In truth, any opportunity to see the film on the big screen is welcome.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

I must say despite all of it's shortcomings in terms of character development and pacing (Jesus Christ it should have ended at about the fifth segment!!!!) Takashi Shimizu's "Ju-On" remains one of the most startlingly unconventional horror films I've ever seen, even by ridiculous Japanese standards. Its baroque high concept fantasy elements are surreal and outlandish no doubt, but writer/director Takashi Shimizu chooses to ground all this with some of the most flat and restrained direction and cinematography in any genre. The movie looks like it could have been shot on some teenage kid's digital video camera (and given the budget it might very well have been). There's no "movie bullshit": everything that happens just more or less happens. It goes a long way for selling these fantastic happenings as real life to the audience. The music score is fantastic, choosing to go for haunting mournful tunes instead of standard Psycho-inspired hijinks. And of course the sound design is responsible for at least 25% of the scares (cue the famous throat rattle...) And then there's the ending: I wouldn't call it a "twist ending" because the film doesn't spend much of its time trying to pull the wool over your eyes and the ending doesn't dramatically reshape your understanding of the story up til that point; but it is indeed a clever surprise! Very much in the great Lovecraft tradition: spinning a yarn til its end and then throwing in that nice extra surprise at the last moment! (Shimuzu's Lovecraft influences are on display even more prominently in his later and much better film "Marebito"). All this is fantastic, but Ju-On fails on one key level and that is pacing. The film drags horribly in between spook scenes. The film slaves to its gimmick of introducing a new main character every ten minutes. The idea starts out novel but grinds on well past its worth. Instead of roughly ten sequences at roughly ten minutes each, five sequences at twenty would have been far more effective. Only a few of the perspective changes are essential to telling the story and having to pick up the pieces every ten minutes as to where we are in the plot is distracting. Also this would have allowed for more character development, instead of a barrage of exposition as to who the new victim is. Again, this is obviously Lovecraft influence, but it's very uncinematic. The acting is pretty standard: no one stands out which is kind of appropriate since its a revolving cast of characters. Overall, a flawed but worthwhile effort and a must for any horror fan.

I feel like this movie had so much going for it, yet failed due to a lack of drive. The ghosts in this movie are very chilling and some of the scenes are filled with great suspense, but the lackluster plot unfortunately did not captivate me. It almost seemed as though I watched a few 10 minute films rather than a movie. What I found also disappointing were the lack of ingenuity past the first showing of the ghosts. The main spirit with the notorious vocal fry must have came down the stairs the same exact way 3 times, while the little boy simply hides in corners to make you jump. Don't get me wrong, it's scary...for the first few times. By the second half it starts to get old, along with the lack of plot driving it in any direction. It simply doesn't evolve in any substantial way. I really tried to enjoy this movie, however it was a letdown for me.

The American version was good to me. I believe the Ring to be overrated compared to this. Let me state if you have not seen any version yet and are wondering if you will get into this.First off, watch this movie alone in a dark room. If you can have surround sound. The atmosphere created here is amazing. While a lot of Japanese horror movies have the "Black Haired Girl", this one is original to me. The atmosphere is the creepiest thing in this movie. Also if you know Kayacko(sorry can't spell it) story, you can't help but feel bad for her. You will like this movie if you go in with an open mind and like supernatural horror.You will not like this movie if you are more of an American Horror buff. I love American horror. But on theme I have seen among people who don't like this series is they prefer serial killers and such. Nothing wrong with that and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.Overall as long as you like supernatural horror and have an open mind, this ranks as my favorite ghost movie. Quick side note, Ju-On The Curse is the original that aired on TV. This is the movie he made following the TV airing. I recommend this one first then watch the first version. Also the second Ju-On does something most horror movies don't; It is improved and the ending is SICK. Enjoy and watch.

In Japan, when the volunteer social assistant Rika Nishina is assigned to visit a family, she is cursed and chased by two revengeful fiends: Kayako, a woman brutally murdered by her husband and her son Toshio. Each person that lives or visits the haunted house is murdered or disappears.Creepy moments, but I wasn't surprised due to watching the remake first. The weird yelching, the noises, the atmosphere didn't feel the same to me. Not to mention the storyline gets confusing, going off course in the second half.Bottom line. People who have not the remake first will undoubtedly get more out of this, than me. If you want some scares though, pick it up6/10