Ju-on: The Grudge 2 (2003) Movie Info
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | Ju-on: The Grudge 2 |
| Release Year | 2003 |
| Original Title | 呪怨2 (Ju-on 2) |
| English Title | Ju-on: The Grudge 2 |
| Director | Takashi Shimizu |
| Screenplay Writer | Takashi Shimizu |
| Story By | Takashi Shimizu |
| Based on Novel by | Sequel to Ju-on: The Grudge (2002) |
| Producer(s) | Takashige Ichise |
| Executive Producer(s) | — |
| Lead Actors | Noriko Sakai, Chiharu Niiyama |
| Cast | Noriko Sakai, Chiharu Niiyama, Kei Horie, Yui Ichikawa |
| Genre | Horror |
| Subgenre | Supernatural Horror, Ghost Horror |
| Release Date | August 23, 2003 (Japan) |
| Runtime / Duration | 1h 32m (92 minutes) |
| Budget | Low-budget Japanese studio production |
| Box Office (Worldwide) | Successful domestic horror release |
| Language | Japanese |
| Country | Japan |
| Production Company | Oz Company, Xanadeux Company |
| Distributor | Toho |
| Filming Locations | Tokyo, Japan |
| Music By | — |
| Cinematography | Tokusho Kikumura |
| Edited By | Nobuyuki Takahashi |
| Production Design | — |
| Costume Design | — |
| Special Effects | Practical ghost effects with minimal CGI |
| Makeup Effects | Pale ghost makeup and supernatural prosthetics |
| MPAA Rating | Not Rated |
| Aspect Ratio | 1.85:1 |
| Sound Mix | Dolby Digital |
| Format | Color |
| Themes | Curse, trauma, vengeance, supernatural contagion |
| Setting | Haunted house and urban Tokyo |
| Notable Trivia | Continues the fragmented nonlinear storytelling style of the first film |
| Critical Reception | Positive reviews from J-horror fans and critics |
| Audience Reception | Strong cult following internationally |
| Awards / Nominations | Featured at several international horror film festivals |
| Home Media | DVD, Blu-ray |
| Streaming Availability | Available on select horror streaming platforms |
| Sequels / Franchise | Part of the long-running Ju-on / The Grudge franchise |
| Franchise Type | Japanese supernatural horror franchise |
WATCH NOW
If you don’t already know about the relationship between The Grudge and the Ju-On series, this is the fourth film in the series, and the second (Japanese) theatrical release.
Fans should by now be already familiar with writer / director Takashi Shimizu’s style of storytelling within this series. If you have never seen a “Ju-on” film before, you will not want to start with this one, and the following review may contain spoilers for those who have not seen The Grudge.
Ju-on: The Grudge 2 opens with pregnant horror actress Kyoko and her boyfriend as they drive down a deserted street at night. When their car suddenly hits a cat, we know little Toshio isn’t far away and, indeed, he winds up actually beneath the steering wheel only moments later, causing them to crash. Kyoko begins bleeding heavily from beneath her dress, and we share her grief over the loss of her unborn child.
But wait a moment it becomes quickly apparent that our little blue wraith seems to have done something to Kyoko. Suddenly, she’s with child again, and the little bugger has a helluva a kick, one you can see from across the room. What is growing inside her, and why does it cause seemingly random schoolgirls to scream?
As in the other Japanese films in the series, several vignettes make up Ju-on 2 as we follow different characters throughout a disjointed timeline. Eventually, all of the stories will makes sense together as we begin to make the connections between characters, and several of them are creepy as hell in their own right. “Tomoka” (the second story) and “Megumi” (the third) are strong standouts and, although the next couple of stories begin to jump time and space far too often to make sense, the epilogue presents a pretty cool take on Kayako (the woman who bears the grudge throughout all of the “Ju-on” and “Grudge” films). In fact, the final scene did something the other films haven’t managed to do: It actually made me long for another installment.
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