Advanced Search Beta »
Basic Search Fields
Ju-on: The Grudge
Metascore
48 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 22
  3. Negative: 4 out of 22
view
per page
  1. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    89
    Shimuzu sees darkened staircases and hears the rustle of dead autumn leaves and reacts as if from the devil's own haiku. And his dread is catching.
  2. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: M. E. Russell
    83
    Creepy, purposefully frustrating, nonlinear horror exercise from Japan that quietly burrows right into your skull.
  3. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Sean Axmaker
    75
    For all of its weakness, Ju-On: The Grudge is creepy and unnerving, qualities in short supply in gore-filled American horror films.
  4. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Stephen Hunter
    70
    Isn't particularly scary. No, it's much harder on you than mere fright: It's . . . creepy.
  5. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    63
    Gets on your nerves.
  6. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Liam Lacey
    63
    At least as perplexing as it is creepy, with a time-jumping narrative, a chain of barely connected characters and an enraged shape-shifting ghost.
  7. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Richard James Havis
    60
    Director Takashi Shimizu chooses cruel psychological suspense over gore and succeeds in spinning a minimal plot into a panorama of malice.
  8. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    60
    Shimizu generates a sense of palpable dread in each segment, expertly manipulating tried-and-true scare tactics supplemented by a truly inspired use of spooky sound effects.
  9. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Eric Campos
    60
    Basically, what you have in Ju-On is a collection of effectively scary sights and sounds - sound effects play a huge part in rolling that chill down your spine – and that's about it.
  10. Empire
    Reviewed by: Kim Newman
    60
    Still creepy, ooky, mysterious and spooky, but trying to follow the storylines is like sorting spaghetti.
  11. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Scott Tobias
    60
    Both too obvious and needlessly complicated, Ju-On juggles several non-chronological chapters based on different characters, ensuring that none of the corpses-to-be make much of an impression.
  12. New York Post
    Reviewed by: V.A. Musetto
    50
    The story is told in fractured time. This might not be a problem if his visuals were more fear-inducing.
  13. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    50
    Divided into chapters, the film jumps around in time, which means that we get to observe Shimizu's utter failure to develop his characters from endless narrative angles.
  14. Variety
    Reviewed by: Derek Elley
    50
    A haunted-house one-trick pony.
  15. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Dennis Lim
    40
    Ju-on never snaps into focus like a "Go" or a "Pulp Fiction," and what at first registers as sloppy plotting starts to seem positively diabolical.
  16. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Gregory Weinkauf
    40
    This trifle is better approached as a suburban haunted-house attraction thrown by enthusiastically confused teenagers. It's a little bit eerie, completely disjointed and sporadically amusing--kind of like "Lost in Translation," but with wanton slaughter. Do not expect more.
  17. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kevin Crust
    40
    The film's repetitious, episodic structure seems to unnecessarily alleviate the building tension, making it a far less frightening film than it might have been.
  18. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Dave Kehr
    40
    Because there is a new hero to identify with every 10 minutes, the viewer isn't drawn into a sustained suspense, but is merely subjected to a series of more or less foreseeable shocks.
  19. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ron Stringer
    30
    Occasionally scary, never coherent.
  20. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Michael O'Sullivan
    30
    It's creepy, all right. It's just that HOW it goes about creeping you out is sometimes just plain cheesy.
  21. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jami Bernard
    25
    Its shapelessness and the cultural differences in acting style will keep this version filed under "cult oddity."
  22. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Curiel
    25
    Bluntly speaking, Ju-On is anything but frightening. Ridiculous. Unbelievable. Unintentionally funny. It might as well be a parody of a horror film.
prev next
Page:
  • 1

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 14
  3. Negative: 2 out of 14
  1. Ven-Wede
    8
    To a Japanese audience, Ju-on may very well be regarded as a generic horror film. But, show it to people that are unaccustomed to and uneducated on the vast cultural differences of its home country, and you will instantly be able to affect them in a way that you couldn't within your own borders. The movie's very 'foreignness' is one of its biggest assets, aiding Westerners in feeling as if they are witnessing horrifying events, rather than being the subject of them. The plot is probably unnecessarily convoluted for what the story is, but all of the cryptic symbolism and subtle spiritual questioning inject the film with a purpose beyond the initial aim of scaring. Sound effects, editing, camera placement and direction are all at a superb level, adding up to something that an English-language remake could never have translated fully.… Full Review »
  2. ThomasJ
    8
    Ju-On, during a first viewing, can seem a bit puzzling as to what is precisely going on. However, persevere with this chilling film. Though I personally find Ringu (The Ring) to be an overall better movie, this film keeps the spine-chill factor at a constant high, in comparison to The Ring's ebb and flow. Even some of the scenes which occur in broad daylight (particular the balcony and the new home owner) ooze creepiness. Yes, it's true, the acting can be a bit shoddy, but any lingering doubts on acting methods will soon dissipate when the scares arrive and you can be sure they'll be coming thick and fast. Considering the low-budget nature of the film - for the most part, make-up is about as advanced as it gets - I was amazed at the terrifying nature of the film. This is genuine horror. No sharp gloves or chainsaws here, just a brilliant array of scenes that encourages your mind to interpret, and largely generate, the scares.… Full Review »
  3. AndieV.
    10
    this movie scared the **** out of me! for those people who said it was boring: "do you see dead corpses everyday and is use to it or something?" anyways, i had night mares for 2 weeks after seeing this.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »