The Grudge (2004)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Takashi Shimizu

Writers (WGA):

Stephen Susco (screenplay)
Takashi Shimizu (film "Ju-On: The Grudge")

Release Date:

22 October 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

It never forgives. It never forgets.

Plot:

An American nurse living and working in Tokyo is exposed to a mysterious supernatural curse, one that locks a person in a powerful rage before claiming their life and spreading to another victim.

Plot Keywords:

Curse | American | Japan | Nurse | Death

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Karen
Jason Behr	...	Doug
William Mapother	...	Matthew
Clea DuVall	...	Jennifer
KaDee Strickland	...	Susan
Grace Zabriskie	...	Emma
Bill Pullman	...	Peter
Rosa Blasi	...	Maria
Ted Raimi	...	Alex
Ryo Ishibashi	...	Nakagawa
Yoko Maki	...	Yoko
Yuya Ozeki	...	Toshio
Takako Fuji	...	Kayako
Takashi Matsuyama	...	Takeo
Hiroshi Matsunaga	...	Igarashi
Hajime Okayama	...	Suzuki
Yoshiyuki Morishita	...	Guard
Kazuyuki Tsumura	...	Peter's Co-Worker
Taigi Kobayashi	...	Policeman
Junko Koizumi	...	Mother
Nana Koizumi	...	Daughter
Yôichi Okamura	...	Restaurant Manager (as Yoichi Okamura)
Eiji Ôki	...	Morgue Detective (as Eiji Oki)
Katsuhiro Oyama	...	Morgue Doctor

Directed by
Takashi Shimizu

Writing credits (WGA)
Stephen Susco		(screenplay)
Takashi Shimizu		(film "Ju-On: The Grudge")

Produced by
Doug Davison	....	executive producer
Joseph Drake	....	executive producer (as Joe Drake)
Satoshi Fukushima	....	line producer
Aubrey Henderson	....	co-producer
Takashige Ichise	....	producer (as Taka Ichise)
Nathan Kahane	....	executive producer
Michael Kirk	....	co-producer
Roy Lee	....	executive producer
Carsten H.W. Lorenz	....	executive producer (as Carsten Lorenz)
Ray Quinlan	....	line producer (as Raymond Quinlan)
Sam Raimi	....	producer
Shintaro Shimosawa	....	co-producer
Robert G. Tapert	....	producer (as Rob Tapert)

Original Music by
Christopher Young

Cinematography by
Hideo Yamamoto

Film Editing by
Jeff Betancourt

Casting by
Nancy Nayor		(as Nancy Nayor Battino)
Kelly Wagner

Production Design by
Iwao Saito

Art Direction by
Kyôko Yauchi		(as Kyoko Yauchi)

Costume Design by
Shawn Holly Cookson

Makeup Department
Dianne Ensor	....	assistant makeup artist
Masaaki Fukuda	....	assistant special effects makeup
Akiko Kawano	....	assistant makeup artist
Veronica Lorenz	....	makeup artist: Sarah Michelle Gellar, U.S. reshoots
Yuuichi Matsui	....	special makeup effects artist (as Yuichi Matsui)
Fumihiro Miyoshi	....	assistant special effects makeup
Sachie Munemura	....	makeup artist
Jane O'Kane	....	makeup artist
Miyuki Yamaguchi	....	assistant special effects makeup
Keiko Wedding	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Ed Licht	....	production supervisor
Jack Schuster	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Masanori Adachi	....	first assistant director
Hiroshi Chono	....	first assistant director: additional photography
Chikara Higami	....	second assistant director
Makoto Meguro	....	third assistant director: additional photography
Toyohiro Miyata	....	third assistant director
Jun Shiozaki	....	third assistant director
Takeo Sugawara	....	second assistant director: addditional photography
Amy Wilkins	....	second assistant director

