Ju-on: The Grudge (2002)

Ju-on or The Grudge - Take Your Pick, 30 December 2005

The plot (and almost everything else) of Ju-on is almost identical to that of the American remake, The Grudge. When one of the other social workers doesn't show-up for work, one of the newest workers goes to take his place. When the new social worker arrives at the house, she immediately realizes that something is not quite right. What she doesn't realize is that the house is possessed by spirits who will kill anyone they come into contact with.

Comparisons between the Japanese Ju-on and the American The Grudge are inevitable. Overall, I'm one of the seemingly few who enjoyed the American version more than the original Japanese version. Maybe it's just because I watched The Grudge first, but I really think it goes a little deeper than that. As I mentioned previously, the plots are almost identical so there's really no point in trying to pick a favorite.

Things I preferred about The Grudge - 1. Make-up - I found the more stylized make-up very effective. 2. Flow - As far as non-linear story's go, The Grudge is one of the best examples I've ever seen.

Things I preferred about Ju-on - 1. Simplicity - The lack of a lot of extraneous details makes for a tighter movie. 2. Cast - The fact that Sarah Michelle Gellar isn't in Ju-on is a big plus for me.

Overall, while I may have preferred the American remake, the two movies are actually very close in my mind as far as vehicles of entertainment go.

7/10