here in the states, overseas Kayako and company are the cream of the crop of horror iconography. At least, at one point they were, though I think by now they are taken a little less seriously as horror icons and more as a sign of studio interference. I think in order to really speak to the legacy of what made these films so iconic and what made them so well received in Japan we have to go back to the very first film. What many people may not know is the first film was not actually known as The Grudge, it was called Ju-On: The Curse, and was a very low budget film released direct to Japan's home video market. Being that it was low budget, it didn't have quite the pull or power that the later films had. However, in Japan, a lot of artists actually start their careers in the direct to video market (known as v-cinema there), and so the legacy of Ju-On is born. This film is responsible for setting the story and canon that is used in every subsequent film, though the events that transpire change.

(I'll be honest, this is still an effective horror scene)

So, where did they go after Ju-On The Curse you may be asking yourself? Why, Ju-On The Curse 2 of course. Another direct to video film, just like the first one. This is the film that set up a lot of the story for later entries in the series, the first film introduces the mythology, and this one expands on it while also recapping a bit of the original. It's sort of the jumping point for the first theatrical film, if you skip the first one and just watch this, you'll probably actually be okay. I'll admit I've only seen the first Ju-On The Curse entry myself however, it was pretty well done but I couldn't find The Curse 2 anywhere to watch. Anyway, the first film sets up the mythology, this one builds it up to a boiling point, and the first theatrical film is the one everyone knows and loves. These two V-cinema classics were released in 2000, both of them, and then in 2002 Takashi Shimizu directed and released Ju-On: The Grudge to Japanese cinemas, with a limited run here in the states as well from Lionsgate. It was then that the franchise we know and (some of us) still love today was truly born. I know, some people will probably say that you can't discredit the direct to DVD series' that built the mythology, but it's not until the theatrical film released that people around the world began to hear about Kayako and her family. Since this was the first film in the franchise to be released in the states and other markets outside of Europe and Asia, it gained a lot more popularity and plays a major part in the popularity of the franchise not only in Japan, but in the United States as well. Ju-On: The Grudge got the attention of Hollywood as well, because nothing that gains traction can remain unnoticed by their studio system. But I'll speak more on that later, because I'm not done discussing Ju-On. Ju-On established all the story elements that every Grudge film more or less follows to some extent, Kayako Saeki was murdered by her husband in a fit of jealous rage over her secret love, the husband then kills their child's cat by drowning it, then drowns the son, then he offs himself after putting his wife in a plastic bag in the attic. That's the basic story behind Ju-On, and every film since this one has followed that explanation for the titular curse that has a grasp on the Saeki household. In Japan, it is common belief that if someone dies of an awful death such as murder, they will forever be bound to the place of their death to curse anyone who dares enter their early grave. This is the basis for basically every film in the franchise, and it all gets set up perfectly in Ju-on: The Grudge. Of course, there isn't just the first film, there's a whole cavalcade of sequels as well. 

(I suggest you don't look up when you're in the Saeki house.)

Ju-On: The Grudge 2 was released shortly after the first entry in the franchise hit cinema's and captured movie goers hearts and minds. It's a pretty good sequel as far as story goes, and overall feeling of the film. It follows a very similar story as the first film, and doesn't do much to add to the mythology of the series, but it's still a solid entry into the franchise and probably the only sequel I'd even really consider good. It used to give me nightmares as a child, and it still gives me chills to this day when I watch it. It's definitely, to me, the scarier of the first two entries in the franchise due to some of the more deadly kills that are seen in it. A lot of them don't take place in the titular home, like in the first film. Her curse brings people down in their cars, in their apartments, and even in a makeup/wig department of a studio. It seems like it has more and more power with every entry really, this film was just a stepping point for something far beyond our comprehension in the future. Something far more sinister lurking upon the horizon, like a crimson sunset in a bloody skyline. That dark beast known only as: Franchise Fatigue. But, that didn't come as swiftly to this franchise as some other horror films. There was a period between sequels in Japan, since the director of the Japanese films decided to direct the American adaptation of Ju-On, simply titled The Grudge (makes sense right), which starred Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jason Behr. The Grudge was a huge success here in the states, making a ton of money for Ghost House Pictures (Sam Raimi's production label), and launching the series into true super stardom status here in the states. I believe this is the point when here in the US people actually started to look into the original films behind this remake. This is also the point when they were released more widely here in the states, with subtitling and all that. In a lot of ways the US version of The Grudge was a turning point for the franchise. Was it for better or for worse? I think that's up to interpretation, but I'm going to tell you my opinion of it nonetheless, I think it was for the worse. Because it is at this point where the series begins to unravel, and start to suffer from some horrible franchise fatigue. 

(Yes, I get it, he makes cat noises, please stop.)