Sound Department
Steven J. Berger	....	assistant sound
Gloria D'Alessandro	....	dialogue editor
Michael J. Fox	....	adr mixer
Richard C. Franklin	....	sound effects editor (as Rick Franklin)
Marti D. Humphrey	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris M. Jacobson	....	sound re-recording mixer: director's cut
Ryan Juggler	....	adr editor
Ai-Ling Lee	....	sound effects editor
Howard London	....	adr mixer
Darrin Mann	....	foley mixer
Paul N.J. Ottosson	....	sound designer
Paul N.J. Ottosson	....	supervising sound editor
Carin Rogers	....	supervising adr editor
Carin Rogers	....	supervising dialogue editor
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
Sean Rowe	....	foley artist
Kelly Vandever	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Shûichi Kishiura	....	special effects supervisor
Yoshitaka Makigi	....	special effects assistant
Atsuko Murata	....	special effects assistant
Keiichi Nishioka	....	special effects assistant

Visual Effects by
Jonathan Block	....	title animation
Francisco Chaigneau	....	digital effects artist
Toyokazu Hashimoto	....	3D artist: Big X
Andrew Heimbold	....	animator: Reality Check Studios
Steven Heimbold	....	animator: Reality Check Studios
Nobuya Ishida	....	2D artist: Big X
Kory Jones	....	visual effects supervisor: Reality Check Studios
Aaron Kaminar	....	lead animator: Reality Check Studios
Danny Martinez	....	visual effects producer: Reality Check Studios
Hajime Matsumoto	....	digital visual effects supervisor: Big X
Josh Novak	....	lead compositor: main title sequence
Tomoya Ohhata	....	2D artist: Big X
Shigenori Ohno	....	3D artist: Big X
Masaki Sasae	....	2D artist: Big X
Nobuaki Sugiki	....	assistant digital visual effects supervisor: Big X
Yoshiko Takekuma	....	3D artist: Big X
Takeshi Yamaguchi	....	compositor
Naoyasu Yutaka	....	assistant digital visual effects supervisor: Big X

Stunts
Jennifer M. Barr	....	stunt stand-in
Shunsuke Gondo	....	stunt double
Kaori Ichijô	....	stunt double
Hideo Saito	....	stunt coordinator
Nobu Sakashita	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Lukas Ettlin	....	additional cinematographer
Noriyuki Mizuguchi	....	director of photography: additional photography
Takashi Seida	....	still photographer

Casting Department
David Bernad	....	casting assistant
Jennifer Rudolph	....	casting: New York

Editorial Department
Joe Fineman	....	post-production consultant
Yoshie Ishiguro	....	first assistant editor
Mato	....	color timer
Kevin Soares	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Max Blomgren	....	synthesizer programmer
Robert Fernandez	....	recording engineer
Robert Fernandez	....	scoring mixer
Simon James	....	music contractor
Sean McMahon	....	orchestrator
Thomas Milano	....	music editor
Sujin Nam	....	orchestrator
Sujin Nam	....	score coordinator
Jonathan Price	....	synthesizer programmer
Robert Puff	....	music preparation
David G. Russell	....	synthesizer programmer (as David Russell)
Martin St. Pierre	....	orchestrator
Martin St. Pierre	....	score coordinator (as Martin St.Pierre)
Brian Valentino	....	assistant recording engineer
Gordon Wimpress	....	score coordinator
Selena Arizanovic	....	music assistant (uncredited)
Scott Glasgow	....	score coordinator (uncredited)
Sean McMahon	....	score coordinator (uncredited)
Flavio Motalla	....	score producer (uncredited)
Michael Pelavin	....	score coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Tobin Adams	....	production coordinator
Jennifer M. Barr	....	stand-in: Sara Michelle Geller
Sue Binder	....	assistant: Mr. Tapert
Max Blomgren	....	synthesizer programmer
Jennifer Y. Craig	....	production assistant
Miyuki Dawson	....	assistant: Mr. Shimizu
Tom Fish	....	body double: Jason Behr
Jessica Franks	....	production assistant: re-shoots
Joey Cruz Manalang	....	cast liaison
Matthew Milam	....	assistant: Mr. Kahane
Tomoko Miyachi	....	production coordinator
Harue Miyake	....	assistant: Mr. Fukushima
Maureen Mottram	....	production accountant
Sean Muramatsu	....	dialogue coach
Atsushi Naito	....	legal service
Kazumi Nakamura	....	adr voice
Natsuko Nezu	....	production accountant
David Pollison	....	office assistant: Renaissance Pictures
Jonathan Price	....	synthesizer programmer
Patricia Rivera	....	assistant: Mr. Drake
Miyuki Sakaitani	....	production coordinator: Japan
Akiko Shima	....	adr voice
Kazuko Shingyoku	....	production coordinator: Japan
Kazuko Shingyoku	....	script supervisor: additional photography
Hiroko Stanhope	....	assistant: Mr. Ichise
Cid Swank	....	unit publicist
Hiroki Taniguchi	....	production assistant
Kathleen Thomas	....	script supervisor
Dina Valenzuela	....	production accountant
Irene Yeung	....	assistant: Mr. Lee and Mr. Davison
J.R. Young	....	assistant: Mr. Raimi