The Grudge was a success, so naturally The Grudge 2 was released here in the states. Following its own storyline, not related in really any way to Ju-On 2, it was only mildly well received, and wasn't nearly the success that the first film was in terms of monetary gain. Of course, in the states when a sequel doesn't do well, it doesn't mean the end of the series as a whole. The Grudge series took about 3 years off before coming back with an awful direct to DVD sequel titled The Grudge 3. Now, you're probably asking yourself, wait a minute, they released a direct to DVD sequel? I've not met many people who heard about it, cared about it, or have even really seen it. I've seen it, it was pretty awful and has very little to do with anything in the first two films, or any of the Japanese films. It seems to just exist in its own little bubble timeline that has no connection to any prior entries in the franchise. They released this film in 2009 to middling reviews and haven't released a sequel since then here in the states, all but sealing the fate of the franchise in the US it seems. It didn't help that neither the actor who played Toshio or the actress who played Kayako agreed to return to shoot this film. That probably hurt its chances more than anything else in the production, given their respective legacies as the films actor/actress combo in both the Japanese films and American ones. But really, it's the fact that the second film was only okay, and the American population probably just didn't want or ask for a third one. For now, the franchise rests dormant here in the states, waiting to come back and haunt us with a reboot probably, or a sequel 15 years in the making that no one will have asked for. However, in the same year of 2009 Kadokawa pictures released two Ju-On films as well, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the series in Japan. 10 years of spooking cinema goers is no small feat, so it makes sense for them to want to celebrate. Takashi Shimizu executive produced the two films, titled White Ghost and Black Ghost, both of which followed different stories from the prior entries. I've never personally seen these films, because at this point I was kind of disinterested in seeing them after the disappointment I felt for The Grudge 3, it completely put me off of the series. So I'm relying on information I've gathered on them over the years of reading about this series. Nonetheless, these films were released the same year as The Grudge 3, however they were not direct sequels of any kind to the Ju-On franchise. 

(On the left, weighing in at 120 lbs is the White Ghost, and on the right weighing in at only 90 pounds, Black Ghost! LET'S GET READY TO RUUUMBLE!!)

The story of Black Ghost revolves around a young schoolgirl named Fukie who finds out that the spirit of her unborn twin has become a grudge within her. Originally they believe to be a cyst but find out the much more sinister trappings of it. Of course, this has absolutely nothing to do with the original film's canon, but exists as a sort of side story about another kind of Grudge, which is what this franchise is truly all about right? That's all fine and good, as long as it adds to the world of the series it's a good thing. White Ghost follows another tale of a Grudge, and appears to be a sequel of sorts to Black Ghost, taking place in the same house where those murders took place. A whole new chain of events takes place, with the central plot-line revolving around a young schoolboy named Atsushi who becomes possessed by a spirit within the house through a mirror. He begins to sexually abuse his young niece, and then eventually murders his whole family. His final recording is found in the forest next to his nieces decapitated head and the chain of events transpires from that cassette. You'll notice that both of these tales get away from the central theme that Grudges can only take hold of a house, and that anyone who enters that house will be cursed. In both cases, the curse stems from something else entirely. In White Ghost it stems from Atsushi's cassette, and in Black Ghost it's an unborn twin that causes everyone an untimely death. They don't rely on the old trappings of the original films, and I think in a way I can respect that and would like to go back and watch them someday. But now, now it's time to hold on to your pants because this is where things turn south for the worst in the Ju-On franchise. Because now is when NBCUniversal Japan got involved and decided to reboot the Ju-On franchise. After the release of Black Ghost and White Ghost things were relatively quiet again for the franchise in Japan. But, for the 15th anniversary (which seems to be the only time these films get made), they decided to release a film titled Ju-On: The Beginning of the End. A fitting title really, because it truly is the beginning of the end for the franchise. 

(Even Kayako looks as though she's saying, STOP! No more films! Please end this!)

Now you're probably thinking, well, how is The Beginning of The End a literal title and not just a subtitle for a Ju-On film. I'll tell you how, because it's just a reboot. That's all that film serves a purpose as, a freakin' reboot. NBCUniversal Japan decided for the 15th anniversary they had to remind people of the events that took place in the Saeki household, but of course with a new backstory and a new canon for the franchise. The problem lies in the fact they are okay with simply rehashing the same scares and the same story in this entry. It changes very little about the original films, while also changing just enough to be a different film. It doesn't add very much to the formula of the original's, which in essence, is how most franchises die. It also appears to have taken on a more comedic tone, though I am not sure if that is intentional or if people are really just not scared by the protagonists from the original film anymore. In most the reviews I've read about this film people have said there were multiple scenes they laughed at, and in my opinion that is not usually the sign of a good supernatural horror film. But of course, that didn't stop them from making a sequel to this reboot, which got even less appreciation and even worse reviews. The sequel, titled Ju-On: The Final Curse, actually holds the lowest rating of any Ju-On entry on IMDb (a whopping 4.5/10). I feel it is necessary to point this out, mostly because I find it funny, but also because it shows fan interest in the franchise is also pretty dead at the moment. There are plenty of other examples of low ratings from other sites as well if IMDb isn't your cup of tea. No one is reviewing these films very highly, and most people who have give it a 6 or lower, or explain that they can't be taken very seriously. It seems as though the Ju-On franchise has reached a very stale point, where the formula is simply getting old with viewers. We've seen all there is to see of Kayako, Toshio, and all the other Saeki family. Really they didn't need to show anything more from them beyond Ju-On 2, which was a good finishing point for the series and didn't need to be messed with. It wrapped up the story pretty finitely, so why they thought it was a good idea to do a reboot, I'll never really understand. They say it was for the 15th anniversary, but I think they would have been better off releasing more unrelated side stories really. Though those weren't received very well either, so maybe truly the franchise would be better off left to die already. But of course, this isn't the end, and that wasn't truly the final entry in the franchise. The last film released in this franchise so far is the critically panned cheesefest Sadako vs Kayako. For those of you not in the know, Sadako is the star of another popular J Horror franchise, Ringu (The Ring in the states), so it's basically the equivalent of a Freddy vs. Jason scenario (which I just wrote a retrospective on recently if you haven't checked it out). That's right, they took two of Japans biggest ghosties and put them on the big screen in the same film, sort of. 

(Better title would have been Sadako vs Kayako at The Last Chance Possible)

Alright, now we have arrived at the crux of atrociousness, a film that leaves a vile taste in any fan of this franchises mouth. The smell of this film would drive men and women alike to vomit immediately, and seeing it could drive any sane human being into the depths of madness. Oh, wait, that's the premise of Ringu basically. Wait a minute, that's the premise of this film too? Of course it is, because repetition has worked so well in the past. So, I've actually had the distinct displeasure of viewing this film at one point not too long ago. Not long after it released I watched it on the horror service Shudder, and boy oh boy was it a travesty. As previously stated it centers around the cursed tape of the titular Sadako, which is purchased by some students at a ratty old video store after sitting there for who knows how long. They buy it with the intention to burn a wedding to a DVD using it, however when they return home with it they find the cursed tape of course. Yada yada yada, one of the people watches the tape of course, blah blah blah, uploads it to the internet like a moron, tries to commit suicide, doesn't work. Tries to transfer the curse, doesn't work. They decide the best method is to make the spirit fight with another powerful spirit. One of them dies from Sadako before summoning the other spirit. About halfway through the film they finally show the Saeki house, and some unfortunate soul is bullied into going in there and then promptly dies (so do the bullies, ghosts are equal opportunity killers), someone else ventures in as well. The woman who had the ingenious idea to make the two spirits fight one another saves her at the last minute and decides to enact her plan. She watches the cursed tape inside the household and the ghosts of course begin to fight over her spirit, seeing that she's afflicted by both curses. However, she apparently didn't think the ghosts would come to a stalemate like they do, and of course logic dictates that if two ghosts fight until stalemate they merge into one entity. She didn't think of the consequences of her actions, just like the production company didn't think about the consequences of making this atrocious film. There is nothing you can take seriously about this film, the acting is atrocious, the story is equally awful. All you can do is laugh at it and go along for the wild ass ride that it takes you on. It's seriously just like Freddy Vs. Jason, two icons you never thought should have been together but they did it anyway. Kayako is barely in this film which is what most annoys me about it, she shows up very near the end and has very little bearing on the overall plot other than the ridiculous merging scene at the end. I can only assume they plan on making some awful crossover film now with that super ghost they made at the end, which by the way has a name: Sayako. How long will it be until they make a film called Sayako you ask? Probably not long to be quite honest. 

(You should have just stayed in that well and not subjected yourself to that torment.)

So, there you have it, a shortened and condensed history of Ju-on as a franchise both in the United States and in Japan. Where do I think they can go from here? Nowhere, absolutely nowhere. Anything they do at this point will not be taken seriously, not after Sadako vs. Kayako. I mean, they could reboot it again, but if they did that it better be about another grudge entirely with different kinds of scare scenes. Because one thing is for certain: Kayako and her family have run their course in the cinema world. I feel like they'll probably make Sayako a thing and that in itself is just ridiculous and over the top. I've chronicled a series here that went from the bottom rungs of Japanese video all the way to the top of the spectrum as a Hollywood reboot and franchise, and has had multiple sequels and spin offs in Japan. If there was any series that could be considered Japan's Nightmare on Elm Street/Halloween/Whatever Big Hollywood Horror Franchise, it's this one. It's been through all the growing pains of any big franchise, with the spin offs and reboots and off the wall crossovers that every franchise eventually gets dragged through. I will always remember this series for the simplicity of the first two films however, and their innate ability to scare and captivate audiences even on an extremely low budget. However you wanna slice it, it looks like Ju-On is probably still here to stay, for better or for worse, who can say?