Thanks
Brendan Garst	....	special thanks
Nathan L. Smith	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Senator International
• Ghost House Pictures
• Vertigo Entertainment
• Renaissance Pictures
• Fellah Pictures

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2004) (USA) (all media)
• Senator International (2004) (non-USA) (all media) (sales)
• Columbia Pictures (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• 01 Distribuzione (2004) (Italy) (all media)
• AQS (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Bioscop (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Italia (2004) (Italy) (all media)
• Constantin Film (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2005) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Europa Filmes (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Europa Filmes (2005) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Golden Village (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Herald Film Company (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Highlight Film (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Independent Films (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• LNK Audiovisuais (2005) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Medyavizyon (2004) (Turkey) (all media)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Nordisk Film (2005) (Sweden) (all media)
• Nu Metro Productions (200?) (South Africa) (theatrical)
• Panasia Films (2004) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Pioneer Films (2004) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Sam Film (2004) (Iceland) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Tien (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Ireland) (theatrical)
• Village Roadshow Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Big X (digital visual effects)
• Reality Check Studios (additional visual effects)
• Pacific Title (opticals)
• Big X
• Reality Check Studios

Other Companies

• Bastyr University Chapel  music recorded at
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color and prints
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Imagica  film lab
• JR Media Services  negative cutting
• Monkeyland Audio  re-recording mixing
• NAC Image Technology  camera equipment supplied by
• Nihon Shomei Co.  lighting equipment supplied by
• Northwest Sinfonia  music performed by
• OS Productions  thanks
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Picture Mill, The  main and end titles designed by (as The Picture Mill)
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Robert Puff Music  music preparation
• Senator International  financing
• Sony Pictures Studios  adr recorded at
• Toho Studios  thanks
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack published by

Also Known As:

Der Fluch (Germany)
The Juon (Japan)
Untitled 'Ju-on: The Grudge' Remake (USA) (working title)
El grito (Argentina) (Spain) [es]
Проклятие (Russia) [ru]
Garez (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Ha-Tina (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
I katara (Greece) [el]
Kauna (Finland) [fi]
La maldición (Venezuela) [es]
O Grito (Brazil) [pt]
The Grudge - A Maldição (Portugal) [pt]
Vimm (Estonia) [et]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, disturbing images/terror/violence, and some sensuality.

Runtime:

92 min | South Korea:97 min (uncut version) | Japan:98 min

Country:

USA | Japan | Germany

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:18SG | Iceland:16 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40750) | Sweden:15 | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:R16 | Japan:PG-12 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Czech Republic:15 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Ireland:15PG (original rating) | Ireland:15 (video rating) | Italy:T | Norway:15 | Philippines:R-13 | Poland:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | UK:15 | USA:Unrated (DVD rating) | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan

Company:

Senator International

Trivia:

The open-mouth gasping sound of the ghosts is made by director Takashi Shimizu.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Karen enters the house for the first time, it is clear that she doesn't remove her shoes, yet when Emma grabs at her ankle a couple of seconds later, her shoes are suddenly off.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Maria: Good morning. Peter? Are you OK? You're up early today.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Unborn (2009)

Creepier than having someone stare at you in a bathroom stall!

According to The Grudge, there's a Japanese belief that when someone dies in a powerful grip of rage, then a curse is left behind. It's a "stain" that forever becomes a part of the place where the death occurred, and it will kill everything it touches. All I can say is if that were true then the movie-going public better hope I never die in a theater. The audience at this movie was probably the most obnoxious crowd I've ever had the displeasure of watching a movie with. Talk about being in a powerful grip of rage. More on that later.

Jump scenes rule the day here. That's right, this baby is stocked with jump scenes! If you're having a hard time deciphering my complicated terminology, then let me explain that a "jump scene" is one in which something startling happens to catch you off guard and makes you jump in your seat. Some people think jump scenes are cheap ploys to get a scare from the audience, but they're really well done in this movie. And they're manufactured frequently and shrewdly enough to keep you in a constant state of unease.

Unfortunately, when most moviegoers get scared they like to scream and then laugh and talk about it for 2 minutes afterwards. If you're gonna scream then scream. But then SHUT UP and WATCH THE MOVIE! This ain't a comedy and it certainly isn't a coffeehouse, so quit killin' my atmosphere.

Some of you might be a little agitated to know that The Grudge does follow some clichéd horror movie conventions, such as a character investigating a creepy noise in a dark attic with only a cigarette lighter to illuminate the way. And of course, one character has to slowly follow a strange figure that shouldn't be there in the first place. But it's forgivable. Keep in mind, characters aren't necessarily supposed to know they're in a horror movie. I'm sure we've all explored strange noises before, except rather than a horrific, disfigured ghost producing the noise, in real life the sound is usually coming from Uncle Larry's bathroom excursion. Never underestimate the horror of a night out at the Taco Bell.

Comparisons to The Ring are inevitable, so I'll just say that I personally feel The Grudge is the creepier of the two. This is a movie that's heavy on atmosphere and freaky imagery. The Japanese ghosts creeped me out even more than the time I caught some pervert staring at me in the men's bathroom stall back in my college days. Lucky for him, he took off before I had a chance to demonstrate what happens when a person is caught in a powerful grip of rage.

But The Ring has the better story and a much better ending. The Grudge does a great job of keeping you guessing. You never really know where it's going, and since the story isn't linear you really have to pay attention. I know a lot of you have the attention span of a goldfish (about 9 seconds, you just learned something today, thank me later), so this may be problematic. I think it works fairly well, but one of my complaints is that near the end everything is wrapped up and explained rather quickly.

As a result, I wish the movie had been longer. A longer running time could've produced more in-depth character development, a more clever way to explain what was going on, and maybe even a better ending. And there's my biggest complaint. Why do so many horror movies feel the need to use the I Know What You Did Last Summer-esque "look, there's gonna be a sequel" ending? Come on, how about some closure? It's similar to if you're waiting for me to close out my review in a witty and funny fashion, but instead, for some reason I just decide to end the review in mid sent...

THE GIST

If you're looking for some Halloween entertainment, then The Grudge will give you some good jumps and surround you with creepy imagery. But I strongly recommend that you see it at a time when there won't be a big crowd because I know I would've enjoyed the movie a lot more had I not been surrounded by a lot of stand-up comedians who felt the need to crack jokes at the most tense and inopportune times. Folks, this is a horror movie. Tension and atmosphere are a big part of it, so please keep your laughing and talking to a minimum. I look forward to watching the DVD in peace and quiet one day where the only idiots I'll possibly be surrounded by will be friends and family.

Rating: 3.75 (out of 5)